COMMENCEMENT: Three graduation ceremonies to be held
Graduates are being recognized in three ceremonies this month: IVCCs Commencement, the Pinning Ceremony for Associate Degree Nursing graduates, and a General Education Development ceremony.
About 130 graduates are expected to participate in IVCC commencement ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. May 17 in the gymnasium.
Psychology instructor Gilbert Meyer will be the featured speaker. Meyer, who has been on the staff since 1975, is retiring.
The IVCC Wind Ensemble will provide music, and graduate Jennifer Baraconi will sing the national anthem. Outgoing student trustee Lisa Twardowski and the incoming student trustee will present the invocation and benediction.
Following the hour-long program, IVCC will host a reception. At press time, Kelly Conrad, director of admissions and records, was not certain whether the reception would be in the college cafeteria or in a tent near the gym. She said Student Ambassadors would be available to guide people to the reception.
"The reception is a great opportunity for graduates, fellow students, faculty and parents to mingle and celebrate the graduates' accomplishments," she said.
NURSE PINNING CEREMONY
The Pinning Ceremony for ADN graduates is at 11 a.m. May 18 in the Cultural Centre with a reception to follow in the cafeteria. The ceremony is planned by the student nurses, and the reception is hosted by the Student Nurse Association.
Approximately 30 nurses will be graduating and receiving their IVCC nursing pins.
Gloria Bouxsein, chair of the health professions division, described the pinning as "a rite of passage" that grants nursing graduates an entry into the healthcare arena and allows them to take their R.N. licensing exam.
"This ceremony culminates two years of hard work and dedication of the students and their families," she said. "It is a beautiful and touching ceremony…a day for family, friends and instructor to come together and celebrate the accomplishments achieved by the students and to thank their loved ones for all their support."
GED GRADUATES HONORED
The Adult Education program will honor its General Education Development graduates at 6:30 p.m. on May 20 in the Cultural Centre.
Invitations have been sent to all recent GED graduates. Those who have not yet responded to an invitation or who did not receive an invitation and are a past or present GED graduate who would like to participate should call the Adult Education program at 224-0345 by May 13.
Friends and family are welcome, and childcare will be provided.