News Release

IWV Campus

Dr. Mary Retterer

Cerro Coso Honors Graduates During Commencement Exercise

May 18, 2009

Cerro Coso Community College Commencement Exercises were held on the Gym of the Raymond A. McCue Athletic Complex on Friday, May 15.

Friends, relatives, staff and faculty gather to honor a class of 230 eligible graduates ( 79 males and 141 females) from the Indian Wells Valley Campus in Ridgecrest (58%), South Kern Center at Edwards Air Force Base (4%), Kern River Valley Center in Lake Isabella (7%), Eastern Sierra College Center located in Bishop and Mammoth Lakes (13%), and Online students (18%). Out of the 230 students, 145 graduated with an Associate of Arts degree, with 55 receiving an Associate of Science degree.
Twenty-one graduates received Certificate's of Achievement, ten students are 4.0 graduates, 24 graduates graduated with honors, and 18 were Phi Theta Kappa honor graduates. Mr. Dean Bernsten served as the Faculty Marshal for Commencement.

Dr. Mary Retterer, president of Cerro Coso stated to the graduates "Today is only the beginning for you, that's why we call today "commencement". Some of you are planning on attending a university and pursuing a baccalaureate degree. Perhaps even a master's or doctorate. You have been given a terrific start and a solid base for that university work"!!!

The Academic Senate selected three graduates to address the assemblage, Joshua Simpkins (A.A. in Social Science) who attended the Kern River Valley Campus, and Carissa Cash (A.A. in General Education) and Rachel Schlick (A.A. in Pre Engineering) both from the Indian Wells Valley Campus.

Eric Bruen was selected as the Alumni Association's Distinguished Commencement Speaker. Bruen holds the position of CEO at Desert Valleys Federal Credit Union, a position he has held since 2004. He holds an A.S. degree in Business Management from Cerro Coso Community College. He is a graduate of Western CUNA Management School in 2004. Eric is a major supporter of the California Credit Union League and was recently re-elected to a second term of the Board of Directors in which he is the youngest seated member of the board. Bruen is a highly active member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is also the president-elect of the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce and will begin his term in June. He also serves as the Chairman of the Desert Area Resources and Training Board of Directors.

Eric Bruen
Eric Bruen speaks to graduates.

Graduates listen intently to speakers
Graduates listen to speakers

Happy Graduates during processional
Happy graduates during recessional

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Clark, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230