News Article

Fall 2010 Commencement Ceremony for ESC

Dec 6, 2010


Southwest Florida – December 6, 2010

Fall 2010 Commencement Ceremony for Edison State College

 

~Ceremony marks the first class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduates~

 

Edison State College will host the Fall Commencement Ceremony Thursday, December 9th at 7:00pm in the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.  The ceremony will include graduates from Edison State’s entire district including campuses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, the Hendry/Glades Center and Edison Online. 

 

This Fall marks the first class of students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.  Seven students will be pinned as nurses.

 

“This is a truly monumental and meaningful day for all of our graduates,” said Dr. Kenneth P. Walker, President of Edison State College.  “We congratulate the hard work, dedication and life-balance it takes to achieve this success.” 

 

This is the second year Edison State has offered students the opportunity to participate in a Fall ceremony. 

 

“The recent increase in enrollment growth at Edison State warrants the additional ceremony in an effort to provide a more personal atmosphere,” said Dr. Steve Atkins, Vice President of Academic and Student Services.  “More than 1,600 students from our Lee, Collier, Charlotte Campuses, Hendry/Glades Center will earn a degree.” 

 

Diploma breakdown by degree program:

 

Bachelor Degree: 126

 

Associate in Arts Degree: 974

 

Associate in Science Degree: 367

 

Certificate Programs: 167

 

Media is invited to attend. If you would like to profile a graduate from your media outlet’s service area (Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry or Glades Counties), please contact Catherine Bergerson, cbergerson@edison.edu or 239-489-9460 to coordinate an interview.

 

PROFILE OF GRADUATES:

 

Collier Campus student Maria “Vicky” Ramirez is a candidate for the Bob Graham Leadership Award in the Student Category.  Ramirez grew up in Immokalee; her parents are migrant tomato farm workers.  While in high school Vicky earned the Project HOPE (Help One Person Excel) Scholarship at Edison State College.   Students who receive this scholarship are carefully selected for their kind hearts and great potential.   Ramirez is described as kind, compassionate, loyal, honest, industrious, humble, altruistic and selfless.  

 

In a little over a year she has completed eight hundred  volunteer hours working with the Edison State College Collier Student Government Association, MS Society, American Heart Association, the Boys and Girls Club of SW Florida, Guadalupe Center of Immokalee Soup Kitchen and many other organizations.  On campus she served as a senator in the Student Government Association and in the Multicultural Club. 

 

Lee Campus mother daughter duo, Eileen (Mom) and Meagan Clouse (Daughter) will graduate together.  Eileen (Mom) earned an Associate of Science in Nursing in 1981 from then Edison Community College.  Thursday she will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. 

 

 Meagan Clouse (daughter) is the youngest student enrolled in the RN program at Edison State.  In May of 2008 she was the Valedictorian of her class at East Lee County High School.  This week she will graduate with an Associates of Science in Nursing Degree (Registered Nurse).  Upon completion she plans to enroll in the BSN program at Edison State College -just like her Mom! Meagan achieved all of this success AND was a teen mom.  Her daughter is now two and a half years old and “is the most precious gift I could ever ask for,” said Meagan.

 

Both mother and daughter work with Lee Memorial Health System. Eileen as RN and Meagan as a Student Nurse.

 

Celebrating nearly 50 years of excellence, Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most established, accessible and affordable institution of higher education. Proud to be tobacco-free, Edison State serves more than 20,000 students per year in five counties and through the Edison Online virtual campus. For more information please visit www.edison.edu.

 

Last Updated: December 6, 2010

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