News Release

SK Campus

Cerro Coso Honors Graduates During 33rd Commencement Exercises

Edwards AFB, 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 South Kern Campus students were honored among the 256 graduates:

AA Degrees

Erin Bruner
Misti Miller
Stacey Hormann
Anna Nelson
Shana Young- Honor grad
Samatha Carpenter
Chandrika Good
Ruby Lynn Allen
Francine Autry-Scott – Honor grad
Thomas Cobb
Jamie Collins
Alejandro Zungia

AS Degrees

Sylvia Sattler
Chelsea Quinn
Valerie Ivanov – Honor grad
Michele Kegel
Michele Hurd

Certificates of Completion

Michael Garrison
Mirjana Krainovic

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Facilities Development and Public Information (760) 384-6230