Roxbury Community College 36th Annual Commencement

RoxBURY Community College

O^SSth Annual
/ ^Commencement

Friday, May 20, 2011
One O'clock P.M.

Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center

The National Anthem

Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early light.
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight.
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air.
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Francis Scott Key
1779 - 1843

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the list'ning skies.
Let is resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us.
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

James Weldon Johnson

1871 - 1938

rogram

Prelude
Processional

The audience is requested to remain seated during the processional for
students and faculty.

Grafton Job Corps Color Guard will post the colors.

National Anthem

Ms. Katani Sumner

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Led by Mr. Alonzo Harris

Students' Greetings from Around the World

Greetings From the President

Dr. TerrenceA. Gomes

Special Recognition to William (Bill) Hart, Executive Director ofMCCEO

Greetings From the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department
of Higher Education

Dr. Richard M. Freeland, Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of
Higher Education

Greetings From the Alumni

Ms. Mayra Welsh, President of RCC Alumni

Musical Selection

Ms. Katani Sumner

Introduction of Community Service Recipient

Dr. Alane K. Shanks, Vice President of Administration and Finance

Community Service Award

Dr. Keith D. Crawford

Introduction of the Valedictorian

Dr. Brenda W. Mercomes, Vice President of Academic Affairs

Valedictorian

Ms. Brooke Tyree Lynch

Introduction of the Commencement Speaker

Dr. Stephanie C. Janey, Vice President of Enrollment Management and
Student Affairs

Commencement Address

Andrea J. Cabral, Esq., Suffolk County Sheriff

Musical Selection

Ms. Katani Sumner

Conferring of Degrees and Certificates

1

Authorization of the Board of Trustees

Ms. Michele Courton Brown, Chair, Board of Trustees
Dr. TerrenceA. Gomes, President

Introduction of Degree and Certificate Candidates

Presided by Dr. Brenda W. Mercomes, Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Nancy Teel, Dean, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies introduces
Candidates for Associate of Arts Degree

Dr. Kyrsis R. Rodriguez, Interim Dean, Science, Technology, Engineering &
Math introduces Candidates for Associate of Science Degree

Dr. Gloria Cater, Dean of Health Sciences introduces Candidates for
Certificates with specification

Presentation of Degrees and Certificates to the Students

Ms. Michele Courton Brown, Chair, Board of Trustees

Dr. TerrenceA. Gomes, President

Presided by Dr. Brenda W. Mercomes, Vice President of Academic Affairs

President's Charge to the Graduating Class of 2011

Dr. TerrenceA. Gomes, President

Recessional

The audience is requested to remain seated during the recessional and is
invited immediately after the ceremony to a reception in the Reggie Lewis
Track and Athletic Center Gymnasium.

2

ssage from the President

Dr. Terrence A. Gomes

Today is a landmark in the chosen path for your Hves.
Beyond this landmark, or signpost, awaits a world
around you that is real and exciting. But this is not
just the end; think of today as the beginning of new
opportunities, experiences and growth.

I would like for you to remember today, not just the
moment, but the years that have led to this moment.
Remember the days spent together in class, the hard
work and sacrifices endured, and the friendships that
have been built along the way.

Education offers opportunities for changing how we choose to live, how
we choose to educate, and how we choose to govern ourselves for future
generations to come. Please grasp the opportunities when they arise, for
therein, lies the key to your future and the future of all our communities.

I am very proud of you and your accomplishments. Your graduation will
help pave the way as you travel the road to greater success, both in college
and beyond. You will be the leaders of tomorrow and with the education
you now have and will seek further, you v^ll reach new heights and achieve
your dreams.

My heartiest congratulations to the Class of 2011. I wish each of you the
very best and much success in the future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Terrence A. Gomes
President

3

mmencement Speaker

Suffolk County Sheriff, Andrea J. Cabral, Esq.

Andrea J. Cabral, Esq. was sworn in on November 29,
2002 as the 30th Sheriff of Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
She is the first female sheriff in the Commonwealth's
history. Originally appointed by former Governor Jane
Swift, she was elected to a full term in 2004 and re-elected
in 2010. She brings an extensive legal background and a
commitment to public safety to her position.

Sheriff Cabral is responsible for the operation of the House

of Correction, the Suffolk County Jail and the Civil Process Division. The
Suffolk County Sheriffs Department is the largest sheriffs department in the
Northeast and the 30th largest in the United States. It has over 1000 employees,
including executive managers, corrections officers, investigators, educators,
health care providers, caseworkers and administrative staff, whose primary
responsibility is to provide safe care, custody, control and rehabilitative support
for approximately 2,700 offenders, daily. The average operating budget for the
Department is $96 million.

Sheriff Cabral is a member of the Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association. Following
a two-year term as Vice President, she served as its President from 2008 -
2009.

Sheriff Cabral's career in public service spans 24 years. She began her legal
career in 1986 as a staff attorney in the Suffolk County Sheriff s Department
at the Charles Street Jail, preparing and arguing motions for bail reduction in
the Suffolk Superior Court. Subsequently, she served as an assistant district
attorney in both the District and Superior Courts in the Middlesex County
District Attorney's Office from 1987-1991.

From 1991-1993, Sheriff Cabral was an Assistant Attorney General, where she
worked in the Torts Division of the Government Bureau and the Civil Rights
Division of the Public Protection Bureau. Sheriff Cabral then began work at
the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office in 1993 under District Attorney,
Ralph C. Martin III. From 1993-1994, she was director of the Roxbury District
Court Family Violence Project. As director, she prosecuted domestic violence
cases (including the county's first stalking case) and helped to establish new

4

administrative policies and procedures for the processing of such cases in the
Roxbury District Court. In March 1994, Sheriff Cabral became Chief of the
Domestic Violence Unit where she supervised and trained district and superior
court staff in the preparation and prosecution of major domestic violence felony
cases. She also indicted and prosecuted major domestic violence felony cases in
Suffolk Superior Court. In 1998, Sheriff Cabral was promoted to Chief of District
Courts and Community Prosecutions. In this position, she developed district
court policies, staff supervision and evaluation tools, training curricula and case
management practices in Suffolk County's eight district courts and the Boston
Municipal Court. Sheriff Cabral also oversaw the staffing and supervision of
all district court community prosecutions programs, which included the Safe
Neighborhood Initiatives and Prosecutor in Police Stations (PIPS) Programs.

Sheriff Cabral's published works include: Obtaining, Enforcing and Defending
Ch.209A Restraining Orders in Massachusetts and co-authorship of the article,
Same Gender Domestic Violence: Strategies for Change in Creating Courtroom
Accessibility.

In addition to receiving numerous awards and honors throughout the years, in
2007, Sheriff Cabral was named an Eisenhower Fellow and traveled to Australia
for a month-long study of their criminal justice system. She is on the Board of
the Mass Mentoring Partnership and serves on the National Re-entry Resource
Center's Advisory Committee.

In 2010, Sheriff Cabral was one of 18 experts appointed to the Office of Justice
Programs' Science Advisory Board (SAB) by the United States Attorney General,
Eric Holder. The SAB was created to bridge the gap between research and
practice in the criminal justice fields. It provides an extra-agency review of and
recommendations for Office of Justice Programs' research, statistics, and grant
programs, and ensures that programs and activities are scientifically sound and
pertinent to policymakers and practitioners.

Sheriff Cabral is a graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law
School.

5

mmunity Service Award Recipient

Keith Dwain Crawford, Ph.D., M.D.

Dr. Keith Dwain Crawford is a graduate of Prairie
View A&M University, a Historically Black University in
Texas. He received his MD from the University of Texas
(Houston) and Ph.D. from Harvard University. After
the completion of his post-doctoral training, he joined
the staff of Brigham and Women's Hospital to pursue a
research program in Osteoimmunology and Regenerative
Medicine. In 2007, Dr. Crawford's laboratory discovered
a new adult stem cell, the "early lineage adult" stem cell
or ELA cells, which has the ability to differentiate into a wide variety of tissues.
His latest research focuses on improving our understanding of osteoarthritis in
the elderly, stress fractures in female athletes, and the development of ELA cell-
based therapeutics for the acceleration of fracture healing. He is the director of
the Department of Molecular Orthopedics at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
His laboratory discovered a novel new stem cell which is capable of regenerating
injured tissue. His team is actively researching the properties of these cells.
Recently, a regenerative therapeutic procedure was created to enhance bone
healing and is presently being used to treat patients.

In addition to his research career, Dr. Crawford spends time mentoring large
numbers of students. To increase the number of underrepresented students in
the Life Sciences, he serves as the Director of the STARS program at Brigham
and Women's Hospital and scientific advisor to the VRIP and SCRIP Summer
Programs at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Crawford's volunteer work focuses on providing the underserved and
underprivileged with opportunities that they may not otherwise have, including
education, employment and social networking. The development of the Life
Sciences Institute (LSI) at Roxbury Community College is where he is currently
centering his attention while simultaneously providing internships for Roxbury
Community College students in his research lab at Brigham and Women's
Hospital.

6

/usical Selection

Katani Sumner

Katani Sumner did what was expected of a
young, bright and gifted Brown University graduate;
she became an executive in a large well-known
corporation. In fact, she became the first African
American New England Unit Manager in the history
of this corporation. Despite her successes, deep
down inside, Katani felt that her most precious gift
was the gift of song. Everyone who hears Katani
experiences her undeniable talents, vitality, confidence
and intelligence. Even with a Master's degree from

Harvard, she still yields to the call within to spread the good news.

Katani's talents and experiences in singing are far reaching, including Gospel,
Jazz, R&B, and theatrical productions. She has been a featured performer as
well as a producer, director and vocal arranger. Katani is perhaps best known
as the "Inspirational MC" for ten years at the Original House of Blues' Sunday
Gospel Brunch in Harvard Square, where she was also a featured performer.
Katani was most recently seen as the host of the Sunday Gospel Brunch at the
new House of Blues in the Fenway, as the lead female vocalist for the Manhattan
Touch band, singing The National Anthem at a Celtic's game and as featured
vocalist at Symphony Hall for Gospel Night at the Pops.

7

Degrees in Course

Degrees are presented in the following order.

^_J^^ociate of Arts

MOHAMED IbRAIM AbDULLAHI**

Biological Science

Almaz Asfaw
Health Careers

Gilbert Celestin
Health Careers

Warsame Abdullahi
Pre-Engineering

WiLGIE AUGUSTIN

Musical Arts

Manoucheka Charlessaint
Liberal Arts

Beatrice B. Achu
Health Careers

Fernando Andres Avila**
Liberal Arts

Chandrakant P, Chaudhary
Pre-Engineering

Eliz.\beth Bolanle Adubi
Mustafa Sotayo
Health Careers

KoDJO Agblekpe
Social Science

Cynda Aleida
Liberal Arts

Feven D. Alemayehu***
Biological Science

Odion H. Aloba
Health Careers

Rose J. Altenor
Health Careers

Melissa Ivania Alvarez Garclv
Liberal Arts

Caroline M. Ambris
Liberal Arts

Paule-Flavy Ambroise
Health Careers

Joan Natalie Andino
Health Careers

Latoya Tamiel Anson
Social Science

Diane Appleberry
Business Administration

Lashawnta Armstrong
Business Administration

Olitvvaseun Asere
Health Careers

Simeon Awosan
Liberal Arts

Sophia Linda Baptiste
Liberal Arts

Philippe G. Basile**
Biological Science

Achille T. Bavoua
Biological Science

Molene Bolivar
Health Careers

Cindy L. Bonilla
Health Careers

Beverly Anita Bostic**
Business Administration

Sheila Bray
Social Science

Christina Brown***
Health Careers

Donald Bryant
Social Science

Jesula Cadet
Health Careers

Cindy Castillo
Liberal Arts

Franchesca Milagros Castro

ViLLANUEVA

Arts and Humanities

Altagrace Cazeau
Health Careers

Wendy Cid
Liberal Arts

Ester Lesly Coelho
Health Careers

Florence Commock
Health Careers

Marlene Constant
Health Careers

Niemah S. Cooper
Liberal Arts

Alexandre Coriolan
Biological Science

Jennifer Kelly De Souza Costa
B usiness Administra tion

Tammy R. Daily
Health Careers

Hemanuel Billy Damis
Theater Arts

Jessica DaRosa
Health Careers

Patricia R. De jesus
Health Careers

Fabienne Demas
Health Careers

Ricardo Depina
Business Administration

Elvis-Johnson O. Diblv
Biological Science

(*) = Honors Program f **> = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord (^***; = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

10

sociate of Arts

Gregory Dorce
Health Careers

Gregory Dorce
Biological Science

Martine Dorlean
Social Science

Irlande Dupont
Health Careers

Berclyne a. Edouard
Social Science

Ralph E. Enayo
Business Administration

Marlon Espinal

Broadcast Medla Technology

Kelllv M. Estrella-Chan
Social Science

Caphna Etienne
Health Careers

Alicea Evans
Liberal Arts

Rachel A. Evans^^
Health Careers

Francisca Falaise
Health Careers

Nadeia Faustin
Social Science

Johanne Louise Felt
Health Careers

Maurice Antonio Fenton
Liberal Arts

Maurice Antonio Fenton
English

SONIA E. FiGUEROA

Health Careers

Erica P. Johnson-Findlay
Health Careers

Kecheler Fleurima
Biological Science

LoREN N. Forbes***
Liberal Arts

Evens Louick Francois***'*
Biological Science

Evens Louick Francois***'*
Liberal Arts

Sean Jose Galvez, Jr.**
Business Administration

Gilberte Ganthier
Health Careers

Dl\na Garcia**
English

MoNiQUE Gauvin***
Biological Science

MoNiQUE Gauvin***
Health Careers

MiREiLLE Charles-Gay**
Liberal Arts

Tenealia Ann Gilmore**
Liberal Arts

Rhonda Alexis Glenn
Health Careers

YoNAS A. Goshu
Biological Science

Samartha R. Graham
Health Careers

JiMM Sterlay Guerrier
Business Administration

Chenae Zakiya Harris
Liberal Arts

Chenae Zakiya Harris
Health Careers

Elizabeth F. Hester**
Liberal Arts

Renee Hogan
Liberal Arts

Jesika B. Holmes
Broadcast Media Technology

Kevin Howard-Lee
Liberal Arts

Subhan Huseynov
Business Administration

Chinenye N. Ibiu
Liberal Arts

Francesca Uchechi Ihenetu
Health Careers

Charity Iriowen
Biological Science

Josephine Isidore
Health Careers

Kevin Ivey

Business Administration

John Herbert Jackson
Social Science

Pallas Theresa James
Health Careers

Denise Jawando
Health Careers

Stephania Jean-Baptiste
Health Careers

EvELYNE Jean-Paul
Liberal Arts

JiLA A. JiLA

Liberal Arts

C") = Honors Program (*^) = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

11

sociate of Arts

Angela Joachim-Marcelo
Liberal Arts

Xavier Miranda
Arts and Humanities

Augustine O. Osemwegie
Health Careers

VmAN Kargbo
Health Careers

NicKSON Lopes Monteiro
Business Administration

Mercedes Sada Person
Health Careers

Alexandria D. Webb
Liberal Arts

LuL Mukhtar
Health Careers

Prudent Bernyl Peters
Biological Science

Lisa Leary
Liberal Arts

Guilain Mukuna
Liberal Arts

Aretha Beck Phillip
Health Careers

Christopher S. LeaSton
Liberal Arts

Ashley D. Murchison
Liberal Arts

Geraldine Pimentel
Social Science

DoMiNGAS DeBurgo Lima
Health Careers

Arthur Lormil
Business Administration

MiMOSE Louissaint
Health Careers

Raymonde Mallebranche
Health Careers

Debbie Marrero
Health Careers

AsHANTi J. Martinez
Health Careers

KiRRA Nichola McDonald
Business Administration

Celia Medina

B usiness Administra tion

Jean B. Mercredy
Biological Science

Geraldine A. Metogho
Health Careers

Regine Michel
Health Careers

Sheryll Tanya Michel**
Health Careers

Samantha Margaret Francesca

Nam-Krane**

Liberal Arts

Rosemary Wambui Ngugi
Nursing

Veronica S. Nji
Health Careers

Veronica S. Nji
Liberal Arts

Martial Sanchez Ocampo**
Liberal Arts

Cyprian Odeke
Liberal Arts

Esther Abimbola Ogunlade
Biological Science

Jennifer Okwemba***
Biological Science

Tiffany Oliver
Biological Science

Markysa 0'Loughlin**5*
B usiness Administration

Josephine Omoyemwen
Omoruyi**
Biological Science

Jennifer Plummer
Health Careers

Aracelis Puello**
Health Careers

Aracelis Puello**
Liberal Arts

YOUSELORD PyRAME

Biological Science

YoUSELORD PyRAME

Health Careers

Frances Salina Rachel
Liberal Arts

Alpha Bethanla Recio**
Liberal Arts

RusHELL A. Reid
Liberal Arts

RusHELL A. Reid
Health Careers

Labake Riley Adamolekun***
Health Careers

Charles Lamar Robinson
Liberal Arts

Engels Rodriguez
International Business

(*) = Honors Program (**) = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord (***) = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

12

sociate of Arts

Gale A. Rodriguez
Health Careers

Jose F. Rojas, Jr.
Business Administration

Hermitao Soares Rosa
B usiNESS Administration

Ryan Rosario***
PrE'Engineering

IzELiA Rosembert-Francisque
Health Careers

Waderthon Saint Loth
Health Careers

RosNY Saint Louis
Health Careers

Alexander K. Sanders
Social Science

Brandi Jahyda Santiago
Health Careers

Malyun SharifIbrahim
Social Science

LaRonda M. Shedd
Business Administration

Rahel Tamiru Shawaafere
Health Careers

Daisy Silva
Liberal Arts

Christine Slaney
Health Careers

Jenese J. Smith
Health Careers

LaMarr Smith
Liberal Arts

Sharece R. Soto
Liberal Arts

Daniqua Arielle Springer
Business Administration

Cassandre St. Louis
Liberal Arts

Deliclv D. Stephens
Liberal Arts

Oluwatoyin Akinola Stevenson
Health Careers

Faisal Issa Suleiman**
Biological Science

Desmond L. Sumrall
Business Administration

Rebekah Tirfe Tassew
Biological Science

Lethl\ LaBonne Tyesha Tate
English

Madeligne Tena
Liberal Arts

Haymanot Tesfaye
Business Administration

Belayneh Tesfaye
Pre-Engineering

Gertrude Onyinye Ugwudike
Business Administration

Delores D. Vann
Health Careers

SonyVilbon
International Business

Rhode Mirma Viuean
B USINESS Administration

RucHAMA Viuean
Biological Science

Maryse Vilme
Health Careers

Nebiyu M. Waka
Biological Science

LaShauna Nicole Walker
Health Careers

LaShauna Nicole Walker
Business Administration

Megan Wallace-Andrade**
Liberal Arts

Ayana C. Walters
Biological Science

Margaret Shanta Warren
Health Careers

Karen Marie Watson**
Biological Science

Meshell L. Whyte**
Health Careers

Jennifer Alveranga- Williamson
Health Careers

Monica Marie Wilson
Health Careers

Morgan Wright, Jr.
Business Administration

Rebecca Zaehring
Liberal Arts

Rebecca Zaehring
Business Administration

Emmanuella Zama
Liberal Arts

Ledia J. Zapata
Health Careers

(*) = Honors Program (**) = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord {***) = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

13

sociate of Science

Edith O. Agbonghagbonse**
Nursing

Freshes A. Alexander
Criminal Justice

Shaquita Iesha Alexander
Nursing

Reginald Alleyne***
Radiologic Technology

Deunilce Scares Alves
Early Childhood Education

Messay T. Araya**
Accounting

Karleny Pergentino Aronson
Nursing

Alice P. Barros
Criminal Justice

Sherly Elisabeth Bazile**
Early childhood Education

Fabl\n J. Belgrave
Criminal Justice

Shakela a, Belton
Criminal Justice

Musie a. Beyene
Accounting

Sean H. Booker
Accounting

Erica N. Boyd
Nursing

Natalie Marcia Braithwaite
Business Management

SoNiA D. Brewster**
Radiologic Technology

Jessie A. Brito
Business Management

Damika S. Browne

Early Childhood Education

Rosy Brunot
Nursing

Sandra D. Burdette
Early Childhood Education

Rachel Allison Caesar
Accounting

Joshua F. Callanan**
Radiologic Technology

LouRDY Candio
Nursing

LoDuviNA Teixeira Carvalho
Nursing

Christopher Caulfield
Nursing

Linda C. Cirino

Early childhood Education

Patrice K. Cort
Criminal Justice

Latasha M. Darget
Criminal Justice

Katherine De la Cruz
Business Management

Teresita L. Dominguez
Criminal Justice

Chukwuemeka Duru**
Radiologic Technology

Benedicta Usinode Eigbokhan
Nursing

Marcl\ Eisner**
Radiologic Technology

Esombe E. Elad

Information Systems Technology

Felix Mbengu Elad
Nursing

Robin Aliese Elam-Miller
Criminal Justice

Billy X. Etienne
Criminal Justice

Kaleem R. Fountain
Criminal Justice

Rene Franks

Early Childhood Education

Jean Roody Frejuste
Network Administration

Frisnel Joseph
Criminal Justice

RoMARio Gelin

Information Systems Technology

Rachel Georges
Nursing

Shieda R. Gilles
Nursing

Quantresa R. Goods
Criminal Justice

Roland Allen Rillo Gutay
Biotechnology

Karla Tatlvna Guzman**
Criminal Justice

Pahada E. Hanscom
Nursing

(*) = Honors Program (**) = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord (***) = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

14

sociate of Science

Samia a. Hicks
Criminal Justice

Rebekah Sharon Hill
Nursing

Spiarmecka Horton
Nursing

Ifrah Ibrahim

Early Childhood Education

Shynna Jackson
Criminal Justice

Lanise C. Jacobs
Criminal Justice

Jensine Hilton Jean-Pierre
Criminal Justice

Kimberly Avis Johnson
Criminal Justice

YuDELKA Julian
Criminal Justice

Kadl^^ Kelly Knight
Early Childhood Education

Sofia Kernizan
Accounting

Philip Musela Khakali
Nursing

OmarLakri
Nursing

Chatoya Lawson

Early Childhood Education

Lanee Altonese Leggett
Network Administration

Durell Lamont Lewis
Microcomputer Applications

Angel Lipinski
Nursing

Roosevelt Liriano
Accounting

Rasheed Lodge
Criminal Justice

Brooke Tyree Lynch***
Information Systems Technology

Patrick Ryan Lynch
Nursing

EddahN, Magua
Nursing

Melissa Mahiouz**
Biotechnology

Sherry L. McCullough
Criminal Justice

Denise Lorraine McDonald
Early Childhood Education

Maureen Mitchell
Information Systems Technology

KiMBERLEY MoORE***

Criminal Justice

Derlyn Moronta
Criminal Justice

Francis Muiruri
Nursing

Florence Marsha Namuyimbwa
Nursing

Lee Mwaura Njeri
Nursing

Magali Velazquez Noriega
Nursing

Ngozi Cecillv Nwosu
Nursing

Onyebuchi C, Ogbo**
Nursing

Michaela Olivier
Nursing

Palmer

Shayla-Sharee Parkes
Criminal Justice

Myriam Paul
Accounting

DiVAH JOHNETPA PaYNE

Computer Information Systems

Alyson Marie Moher
Early Childhood Education

Joseph Harry Montuna**
Accounting

Jaime Vladimir Melara
Information Systems Technology

Eric K. Omari
Nursing

Erika L. Mercado

Early Childhood Education

lorean e. oviedo
Criminal Justice

LuDGY Michel
Nursing

AmaOwusu
Nursing

ViOLAiNE A. Michel
Accounting

Khalid Marquise
Criminal Justice

(*) = Honors Program C^*) = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord i'***; = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

15

^^j^^ociate of Science

Andrea Paynter
Nursing

Joy R. Singletary
Business Management

Manuel Vasquez

Information Systems Technology

Wendy Elizabeth Pequero
Early Childhood Education

Nate Smith
Criminal Justice

Myetia Ann Vaughan
Criminal Justice

Cynthl\ Perdomo

Early Childhood Education

Charlotte Akoto Somlah**
Criminal Justice

Barbara Voljvlar
Nursing

Vicente Pinto
Network Administration

Sharece R. Soto
Criminal Justice

Ashley Ren'ee Washington
Early Childhood Education

Tina Pone
Nursing

Daniqua Arielle Springer
Business Management

Joshua D. Wenglin
Nursing

Larraine Pope**
Criminal Justice

Meaghan p. Sullivan**
Radiologic Technology

Janelle T. Williams
Early Childhood Education

Eric Powell**
Criminal Justice

SoNYA Marie Sutton Naomi Willl^vis

Information Systems Technology Nursing

Alexander Raymond
Radiologic Technology

MoNiQUE R. Tolbert
Criminal Justice

Terrence T. Witherspoon***
Business Management

Gaile D. Registe
Nursing

Agnes Tshitenge
Office Administration

Gar-Y Chun Wong***
Information Systems Technology

Kadian Robinson
Accounting

Brittany La' Raye Turner
Early Childhood Education

Morgan Wright, Jr.
Accounting

Mandy Payne-Russ
Nursing

Obl^geli L. Ukatu
Nursing

Deborah Jacqueline Sealy
Nursing

Frank Utomi
Nursing

n = Honors Program (**) = High Hoiwrs - Black & Gold Cord (***)= Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

16

rtificates with Specification

Ranges Derline Alcide

Samia a. Hicks

Seonseray a. Gates'^*

LilLhNbhU rKALilLAL 1\ UKbllsLr

xAKALhijAL OI UDihb

jdROADCAST IVIEDIA lECHNOLOGY

Jennifer Baez

Maria Margarita Jourdain Tejeda

Sende Gliveira

1\/T T7T\Tr^A T (l'CT7Tr^'C ^DtT/^T A T TCT"

IVlhlJlCAL KyrrlLh Ori^ClAJbllDl

iJKUAUCAol IVlhDLA lECHNOLOGY

SoNiA F. Barros

MARLm\ KaNU

Sardhis B. Ortiz

J^lChJyoJtLJJ iKALI iCA±. 1\ UKoIi\Lr

/ r/~»z7 A roc 7"^ T> A z""*^! A T ^Tttz>ot\t/^
LtiLhNbhU rKACilLAL 1\ UKblNLr

LilLENbtU rHALiiLAL 1\ UKbiNG

SsALi S. Babumba

Lanee Altonese Leggett

Davide Marla Palumbo

A V A T T7r^ A T TT\ TT7C

Troy A. Byner

Chandelea Nichelle Mack

Samantha M. Parks

AT> AT T7r^ AT ^T'TTT^TTPQ

T T/^T7\TQT7r\ T> A i^^'^T A T '^Tt IT) QT\T/^

LiZBETH CaLDERON

Adwoa M. Mantey

Kamala Xavier Perez

T r/^cAT'cm J^zf Ar^Tr'AT \Tttt>qt\t/^

ToYiN 0. Covan

Paul Morgan

Volne Pluvoise

T TCT^KTQTtri T^T? ArT'ir'AJ T^fTTT^QTMn

T Tr'TTATQTrr^ J^T?Ar^nr'AT iKfTiVQTAir'

Valmeda Dickson

Derek Ng

Ann-Marie Roberts"^"^

Broadcast Media Technology

Medical Office Specialist

Broadcast Media Technology

Rafael A. Figuereo, Jr.

Lynotte Nicolas

Margaret A. Ukpokpo

Broadcast Media Technology

Licensed Practical Nursing

Licensed Practical Nursing

Roland Allen Rillo Gutay

Veronica S. Nji

Biotechnology

Licensed Practical Nursing

(The Registrar of Roxbury Community College maintains the official list of all graduates
and honor designations. This program is only for ceremonial purposes,

^^j^nors Program

Students who have fulfilled the Honors Program have maintained a minimum GPA 0/3.3
and have completed three or more Honors courses. RCC is proud of them.

^^^gh Honors

GPA 3.50 - 3.75

^y^ghest Honors

GPA 3.76 - 4.00

(*) = Honors Pmgram (**) = High Honors - Black & Gold Cord (***) = Highest Honors - Bright Yellow Sash

17

^holarships, Awards, and Honors

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc./Psi Omega Chapter Award

This award is given to an outstanding multicultural female graduate who is transferring to a
four-year institution.
Brooke Tyree Lynch

Claudia J. Tucker Award

This award is given annually to an outstanding Roxbury Community College transfer student
in honor of the mother of Roxbury Community College's Professor, Royal C. Tucker.
Josephine Omoruyi

Edith Pistorino Memorial Endowed Scholarship

This award is made possible by the late Edith Pistorino. A $1,000 annual scholarship recog-
nizes outstanding academic achievement by students who are enrolled full-time in a degree
program which leads to transfer to a baccalaureate institution following graduation from
Roxbury Community College. To qualify for this scholarship, students must have achieved a
grade point average of 3.50 or better for two consecutive semesters and not be in their final
semester at Roxbury Community College.
Helen AcHWEi

Francina E. Copland Getzer Endowed Award

This $250 award is made to an African American student who achieved at least a 3.00 grade
point average at Roxbury Community College, has been accepted at a four-year college and
will be pursuing a baccalaureate degree.
Melissa Alvarez

International Student Scholarship

International Student Scholarships are available for full-time students in good academic
standing and have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00. These are $1,000
scholarships. To be eligible to receive these scholarships, students must provide documenta-
tion which certifies that the student holds a current student visa.

Adedayo Shelika

Haitian Student Scholarship

The Haitian Student Scholarship is made possible through the generosity of Nunotte Zama,
Esq., class of 1991, and a member of the Roxbury Community College Foundation Board of Di-
rectors. This scholarship award of $250 is awarded to a full-time student of Haitian heritage in
good academic standing who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50.
Olga Jean-Michel

James H* Caesar Endowed Scholarship

In 1986, a Roxbury resident established this scholarship to honor the opportunities this country
and community had given him. In selecting the recipient, preference is given to graduating
students who have attended the Cooper Community Center of Roxbury or the Roxbury Boys
and Girls Club. If this criterion does not apply, the scholarship may be awarded to a talented
Roxbury Community College student from the Roxbury community.
Esther Ogunlade

18

uholarships, Awards, and Honors

Joan and Howard Resnikoff Endowed Scholarship

This award is made possible through the generosity of Joan and Howard Resnikoff. Ms.
Resnikoff is an artist, who served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Roxbury Com-
munity College Foundation. From earnings on this endowed fund, an annual scholarship of
$250 will be awarded to a full-time student majoring in Arts & Humanities, Broadcast Media
Technology, Musical Arts, and Theatre/ Visual Arts. The student must be a full-time student
and have attained a 3.0 or higher grade point average.
Paul Morgan

Julia Woods Brown Scholarship

This is a $500.00 scholarship in memory of Julia Woods Brown. The scholarship is made
possible through the Emeny Family Foundation. To be eligible, students need to have made
significant contributions to their communities and/or Roxbury Community College through
volunteer, in-service or extracurricular activities. First year students must have graduated
with honors from high school, second year students must have attained a cumulative grade
point average of 3.25 or higher at Roxbury Community College. Students may have financial
need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
Daniel Alfaro

Karen Hodges Walker Graduation Award

To commemorate the life of the late Executive Director of Development at the College, Karen
Hodges Walker, the RCC Foundation will award $1000 to a graduating student who meets the
following criteria: a female African American majoring in business whose GPAis 3.5 or higher;
accepted into a four-year college or university that grants Bachelor's Degrees; two letters of
recommendation; and a short biographical statement that outlines personal and professional
goals while demonstrating leadership skills and community service.
Seonseray Oates

Karron Harris Memorial Scholarship:

This scholarship of $500 memorializes the life and service of long-time RCC employee Kar-
ron Harris. It is awarded to a student whose major is Business Administration or Business
Management and has a 3.0 college GPA.
Rachel Gomes

Letitia Garafalo Endowed Award

The Letitia Garafalo Endowed Award is made possible by a memorial contribution in her name.
A native of Quincy, Massachusetts, Ms. Garafalo used her knowledge of languages to live and
work in communities around the world. This $500 award is made to a graduating African
American student who has demonstrated academic merit at Roxbury Community College and
who received need-based assistance while a student at the College.
Samantha Graham

Martin Luther King Scholarship

The Martin Luther King Scholarship was created by the Roxbury Community College Founda-
tion to commemorate the life of Dr. King. One or two $500 scholarships are given to full-time
students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 who excel in Social Sciences
and have contributed to the Roxbury Community College community and/ or the community
in which they reside.
MiRNA Lemy

19

molarships, Awards, and Honors

Patricia Ann Raynor Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is made by the generosity of Roxbury Action Program, Inc., in memory of
Patricia Ann Raynor, the former Chairperson of the Roxbury Action Program. This $1,000
scholarship is awarded to a single parent of African descent who lives in Roxbury and is
involved with community service. The scholarship will be awarded in segments of $500 for
the fall semester and $500 for the spring semester. The awardee must maintain a 3.00 grade
point average to continue to receive the award.
Tyler Kimball

Phi Beta Sigma/RCC-Northeastern University Summer Enrichment
Program Scholarship

This scholarship requires that the student meet the following criteria: 1) African American,
Latino (a), Native American or Pacific Islander heritage; 2) resident of Roxbury or one of the
surrounding communities served by RCC; 3) GPA of 2.8 or higher; 4) cleared for graduation
through audit and fulfilled all requirements of major; 6) demonstrated leadership and com-
munity service experience; 7) accepted and submitted proof of acceptance into a four-year
institution to complete undergraduate studies.
Markysa O'Loughlin

Pratibha Bushan Scholarship:

The Hertzig family (Prof. Manju Hertzig retired as a full-time professor of ESOL at the Col-
lege) has endowed this award to honor her late mother. One $500 award will be given to a
full-time student who has completed ESOL classes at the College, has a GPA of at least 3.0
and is enrolled in a degree program at RCC.
Ramon Recio

RCCF Co-Curriculum Scholarship Award (New)

These $500 scholarships are awarded to full-time students (at least 12 college-level credit
hours) who have significantly contributed to the College through their participation in co-
curriculum activity such as student government, athletics and have earned at least a 3.0 grade
average as a full-time student.
Gregory Miller
Saleh Abbas
J AMICE Edge

RCCF Nursing Scholarships

These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the Roxbury Community College
Foundation's Board of Directors. These $500 scholarships are awarded to full-time Nursing
students in good academic standing who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.00.
Edwige David
Brian Heath

Sapers Family Opportunity Awards

This award is presented to no more than ten Roxbury Community College graduates who

transfer to four-year colleges in pursuit of baccalaureate degrees. This special "50-50" award

consists of both a scholarship and a low-interest loan. The award is made available through

the generosity of the William R. Sapers family of Boston.

MoHAMED Abdullahi Brooke Tyree Lynch Ruchama Viuean

Fernando A vila Aracelis Puello Alpha Recio

Evens Francois Rhode Viuean

20

molarships, Awards, and Honors

Second Semester Scholarship

These $500 scholarships are awarded to two full-time students (at least 12 college-level credit
hours) entering their second semester at Roxbury Community College and earned at least a
3.0 grade average as a full-time student, as defined above, their first semester at RCC.
EllaActie

Therese Dutile Giles Award

The Therese Dutile Giles Award was created and funded by her family (including Sterling Giles,
faculty member at Roxbury Community College) to honor her memory. This is a $500 award
given to the graduating student who mastered English as a Second Language and provided
exemplary service to the College and/or community.
Gregory DoRCE

Transitional Housing Situation Scholarship

These $1,000 scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the Roxbury Community

College Foundation. These scholarships are to be awarded to women who are a single parent,

in a transitional housing situation and/or head of household and in good academic standing

at the College. Homeless single parent women are to be given priority.

NOTE: To be eligible to receive this scholarship a student must provide authentic

documentation, which certifies that the student meets these criteria.

Tabitha Johnson

These $500 scholarships are awarded each semester to recognize outstanding
academic achievement. To be eligible, students must be enrolled full-time in a
degree program, and on the Dean's or President's List.

Helene Gaudette
Juliana Okon
RozANNA Riley

21

ademic Regalia

The caps, gowns and hoods of the academic procession date back to the Middle
Ages when they were common dress for scholars. In the Twelfth Century, monks
and students wore them to keep warm from the damp and drafty European castles
and halls of learning.

The Bachelor's gown has a pleated front and long, pointed sleeves. The Master's
gown, which may be worn open, is distinguished by its long square sleeves. The
Doctor's gown is trimmed with velvet panels and has three velvet bars on the bell
shaped sleeves.

The hood provides the color, contrast and S3niibolism of the procession. Certain
colors became associated with particular areas of knowledge. For example, the hood
border worn by a doctor of theology was red, a color associated with the Catholic
Church; a medical doctor wore a green border, which relates to the healing powers
of medicinal herbs.

In Europe, a uniform color system was never developed. However, in the United
States, an intercollegiate committee meeting in 1895, decided upon uniform color
standards, assigning a specific color to each field of study.

Departmental Colors of Faculty Members' Hoods & Tassels

Agriculture

Maize

Library Science

Lemon

Arts, Humanities

White

Medicine

Green

Chiropractic

Silver Gray

Music

Pink

Dentistry

Lilac

Nursing

Apricot

Economics

Copper

Pharmacy

Olive Green

Education

Light Blue

Philosophy

Dark Blue

Fine Arts

Brown

Science

Golden Yellow

Journalism

Crimson

Social Work

Citron

Law

Purple

Theology

Scarlet

22

Community College

Years of dreaming and planning came to life in 1973, when Roxbury Community
College opened its doors in the Grove Hall area of Roxbury. Despite less than ideal
surroundings - its location was a former car dealership - Roxbury Community
College's dedicated faculty, staff, and administration served the educational needs
of four hundred students. The College's mission, then, as it is now, was to provide
higher education to those Boston residents who found most other avenues to higher
education closed.

In 1975, growth was the impetus for a move to 424 Dudley Street, a former nursing
home. This move permitted the expansion and strengthening of academic programs
and student services. The College continued to grow, which precipitated another
move in 1982 to the former site of Boston State College on Huntington Avenue. As
the College continued to shift its service base to meet an expanding enrollment, the
goal to establish a permanent home for Roxbury Community College in the heart of
the communities it served, remained strong.

With much anticipation, Roxbury Community College built its new home as the
cornerstone of the Southwest Corridor in the Spring of 1988. This fifteen-acre
campus includes a state-of-the-art Media Arts Building, Academic Building,
Administration Building, Student Center, and the Reggie Lewis Track and
Athletic Center.

A global village, Roxbury Community College's multicultural and ethnically
diverse student population has set it apart from other community colleges
in the Commonwealth. Although most of our students are from Boston and
surrounding communities, many come from all over the world: North America,
Central America, South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the
Caribbean.

With renewed commitment, Roxbury Community College continues its legacy
of providing educational opportunities for all who enter its doors.

23

verning Boards and Officers

Board of Trustees

Ms. Michele Courton Brown, Chair

Ms. Anita L. Crawford, Vice Chair

Ms. Gillian Van Delft, Secretary /Clerk

Ms. Roslyn Marshall, Treasurer

Mr. Russell D. Aims

Mr. Keith Chaney

Ms. Janet Palmer Owens

Mr. Steven Tompkins

Mr. John B. Cruz, III

Ms. Yolanda Morales, Student Trustee

Executive Staff

Dr. Terrence A. Gomes
President

Dr. Brenda W. Mercomes

Vice President, Academic Affairs

Dr. Alane K. Shanks

Vice President, Administration and

Finance

Dr. Stephanie C. Janey
Vice President, Enrollment
Management and Student Affairs

Mr. Patrick Jean-Louis

Chief Information Technology Officer

Marshals

Chief College Marshal

Dr. Barbara Melnick

College Marshals

Dr. Barbara Savage
Ms. Terry Fordham
Ms. Theresa Russ

RoxBURY Community College
Foundation

Ms. Sonia L. Alleyne, President
Ms. Elizabeth Clark, Vice President
Ms. Dawn Perry, Esquire, Treasurer
Ms. Judith Kahalas, Secretaty /Clerk

Ms. Michele Courton Brown,

Ex officio member

Dr. Terrence A. Gomes,
Ex officio member

Deans

Dr. Nancy Teel

Dean of Liberal Arts and Professional
Studies

Dr. Kyrsis R. Rodriguez

Interim Dean of Science, Technology,

Engineering &Math (2010-2011)

Dr. Gloria Cater

Dean of Health Sciences

Mr. Mark Garth

Dean of Student Success

Mr. Michael Walker

Dean of Institutional Research and

Planning

Ms. Jenene Cook

Dean of Academic Technology

Walter Clark, JD

Dean of Enrollment Management and
Student Judicial Affairs

24

I

^^/pecial Thanks to the
Commencement Committee & Ushers

Commencement Committee

Ms. Carol Biiss-Furr, Co-chair
Ms. Elizabeth Clark, Co-chair
Mr. Thomas Galvln
Ms. Shonda D. Green
Mr. Kenneth Hall
Mr. Steven Keyes
Ms. Shirley Y. Leslie
Mr. Keith McDermott
Ms. Nicole McKoy
Prof. Justin A. Petty
Mr. Gib Pomkittichotcharoen
Dr. Milton L. Samuels
Dr. Barbara J. Savage
Mr. Phuong Tang

Ushers

Gloria Castro
Callie Daniels
Crystal Goncalves
Jessica Gonzalez
Angela O'Neil
Sophia Sanon
Sherrel Stephens
Darlene Thorpe
Wanda Young

RoxBURY Community College

1234 Columbus Avenue
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
Tel: (617) 427-0060