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Honors
Convocation Celebrates
Efforts of High-Achieving Grads
5/27/09
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MCCC's high
achieving graduates were honored at the annual Honors Convocation
prior to graduation on May 21. Students with top grade point averages
were selected for a variety of awards and scholarships for overall
academic excellence and achievements in specific disciplines.
In welcoming
the graduates, families and friends who gathered for the ceremony
at Kelsey Theatre, MCCC President Patricia C. Donohue said, "Mercer
is all about learning and student success. We thank these students
for their diligence and integrity in learning. The gifts we present
today are tokens to students of honor and responsibility."
Dr. Donohue also acknowledged the important role of supportive families,
and the efforts of MCCC faculty and staff. Communications Professor
Alvyn Haywood served as master of ceremonies for the event.
Among the distinguished
graduates from the Class of 2009:
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Matthew
Rossi, an NJ STARS student, received four honors including the Outstanding
Achievement Award in Political Science, an Academic Affairs Award,
an Abrams Foundation Scholarship and an Albert B. Kahn Foundation
Scholarship. Rossi will continue his studies at Rutgers University,
majoring in Political Science. He plans to be a lawyer. He is pictured
with Sociology Professor Guy DeRosa.
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Chrysti Neuman was selected for the WZBN TV Scholarship. Neuman
served as president of the MCTV Club and was a producer and director
for the college cable station, including directing the award-winning
live broadcast of the Mercer Co. High School Basketball Championships.
Neuman will transfer to Montclair State for her bachelor's degree
in television production. She is pictured with faculty member Steve
Voorhees.
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Colin
Stewart earned the Aviation Flight Technology Achievement Award.
Stewart was co-captain of Mercer's award-winning flight team and
will work as a flight instructor in the MCCC Aviation program in
the fall. Planning to become a pilot for a commercial airline or
cargo company, he says his Mercer degree will give him an advantage.
"Mercer has an established reputation of excellence among regional
airlines." He is pictured with Aviation Program Coordinator
Joe Blasenstein.
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Melissa
Szasz received the Physical Therapist Assistant Leadership Scholarship.
Juggling a demanding curriculum while raising three children, Szasz
says she enjoyed every physical therapy setting in which she trained,
and she is excited to begin work after taking the certification
exam. As president of the PTA Class of 2009, Szasz organized numerous
service activities. She is pictured with PTA Program Coordinator
Barbara Behrens.
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Four students were recognized as Honors Program Scholars: from left,
Kelly Lynn Wittkop, who will complete her bachelor's degree in Special
Education at The College of New Jersey with a concentration in early
intervention for autism and Down syndrome; Kristin M. Boka, who
will transfer to The College of New Jersey to major in secondary
education and Spanish; Susana M. Sanchez, editor-in-chief of MCCC's
award-winning College Voice student newspaper, who will transfer
with a full scholarship to Hampshire College to pursue an independent
major combining economics and sociology; and (not pictured) Michael
Kay, president of the MCCC Philosophy Club, who will major in Philosophy
at Rutgers University and hopes to become a lawyer. They are pictured
with Honors Program Coordinator Carol Bork.
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Waka Petrillo, second from left, and Pazit Kaplan earned scholarships
from the NJ Society of Certified Public Accountants. Both plan to
continue their studies at The College of New Jersey with the goal
of becoming CPAs. They are pictured with faculty member Kenneth
Horowitz and NJSCPA's Lisa Thouin.
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Three students were recognized for their combined efforts in academics
and athletics. Baseball
short stop Jason Zegarski, second from left, and soccer
goalie Heidi Summers were selected as the Male and Female Scholar-Athletes
for 2009 and were presented with Dr. Cynthia Schaffer Memorial Scholarships.
Tennis player Katrina E. Brophy was the recipient of the Mercer
County Women's Tennis Academic Achievement Award. Also pictured
are presenters Steve Ritzau, far left, and MCCC Athletics Director
John Simone.
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