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Published by Mitchell Leahy, 2017-05-09 17:49:17

Commencement PROGRAM 2017 WEB VERSION

2017 SRJC Commencement Program

Keywords: 2017 SRJC Commencement Program

NINETY EIGHTH ANNUAL

COMMENCEMENT

May 27, 2017
Ten O’Clock

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Maggie Fishman, President
Jordan Burns, Vice President

Dorothy Battenfeld, Clerk
Donald S. Edgar, Esq.
Jeff Kunde
W. Terry Lindley
Mariana Martinez

Sabrina Rawson, Student Trustee

RECEPTION

Immediately following the ceremony, a reception honoring the graduates
will be held at the Bertolini Student Center, Craig Dining Commons.
Music provided by SRJC Blue Combo,
Directed by Bennett Friedman

PHOTOGRAPHY

Grad Images is the official SRJC commencement photographer.
Please exercise caution if solicited by other photographers.

PROCESSION MARSHALLS

Keith Simons, Faculty, Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance
Robert Ethington, Dean, Student Affairs and Engagement Programs

Patie Wegman, Dean, Student Conduct & DSPS

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS

A Dreamer and Toni Oliver

It is customary for gentlemen to remove their headdress during the Pledge of
Allegiance and the playing of the National Anthem.

PROGRAM

PROCESSIONAL

“Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Dr. Frank Chong, Superintendent/President

NATIONAL ANTHEM

“Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key
Joseph Miranda, Soloist

WELCOME AND REMARKS

Dr. Frank Chong, Superintendent/President

STUDENT SPEAKER

John Diez
“LOOK OUT! From your Bubble”

MUSIC

Santa Rosa Junior College Concert Choir
Jody Benecke, Conductor
“From This House”
By Ben Allaway

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Chancellor of the California Community Colleges
“Social Impact: The Road to a Better Community Starts Today”

REMARKS

Maggie Fishman, President, Board of Trustees

PRESENTATION OF THE CLASS OF 2017 TO THE PRESIDENT

Eric Thompson, Academic Senate President

PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

Dr. Frank Chong, Superintendent/President

PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS

Maggie Fishman, President, Board of Trustees
Dr. Frank Chong, Superintendent/President

Readers: Ricardo D. Navarrette, Vice President, Student Services, Emeritus
Dr. KC Greaney, Director, Institutional Research

RECESSIONAL

“Barcelona Nights”
by Ottmar Liebert

STUDENT SPEAKER

John Diez, 2017

This year’s student commencement speaker is graduating student John
Diez. He is transferring to the University of California San Diego to pur-
sue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, as well as a minor in
Mathematics. John describes himself as a musician, gamer, science lover,
future researcher, and a friend. Born and raised in the Philippines, most
of his family moved to the United States when he was ten to secure better
opportunities. The decoding of two different cultures, as well as a be-
ing part of a transitional period of technological change, especially with
social media, fuels his passion to create a better world. Diez’s speech,
“LOOK OUT! From your Bubble” highlights the importance of becoming
self-aware of the effects of technology, and to start an internal change
of approaching different stories. After receiving his Bachelor Degree he
plans to achieve a PhD in Psychology focusing on role-playing, social
media change, and more. Whenever he has free time, John enjoys play-
ing with different ensembles, video games, playing a plethora of board
games, and sleeping.

MUSIC

“From This House“

From this house to the world we will go hand in hand. Freedom to live, freedom to love,
freedom to hope, freedom to give. Freedom to work, freedom to play, freedom to sing, freedom
to pray. We will walk the way of peace, the way of freedom, the way of hope.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Chancellor of the California Community Colleges

The California Community Colleges Board of Governors appointed Eloy
Ortiz Oakley as chancellor for the California Community Colleges beginning
December 19, 2016.

Eloy Ortiz Oakley was appointed as the Superintendent-President of the Long
Beach Community College District (LBCCD) in 2007. Since his appointment,
he has fostered strong relationships with members of the community, state
and national policy leaders, his Board of Trustees and the faculty and staff
of the college. He has provided statewide and national leadership on the
issue of improving the education outcomes of historically underrepresented
students. He joined LBCCD in 2002, serving as the assistant superintendent/
executive vice president of administrative services. In this capacity, Oakley
undertook supervision of the Measure E Bond construction program for
the district and oversaw the finances and operations of the district’s two
campuses. Before that, he served as the vice president of college services
at Oxnard College; the assistant vice president of the Property & Casualty
Division of Keenan & Associates and the manager of risk services at the
Coast Community College District. Oakley also served as an adjunct faculty
member teaching in and coordinating the Environmental Technology
Certificate Program at Golden West College.

Partnering with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), Oakley helped form
the nationally recognized Long Beach College Promise (College Promise).
Through the College Promise, LBUSD administrators and high school
teachers work with college faculty and staff to create clear structured
pathways for students to follow as they move from one education institution
to another. These pathways prepare LBUSD high school graduates to succeed
in college, and College Promise students are guaranteed a tuition-free year
at LBCC and preferred admission status to CSULB after completing the
transfer requirements. Reports suggest the College Promise measurably
reduces demand for college level remediation, increases student persistence
rates and creates financial efficiencies so LBCC can educate more students
for less money.

Oakley serves on the boards and committees of the University of California
Board of Regents, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the California
Forward Leadership Council, the College Futures Foundation, the American
Association of Community Colleges, the YMCA of Greater Long Beach and
the Long Beach Rotary Club. He sits on the advisory board for the CSULB
Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership.

Oakley himself is a community college success story. After serving four
years in the U.S. Army, he enrolled at Golden West College. He then
transferred to the University of California, Irvine where he received his
degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Analysis and Design and
Master of Business Administration.

THE MEANING OF ACADEMIC DRESS

The wearing of academic gowns, mortarboards, tassels and hoods has been an integral
feature of American commencement pageantry since the end of the nineteenth century.
In Europe, this tradition originated during the Middle Ages. The early commencement
ceremonies in our country were known for debates and orations given by the candidates to
demonstrate their knowledge. The Academic Procession is a colorful parade with faculty
in distinctive gowns from universities around the world. The hoods that are worn are
fashioned of velvet and silk, their rainbow colors denoting the wearer’s institutions and
fields of study.

The velvet facing of the hoods indicates the field of study in which the faculty have
received their degrees. The inside lining reflects the colors of the institution where the
graduate degree was earned. The typical tassel worn on the mortarboard is black, gold or
other colors signifying academic distinction.

The colors listed below are those used on the velvet facing of the Master’s hood.

Agriculture Maize Library Science Lemon
Architecture Purple Music Pink
Business Sapphire Blue Nursing Apricot
Economics Copper Speech Silver Gray
Education Light Blue Philosophy Royal Blue
Engineering Orange Physical Education Sage Green
Fine Arts Brown Science Golden Yellow
Home Economics Maroon Social Science Cream
Humanities White Social Work Citron
Journalism Crimson

GRADUATES & CANDIDATES
FOR GRADUATION

Students become eligible for graduation at the conclusion of the Fall Semester, the Spring
Semester, or Summer Session. Graduates from the terms ending August 2016 and
December 2016 have completed requirements for their degrees. May 2017 candidates listed
in the program will be awarded their degrees contingent on successful completion of
requirements during the Spring Semester 2017.

This program lists the names of graduates and eligible candidates as provided by the
Admissions, Records & Enrollment Development Office at the time of publication. Other
candidates may have been eligible since that time. Presence or absence of the name in the
program does not of itself testify to completion or non-completion of degree requirements
at graduation.

* Degree honors; grade point average between
3.20 and 3.39

** Degree high honors; grade point average
between 3.40 and 3.59

*** Degree highest honors; grade point average
3.60 or higher

Ω Permanent membership in Phi Theta Kappa,
International Honor Society

† Permanent membership in Alpha Gamma Sigma,

California Community College Scholastic Honor Society



t Permanent membership in National Society of Leadership and Success,

National Honor Society


A Gold Stole, which is an optional adornment, signifies a candidate for degree honors.
Spring semester grades were not included in the computation of grade point averages. The diplomas,
however, will indicate the correct honors standing based on the final spring semester grades.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

Many graduating members of SRJC’s Class of 2017 will be honored with scholarship awards.
Congratulations to all of you on your graduation and on your scholarship achievement.

Recognition of your achievement would not be possible without the very generous support of
our many scholarship donors who make SRJC’s hundreds of scholarships possible.

The college invites all donors and recipients to attend our annual scholarship reception on
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the John Surryhne Outdoor Stage.

SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE
FOUNDATION

The mission of the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation is to advance educational opportunities
by raising and stewarding funds to support programs, scholarships, facilities and special
projects of the College. In cooperation with the Sonoma County Junior College District, the
Foundation enhances the quality of higher education in the communities we serve.

The Foundation receives contributions from individual donors and alumni, corporations
and businesses, community organizations and private foundations. Guided by the wishes of
the donor, the Foundation distributes donations for a specific purpose or identifies areas of
greatest need. The SRJC Foundation is ranked #1 among all California community colleges
for scholarship distribution. In honor of the upcoming anniversary of the College, the SRJC
Foundation has launched the SRJC 100th Anniversary Campaign to raise $15 million in support
of students, faculty and instructional programs. To learn more about the Campaign and the
many ways to support the College and its students, please visit foundation.santarosa.edu.

SRJC FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Kent Seegmiller, Chair
Jeff Bricker, Vice Chair
Dr. Frank Chong, Secretary
Doug Roberts, Treasurer

Kathleen Doyle
Sue Goranson
Curt Groninga

Jeff Kolin
Lupe León
Mariana Martinez
Tom McGinley
Teresa Norton
Norm Owen
Steve Page
Tom Schwedhelm
Kris Shear
Bill Traverso

Bill Vick
Shirley Ward

2016-2017 RETIREES

FACULTY

Gary Allen Matthew Greaney
English as a Second Language College Skills

8/14/1995 - 5/27/2017 5/2/1994 - 12/30/2016
22 Years of Service 22.5 Years of Service

Ronald Balsamo Barbara McClure
English as a Second Language English – Petaluma Campus

8/19/1991 - 5/27/2017 8/19/1991 - 5/27/2017
26 Years of Service 26 Years of Service

William Baty Ronald Myers
Learning Resources Kinesiology, Athletics & Dance
1/9/1990 - 12/23/2016
27 Years of Service 8/28/1989 - 6/30/2017
28 Years of Service

Rose Bianchi Diana Rangaves
Health Sciences Health Sciences
8/13/1997 - 12/23/2016
19.5 Years of Service 8/18/2011 - 5/28/2016
5 Years of Service

Wanda Burzycki Frederick Utter
College Skills Mathematics

8/11/1999 - 5/27/2017 8/11/2005 - 12/23/2016
18 Years of Service 11.5 Years of Service

Richard Cheek Maureen Wolfe
Business Administration Health Sciences

9/4/1979 - 3/6/2017 8/16/2012 - 5/27/2017
38 Years of Service 5 Years of Service

2016-2017 RETIREES

CLASSIFIED

Dennis Barela Glenn Mason Kim Walton
Facilities Operations Facilities Operations Facilities Operations-
8/14/1995 - 4/30/2017 11/18/1984 - 12/30/2016
21.5 Years of Service 32 Years of Service Department of
Public Safety
Frances Byrn G. Ed Megill 8/24/1987 - 12/30/2016
SRJC Children’s Center Planetarium 29.5 Years of Service
8/29/1990 - 6/30/2017
5/1/2000 - 12/23/2016
27 Years of Service 16.5 Years of Service

Tana Copland Mary Olenberger
College Skills, Petaluma Admissions, Records &
5/12/1986 - 8/31/2017 Enrollment Development
12/21/1998 - 12/30/2016
31 Years of Service
18 Years of Service
Jo de Benedictis
Theatre Arts Lynn Sereni
Science, Technology, Engineer-
5/24/2006 - 9/30/2016
10 Years of Service ing & Mathematics
1/22/2007 - 8/1/2016
Linda Dunnivant 9.5 Years of Service
Health Sciences
Patricia Soran
8/19/2002 - 12/30/2016 Media Services
14.5 Years of Service 8/11/1986 - 10/31/2016
30 Years of Service
Kathryn Ellis
Community Education Michael Steinert
7/1/1980 - 6/20/2017 Facilities Operations
11/15/1990 - 9/30/2016
37 Years of Service 26 Years of Service

Sherry Jo Hays Hannah Wallstrum
Disability Resources Communication Studies
9/1/1978 - 6/30/2016
38 Years of Service 9/1/1978 - 5/31/2017
38.5 Years of Service

2016-2017 RETIREES

MANAGEMENT & CONFIDENTIAL

Kris Abrahamson
Liberal Arts & Sciences
8/13/1997 - 6/30/2017

20 Years of Service

Lynn McMullin
Financial Aid

5/4/1998 - 4/30/2017
19 Years of Service

John Mercer
Information Technology
12/14/1981 - 2/3/2017

35 Years of Service

Eve Nighswonger
Workforce Development

9/8/1998 - 1/2/2017
18 Years of Service

Dean Tahir
Student Services
1/8/2007 - 9/15/2016
9.5 Years of Service

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Sonoma County Junior College District does not discriminate on the basis of race,
religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnic group identification, physical dis-
ability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic condition, marital status, sex, gender,
gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or sexual orientation in any of its
policies, procedures or practices; nor does the District discriminate against any employees
or applicants for employment on the basis of their age. This non-discrimination policy cov-
ers admission, access and treatment in District programs and activities--including but not
limited to academic admissions, financial aid, educational services and athletics--and ap-
plication for District employment. The Sonoma County Junior College District is an equal
opportunity employer.


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