Charlotte Campus honors first Education baccalaureates
May 3, 2012
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – The future of education in Southwest Florida shined a little brighter Tuesday night as the first eight graduates of Edison State College Charlotte Campus’ Elementary Education Baccalaureate program were honored.
The pinning ceremony featured plenty of laughs, a few tears and a laundry list of extraordinary academic accomplishments.
“This class truly is a remarkable group of women and the generations of children they will inspire will translate into an immeasurable benefit to Southwest Florida and beyond,” said Professor Joyce Rollins, Chair of the Education Department at Edison State College.
Michelle Doughty and Tammy Foissett top the 2012 class with Summa Cum Laude honors (GPA 3.9 or higher). Jennifer Barr, Melissa Gibran and Heather Morrison graduate Magna Cum Laude (3.7 to 3.89) with Gabriela Moulton and Na’Shara Price-Tyson earning Cum Laude (3.5 to 3.69). Lisa Martinez completes the class with a 3.83 GPA in her baccalaureate coursework.
Tuesday’s pinning ceremony followed the completion of internships at local elementary schools. The night also served to celebrate Edison’s first baccalaureate graduate from the Charlotte Campus to sign a contract – Price-Tyson with Lee County Public Schools.
“She is officially our first from this year’s class,” said Rollins, noting the program has 61 more graduates on the Lee Campus. “And I’m certain each of these wonderful teachers will be signed to contracts this summer.”
Rollins, who fought off tears most of the ceremony, honored each graduate with individual awards of a humorous nature and distributed boxes of blueberry muffin mix for their future students on the first day of class next fall.
Similar pinning ceremonies are schedule for Edison’s Lee Campus, Collier Campus and Hendry/Glades Center later this week.
“As educators it is our responsibility to ensure we provide our students with the tools necessary to inspire creativity and innovation in a global environment,” said Dr. Thomas Rath, Charlotte Campus Dean of Academic Affairs. “Not only am I confident Edison State College has provided that for each of these School of Education graduates, but I would be honored to have my beautiful young daughter look up to any of them as her teacher.”
For more information about the School of Education at Edison State College please visit www.edison.edu/soe or call 239-489-9369. For more information about the Charlotte Campus please visit www.edison.edu/charlotte or call 941-637-5629.
Celebrating 50 years of excellence, Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most accessible and most affordable institution of higher education. Proud to be tobacco-free, Edison State serves more than 26,000 students per year in five counties and online. For more information please visit www.edison.edu..
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Last Updated: May 3, 2012
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