College Awards 508 Candidates for Degrees, Certificates
The College of Southern Maryland celebrated 508 candidates for degrees and certificates during its 53rd spring commencement ceremony held May 10 at the La Plata Campus.
We come to celebrate the achievements of our 508 graduates, said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. He spoke about the savviness of graduates who avoided huge student loan debt by attending CSM for their associates degree before transferring for their bachelors degree. Those of you who are transferring, youll have less than half the debt, said Gottfried, adding that CSM students have received an outstanding education from faculty and staff that care.
CSM awarded 531 associate degrees and 239 certificates: 41 percent of the students receiving awards were from Charles County, 34 percent from St. Marys County and 22 percent from Calvert County with 3 percent from outside of the region.
Associate degrees were awarded predominantly in the fields of general studies, nursing, arts and sciences and business administration, while general studies: transfer, general studies accounting: advanced and basic were the most predominant certificates. Of the graduates, 70 percent are female. The ages of this springs associates degree candidates range from 15 to 58. The oldest certificate candidate for graduation is 64.
The youngest candidate for graduation is Joseph M. Wolski, 15, of Dunkirk, who earned an associates degree in engineering. The most senior candidate for an associates degree is Jean Campbell, 58, of St. Marys City who received an associates degree in nursing. The most senior certificate candidate for graduation is Diane Edmonds-Vitashoka, 64, of La Plata who received certificates in human services: mental health technician and human services: alcohol and drug counseling. (For more on these graduates, visit http://bit.ly/Lx6oql.
CSMs spring graduation produced the first graduates of the colleges Nuclear Engineering Technology (NET) Program. A partnership between CSM and Constellation Energy Nuclear Group LLC (CENG), the NET program prepares students from Southern Maryland for jobs such as those at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant where 50 percent of its workforce nears retirement age. Qualified program graduates received a certificate from the National Academy for Nuclear Training (NANT).
The National Anthem was performed by CSM student Annie Grove, of Mechanicsville.
The commencement ceremonys student speaker was Student Government Association President Tia Dickerson of Lusby.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Joseph Urgo, president of St. Marys College of Maryland, who told students that he came to CSMs commencement to look at the future. He asked students to think, Who helped me? What teacher, what parent, what aunt, uncle or neighbor, or professor or professional counselor? On whose belief in you, do you come to us todaya graduate of the College of Southern Maryland for 2012, said Urgo, adding that the graduates should look for opportunities to help others.
(For more on Dr. Urgo, visit http://bit.ly/KtPgCg.)
An Honorary Degree was presented to Wilson Parran by CSM Board of Trustees Chair Mary Krug for his loyalty and friendship to the college. Wilson has done everything, Krug said. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees at this college for two years until he ran for public office and was ultimately elected to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners for two terms, eight years, and was the chair of the board. During that time he was a staunch supporter of both the college and of Calvert County, said Krug.
The Faculty Excellence Award honoring adjunct faculty was presented to Leah A. Geiger by CSM Faculty Senate President and Economics Professor Michael Green. Leah has been teaching at CSM for 14 years and over this time she has become a leader in online education, said Green. Ms. Geiger believes that it is critical to make online students feel connected as if they were in a face-to-face situation.
Green also presented the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award honoring permanent faculty to Business and Technology Professor Mary Beth Klinger. To Dr. Klinger, teaching is an opportunity to empower and inspire students, said Green. It is her goal to engage each student and to provide him or her with meaningful learning experiences that can be transferred into the real world.
During the nursing recognition ceremony held earlier in the day, Emily Doot McDivitt of Lexington Park was recognized with the Academic Achievement in Nursing Award, given to the graduate with the highest grade point average in the nursing class. Laura Gillingham of California was recognized with the Achievement in Nursing Award, presented to the graduate who demonstrates academic achievement, clinical competence, community service and leadership potential. This springs nursing program graduated 53 students.
At the colleges May 9 Honors Convocation, 27 students were recognized for achieving highest honors (3.9-4.0 GPA), 28 for high honors (3.75-3.89 GPA) and
58 for honors (3.5 to 3.74 GPA).
For complete coverage on CSMs commencement activities, including honors convocation, and nursing recognition, visit http://www.csmd.edu/News/MediaResources/12MayGrad.html.
The following students were recognized as candidates for associates degrees or certificates at the spring commencement ceremony;
Calvert County
Barstow
Ron M. Wilkinson
Chesapeake Beach
Christopher P. Breedlove
Kourtnee Autumn Clements
Eric A. Dusseau
Casey Paige Fleming
Robbi B. Golden
Jessica L. Gray
Robert K. Jackson
Kara Lynn.McMurray
Heather Lynn Posey
Jessica Nicole Tippins
Cristal Toribio
Adam Patrick Woodell
Dunkirk
Susan M. Burek
James S. Fowler
Lisa Marie Gratch
Stephen Anthony Horak
Taylor Allen Wildberger
Joseph Michael Wolski
Huntingtown
Taylor G. Nicholson
Allie C. Bolen
Jennifer Ann Booth
Jacob Michael Bowen
Alexander James Byzet
Alison Michelle Clark
Chelsey Dianne Clark
Breanna N. Cox
Carlice Marie Cremonese
Sara Marie Dimarco
Shante N. Freeland
Heather Michelle Gramstorff
Sarah E. Justice
Kathryn A. Moser
Lisa C. Pruett
Jasmine A. Santifer
Christine M. Sharpe
Amy L. Stillwell
Kelsey B. Sweetman
Shavonda Tyrie Walker
Joy A. Wilde
Lusby
Tabitha Christine Arford
Brent Edward Barbour
Fae C. Baur
Ashley . Berry
Christina Marie Foley
Dallas F. Harris
Evonne M. Hawkins
Nikki Gilmore Lenharr
Elana Faye Masincupp
William J. Miller
Jacqueline M. Quan
Nereyda Patricia Rojas
Juliette Teal Seymour
Alexander Bruce Smith
Shelby Leigh Starr
Casey Amanda Tibbs
Brian Dale Volack
Cristen C. Williams
April Victoria Wolfe
North Beach
Ophelia Denise Gray
Gabrielle Gullotti
Karen Jeanette McKenzie
Jacqueline Alexandra Rice
Samantha L. Williams
Owings
Aaron A. Coons
Karen Lynne Berezoski
Andrew James Cleary
Almina Dautovic
Bradley Russell Golway
Sarah D. Gowland
Amber Lee Graham
Amanda L. Harshman
John G. Jacob
Brittany Michelle Raynor
Colin Charles Robins
Krystal D. Staples
Port Republic
Nancy L. Brooks
Erica Marie Cavin
Brittanie Krauss
Sarah Elizabeth Stahl
Prince Frederick
Amanda H. Brown
Lindsay Danielle Falcone
Jennifer Lynn Gordon
Raven N. Gray
Michael P. Hering
Kalynn Marshelle Johnson
Nina C. Kinser
Christopher Ethan Klotz
Kevin Jeffery Miller
Amanda Jean Morgan
Malarie Lyndel Shenk
Jonathan A. Sheldon
Saint Leonard
Shelaine Beaver
Megan Ashley Bell
Daniel Joseph Dishong
Kristi J. Kelly
Michelle E. Ortenzo
Kathy L. Penney
Maggie S. Quade
Kelly M. Webb
Sunderland