Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Bucks County Community College graduated 899 students who earned associate degrees and 109 who obtained certificates during a virtual ceremony Thursday evening.
Due to COVID-19, the event did not feature its usual in-person format and was streamed for students and families to watch. Students shifted to remote learning in March as coronavirus cases grew in the county.
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The prerecorded event featured Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia as the keynote speaker.
“As we walk through our lives, whether we face a personal or public crisis, we have to rely on our strengths,” Ellis-Marseglia said. “Education is one of them, and it will open doors and help keep you safe.”
The commissioner told the Class of 2020 that kindness, truthfulness, and working for justice were all important traits to carry forward.
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“Stay in Bucks County,” Ellis-Marseglia urged graduates. “We need you!”
Student speaker Evan Brooks reflected on the historic times and the first-ever virtual graduation ceremony.
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“We have been given a new opportunity and direction of what learning means and how to learn, presented during these unique circumstances,” Brooks, of Perkasie, reflected. “It has instilled in us a higher level of responsibility to oneself to learn, and to get work done, forcing us to think of new ways to accomplish the same goals we had in mind.”
Brooks, a Pennridge High School graduate who earned a liberal arts degree with honors at the community college, said he hopes to get more involved with politics and eventually run for office to “provide the best solutions, no matter their political origin, to the problems at hand.”
The student speaker, who is one of 10 siblings, plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business and economics. During his time at the community college, he was active in the Upper Bucks County campus’ chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and several other clubs. He co-founded three new clubs, including Students Talking Politics and the Debate Club, and helped revitalize the Honors@Bucks club.
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Bucks County Community College President Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt led the graduation.
During the ceremony, the Bucks County Community College Alumni Association presented its Alumni Achievement Awards during the ceremony to the following:
- President’s Distinguished Service Award – Dr. John Woznicki, ’87, academic administrator and Delaware Valley University faculty member
- Community Service Award – David Feinman, ’13, entrepreneur and community volunteer
- Professional Achievement Award – Glenn Bostock, ’81, entrepreneur
- Centurion Award – Marianne Kepler, ’83, Bucks faculty member
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In addition, the community college honored distinguished retiring faculty members, bestowing upon each the title of professor emeritus/emerita:
- Susan Darrah, Language & Literature
- John Dilcher, Business & Innovation
- Gail Donegan, Health Sciences
- Dr. William Ford, Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Maryann Klicka, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- Marzenna Ostrowski, Learning Resources
- Robert Porche, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- Linda Rehfuss, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
- William Yorke, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
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