Two Commencement Ceremonies for Lee Campus
May 3, 2010
Lee Campus, April 28, 2010
Edison State College to Celebrate Spring Commencement with Two Ceremonies
Edison State College, Lee Campus will celebrate Spring Commencement with two ceremonies for Lee Campus and Hendry/Glades Center graduates. 2010 marks the 48th year that Edison State will celebrate a graduating class.
“Enrollment at Edison State has reached a level making it necessary to host two ceremonies in order to maintain a more intimate experience for our graduates,” said Dr. Noreen Thomas, Lee Campus President and Executive Vice President of Edison State College.
The media is invited to attend:
· Thursday, May 6, 7:30 pm at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Bachelor of Applied Science, Associate in Science and Certificate Commencement Ceremony
· Friday, May 7, 7:30 pm at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Bachelor of Science and Associate in Arts Commencement Ceremony
Edison State College is proud to welcome two outstanding citizens as speakers at the Spring Commencement ceremonies. Mr. Steven Pontius and Mr. Joseph Catti, two distinguished businessmen and exemplary community leaders, will be the keynote speakers.
Mr. Steven Pontius will give the commencement address on Thursday evening. Mr. Pontius is the Executive Vice President of Waterman Broadcasting and General Manager of NBC-2 WBBH-TV. In addition to numerous professional awards, Mr. Pontius has received many accolades for his community involvement. In 2008, Gulfshore Business Magazine included him in the “Top 50 Most Powerful Businessmen in Southwest Florida”. He and Lou Pontius, his wife of 36 years, have together received the “Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award” by the Boy Scouts of America and together were named the “Person of the Year” by Gulfshore Life Magazine.
Mr. Joseph R. Catti will be the Commencement speaker on Friday evening. Mr. Catti is a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of FineMark Holdings, Inc., and President and Chief Executive Officer of FineMark National Bank & Trust. Mr. Catti is extensively involved in the Lee County community. In 2005, he received the Lee County Philanthropist of the Year Award in fundraising. Mr. Catti was recognized with the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award for Lee and Collier counties, and has served as campaign chairman for the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties for 2009-2010.
Lee Campus President and Executive Vice President, Dr. Noreen Thomas, and Chairman of the District Board of Trustees, Dr. Randall T. Parrish, Jr., will confer the degrees.
Profile of a Graduate
“Thank you Edison State College for helping me to finish my Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education!” exclaimed Cheryl Finkbeiner. Finkbeiner will be part of the first graduating baccalaureate class from Edison State College’s School of Education on May 7th.
“I am an older student and knew that Edison State did not just cater to the normal college age student clientele,” said Finkbeiner. “I looked at other programs in the area and I am so glad I made the decision to attend Edison’s program. There is no program around that will give you the attention and the quality of instructors that I experienced at Edison State College.”
The program includes courses in teaching students with English as a second language, students with exceptionalities, reading competency, classroom management, assessment and integrated approaches to teaching methodologies at the elementary school level. Students also learn to teach lessons in math and science, health, music and movement as well as literature, fine arts, language arts and social sciences.
For media inquiries, contact Meg Hawthorne, Public Information Specialist at Edison State College (Lee Campus) 239-489-9306 or mahawthorne@edison.edu.
Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most established, most accessible and most affordable school of higher education serving more than 20,000 students in 5 counties with campuses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte, and a center serving Hendry/Glades. Many classes are available on-line.
Photo: cherylgrad
Cutline: Cheryl Finkbeiner shares a laugh with her students while working as a student teacher. ESC School of Education students observe teachers in the field, teach lessons through the practicum courses, and complete a full-time teaching internship in their final semester.
Last Updated: May 3, 2010
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