News Release
KRV Campus
Cerro Coso Honors Graduates During 33rd Commencement Exercises
Kern River Valley, CA – May 17, 2006
Cerro
Coso Community College's 33rd Commencement Exercises were held in the Gym of
the Raymond A. McCue Athletic Complex on Friday evening, May 12.
Friends, relatives, staff and faculty gathered to honor a class of 256
eligible graduates from the Indian Wells Valley Campus in Ridgecrest (77%),
South Kern Center at Edwards Air Force Base (5%), Kern River Valley Center
in Lake Isabella (6%), Eastern Sierra College Center located in Bishop and
Mammoth Lakes (7%) and Online students (5%). Fifty-four percent of the
graduates have children and the average student took 3 years to complete
their degree. The total number of graduates is comprised of 156 Associate of
Arts degrees, 64 will receive associate of science degrees, and 34 students
will receive Certificates of Completion. Twenty-seven students graduated
with honors.
Dr. Sharon K. Dyer, President of Cerro Coso Community College stated,
"Eleanor Roosevelt once said," the future belongs to those who believe in
the beauty of their dreams" tonight, I believe that the future belongs to
you, our graduates. For the students who come to Cerro Coso, their dreams
include a new career, transfer to a university, a home and family...a
successful life." "Our community College is the bridge that students cross
to reach their dreams. We hope we have been the bridge to a brighter future
for each of you, so that you in turn, can make our future brighter and the
world a better place for all of us." Dyer concluded.
Retiring
faculty members June Wasserman and Leo Girardot served as the Grand Faculty
Marshals. Wasserman worked for the College for over 24 years and served as
the Director of Counseling Services. Girardot worked for Cerro Coso for 33
years as Professor of History and Psychology.
Dr. Vicki Boyer was selected as the Alumni Association's Distinguished
Commencement Speaker. Boyer received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in
1966 from the Ohio State University in Columbus. Boyer and her husband
Justin met in an English class at Cerro Coso. The happily married couple
resides in the Kern River Valley with their two sons. Boyer and her husband
started the Kernville Animal Hospital five years ago.
The Academic Senate selected three graduates to address the assemblage,
Susan Good (A.A. in Social Science) and Jason Duque (A.A. in Social Science)
both from the Indian Wells Valley Campus and Timothy Gerarden (A.A. General
Education) from the Kern River Valley Campus.
The following Kern River Valley Campus students were honored among the 256 graduates:
AA Degrees
Maggie Corral
Timothy Gerarden
David Rich
April Altamirano
Joshua Burns- Honor grad
Jennifer Guerra
Michelle Phillips- Honor grad
Katrina Haughton
Andrea Hood
Vanessa Vasquez
Barbara Raider
Terri Whitley- Honor grad
AS Degrees
Jennifer Guerra
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Facilities Development and Public Information (760)
384-6230