GRCC Graduation 2012

>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE 2012 COMMENCEMENT
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I'M OUT HERE ON KIND OF A CHILLY AFTERNOON,
BUT I'VE GOT SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT REALLY WANT TO TALK TO THEIR FAMILIES.
SO, WE'LL START OFF WITH THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? >> TODD MOYER.
>> TODD, WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ASSOCIATE'S OF APPLIED ARTS WITH JUVENILE SERVICES.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THAT DEGREE?
>> UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A KID'S LIFE. >> WOW, THAT'S REALLY DEEP.
>> (laughing) THANK YOU. >> GOT ANY FAMILY IN THERE?
>> UH, NO, NO.
>> NOBODY? >> NOBODY.
>> YOU WANT TO JUST SAY "HI" AND WAVE? >> HI, EVERYBODY!
>> COOL-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND OUR NEXT VICTIM-- I MEAN, GUEST-- IS...
>> MY NAME'S CARL HERGENREDER. >> WHAT'S THAT LAST NAME AGAIN?
>> HERGENREDER.
>> DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> YES, MY MOTHER'S IN THERE.
HI, MOM, HOW YOU DOING?
HOPE YOU FOUND A GOOD SEAT. >> THAT WOULD BE MRS. HERGIN--
>> UH, THIS IS-- UH, HER NAME IS MRS. MATHEENY.
>> OKAY, THERE.
OKAY, AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ASSOCIATE'S IN APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCE FOR JUVENILE SERVICES.
>> OH, SO YOU'RE GONNA GO INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM?
>> ABSOLUTELY-- GONNA TAKE OUT THOSE BAD PEOPLE.
>> OH, SO YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY! >> FANTASTIC.
YOU WANNA GIVE A WAVE? >> UM... HI...
>> ISN'T THAT CUTE?
AND OUR NEXT PERSON IS? >> BRADLEY KUIPERS.
>> HI, BRADLEY. >> HOW YOU DOING?
>> DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> I DO.
>> WHO ARE THEY? >> MY MOM AND MY DAD.
HI, MOM-- HI, DAD!
AND MY SISTERS AND BROTHER-IN-LAW.
HEY CHRIS, HEY MAL, HEY ASH!
O.H.! >> O.H.?
NOW, YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL ON YOU HERE, DOWN HERE.
WHAT IS THAT? >> IT'S A DELTA PI ALPHA AWARD.
>> COOL, AND HOW DID YOU EARN THAT? >> I GOT TOP FIVE PERCENT OF MY CLASS.
>> FANTASTIC! >> YUP.
>> LOOKS GOOD ON YOU, TOO. >> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, AND OUR NEXT PERSON OVER HERE IS...
>> HI, I'M SHANNON WOODALL. >> HI, SHANNON.
>> HI. >> AND WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THERE?
>> MY SON'S IN THERE-- AARON, HI, BABY.
HOPE YOU FOUND A GOOD SEAT AS WELL.
MY MOM, MY DAD, AND MY GRANDMOTHER. >> WOW, THAT'S A BIG GROUP!
>> IT'S FAMILY. (laughing)
>> OKAY, SO HERE'S MY BIG QUESTION FOR YA.
WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AT 'CC?
>> UH, THE PROFESSORS.
I HAVE MET SOME PROFESSORS THAT HAVE BECOME MY MENTORS
AND HAVE MADE A DRASTIC CHANGE IN MY LIFE
AND MADE ME WANT TO BE WHAT I AM, SO... >> YOU WANNA NAME NAMES?
>> UM, NIKKI BANKS AND JANIS WILLIS... UM...
ON TOP WOULD BE ZEEFF-- GEORGE ZEEFF.
AND THEN, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE SCHOOL.
MY BOSS, LAURIE WITCZAK--
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT EXACTLY.
>> WITCZAK? >> YEAH. (laughing)
AND THEN, JUST A FEW OTHER PEOPLE.
I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST GREAT.
DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT-- THEY CARE.
>> WOW, CAN WE DO A COMMERCIAL WITH YOU LATER?
>> IF IT MUST. (laughing) >> OKAY, WE'LL GET YOUR INFORMATION.
>> THERE YOU GO. >> GOOD LUCK IN THERE.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND WE HAVE HERE?
>> JOSH INGRAM.
>> OKAY, AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE AROUND YOUR NECK THERE?
>> IT IS FOR VETERANS. >> COOL!
>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY SWEET. >> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> JUVENILE SERVICES, LIKE THE REST OF THESE GUYS.
>> WAIT-- YOU'RE ALL JUVENILE SERVICES?
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HANGING OUT TOGETHER.
WE'RE ALL FRIENDS. >> WOW, THAT'S NICE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S THAT BEST PART ABOUT BEING HERE.
IT'S ALL THE FRIENDS YOU MEET.
>> AND WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THERE?
>> I GOT MY MOM, MY DAD, MY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA,
AND MY WIFE AND OUR UNBORN CHILD, CHASE-- MAY 22nd.
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. >> YOU SURE IT'S GONNA BE MAY 22nd?
>> I'M POSITIVE.
>> YOU KNOW HOW THOSE THINGS GO, THOUGH, SOMETIMES THEY'RE, YOU KNOW...
>> I'M PRETTY SURE. >> OKAY THEN!
GOOD LUCK IN THERE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, AND OUR LAST PERSON IS... >> ALEXANDRIA VanDYKE.
>> ALEXANDRIA. >> YEAH.
> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH? >> JUVENILE SERVICES AS WELL.
>> I KNEW THAT, 'CAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HERE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT DEGREE?
>> I'M GONNA GO HELP KIDS. >> DO...?
>> BE GOOD! >> WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
>> WE WANT 'EM TO BE GOOD! >> YES, WE DO, ACTUALLY.
SO, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> I DO.
MY PARENTS ARE IN THERE.
HI, MOM-- HI, DAD!
MY GRANDPARENTS-- HI, MIMI!
HI, PAPA! >> SAY HI TO THEM AGAIN--
A MOTORCYCLE WENT BY. >> (laughing) HI!
>> COOL-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND NOW, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE FIELDHOUSE
AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC,
SO WE'LL COME BACK IN JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.
WE'VE GOT ONE STUDENT THAT'S WAY BACK IN LINE IN ROW 15.
>> SIXTEEN. >> ROW 16.
AND WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> CHRISTINA WITHERSPOON.
>> SO, CHRISTINA, WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> I'M AN ASSOCIATE'S IN BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION.
>> REALLY-- NOT CRIMINAL JUSTICE? >> NO.
>> EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE TONIGHT.
>> NOT ME-- NOPE. >> SO, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE?
>> YES, MY KIDS AND MY HUSBAND-- I DO WANNA SAY HI TO.
AND I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR HELPING ME GET THROUGH THIS.
>> AW, THAT'S VERY NICE. >> I REALLY DO.
I WANNA THANK THEM.
>> SO, I UNDERSTAND YOU REALLY SHOULD RUN TO YOUR ROW, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. >> OKAY, SHE'S GONNA RUN NOW.
SO-- >> (indistinct speaking).
BYE!
>> OKAY, GET A SHOT OF HER RUNNING OFF THERE.
(laughing) THERE SHE GOES!
THAT WOMAN-- SHE IS GONE!
OKAY, AND OUR NEXT PERSON UP IS... >> CELINA NAVARRO.
>> NOW, YOU'RE NOT IN A HURRY, ARE YOU?
>> NO, I'M ACTUALLY IN SIX,
SO I CAN MAKE IT RIGHT THERE. (laughing)
>> OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THIS FOR A HALF HOUR IF YOU WANT TO.
>> NO, NO, NO. (laughing) >> OKAY.
AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH? >> UM, ACTUALLY, JUVENILE SERVICES--
ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS.
>> ANOTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSON. >> YES.
>> YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH THAT LAST GROUP I WAS WITH.
>> I KNOW!
WELL, IT HAPPENS. >> IT'S YOUR LOSS.
DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE?
>> UH, YES, MY MOTHER CAME ALL THE WAY FROM MEXICO, AND...
>> SHE CAME FROM MEXICO? >> TO SEE HER DAUGHTER GRADUATE.
YES, SHE DID.
AND MY CHILDREN. >> WELL, YOU WANNA SAY HI TO 'EM?
LOOK RIGHT INTO THAT LENS. >> I LOVE YOU!
THANK YOU! >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND HERE WE HAVE? >> CINDY MULLOY.
>> SO, WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH?
>> I'M GRADUATING WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S WITH A M.A.C.R.A.O.,
AND TRANSFERRING TO WESTERN. >> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO THERE?
>> I AM GONNA DO DIETITIAN NUTRITIONIST. >> OOO, I COULD USE ONE OF THOSE.
>> YEAH. (laughing)
>> COOL, AND DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> I DO.
MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS HELPED ME THROUGH SO MUCH,
AND I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON IN THERE,
ANOTHER SON THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT, AND THEY REALLY SACRIFICED A LOT,
HELPING MOM ALL THE TIME, AND I JUST WANNA SAY,
"THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR HELPING MOM."
>> AW, THAT'S VERY NICE.
AND THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OKAY, OUR NEXT PERSON UP... >> HI, MY NAME'S NATALIE!
>> HI, NATALIE! >> HELLO.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> UM, I'M GRADUATING WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS AND SCIENCES
WITH THE M.A.C.R.A.O. PROGRAM.
>> WITH A SIDE IN "PERKY," TOO, APPARENTLY.
>> (laughing) YEAH.
>> AND DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> YES, I DO.
I HAVE MY MOM AND MY DAD, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY,
"THANK YOU FOR DOING EVERYTHING FOR ME.
"COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!" >> THANK YOU, MOM AND DAD.
AND-- OH, ARE YOU TWO TOGETHER? >> NAH.
>> YOU WERE STANDING PRETTY CLOSE THERE.
>> I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT THE WAY!
>> OH, NO, YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY.
YOU'RE STUCK HERE NOW. >> (laughing)
>> WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> KOREY RINGER.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH?
>> ASSOCIATE'S IN ART WITH THE M.A.C.R.A.O. PROGRAM.
>> YOU SEEM NERVOUS.
>> (laughing) A LITTLE BIT. >> NO, DON'T BE NERVOUS.
THERE'S ONLY, LIKE, A THOUSAND PEOPLE LOOKING AT YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> STOP. >> AND WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THERE?
>> MY FAMILY FROM DAYTON, OHIO. >> OKAY, YOU WANNA-- WHO ARE THEY ALL?
>> MY MOM, MY DAD, AND MY THREE BROTHERS. >> CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR NAMES?
>> KEVIN, TONYA, KALEB, KEVIN, AND KYLE. >> WOW, YOU'RE GOOD!
NO WONDER YOU'RE GRADUATING. >> (laughing) SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YES, SIR.
>> AND OUR LAST PERSON IS... >> SHY RIEKENA.
>> AND SHE WAS KINDA LAUGHING AT THE LAST GUY, SO...
AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ASSOCIATE'S OF ARTS WITH THE M.A.C.R.A.O.
>> OH, AND THE LITTLE TASSEL WIND THERE THING.
AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT DEGREE?
>> UM, I PLAN TO GO TO MICHIGAN STATE OR WAYNE STATE.
>> REALLY-- YOU LIKE SPARTANS? >> YUP.
>> THE GAMES ARE GREAT. >> OF COURSE.
>> SO, WHO DO YOU HAVE IN THERE, FAMILY-WISE?
>> BOTH SETS OF MY GRANDPARENTS, MY MOM AND DAD, AND I HOPE MY DAUGHTER.
>> YOU HOPE?
WHERE WOULD SHE BE OTHERWISE? >> WELL, WITH THE BABYSITTER.
>> OH, MAYBE THE BABYSITTER'S IN THERE. >> HOPEFULLY.
I WANNA SEE HER! >> THAT'D BE COOL.
OTHERWISE, YOU'LL BE ON THE DVD AND LIVE RIGHT NOW ON THE CHANNEL,
SO SHE'S PROBABLY WATCHING IT. >> THAT'S WHAT I HOPE FOR.
>> COOL, YOU WANNA WAVE TO 'EM?
WAVE RIGHT THERE. >> (giggling) HI!
>> COOL, AND NOW, BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE FIELDHOUSE!
OKAY, WE'RE BACK FOR ONE MORE ROUND HERE,
AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION RIGHT NOW,
BUT WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> LUISA VASQUEZ.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ASSOCIATE'S IN BUSINESS. >> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT?
>> I ALREADY IN FERRIS, DOING MY BACHELOR.
>> SWEET! >> YES, IT IS.
>> NOW, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> MMM, NO.
>> NOBODY'S IN THERE? >> OH, IN THE-- YES.
MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER. >> OH, I DIDN'T MEAN, LIKE, AT HOME.
I MEANT IN THIS BUILDING. >> (laughing) YEAH.
>> OKAY, YOU WANNA SAY HI TO 'EM?
JUST LOOK RIGHT INTO THAT LENS. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY!
IT'S LUISA. >> YOU WANNA THROW NAMES OUT?
>> RICARDO, FREDDY, AND CARLOS. >> HI, GUYS.
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHE'S GOTTA RUN AND GET IN HER LINE AND GET HER CARD, TOO.
SO, I HAVE THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING, LIKE,
FOR AN HOUR TO GET ON CAMERA.
AND THEY'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT NON-STOP,
AND SO OUR FIRST PERSON IS... >> ANGELA DELTCHEVA.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
>> ANOTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE. >> YUP.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT DEGREE?
>> WELL, I'M GONNA BE GOING TO GRAND VALLEY IN THE FALL, SO...
>> SO, YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO GO TO GRAND VALLEY WITH THAT DEGREE.
>> YEAH, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> YEAH, NOW, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> UH, MY MOM AND MY DAD.
>> YOU WANNA LOOK IN THERE AND SAY HI? >> YEAH-- HI, MOM AND DAD!
>> "HI, MOM AND DAD."
OKAY, AND OUR NEXT PERSON IS-- AND THIS ONE--
SHE'S BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR US.
DONE NOTHING BUT COMPLAINING, COMPLAINING, COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT BEING ON.
SO, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? >> CHERIE ELAHL.
>> AND DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> I DO.
>> YOU WANNA TELL US WHO THEY ARE? >> YES.
I HAVE JARED, MAX, MELISSA,
GLORIA, SANDIE, ALEX.
I THINK THAT'S IT. >> WOW, IT'S LIKE THE--
>> I HOPE I'M NOT MISSING ANYBODY. (laughing)
>> YEAH, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT EITHER, 'CAUSE THAT'S A BIG GROUP
AND THEY'LL BE MAD AT YOU! >> YES.
THEY WON'T BE MAD AT ME.
THEY LOVE ME... AND I LOVE THEM.
>> AW, SEE, THAT WAS A NICE COVER. >> YEAH.
>> SO, WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH?
>> ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS WITH M.A.C.R.A.O. >> AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT?
>> I AM GOING TO GRAND VALLEY FOR MY SOCIAL WORK B.S.W.
>> ARE YOU GONNA ROOM WITH HER? >> NO. (laughing)
>> OH.
APPARENTLY, SHE DOESN'T LIKE HER THAT MUCH, BUT--
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OH, WE'RE STARTING A FIGHT IN HERE.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
AND HERE, WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO I'M GONNA GUESS
IS NOT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM.
AND YOUR NAME IS? >> MY NAME IS SUMEDIJA DZIDIC.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH?
>> ASSOCIATE'S WITH M.A.C.R.A.O. DEGREE, AND I'M GOING FOR...
LAB SCIENCE, WHICH IS IN GRAND VALLEY.
>> BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
>> UM, MAYBE.
I CAN GET SOME TESTING FOR THEM. >> OKAY, SO I WAS KINDA RIGHT.
>> (laughing) IT COULD BE. >> NOW, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE?
>> I HOPE-- YES, I DO, ACTUALLY.
MY SON IS THERE.
MY SON, ONNIS, MY DAUGHTER, ANISE, AND MY HUSBAND, SAMIR.
HI!
LOVE YOU! >> WOW, SHE WAS GOOD!
I'M GLAD YOU WAITED FOR THIS.
OKAY, AND NOW, OUR LAST PERSON IS... >> TANESHIA COOK.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ARTS AND SCIEN-- UM, ARTS AND SCIENCE WITH A M.A.C.R.A.O.
>> BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING INTO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RIGHT?
>> YES, I AM. >> (sighing) OKAY.
AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT DEGREE?
>> I'M GONNA LOOK FOR A JOB
OR I'M GONNA KEEP ON GOING TO SCHOOL, TOO.
>> WHERE ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL AFTER THIS?
>> PROBABLY GRAND VALLEY. >> GOOD CHOICE!
AND DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> YES, I DO.
I GOT A LOT. >> WELL, LET'S LIST 'EM OFF.
>> OKAY, MY SON, DEVON, MY BROTHER, SHORTY,
MIKA, MY SISTER, TINA,
MY MOMMA, MY UNCLE EDDIE, MY GRANDMOTHER, AND...
MY UNCLE'S GIRLFRIEND, NEESY, AND I HOPE I DID NOT FORGET EVERYBODY.
BUT ALL MY FAMILY IN THERE-- I LOVE YOU ALL!
>> AW, THAT WAS VERY NICE,
AND APPARENTLY, SHE HAS AN ENTIRE BLEACHER SECTION TO HERSELF.
SO, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE FIELDHOUSE,
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY FOR ONE MORE INTERVIEW,
SO SEE YOU IN A FEW!
OKAY, WE'RE BACK WITH ONE MORE GROUP, AND THIS IS A VERY NERVOUS GROUP.
THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE IS... >> EVITA.
>> WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? >> (indistinct).
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> BACHELOR OF MERCHANDISING IN THE M.A.C.R.A.O.
>> ARE YOU GONNA GO ON TO COLLEGE OR IS THIS IT FOR YOU?
>> I'M GOING BUSINESS. >> WHICH COLLEGE?
>> I'M THINKING ABOUT FERRIS. >> THAT'S A GOOD THOUGHT.
>> THANK YOU. >> NOW, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE?
>> YES, MY MOM, NEICE, AND SISTER AND BROTHER.
>> YOU WANNA WAVE TO 'EM? >> (giggling)
>> AW, SHE'S TOO NERVOUS.
WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO THE NEXT PERSON, WHO IS...
>> MY NAME IS ASIA ALEXANDER.
>> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> I'M GRADUATING WITH PSYCHOLOGY WITH THE M.A.C.R.A.O.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT?
>> WELL, I'M THINKING ABOUT CLINICAL,
AND I'M GONNA TRANSFER TO WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY.
>> THAT'S VERY AMBITIOUS. >> YEAH.
>> YOU THINK YOU WANNA GO INTO TEACHING MAYBE?
>> NO. >> WHY?
DO YOU HAVE BAD EXPERIENCE WITH TEACHERS?
>> NO, I'M JUST NOT A TEACHER-TYPE. >> OKAY, I'LL GO ALONG WITH THAT.
NOW, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE?
>> YES, MY MOM, MY DAD, AND SISTER, AND THAT'S IT.
>> YOU WANNA WAVE TO 'EM? >> HEY, EVERYBODY!
>> HEY... OKAY, AND OUR NEXT PERSON IS... >> UH, IT'S RICKIE ANDERSON.
>> HI, RICKIE! (all laughing)
>> HELLO. >> NOW, THIS IS FOR VETERANS, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. >> AND WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH?
>> ARTS AND SCIENCES WITH A M.A.C.R.A.O.
TRANSFERRING TO AQUINAS AND BECOME AN ART TEACHER.
>> WOW, IT'S LIKE YOU ALREADY HEARD ALL THE QUESTIONS!
>> RIGHT? >> WHAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION GONNA BE?
>> UH, WHO I HAVE IN THE AUDITORIUM?
>> CAN I JUST GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE, AND YOU CAN INTERVIEW EVERYBODY ELSE?
>> NAH, I'M GOOD WITH THAT. >> YOU WANNA SAY HI TO 'EM?
>> HI, MOM, MY WIFE, MY KIDS-- I LOVE YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. >> AW, THANK YOU.
AND OUR NEXT PERSON-- AND SHE REALLY DOESN'T WANNA BE ON,
BUT WE'RE GONNA FORCE HER.
YOUR NAME IS? >> AFTIN BATES.
>> THAT WAS VERY GOOD. >> THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU NERVOUS STILL? >> YES.
>> YOU SHOULDN'T BE. >> LITTLE BIT.
>> THOSE ONLY LIKE A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THERE.
>> RIGHT... (all laughing)
>> AND YOU'RE, LIKE, ABOUT 20 FEET HIGH ON THE SCREEN.
>> I KNOW.
>> OH, DOES THAT MAKE YOU MORE NERVOUS? >> YES.
>> OKAY, THERE'S ONLY TEN PEOPLE IN THERE. >> OKAY.
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S ONLY YOUR FAMILY THAT'S IN THERE.
>> NO BETTER. >> OKAY.
YOU WANNA SAY HI TO 'EM ANYWAYS? >> HI, FAM!
>> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH? >> ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS WITH A M.A.C.R.A.O.
>> YOU DID VERY WELL WITH THAT. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO INTO A CAREER WITH T.V.
>> NO! >> "NO," OKAY, "NO."
OKAY, OUR NEXT PERSON IS... >> PRECIOUS BRADFORD.
>> HI, PRECIOUS. >> HELLO.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH TONIGHT?
>> ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
>> OH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
APPARENTLY THEY'RE ALL BACK IN LINE ALREADY.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THAT DEGREE?
>> UM... I WANNA WORK WITH CHILDREN, SO I WANNA GO INTO SOCIAL WORK.
>> OH, THAT'S A GOOD THING!
NOW, DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> YES.
>> DO YOU WANNA SAY HI TO 'EM? >> HELLO, EVERYBODY!
>> "HELLO, EVERYBODY"?
DOES "EVERYBODY" HAVE A NAME?
>> UM, I'M PRETTY SURE THEY ALL DO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO NAME 'EM ALL.
(laughing) MY MOM, MY BROTHER, MY DAD, AND STEP-MOM-- HELLO.
>> HELLO, FAMILY.
NOW, THERE'S ONE PERSON-- WHERE IS HE?
COME ON BACK HERE A SECOND.
HE'S RIGHT BACK HERE.
THIS GENTLEMAN HAD NO INTENTION OF BEING ON CAMERA.
AND YOUR NAME IS... >> DEREK BLENMAN.
>> HI, DEREK. >> HELLO.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH? >> A DEGREE IN ARTS.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH IT?
>> TRANSFER TO GRAND VALLEY FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE OR TEACHING.
>> COOL!
DO YOU HAVE FAMILY IN THERE? >> YES.
>> WHO ARE THEY?
>> MY GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, AND YOUNGER BROTHER.
>> SEE, THAT WASN'T SO HARD. >> NO, IT WAS FINE.
>> YOU WANNA WAVE TO 'EM? >> SURE.
HI, EVERYONE! >> WOW, HE'S GOOD!
SEE, HE'S VERY GOOD AT BEING INTERVIEWED.
NOW, THE PERSON THAT WAS NEXT TO HIM-- >> (indistinct speaking)--
>> OKAY, HOLD ON-- >> --RODNEY COBBINS, HOW YA DOING?
MY PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY IN GEORGIA-- HOW YOU DOING, MOM AND DAD?
I'M GRADUATING WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS WITH A SPECIALIZE IN EDUCATION.
I'LL BE TRANSFERRING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN TO BE A SCIENCE TEACHER.
I'M GONNA GO BACK AND BUILD STRONGER CHILDREN.
IT'S EASIER TO BUILD STRONGER CHILDREN THAN FIX BROKEN ADULTS.
>> THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
GIVE HIM A HAND! (cheering)
>> HE WAS GONNA MISS ME, BY THE WAY-- HE WAS GONNA MISS ME, BY THE WAY!
>> APPARENTLY, HE DIDN'T TAKE THE CLASS IN "TAKING YOUR TURN," SO HOLD ON!
DO WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE?
WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE-- SHE'S VERY NERVOUS.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> I'M JENNIFER BEHRENS.
>> HI, JENNIFER. >> HI.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GRADUATING WITH? >> MY ASSOCIATE'S IN ARTS.
>> OKAY, YOU WANNA SAY HI TO YOUR FAMILY? >> HI, FAMILY!
>> OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK,
'CAUSE I THINK THEY'RE GONNA COME INTO THE FIELDHOUSE ANY MINUTE NOW!
SO, BACK TO YOU IN THE FIELDHOUSE.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WELCOME TO THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
95TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES!
(applause) (orchestral music playing)
ENTERING THE FIELDHOUSE AT THIS TIME
ARE THE PRESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
THE FACULTY ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT,
THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
THE PROVOST,
THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES,
THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN,
THE EMERITUS FACULTY RECIPIENTS,
AND THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT.
(orchestra playing Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Sea Songs")
(orchestral music playing)
NOW, PLEASE WELCOME THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GRADUATING CLASS OF 2012!
(applause, cheering)
(orchestral music playing)
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(orchestral music playing)
(orchestral music playing)
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(orchestral music playing)
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PRECEDING THE FACULTY
ARE THE STUDENT CONGRESS PRESIDENT, CHAKA WHITE,
AND PAST PRESIDENT, TONJA LOFTON.
NOW, PLEASE WELCOME THE FACULTY OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
LED BY THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND ASSOCIATE DEANS.
(applause, cheering)
ENTERING ON THE LEFT OF THE FIELDHOUSE,
THE FACULTY FROM THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.
ENTERING ON THE RIGHT,
FACULTY FROM THE SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AND THE SCHOOL OF STUDENT AFFAIRS.
PLEASE, WELCOME THE FOLLOWING FACULTY GROUPS--
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES...
APPLIED TECHNOLOGY...
AUTOMOTIVE...
(orchestral music playing)
THE FACULTY FROM EDUCATION... (applause, cheering)
BUSINESS... (applause, cheering)
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS... (applause, cheering)
(orchestral music playing)
THE LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT DEPARTMENT...
(orchestral music playing)
FACULTY FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE... (applause, cheering)
MATHEMATICS... (applause, cheering)
(orchestral music playing)
THE SECCHIA INSTITUTE FOR CULINARY EDUCATION...
(applause, cheering)
THE DENTAL FACULTY... (applause, cheering)
FACULTY FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT...
MECHANICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN...
MANUFACTURING...
THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES...
(orchestral music playing)
THE NURSING FACULTY... (applause, cheering)
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTING...
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY...
PSYCHOLOGY...
SOCIAL SCIENCES...
THEATRE...
VISUAL ARTS...
FACULTY FROM THE WELLNESS DEPARTMENT...
AND ALSO, PLEASE WELCOME THE COUNSELING AND CAREER CENTER REPRESENTATIVES...
CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES...
DISABILITY AND OCCUPATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES...
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES...
THE LIBRARY...
AND THE TUTOR COORDINATORS
FOR HEALTH, BUSINESS, BIOLOGY, MATH, AND SCIENCE...
(applause, cheering)
(music stops)
(mic gives loud feedback)
>> THE STUDENTS BEAT ME TO IT.
PLEASE, BE SEATED.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WE HAVE A LARGE CROWD AT GRADUATION TONIGHT,
AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
WE HAVE FOLKS, ACTUALLY, IN OVERLOAD IN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM,
AND WE WANNA WELCOME YOU.
PLEASED THAT YOU COULD BE WITH US AND WATCH THIS ON TAPE.
SO...
THE 95th COMMENCEMENT...
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WHAT A PROUD DAY IT IS FOR THIS INSTITUTION.
(applause, cheering)
LET'S SHOW WARM APPRECIATION TO OUR STUDENT WIND ENSEMBLE
LED BY MICHAEL GILLAN, DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT TONIGHT, GUYS!
(applause, cheering)
WELL, GRADUATES, THIS IS YOUR NIGHT. >> YEAH!
>> THIS IS YOUR NIGHT.
YOU HAVE WORKED HARD.
AT TIMES, YOU'VE STRUGGLED.
YOU EXPERIENCED "THE AGONY," IF YOU WILL,
IN THE ESCALATION OF WINNING THE RACE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
TONIGHT, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE YOUR POTENTIAL
AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO THE SOCIETY THAT WE LIVE IN,
AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS EVENING
TO SHARE IN THESE CEREMONIES.
YOUR CLASS IS QUITE DIVERSE.
YOU REPRESENT A WIDE AGE SPAN,
WHICH PROVES THAT LIFELONG LEARNING IS ALIVE AND WELL AT GRCC.
YOUR AGES RANGE FROM 18 TO 67.
(applause, cheering)
YOU'RE 60 PERCENT FEMALE...
(applause, cheering) AND 40 PERCENT MALE.
SEVENTY-THREE PERCENT OF YOU ARE WHITE
AND 27 PERCENT FROM NON-WHITE GROUPS.
YOU'RE RECEIVING DEGREES FROM 99 DIFFERENT MAJORS.
YOU COME FROM 66 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND THREE OTHER COUNTRIES.
YOUR AVERAGE GRADE POINT AVERAGE-- 3.14.
(applause, cheering)
YOU ARE, INDEED, A TERRIFIC CLASS AND WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.
WELL, WOULD EVERYONE NOW PLEASE STAND AND JOIN OUR GRADUATES
IN SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM,
AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING
FOR THE SINGING OF THE GRCC "ALMA MATER."
>> (singing) OH SAY CAN YOU SEE
BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL'D
AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS
THRO' THE PERILOUS FIGHT
O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH'D
WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING
AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE
THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
GAVE PROOF THRO' THE NIGHT
THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE
O SAY DOES
THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
YET WAVE
O'ER THE LAND
OF THE FREE
AND THE HOME
OF THE BRAVE
(applause)
>> THE "ALMA MATER" WILL BE SUNG BY MADISON ROESLER,
A SOPHOMORE VOCAL PERFORMANCE MAJOR.
(orchestra playing "Alma Mater")
>> (singing) DEAR ALMA MATER
HEAR OUR VOW
OF FAITH AND TRUSTING THEE
THY SPIRIT SHIELDS US
THEN AND NOW
AND THROUGH ETERNITY
THY COLORS TRUE
OF MAIZE AND BLUE
WILL WITH US ALWAYS BE
WE'LL HONOR THEE
BOTH DAY AND NIGHT
DEAR ALMA MATER
WE LOVE THEE
(applause)
>> PLEASE, BE SEATED.
AND LET ME ADD THAT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
WAS SUNG TONIGHT BY PROFESSOR KEVIN DOBREFF,
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT.
HE DID A GREAT JOB. (applause)
NOW, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE,
SO THAT EACH OF US CAN EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION IN OUR OWN WAY
FOR THE BRIGHT FUTURE THESE GRADUATES WILL HELP CREATE.
THANK YOU.
NOW, IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
OUR PLATFORM GUESTS FOR THE EVENING.
PLEASE, HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL EACH GROUP IS INTRODUCED.
FIRST, I PRESENT TO YOU THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
THESE ARE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO GOVERN THE COLLEGE.
MR. RICHARD VERBURG, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD
AND RETIRED GENERAL MOTORS EMPLOYEE.
MR. BURT BLEKE, VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
AND RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
MISS MARGO ANDERSON, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD
AND RETIRED ADMINISTRATOR FROM THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
MISS ELLEN JAMES, TREASURER OF THE BOARD
AND RETIRED FROM THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DEPARTMENT.
DR. RICHARD RYSKAMP, TRUSTEE,
ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT ST. MARY'S HEALTHCARE.
AND DR. RICHARD STEWART, TRUSTEE, AND A RETIRED PROFESSOR
FROM CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY.
PLEASE, JOIN ME IN A WARM WELCOME FOR OUR HONORED BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
(applause)
NOW, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE OTHER GUESTS ON STAGE WITH ME.
DR. GILDA GELY, PROVOST,
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS.
MISS FIONA HERT, DEAN OF SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
DR. LAURIE CHESLEY, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.
THE HONORABLE BRIAN CALLEY,
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
DR. KEVIN O'NEILL, RECIPIENT OF THE 2012 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD,
RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT OF COOPERSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
DR. VELVIE GREEN, RECIPIENT OF THE 2012 EMERITUS FACULTY ADMINISTRATOR AWARD,
RETIRED GRCC PROVOST.
MR. FRED VAN HARTESVELDT, PROFESSOR IN THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
AND PRESIDENT OF OUR FACULTY ASSOCIATION.
PLEASE, GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME.
(applause)
TWO OTHER IMPORTANT GROUPS TO RECOGNIZE
BEFORE WE START THE CEREMONIES TONIGHT.
FIRST, OUR COLLEGE FACULTY AND STAFF.
STUDENTS, YOU HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH,
TO BE MENTORED BY, TO ENGAGE,
TO ARGUE, TO AGREE,
TO ARGUE... (all laughing)
BUT TO ACHIEVE,
WITH FOLKS THAT I TRULY BELIEVE ARE ONE OF THE BEST FACULTIES
AN INSTITUTION OF ANY CALIBER COULD HOPE TO HAVE.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A UNIVERSITY-QUALITY EDUCATION
WITH A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY,
AND YOU SHOULD THANK THESE FACULTY AND STAFF HERE TONIGHT
FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
(applause, cheering)
AND I THINK THE STUDENTS WOULD ALSO AGREE WITH ME
THAT THERE'S ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT GROUP THAT, WITHOUT THEM,
IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BUT IT'D PROBABLY HAVE BEEN A LOT HARDER...
AND THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU TONIGHT.
AND THEY SHARED THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU.
AND AS YOU ARGUED, THEY SAID, "YOU CAN DO THIS," YOU KNOW?
AS YOU SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE,"
THEY SAID, "YOU CAN DO THIS."
IN SOME CASES, THEY SAID, "I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS.
"YOU GET IT DONE."
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HELPED YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TONIGHT.
MANY ARE SITTING OUT THERE.
PLEASE, RECOGNIZE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
(applause, cheering)
THERE'S NO WAY YOU DO THIS BY YOURSELF.
NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE TREASURER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,
MISS ELLEN JAMES, WHO WILL INTRODUCE OUR RECIPIENT
OF THE 2012 EMERITUS FACULTY AWARD.
ELLEN?
>> GOOD EVENING!
DR. VELVIE GREEN--
A SOFT VOICE, A QUIET STRENGTH,
AND A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.
OUR EMERITUS FACULTY AWARD WINNER THIS YEAR
IS A MODEL OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
AND CRITICAL THINKING.
SHE LED BY EXAMPLE THROUGHOUT HER MORE THAN 28 YEARS HERE
AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
GIVING A VOICE TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY ALIKE.
DR. GREEN EARNED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION,
AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS EDUCATION,
BOTH FROM WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
THEN, AFTER RAISING HER FAMILY
AND WELL INTO HER CAREER HERE AT GRCC,
SHE RETURNED TO SCHOOL
AND EARNED A PhD IN HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION
FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
VELVIE BEGAN TEACHING OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
IN THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT HERE AT GRCC
AFTER TEACHING SEVERAL YEARS AT THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HER NATURAL LEADERSHIP
EARNED HER THE BUSINESS DIVISION CHAIR.
AND AS THEY SAY, "THE REST IS HISTORY."
SHE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE ASSISTANT DEAN
OF SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
THEN ASSOCIATE PROVOST
AND DEAN FOR THE SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
VELVIE RETIRED FROM GRCC AS PROVOST
AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS,
WHERE SHE ASKED HER FACULTY FOR EXCELLENCE,
AND MODELED IT EVERY DAY.
LET ME JUST LIST A FEW
OF HER MANY, MANY NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
SHE WORKED TO CREATE THE ACADEMIC GOVERNING COUNCIL,
WHICH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN TRANSFORMING THE METHOD
TO GUIDE AND CREATE ACADEMIC POLICY.
SHE LED GRCC'S TEN-YEAR QUEST
FOR THE MICHIGAN QUALITY LEADERSHIP AWARD.
UNDER VELVIE'S LEADERSHIP,
THE IDEA OF A GRCC LEARNING CORNER--
TAKING THE COLLEGE TO THE COMMUNITY--
WAS REALIZED.
SHE ADVANCED THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING
THE FIRST ACADEMIC PROGRAM REVIEW PROCESS.
VELVIE'S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION
WHILE STILL HERE AT GRCC
INSPIRED HER TO BECOME A CONSULTANT EVALUATOR
FOR THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION
OF THE NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION.
THIS ROLE GAVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE GRCC THROUGH NEW EYES,
AND TO BRING BACK WHAT SHE HAD LEARNED.
VELVIE HAS SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES
AND THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL,
AND ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE MICHIGAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS.
SHE IS A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE
AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEGRO BUSINESS
AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN.
MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
HAVE RECOGNIZED VELVIE'S LEADERSHIP,
NOTABLY THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THROUGH AN ATHENA AWARD NOMINATION,
BY THE Y.W.C.A.
WITH THE TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD,
AND GRCC'S OWN BOB AND ALEICIA WOODRICK
DIVERSITY LEARNING CENTER
WITH THE SALUTE TO WOMEN AWARD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM SO PROUD AND HONORED
TO INTRODUCE TO YOU
GRCC'S EMERITUS FACULTY AWARD WINNER,
DR. VELVIE GREEN,
WHOSE FORWARD THINKING, PASSION,
AND COMMITMENT TO GRCC'S MISSION
OF STUDENT SUCCESS
LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF, UH...
UH, LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS
THAT CONTINUE TO ENRICH STUDENTS LEARNING TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION
TO THE SCREEN FOR JUST A SHORT VIDEO.
(music)
>> THE EMERITUS FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATOR AWARD
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1985 TO HONOR THOSE INSTRUCTORS
AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE LIVES OF STUDENTS
AND COLLEAGUES AT GRCC.
EVERY RECIPIENT IS AN INSPIRATION TO EVERYONE WORKING AT GRCC.
THIS YEAR'S WINNER IS NO EXCEPTION.
(ocean waves crashing)
(music)
>> DR. GREEN WAS AN AMAZING INSTRUCTOR.
SHE CARED ABOUT HER STUDENTS, SHE MENTORED HER STUDENTS,
SHE ALWAYS SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR HER STUDENTS,
BUT SHE ALWAYS LED BY EXAMPLE
AND SET THOSE SAME HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR HERSELF.
>> SHE EXEMPLIFIED, BETTER THAN MOST,
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FACULTY MEMBER
AND SOMEONE WHO'S DEDICATED TO LIFELONG LEARNING.
>> I ENJOYED HER FAIRNESS.
SHE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE STUDENTS' BEST INTERESTS,
WHETHER THAT WAS AS FACULTY, AS PROVOST, OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
>> VELVIE HAS A QUIET STRENGTH.
WHEN VELVIE HOLDS A MEETING, SHE LETS EVERYONE ELSE TALK FIRST.
SHE ALWAYS SPOKE LAST, BUT WHEN SHE SPOKE,
YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP
AND EVERYONE LISTENED TO THE WORDS SHE HAD TO SAY.
>> SHE WAS ACTUALLY VERY UNFLAPPABLE.
SHE WAS VERY CALM.
I'VE SEEN HER IN MEETINGS WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE,
AND COULD KINDA TALK TO ANY GROUP.
>> SHE ACTUALLY SAT IN ON SOME OF MY U.S. HISTORY CLASSES.
SHE WAS A GREAT STUDENT,
BUT I THOUGHT THAT HAVING SOMEONE IN HER POSITION IN THE CLASSROOM,
WILLING TO GO BACK
AND WILLING TO CONTINUE TO LEARN WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE
NOT ONLY FOR MY STUDENTS BUT FOR MYSELF
AND FOR OTHER FACULTY MEMBERS.
SHE NEVER STOPPED TEACHING AND SHE NEVER STOPPED LEARNING.
>> I THINK THE LEGACY THAT VELVIE LEFT HERE AT GRCC
THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS THE ACADEMIC GOVERNING COUNCIL.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION WERE--
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE TWO WERE A BIT STRAINED.
AND SHE LISTENED TO THOSE CONCERNS AND PROPOSED A FRAMEWORK
WHEREIN THE FACULTY HAD A MUCH LARGER VOICE IN POLICY MATTERS
RELATED TO ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
>> SHE ALLOWED FACULTY MEMBERS AND THOSE AROUND HER
TO SHARE IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
AND IN AN ERA WHERE MOST LEADERS BELIEVED THAT MAKING A DECISION
IS WHAT LEADERSHIP ENTAILS, SHE ACTUALLY EXHIBITED TRUST,
WHICH I THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR A LEADER.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME
IN WELCOMING DR. VELVIE GREEN HOME.
(applause, cheering)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
(applause)
>> AT THIS TIME, I INVITE TO THE PODIUM,
THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, RICHARD VERBURG,
TO PRESENT THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD.
>> DR. KEVIN O'NEILL
HAS HAD AN IMPECCABLE AND IMPRESSIVE CAREER IN EDUCATION
SINCE HE LEFT GRAND RAPIDS JUNIOR COLLEGE BACK IN 1970.
HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE LARGELY IN THE FIELDS
OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY.
SO, ALTHOUGH HE HAS EARNED NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR HIS WORK,
ALL OF US HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THAT WORK.
DR. O'NEILL LEFT G.R.J.C. FOR WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY,
WHERE HE COMPLETED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
WITH A MATHEMATICS MAJOR AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MINOR.
HE WENT ON TO RECEIVE HIS MASTER'S AT G.V.S.U.
AND HIS DOCTORATE FROM EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
DR. O'NEILL DEDICATED 26 YEARS OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER
TO ENSURING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF EDUCATION...
AT GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
WHERE'S HE'S SERVED AS BOTH TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR.
HIS FIRST JOB WAS TEACHING AT MADISON PARK SCHOOL,
WHICH IS NOW GERALD R. FORD MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HIS LAST JOB BEFORE RETIRING
WAS 14 YEARS AS SUPERINTENDENT OF COOPERSVILLE SCHOOLS.
IT WOULD NOT BE AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY
HE WAS THE BELOVED SUPERINTENDENT OF COOPERSVILLE SCHOOLS.
HE WAS AS ACTIVE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WALLS AS INSIDE,
WITH A LONG LIST OF SERVICE TO THE COOPERSVILLE COMMUNITY,
FROM ROTARY CLUB TO UNITED WAY.
DURING HIS TENURE THERE, HE HELPED GUIDE COOPERSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TO NUMEROUS SUCCESSES.
THE HIGH SCHOOL EARNED BLUE RIBBON EXEMPLARY HIGH SCHOOL STATUS,
THE DISTRICT WON THE ANNUAL MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS--
MICHIGAN'S BEST DESIGNATION-- FOUR TIMES.
IN RETURN, THE PEOPLE OF COOPERSVILLE
RECOGNIZED HIS TIRELESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
ON BEHALF OF THEIR CHILDREN, WITH THREE SUCCESSFUL BOND VOTES.
IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND
WHY DR. O'NEILL'S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI NOMINATION FORM
SAID, "HE HAS SPENT HIS LIFE IN THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC
"AND COOPERSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS,
"WORKING TIRELESSLY FOR EXCELLENCE."
HAVING AN ALUMNUS WHOSE GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY
BY EDUCATING OUR YOUTH,
ALIGNS HIM VERY WELL WITH THE MISSION OF GRCC,
AND HE MAKES US VERY PROUD.
NOW, I DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN FOR A SHORT VIDEO.
(ocean waves crashing)
(music)
>> FORTY-TWO, FORTY-THREE YEARS AGO,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKING CHEMISTRY, PROBABLY, IN THE MAIN BUILDING,
AND MY MATH CLASSES, AND, UH...
YOU KNOW, THE FURNITURE LOOKS A LITTLE NEWER--
THE WHITEBOARDS INSTEAD OF THE BLACKBOARDS.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT LOOKS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF EIGHT KIDS.
SIX OUT OF THE EIGHT HAVE COLLEGE EDUCATION.
FOUR WERE TEACHERS, OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER.
I KINDA BACKED INTO THE FIELD.
I DIDN'T-- IT WASN'T ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR PEOPLE,
"I HAD A CALLING SINCE I WAS, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS OLD."
BUT ONCE I TOOK MY FIRST CLASS
AND MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH KIDS,
I KNEW THAT THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED.
PEOPLE THAT BECOME TEACHERS AND DO IT WELL
HAVE A REAL DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE, HELP KIDS,
AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
AND THAT SOUNDS KINDA CORNY, BUT I THINK, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT,
YOU'LL HEAR THAT THEME IF YOU TALK TO TEACHERS
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE TEACHING RANKS
AND BECOME ADMINISTRATORS.
THERE IS A REAL NEED-- A PERSONAL NEED--
TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY TO HELP KIDS.
WELL, I CERTAINLY THINK THAT WHEN YOU GIVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK
THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE AFFECTING THE WORK,
THAT THAT IS CERTAINLY MORE EFFECTIVE.
IF I COULD HAVE THEIR--
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE'S ATTENTION AND THEY WERE ABLE TO--
IF I COULD TELL 'EM ONE THING, IT WOULD BE JUST TO...
TACKLE THE NEXT STEP, ONE DAY AT A TIME.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, TIME WILL CREEP UP ON THEM QUICK ENOUGH.
AND THEY WILL PROBABLY SURPRISE THEMSELVES AT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKE THEM BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF, OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES,
AND YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A GOOD START WITH WHERE THEY ARE TODAY,
GRADUATING FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
(music)
>> PLEASE, HELP ME WELCOME DR. KEVIN O'NEILL!
(applause)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> SO, "OUR 2012 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT, DR. KEVIN O'NEILL,
"IN HONOR, RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
"WE ARE PROUD TO CALL YOU AN ALUMNUS.
"APRIL 27th, 2012."
DR. O'NEILL.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ALUMNUS...
BUT AS I LOOK AROUND TONIGHT, WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING TO ME
IS TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES
AND TO SEE ALL THESE FOLKS OUT HERE WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD
TO GET TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY,
THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
AND I'D LIKE TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE YOU
AND THE FAMILIES FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
THANK YOU, AGAIN.
(applause)
>> I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER
FOR THIS 95th GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT,
THE HONORABLE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, BRIAN CALLEY.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CALLEY IS A MODEL OF SUCCESS FOR OUR GRADUATES--
ACTUALLY, FOR ALL OF US--
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT TITLE HE HOLDS
AND NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE YOUNG AGE
AT WHICH HE BEGAN TO SOAR TOWARDS HIS GOALS.
AS MICHIGAN'S SECOND YOUNGEST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,
OUR GUEST IS TRANSFORMING MICHIGAN'S SECOND HIGHEST OFFICE
TO BE MORE ACTIVE AND, IN HIS OWN WORDS, "TO GET REAL RESULTS FOR REAL PEOPLE."
HE IS COMMITTED TO RENEWING THE SPIRIT OF BIPARTISANSHIP.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CALLEY HAS LIVED IN MICHIGAN HIS ENTIRE LIFE,
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO YEARS WHEN HIS FATHER WAS STATIONED IN THE ARMY
AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS.
BY 1984, HIS FAMILY HAD SETTLED IN RURAL IONIA COUNTY,
WHERE HE STILL RESIDES TODAY.
HIS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAREER
IS BUILT AROUND HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES SPAWN SUCCESS.
HE SERVED AS A COMMUNITY BANKER FOR OVER A DECADE,
WORKING HIS WAY FROM THE MAIL ROOM TO VICE PRESIDENT.
IN THAT CAPACITY, HE HELPED HUNDREDS OF COMPANIES IN DOZENS OF INDUSTRIES
TO PRESERVE OR EXPAND MICHIGAN-BASED OPERATIONS AND JOBS.
ALSO, WHILE IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY,
HE WAS ELECTED TWICE
TO THE IONIA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IN 2002 AND 2004,
SERVING HIS ENTIRE TENURE AS VICE CHAIRMAN.
IN 2006, BRIAN WAS ELECTED TO THE MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AND WITH HIS INTRICATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MICHIGAN TAX SYSTEM,
HE BECAME THE RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE HOUSE TAX POLICY COMMITTEE.
AS MICHIGAN'S 61st LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,
HE CONTINUES HIS LIFELONG ADVOCACY FOR TAX-PAYERS
THROUGH WORKING TOWARD AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE INNOVATION CAN THRIVE.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, BRIAN CAST THE DECISIVE TIE-BREAKING VOTE
THAT OVERHAULED THE TAX CODE--
LEGISLATION AIMED AT ENSURING THAT MICHIGAN REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
BRIAN HAS A BACHELOR'S OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY,
AN M.B.A. FROM GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY,
AND WAS RECENTLY NAMED "YOUNG MICHIGANDER OF THE YEAR"
BY THE MICHIGAN JAYCEES.
HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE ATTENDED LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONCE IN HIS LIFE.
SOME ADDITIONAL RECOGNITIONS INCLUDE--
THE "LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR"
FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN,
THE MICHIGAN PHYSICIANS ASSOCIATION "GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AWARD,"
THE MICHIGAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION'S "ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD,"
"CITIZEN OF THE YEAR" FROM HIS HOME CITY OF PORTLAND,
WHERE HE LIVES WITH HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE YOUNG CHILDREN--
SON, COLIN, AND DAUGHTERS, REAGAN AND CARRIGAN.
IF THEY FOLLOW IN THEIR FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS,
THOSE THREE WILL PROBABLY BE RUNNING FOR OFFICE ANY DAY NOW.
PLEASE, JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR STATE'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,
THE HONORABLE BRIAN CALLEY.
(applause)
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREETINGS TO THE GRADUATES.
YOU'VE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COURSEWORK
AT ONE OF AMERICA'S FINEST COMMUNITY COLLEGES
IN THE HEART
OF ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST INNOVATIVE REGIONS.
WHAT CAN I SAY TO SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP OF GRADUATES?
YOUR BACKGROUNDS AND POSITIONS IN THE SPECTRUM OF LIFE
ARE AS VARIED AS THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE IN FRONT OF YOU.
PERHAPS I SHOULD START WITH SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HOLD IN COMMON.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I HEARD STEVE JOBS-- THE LATE STEVE JOBS--
THE FOUNDER OF APPLE...
HE SAID, "IF YOU LIVE EACH DAY AS THOUGH IT WAS YOUR LAST,
"ONE DAY,
"YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE RIGHT." (audience laughing)
NOW, THAT'S A HARSH REALITY...
BUT IT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE.
WHAT IF YOU WOKE UP EACH MORNING, LOOKED IN THE MIRROR,
AND ASKED YOURSELF, "IF TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY ON PLANET EARTH,
"WOULD I BE DOING WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO TODAY?"
AND IF THE ANSWER FOR TOO MANY DAYS IN A ROW
IS "NO,"
THEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW OUR SOCIETY VIEWS FAILURE.
WE ARE TAUGHT THAT THERE IS HONOR IN WINNING
AND SHAME IN LOSING,
THAT ROADBLOCKS, DEAD ENDS, AND PROBLEMS
ARE SOMEHOW EVENTS THAT WE ARE NEVER MEANT TO EXPERIENCE,
EVENTS TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
BUT A LIFE SPENT "PLAYING IT SAFE"
CAN BE A LIFE OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.
YOUR EDUCATION IS YOUR FREEDOM...
THE FREEDOM TO PURSUE GOALS AND DREAMS,
THE FREEDOM TO DARE
TO BE THE THINGS YOU IMAGINED YOURSELF TO BE,
BEFORE EXPERIENCE TAUGHT YOU TO LIMIT YOURSELF.
TONIGHT...
I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE A CHANCE...
TO EXPECT GREATNESS.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS CONNECT THE DOTS OF ALL YOUR EXPERIENCES IN LIFE
AND KNOW HOW THEY'LL LEAD TO OPPORTUNITY AND SUCCESSES
WHEN YOU'RE LIVING IN THE MOMENT.
TO UNDERSTAND SUCH A THING, YOU NEED THE TYPE OF RETROSPECTIVE
THAT COMES WITH MORE AGE.
THAT WASN'T AIMED AT THE 67 YEAR OLD IN THE CROWD.
(audience laughing)
SO, IN THE MOMENT, YOU NEED TO TRUST YOUR INTUITION
AND, YEAH, EVEN FOLLOW YOUR HEART.
LIFE IS FAR TOO SHORT TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
NOW, YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING...
HOW DOES A 35 YEAR OLD KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RETROSPECTIVE IN LIFE?
BUT EVEN AT THIS AGE,
SOME OF MY MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WERE BORN OUT OF FAILURES PUT TO GOOD USE.
THERE'S A FUNNY THING THAT HAPPENS IN THE CIRCLE OF LIFE,
HERE ON PLANET EARTH.
OVER TIME, THE OLD GIVE WAY TO THE NEW.
AND RIGHT NOW, THE "NEW" IS YOU.
OVER MY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAREERS,
I'VE NOTICED SOMETHING BEGINNING TO CHANGE.
IT USED TO BE THAT I WAS ALWAYS THE YOUNGEST PERSON IN THE ROOM,
EVERYWHERE I WENT.
BUT GRADUALLY, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT, ONE BY ONE,
PEOPLE APPEARED AROUND ME THAT WERE A BIT YOUNGER.
I STARTED USING TERMS AND REFERENCES THAT NEWER GENERATIONS
DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND...
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT.
I REMEMBER SO WELL THE VERY FIRST MOMENT I FELT OLD.
IT WAS IN 2007...
AND IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE I HAD TURNED 3O THAT YEAR.
IT WAS BECAUSE...
I GOT THIS EMAIL,
AND I ASKED A 20 YEAR OLD THAT WORKED IN MY OFFICE--
MY FIRST YEAR AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE--
AND IT SUGGESTED I JOIN THIS ONLINE CLUB OR SOMETHING,
AND I CALLED OUT TO HIM--
I SAID...
"WHAT IS FACEBOOK AND SHOULD I BE ON IT?"
(audience laughing)
(one loud woman guffawing) (audience laughing)
THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.
AND IT CREEPS UP ON YOU
WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP.
WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THAT SAFE TIME
TO TAKE A CHANCE.
DON'T LIVE ANYBODY ELSE'S DREAMS.
AT THIS STAGE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU NEED TO FIND WHAT YOU LOVE...
AND PUT YOUR WHOLE SELF INTO IT.
YOUR TIME HERE IS TOO SHORT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR MARK,
AND YOUR STATE NEEDS YOU TO STAND OUT
AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
THE MOST INTERESTING AND IMPACTFUL CHAPTERS IN YOUR LIFE
WILL BE WRITTEN ABOUT HOW YOU FACED DOWN ADVERSITY,
ABOUT HOW YOU RESPONDED IN THE FACE OF FAILURE.
DID YOU RECOIL?
OR DID YOU PRESS ON?
DID YOU RETREAT?
OR PERSEVERE?
EVERY FOUR YEARS, WE ENTER A SILLY SEASON...
AND WE SELECT THE PERSON WHO WILL LEAD THE NATION.
THESE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TENDENCY FOR ALL OF US TO FOCUS
ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THAT LEVEL...
WHERE WE THINK, "IF WE ONLY HAD A DIFFERENT CONGRESS,"
OR "IF ONLY WE HAD A DIFFERENT PRESIDENT,"
THAT SOMEHOW THEY WOULD MAKE A BETTER NATION.
AND WELL, IF THEY MADE A BETTER NATION, WE'D HAVE A STRONGER STATE.
AND IF WE HAD A STRONGER STATE,
SURELY ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES WOULD BE STRONGER.
AND IF WE HAD STRONGER COMMUNITIES, WE'D HAVE STRONGER FAMILIES.
AND IF WE HAD STRONGER FAMILIES, WE'D HAVE STRONGER PEOPLE.
BUT THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S EVER WORKED.
BECAUSE IT IS STRONG PEOPLE-- YOU--
THAT MAKE UP STRONG FAMILIES.
AND IT'S STRONG FAMILIES THAT MAKE UP STRONG COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S STRONG COMMUNITIES AND REGIONS THAT MAKE UP STRONG STATES.
AND IT'S STRONG STATES
THAT WILL MAKE A STRONG AMERICA.
SO, BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES STARTS WITH YOU.
I KNOW YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES...
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.
ALL THE BEST TO THE GRADUATES OF 2012.
CONGRATULATIONS.
(applause, cheering)
>> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CALLEY.
(sighing)
WE-- NOW, WE GET TO THE TIME
THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. (laughing)
(applause, cheering)
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
GOES BACK 98 YEARS TO WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1914--
THE FIRST COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
STUDENTS, WHEN YOU ACCEPT YOUR DIPLOMA TONIGHT,
YOU WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE AMONG NEARLY HALF A MILLION PREVIOUS GRADUATES
OF THIS GREAT COLLEGE.
ALL OF US AT GRCC SEND OUR BEST WISHES
FOR A WONDERFUL FUTURE TO EACH OF YOU.
YOU ARE NOW PART OF OUR COLLEGE'S HERITAGE
AND OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE,
AND WE WILL BE PROUD TO CALL YOU "ALUMNI."
NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU STUDENTS
TO MAKE THAT GREAT WALK ACROSS THE STAGE.
(applause, cheering)
AS WE CONFER YOUR RESPECTIVE DEGREES ON EACH OF YOU THIS EVENING,
I WILL BE ASSISTED BY CHAIRPERSON VERBURG
AND ALL OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
PRESENTING THE CANDIDATES FOR CONFIRMATION ARE PROVOST GILDA GELY,
DEAN LAURIE CHESLEY, AND DEAN FIONA HERT.
MAY I CALL TO THE AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION
OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE WEARING GOLD RIBBONS WITH GOLD MEDALLIONS.
THESE ARE OUR DELTA PI ALPHA STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING THIS EVENING
IN THE TOP FIVE PERCENT OF THEIR CLASS.
(applause, cheering)
THE STUDENTS WITH A GOLD STOLE
ARE MEMBERS OF THE PHI THETA KAPPA INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY,
AND THEY HAVE EARNED A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.5 OR BETTER.
(applause, cheering)
THE STUDENTS WITH BLUE AND GOLD ON THEIR CORDS
ARE MEMBERS OF OUR HONORS PROGRAM.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE COMPLETED ALL ACADEMIC AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
TO GRADUATE WITH THIS DISTINCTION.
AND FINALLY, STUDENTS WITH RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CORDS
ARE BEING HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
(applause, cheering)
AND NOW, I WILL CALL UPON OUR PROVOST, DR. GILDA GELY,
WHO WILL BEGIN THE INTRODUCTIONS.
PROVOST GELY?
>> DR. LAURIE CHESLEY, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES,
AND FIONA HERT, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
WILL PRESENT THE CANDIDATES THIS EVENING.
WILL THE CANDIDATES WHO WILL BE PRESENTED WITH DEGREES THIS EVENING
PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE...
ADBUL ABDI. (applause, cheering)
EVITA AKPANIYIRE. (applause, cheering)
ASIA MONIQUE ALEXANDER. (applause, cheering)
RICKIE VAUGHN ANDERSON JR. (applause, cheering)
MATTHEW DAVID BACON. (applause)
JAKE J. BAKER. (applause)
DEANNA BARNES. (applause)
AFTIN BATES. (applause, cheering)
JENNIFER L. BEHRENS. (applause)
DEREK CORDES BLENMAN. (applause)
PRECIOUS ASHLEY RENEE BRADFORD. (applause, cheering)
SHARONDA RASHELLE BRIDGEFORTH. (applause, cheering)
AMY BRUNDIDGE. (applause)
DOMINIQUE CHARISHA BURNS. (applause)
AMY BURR. (applause, cheering)
PATRICIA D. CANNON. (applause, cheering)
JAMES H. CARROLL, JR. (applause)
ALVIN CARTER. (applause)
VAUGHN CEMM. (applause)
KEOMORAKOT CLARK. (applause)
DANIEL CLEMENS. (applause)
RODNEY ALLEN COBBINS. (applause, cheering)
JUSTIN KRAUS. (applause, cheering)
MISTY J. TYSON. (applause, cheering)
JONATHAN DAVID COLLINS. (applause, cheering)
TANESHIA K. COOK. (applause, cheering)
CHARDAE DENISE CRAWFORD. (applause, cheering)
MARQUETISHA YOVETTE CURRY. (applause, cheering)
KYLE CZARNECKI. (applause, cheering)
JEFFERY DARLING. (applause, cheering)
ERIN CHRISTINE DEATER. (applause, cheering)
PATRICIA ANN DELIA. (applause, cheering)
ANGELA DELTCHEVA. (applause)
ANDREA K. DESENCLOS. (applause, cheering)
REBECCAH C. DIXON. (applause, cheering)
AMANDA DONATO. (applause, cheering)
MEGAN DONOVAN. (applause)
CAMERON DOYLE. (applause)
SUMEDIJA DZIDIC. (applause, cheering)
JAMES ER-- EXCUSE ME-- JOSEPH EARLES. (applause, cheering)
ANTHONY ROMELLE EDMONDS JR. (applause, cheering)
CHERIE ELAHL. (applause, cheering)
NATALIE N. FLOYD. (applause, cheering)
WHITNEY ROSE CUNNINGHAM. (applause, cheering)
RUBY FUNG. (applause, cheering)
CARLOS VARLACK-JOSE. (applause, cheering)
ZURI ZADAHY TEJEDA. (applause, cheering)
CHAKA WHITE. (applause, cheering)
SanJUANA GARCIA. (applause, cheering)
RONALD C. EVANS. (applause, cheering)
SABA BARIAGABER FISEHAZION. (applause)
GABRIELA FLOREZ. (applause, cheering)
BRANDY HENDRICKSON. (applause, cheering)
KERSTIN R. FROMAN-O'NEAL. (applause)
AMY GALBREATH. (applause, cheering)
CHRISTINA LYNNE GARNAAT. (applause, cheering)
CORY PAUL GERARD. (applause, cheering)
PRISCILLA J. GILMORE. (applause, cheering)
MELISSA CATHERINE GLEASON. (applause, cheering)
EDWARD GONZALES. (applause, cheering)
NICOLE ELIZABETH GONZALEZ. (applause, cheering)
DAVION D. GORE. (applause, cheering)
SIFA GRACE. (applause, cheering)
DOMONIKA SHAREE GRANT. (applause, barking)
(audience laughing)
JEANNIE GRAY. (applause, cheering)
JAMIE DAWN GROSS. (applause, cheering)
JACOB LIONEL HALLATSCHEK. (applause, cheering)
CATHERINE L. HAMMOND. (applause, cheering)
JACQUELYN M. HARMON. (applause, cheering)
VALERIE M. HARRELL. (applause, cheering)
CATHY HAVERDINK. (applause, cheering)
CHER D. BLATTNER. (applause, cheering)
TRACY LASHON HAYNES. (applause, cheering)
LINDA L. HAYES. (applause, cheering)
BROOKE MARIE HENNING. (applause, cheering)
WAYNE HILL. (applause, cheering)
ADRIANA PEREZ. (applause, cheering)
NATALIE HOLDER. (applause, cheering)
LELA HONICUTT. (applause, cheering)
JOHN MATTHEW HUNT. (applause)
IFRAJ INGRAM. (applause, cheering)
MEGAN INMAN. (applause, cheering)
AMY JACKSON. (applause, cheering)
EMILY LYNN JAKUBIK. (applause, cheering)
JOHN-CHRISTOPHER LUKE JANSEN. (applause, cheering)
COURTNEY JENKINS. (applause, cheering)
ALLISON STEFFES. (applause)
TY JOHNSON. (applause, cheering)
BRYANT LESLIE JONES. (applause, cheering)
TYLER PAUL KAMPS. (applause, cheering)
BRANDON KASPER. (applause, cheering)
SUMMER KENYON. (applause)
DARLENE EMMETTA KING. (applause, cheering)
EMILY ANN KLINE. (applause)
TERESA COX. (applause, cheering)
HILLARY KOOY. (applause)
BRITTANY KOZAKIEWICZ. (applause, cheering)
HENRY JOHN KRUEGER. (applause, cheering)
CHRISTINA M. KUHL. (applause, cheering)
JILLIAN LAVON LEWIS. (applause, cheering)
MELINDA A. LEWIS. (applause, cheering)
MICHELLE ANNETTE LEWIS. (applause, cheering)
ANGEL MONICA LYON. (applause, cheering)
STACEY KAY MAGUIRE. (applause, cheering)
ANNA MALMQUIST. (applause)
MARLENE CATHERINE MANCINELLI. (applause)
ANDY MAVULA MANGALA. (applause, cheering)
SHAPHAN CAESAR MARLOW. (applause)
PATRICIA A. MARVIN. (applause, cheering)
MARCUS EDWARD ARNOLD MAYLE. (applause)
BRODRICK McAFEE. (applause, cheering)
DARLA McCLURE. (applause)
MARIA C. MEJIAS-MATOS. (applause, cheering)
DENISE MENDOZA. (applause, cheering)
DENISE MARIA MERCADO-BADILLO. (applause)
PATRICIA ANN MERRITT. (applause, cheering)
ELIZABETH MERSHA. (applause)
WAYNE E. MEYER. (applause, cheering)
NITEKI A. MOORE. (applause, cheering)
TODD MOYER. (applause, cheering)
ALLYSON MUENZENMEYER. (applause)
CINDY ANNE MULLOY. (applause)
ANDREW MURRAY. (applause, cheering)
CELINA NAVARRO. (applause, cheering)
DOUGLAS R. NEAT. (applause)
DANIELLE L. NYLAND. (applause, cheering)
DANIEL ROBERT ORRIS JR. (applause, cheering)
ELINA D. PCHEKO. (applause, cheering)
DANIEL J. PARTEE. (applause, cheering)
MARK C. PEACOCK. (applause, cheering)
BETSY ANN PHILPOTT. (applause, cheering)
KATIE M. PERSHON. (applause, cheering)
TRACI NICOLE PIMPLETON. (applause, cheering)
AMBER DAWN POSS. (applause, cheering)
HEATHER PRATT. (applause)
DANIELLE MARIE PROCTOR. (applause, cheering)
THOMAS FREDERICK RAABE. (applause)
JESSIE RADER. (applause, cheering)
RACHEL RAPP. (applause, cheering)
SHYANNE RIEKENA. (applause, cheering)
KOREY SHANE RINGER. (applause, cheering)
BRENDEN ZACHARIAH RIVERA. (applause, cheering)
RUSSELL FOX. (applause, cheering)
MARIAN CRISTIAN ROSU. (applause, cheering)
VICTORIA LYNN RUESINK. (applause, cheering)
TINA MARIE RUSSO. (applause, cheering)
ASHLEY RENEE RUTHRUFF. (applause, cheering)
BRIAN SALANDINO. (applause, cheering)
NATHAN SCHAAP. (applause, cheering)
WADE SHOFF. (applause)
SHAUNYCE RACHELLE SIMPSON. (applause, cheering)
DENNIS W. SMITH. (applause, cheering)
MELISSA SOLLE. (applause, cheering)
KATY MARIE STEELE. (applause, cheering)
HEIDI LYNN STERLING. (applause, cheering)
DOREEN TIMMERS. (applause, cheering)
DESTINY S. TODD. (applause, cheering)
LILY TREJO. (applause, cheering)
ARLISHA TROTTER. (applause, cheering)
RACHELLE VanDYKE. (applause, cheering)
LAURA BETH VanNETTEN. (applause, cheering)
ELIZABETH VILCA. (applause, cheering)
CHRISTINA YVONNE VILLARREAL. (applause, cheering)
STACIE MARIE STULTS. (applause, cheering)
LAURA VIS. (applause, cheering)
TATIYANA WALKER. (applause, cheering)
CLARISSA SHAHDE WALTON. (applause, cheering)
KAREN RAE'LYNN WALTON. (applause, cheering)
ASHLEY MORGAN WEEKS. (applause, cheering)
BRANDON LEE WEEMHOFF. (applause, cheering)
(audience laughing)
JANET L. WESSEL. (applause, cheering)
ALECIA KAY WIERENGA. (applause)
MAXWELL M. WILKENS. (applause)
SHANNON NICOLE WOODALL. (applause, cheering)
MARYAM J. YAHYA. (applause, cheering)
JENNIFER YOUNG. (applause, cheering)
RACHEL ASHLEY YOUNG. (applause)
NGUN BOR ZI. (applause, cheering)
JEAN CLAUDE NSABIMANA. (applause)
JENNIFER TROUPE. (applause, cheering)
MARLENE ROSE. (applause, cheering)
PHILEPAE PHILLIPS. (applause, cheering)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
>> THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES DEGREE.
ALEXANDER J. HORTON. (applause, cheering)
DUC HUU LAM. (applause, cheering)
KEVIN ADRIAN POLLINS. (applause, cheering)
NATHION BLAINE SCHOVEY. (applause, cheering)
JEFFREY SCHULLO. (applause, cheering)
JAMES VanESS. (applause, cheering)
KYLE L. MOUW. (applause, cheering)
YVONNE MARIE CHIQUITO. (applause, cheering)
WILLIAM F. TAMBURELLO. (applause, cheering)
TIMOTHY LEE ANDERSON. (applause, cheering)
JOSEPH M. BREEN. (applause, cheering)
JASON R. VOGEL. (applause)
LILLIAN CHRISTENSON. (applause, cheering)
LINDA S. HAMILTON. (applause, cheering)
(all laughing)
MICHELE KENNEDY. (applause, cheering)
JENNIFER LARDIE. (applause, cheering)
NARCIA NEWLAND. (applause, whistling)
LAURA SALDIVAR. (applause, cheering)
AUDREY ROSE SMITH. (applause, cheering)
SUE ELLEN DAVIS. (applause, cheering)
DENISE HIBBARD. (applause, cheering)
DARYL THOMAS KIRKLAND. (applause, cheering)
DENNIS LEE KROONDYK. (applause, cheering)
NORMAN ROSHAWN EDDIE. (applause, cheering)
ABNER MUSONDA. (applause)
JESUS PULIDO. (applause, cheering)
JONATHAN D. SANKEY. (applause, cheering)
XAVIER TEZENO. (applause, cheering)
MARCUS MATZ. (applause)
GAIL DENISE REMBERT. (applause, cheering)
THOMAS ASH. (applause, cheering)
MICHAEL J. CARR. (applause, cheering)
MONICA THERESE HERRICK. (applause, cheering)
RAQUEL NAVA. (applause, cheering)
SERITA RENE PALMER. (applause, cheering)
JOHN MICHAEL VanBEEK. (applause, cheering)
GREGORY A. SEYBERT. (applause, cheering)
COURTNEY JEAN NICOLE STEKETEE. (applause)
RENEE TIMMER. (applause, cheering)
REBECCA ANN VANDERMARKT. (applause)
FELICIA WHITE. (applause, cheering)
CATLIN CARPENTER. (applause, cheering)
DENISE DAVISON. (applause)
MARQUITA MAURIE DEAN. (applause, cheering)
BRANDI V. FREEMAN. (applause, cheering)
MARTHA GARCIA-BRITO. (applause, cheering)
EDDIE L. LOTT. (applause, cheering)
MEGAN ELISE SCHOVEY. (applause, cheering)
SHANNON STEVENS. (applause, cheering)
TIFFANEY SHANNON WRIGHT. (applause, cheering)
SARAH PINCKNEY. (applause)
KARA ROSE BOWERS. (applause)
GAIL R. FRANKLIN. (applause, cheering)
AMANDA KAY HARTMAN. (applause, cheering)
TERRI ANN HINTON. (applause, cheering)
RACHEL ANNE JONES BRAAFHART. (applause, cheering)
KYMBERLEY NIKKOLE SHOEMAKER. (applause, cheering)
JANELL MARIE TAKENS. (applause, cheering)
HANNAH WOOD. (applause, cheering)
MISTI ANN BUCHHOLZ. (applause, cheering)
BRITTANY MARIE DEZEEUW. (applause, cheering)
KIMBERLY MARIE DUKE. (applause, cheering)
JESSICA M. GUSTIN. (applause, cheering)
JAMIE LYNN KLAP. (applause, cheering)
MARINA RUTH LAKOS. (applause, cheering)
TANYA ANN LEMIEUX. (applause, cheering)
CARA JO NUIVER. (applause, cheering)
SARAH SHELNER. (applause, cheering)
ELIZABETH ANN SLUITER. (applause, cheering)
ANNE MICHELLE SNOEYINK. (applause)
DAVID HEARN. (applause)
AKOT RIETH. (applause, cheering)
DAVID L. SMITH. (applause, cheering)
TELESHA BROWN. (applause, cheering)
RODRICK J. BANKS. (applause, cheering)
DAVID BROWN. (applause, cheering)
BRADLEY DEAN KUIPERS. (applause, cheering)
MONIQUE CROSS-McCALEB. (applause, cheering)
MONICA KAY HARRIS. (applause, cheering)
CARL HERGENREDER. (applause, cheering)
THERRESA HOLLOWAY. (applause, cheering)
NIKIA HUMPHREY. (applause, cheering)
JOSHUA D. INGRAM. (applause, cheering)
HEATHER LANGLOIS. (applause, cheering)
CASSANDRA LARES-NELSON. (applause, cheering)
LARRY MARTELL MATEEN. (applause, cheering)
SONIA NOEMI RIVERA. (applause, cheering)
CHRISTY MARIE ROBINSON. (applause, cheering)
HANNAH SEALES. (applause, cheering)
ZELJKA SPURIC. (applause)
JEREMIAH JAMARRI THOMAS. (applause, cheering)
ANTHONY T. VALDEZ. (applause, cheering)
ALEXANDRIA A. VanDYKE. (applause, cheering)
JOSHUA ERIK BURTON. (applause)
CHARLES DAVID LANGWORTHY FALK. (applause, cheering)
WILLIAM GERARD LIPSCOMB. (applause, cheering)
APRIL MARIE SCHOONMAKER. (applause, cheering)
BELINDA JOYCE WESTVELD. (applause, cheering)
ANNE HANEGRAAFF. (applause, cheering)
JOSHUA ALAN HERREMA. (applause, cheering)
JUDITH ANNE LABRA. (applause)
JULIA CHRISTINA THOMAS. (applause, cheering)
MICHAEL BOWE. (applause, cheering)
MATT TenCLAY. (applause, cheering)
MARY KATHERINE BAKER. (applause, cheering)
KELLY BUTLER. (applause)
ALEISHA CHRISTINE HARRIS. (applause, cheering)
AMY MARIE SANDUSKY. (applause, cheering)
ROCIO ILINE SEPULVEDA. (applause, cheering)
MUHAMET VITIA. (applause)
SANDRA CAMPOS. (applause, cheering)
PETER VU VO. (applause, cheering)
ALICIA MARIE WELCH. (applause, cheering)
MATTHEW A. BOWES. (applause, cheering)
JOSE R. MANZO. (applause, cheering)
ALEXANDROS PLAKIDAS NTASIOS. (applause, cheering)
NOPE.
OH, I DID SEE IT-- EXCUSE ME.
I THINK I MAY HAVE JUST LOST (indistinct).
YADIRA ANGELICA ALCANTAR. (applause, cheering)
ALI ABBAS. (applause, cheering)
KEVIN A. ADAMS. (applause)
BOBBIE BEARDSLY. (applause, cheering)
MARTHA A. BELMAN. (applause, cheering)
ALLISON RENEE BRAUNSHAUSEN. (applause, cheering)
DENISE BRISCOE. (applause, cheering)
JERICA BUCHANAN. (applause, cheering)
ALEXIS MARIE CHANEY. (applause)
MISAEL COLON. (applause, cheering)
OLIVIA CRUZ. (applause, cheering)
VIDA CURTIS. (applause, cheering)
SHEILA R. CUTTS. (applause, cheering)
KRYSTAL DEWEY. (applause, cheering)
SUSAN DROZDOWSKI. (applause, cheering)
TAMMIE S. ELMORE. (applause, cheering)
MIRANDA FOREBACK. (applause, cheering)
LOLA A. GALLANT. (applause, cheering)
SUJEY GARCIA. (applause)
GERALD BERNARD HARRIS. (applause, cheering)
REBECCA JOANNE HARRISON. (applause)
JESSICA E. HEADLEY. (applause, cheering)
DAVID JOHN HENRICKSON. (applause)
DAVID VANDERKOLK. (applause, cheering)
RENEE A. PEEPLES. (applause, cheering)
JENNIFER HOUSEHOLDER. (applause, cheering)
ELLEN JONES. (applause, cheering)
OM KHANAL. (applause, cheering)
GLADYS M. KING. (applause, cheering)
CYNTHIA JEANNETTE LEON. (applause, cheering)
SHALANDA LaNELL MALLARD. (applause, cheering)
JOSEPH ANTHONY MARTIN. (applause, cheering)
AMANDA METZNER. (applause, cheering)
HECTOR LUIS MORALES GOMEZ. (applause)
VIKKI LYN NEELY. (applause)
JEFFREY JOHN NOEL. (applause, cheering)
EZRA OSORIO ESPINO. (applause, screaming)
MARINA PAVLETIC. (applause, cheering)
PAMELA POWELL. (applause)
DIEGO ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ. (applause, cheering)
SELICA BRIANNA RODRIGUEZ. (applause)
MELANIE ROGGOW. (applause)
ERICA NICOLE RUSSELL. (applause, cheering)
RAMONA RUSSELL. (applause, cheering)
MATTHEW LEE SMITH. (applause, cheering)
ALAN C. STARK. (applause, cheering)
CHANDRA ANN STEVENS. (applause, cheering)
JENNIFER BOCK. (applause, cheering)
NANCY E. MILLER. (applause, cheering)
TAMMY ANN STEVENS. (applause, cheering)
(all laughing)
TAMARA TOLBERT. (applause, cheering)
NATHAN TROUPE. (applause)
FRANK LOREN TURNER. (applause, cheering)
LUISA VASQUEZ. (applause)
LIZETH KAREN VAZQUEZ-DE-LA-CRUZ. (applause, cheering)
CARRIE STEVENS. (applause, cheering)
YVETTE VALERY WALKINGTON. (applause, cheering)
JERUSHA MICHELLE WASHINGTON. (applause, cheering)
KHARI QUNELL WILLIAMS. (applause, cheering)
LATORRIA WILLIAMS. (applause, cheering)
CHRISTINA SHAY WITHERSPOON. (applause, cheering)
CYNTHIA WOOD. (applause, cheering)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN BUSINESS DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS DEGREE.
DALE EDWARD PURDY. (applause, cheering)
MADONNA M. FOX. (applause, cheering)
MICHAEL COOK. (applause, cheering)
LILI GALVAN. (applause, cheering)
ASHLEY N. RHODES. (applause, cheering)
ALLAN W. ROWE. (applause)
RYAN T. WYRICK. (applause)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION
OF CANDIDATES GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATE WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE.
JESICA MARIE ANDREWS. (applause, cheering)
JASSMA BAILEY. (applause, cheering)
MARISTOL CASTILLA. (applause)
STACEY RENEE DIEKEVERS. (applause, cheering)
KIMBERLY ANN LADEWIG. (applause, cheering)
KINYA T. LONG. (applause, cheering)
HOLLY O'NEIL. (applause, cheering)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN GENERAL STUDIES DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN MUSIC DEGREE.
DEREK J. BURRELL. (applause, cheering)
NATHANIEL PEERBOLT. (applause, cheering)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE OF MUSIC DEGREE.
(applause)
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN NURSING DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
ANGEL MARIE HOLE. (applause, cheering)
DONALD LEE HUCKLEBERRY. (applause, cheering)
AMBER RENEE McCOY. (applause, cheering)
CHERI L. NOORMAN. (applause, cheering)
TOYA OZARK. (applause, cheering)
TIMI E. TERPSTRA. (applause, cheering)
ASHLEY MAE AYERS. (applause, cheering)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN NURSING DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL BE GRADUATED
WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE.
ASHLEY ANN ALT. (applause, cheering)
CAITLYN DeBLAAY. (applause, cheering)
DANIELLE JAE EVELAND. (applause, cheering)
KELSEY HUISMAN. (applause, cheering)
BRIAN DOUGLAS KACOS. (applause, cheering)
JULIA LEIGH MESSENGER. (applause, cheering)
STEFANIA PALACIO-TABA. (applause)
KATHERINE MARIE ROUSTER. (applause)
AHMED TAHA. (applause, cheering)
WILLIAM R. THOMAS. (applause)
RAYMOND LeROY GANT II. (applause, cheering)
ERICA UNDERHILL. (applause, cheering)
RAYANN JANE VERMILYE. (applause, cheering)
ANGELA WOODEN. (applause, cheering)
TAMMY WRIGHT. (applause, cheering)
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES
GRADUATED WITH AN ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE.
(applause, cheering)
THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES WILL RECEIVE AN PROGRAM COMPLETION CERTIFICATE.
OLLIE M. WILLIAMS. (applause, cheering)
JORGE RAUL GARCIA-JAIMES. (applause, cheering)
DIJANA HALILAGIC. (applause)
JACOB A. KLOOSTRA. (applause)
MAYOM A. LUETH. (applause, cheering)
KRYSTAL K. L. POTTER. (applause, cheering)
REBECCA ANN ROCKWELL. (applause, cheering)
AMY JEAN VOLKEMA. (applause)
GERALD WELLMAN. (applause, cheering)
MICHAEL CHRISTIAN-HAYES MELCHER. (applause, cheering)
DANNEA D. MAYHUE. (applause, cheering)
>> WILL ALL THE CANDIDATES PLEASE RISE?
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
>> NOW, WAIT.
NOW, WAIT. >> DR. STEVEN ENDER.
>> THEY'RE IN SUCH A HURRY--
>> UPON THE RECOMMENDATION-- >> (indistinct speaking).
>> DR. STEVEN ENDER.
UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FACULTY OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO PRESENT THE CANDIDATES FOR ASSOCIATE IN ART,
ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCE, ASSOCIATE IN BUSINESS,
ASSOCIATE IN FINE ARTS, ASSOCIATE IN GENERAL STUDIES,
ASSOCIATE IN MUSIC, ASSOCIATE IN NURSING,
ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE, AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.
(applause) >> NOW, WAIT!
I'VE NEVER SEEN A GROUP SO ANXIOUS TO GRADUATE.
THIS IS-- (applause, cheering)
THIS IS THE REALLY GOOD PART.
YOU READY? (applause, cheering)
OKAY. (laughing)
BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY INVESTED IN ME
AS PRESIDENT OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
I NOW CONFER UPON EACH OF YOU THE CERTIFICATE, DEGREE, AND TITLE
AS THEY APPLY TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY,
AND CITE YOU AS BEING WORTHY OF ALL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES,
AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
YOU MAY NOW SHIFT YOUR TASSEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT.
(applause, cheering)
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PROUDLY PRESENT TO YOU
THE 2012 GRADUATING CLASS OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE!
(applause, cheering)
(chuckling)
(applause, cheering)
CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES.
AND IF YOU'D PLEASE BE SEATED... >> (all) AWW...
>> NOW, JUST WAIT! (all laughing)
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GRADUATE, WE EXPECT ALUMNI DONATIONS IMMEDIATELY,
SO YOU SHOULD JUST BE PATIENT. (all laughing)
NOW, IT'S MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
BY MADISON ROESLER,
WHO WILL SING "MAKE THEM HEAR" BY STEPHEN FLAHERTY.
(music)
>> (singing) GO OUT AND TELL OUR STORY
LET IT ECHO FAR AND WIDE
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
HOW JUSTICE WAS OUR BATTLE
AND HOW JUSTICE WAS DENIED
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
AND SAY TO THOSE WHO BLAME US
FOR THE WAY WE CHOSE TO FIGHT
THAT SOMETIMES THERE ARE BATTLES
WHICH ARE MORE THAN BLACK OR WHITE
AND I COULD NOT PUT DOWN MY SWORD
WHEN JUSTICE WAS MY RIGHT
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
GO OUT AND TELL OUR STORY
TO YOUR DAUGHTERS AND YOUR SONS
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
AND TELL THEM IN OUR STRUGGLE
WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
YOUR SWORD CAN BE A SERMON
OR THE POWER OF THE PEN
TEACH EVERY CHILD TO RAISE HIS VOICE
AND THEN MY BROTHERS THEN
WILL JUSTICE BE DEMANDED
BY TEN MILLION RIGHTEOUS MEN.
MAKE THEM HEAR YOU
WHEN THEY HEAR YOU
I'LL BE NEAR YOU
AGAIN
(music) (applause, cheering)
>> ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU.
TO CONCLUDE OUR 95th COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES,
OUR FACULTY WILL HONOR THE GRADUATES IN A RECESSIONAL LINE-UP
AS THEY EXIT THE BOSTWICK COMMONS.
WE ASK THAT YOU REMAIN SEATED WHILE VIEWING THE RECESSIONAL WALK
ON THE SCREEN BEHIND ME.
AFTER ALL THE STUDENTS HAVE EXITED THE BUILDING,
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN YOUR GRADUATE AND THE FACULTY ON THE COMMONS.
GRADUATES, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
WE ARE PROUD TO CALL YOU GRCC ALUMNI.
(applause, cheering)
(playing Vasilijj Agapkin's "A Slavic Farewell")
(music playing)
(music playing)
(music playing)
(music fading out) (applause)
>> (indistinct speaking). (laughing)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
>> THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
YEAH! (applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
>> FIVES, FIVES, FIVES!
>> WHOO!
>> WHOO!
YES!
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)
(applause, cheering)