For all SDCC news: Facebook | Twitter | www.sdcity.edu |
See you at 5pm graduation on Friday!
SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE TO AWARD 1,600 DEGREES & CERTIFICATES
Friday, May 26 | 5:00 p.m. | Balboa Park
San Diego (May 22, 2017) —San Diego City College will hold its 2017 Commencement at the outdoor Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on Friday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Graduates range in age from 17 to 84 and more than 500 are expected to participate in the commencement activities.
▪ Of the more than 1,100 associate degrees and nearly 500 certificates awarded, the most popular
disciplines among the graduates include the liberal arts and sciences, behavioral studies, business
administration, psychology, biology and nursing education.
▪ Nearly one-third of the 1,400 graduates will graduate with Honors (3.50-3.74 GPA),
High Honors (3.75-3.99) or Highest Honors (4.0 GPA).
▪ Nearly 200 students will receive two or more awards.
▪ The graduates include 193 active duty or veteran military personnel.
▪ City College graduates come from across the country, including New York, Texas, Florida and
Colorado, and from around the globe, including as far away as Liberia and Kenya.
FORMER COLLEGE PRESIDENT GRADUATES WITH HIGH HONORS
Dr. Terry Burgess, college president at San Diego City College from 2001-2013, will be graduating with high honors with an associate’s degree in Spanish. In retirement, Burgess said he and his wife, Emily, also graduating, were able to pursue their interest in learning Spanish. Both joined the City College Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica last summer and plan to do so again this summer. Burgess says the experience of attending community college was much like his other undergraduate experiences, since the subject matter was new to him. “The courses were challenging and certainly on par with my university experiences,” Burgess said. “City College is a very special place and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to experience it in so many different ways.
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Daron Woods, the City College Associated Students Government president, is the student commencementspeaker.Daron also serves as one of three student trustees on the San Diego Community College District’s governing board and is a member of Hermanos Unidos/ Brothers United (HUBU).
Originally from Trinidad, Daron is a Phi Theta Kappa Honor student graduating with an associate of arts degree in Spanish. He plans to attend UCSD and pursue his education in International Studies and Political Science, with a minor in Global Health.
FACULTY OF THE YEAR – GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
Anita Johnson, professor of nursing was selected by her students to receive the Golden Apple Award for Faculty of the Year. Anita earned her bachelors and master’s degrees in nursing from Bethel College in St. Paul, MN. Her areas of expertise include Obstetrical, Pediatric, and Medical-Surgical Nursing. When asked how she felt about being honored by her students Anita said, “I am surprised, honored and humbled. I just work each day and try to the best I can to help students learn and be successful. The fact that students think I do a good job is a huge honor.”
CLASSIFED OF THE YEAR – GOLDEN STAR AWARD
Craig Chatfield, Broadcast Engineer in the Radio, TV and Film department was selected by students to receive the Golden Star Award for Classified Member of the Year. Craig has been employed with the College since 1987 and was a National Sports Emmy Winner during the 1996 Olympics on NBC. As an alumnus of City College, Craig said “To be honored by students as the Golden Star Classified Employee is the highest honor I could ever hope for.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Following graduation, City College graduates transfer on to prestigious four-year colleges and begin summer programs and internships. The City College Math, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Program has over 30 students planning to transfer to such colleges as San Diego State University and the Universities of California at San Diego, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Irvine, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and UC Riverside, Cal Poly, San Jose State, The California Maritime Academy, and the University of Alaska. Additionally over 40 MESA students will be entering summer programs/internships across 9 different states from New York to Texas. They will intern at such companies as Qualcomm, NASA, General Electric, and General Atomics. These students plan to pursue their studies in a variety of fields, including microbiology, nanoengineering, biochemistry, mechanical engineering, structural engineering and applied mathematics.
Completing her year as Interim President, Denise Whisenhunt shared, “Like other City College graduates over our past 100-plus years, our students are the face of a new generation in a fast-changing world. We are so proud of all of our out graduates for reaching this milestone”.
Following a year-long search, San Diego City College will welcome a new college president to campus on July 11, Dr. Ricky Shabazz. Dr. Shabazz comes to City College from San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), where he serves as Vice President of Student Services and has been responsible for leading the college’s strategic initiatives, student support programs, various instructional programs, and educational partnerships with K-12 schools and employers.
About San Diego City College: Founded in 1914, San Diego City College celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2014. Serving as the educational cornerstone of downtown San Diego, City College offers 200 degrees and certificates, and more than 1,500 classes. City College is part of the San Diego Community College District, comprised of City College, Mesa College, Miramar College, and Continuing Education. For more information, visit: www.sdcity.edu. For graduation information: www.sdcity.edu/graduation.