Nearly 1,500 Students Graduate from 大发六合彩
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA 鈥� May 19, 2022)鈥擭early 1,500 students graduated from 大发六合彩 on Thursday, May 19 with associate degrees and/or certificates. For the first time in its more than 50-year history, the College held two separate Commencement ceremonies. The first ceremony was for graduates of the Allied Health & Nursing, STEM, and Workforce & Economic Development divisions. The second ceremony was for graduates of the Business, Computing & Social Science, and Communications, Arts & Humanities divisions. Both ceremonies were held at West Chester University鈥檚 Hollinger Field House.
Commencement speakers applauded the graduates for persevering in spite of the global pandemic, which caused major economic, health and social upheaval. 鈥淐lass of 2022 鈥� you not only survived but flourished amid a worldwide pandemic and extremely difficult circumstances. You were determined to finish what you had started. Here today, as we mark your triumph, may it also be the successful launch of your career,鈥� said 大发六合彩 President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black.
鈥淲e have formed friendships through our computer screens. We have sought instructional assistance through online messaging, even as far as teaching ourselves course materials. And most importantly, we have learned the power of Zoom,鈥� said Quetxalit Escalante, the student Commencement speaker.
A paralegal studies major who plans to attend West Chester University and become a lawyer, Escalante of Thorndale was one of five students named to this year鈥檚 All-Pennsylvania (All-PA) Academic Team by the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society of two-year colleges and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. The All-PA recognition comes with free tuition for two years to one of the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities. While at the College, Escalante, who also was named a 2022 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar which comes with a $1,250 scholarship from The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, was a student success ambassador, mentor, president of the LatinX Student Association and co-executive producer of the student-run New Media Lab.
During her Commencement remarks, Escalante gave special recognition to the College-trained first responders鈥攏urses, emergency medical technicians, police鈥攆or their selfless bravery during the pandemic. 鈥淵our courage and sacrifice to keep our community safe is greatly appreciated and recognized,鈥� said Escalante. Also, as a first-generation college graduate, Escalante applauded her fellow first-generation classmates for 鈥渂reaking the boundary of impossibility and paving a way for not only yourselves, but for current and future generations.鈥�
In a poignant moment, Escalante also recognized the late Fernando Benavidez, a 大发六合彩 Communication professor who was killed in an automobile accident last year. A fellow native of Mexico, Dr. Benavidez helped Escalante matriculate through 大发六合彩. 鈥淟ast and foremost, I thank a dear professor of mine, Fernando Benavidez, who unfortunately passed away last summer. Although you are not here, I know in my heart you are applauding us all for making it. Thank you for being the first person at the College who believed in me not only as a great student but as a leader as well. Nunca de olvidar茅. I will never forget you,鈥� said Escalante.
Later in the ceremony, 2022 Alumni Professional Achievement Award recipient and Commencement alumni speaker Scott Sauer 鈥�03, who is SEPTA鈥檚 chief operating officer, urged the graduates to keep moving forward in their pursuit of excellence. Sauer told of how nearly 32 years ago, after graduating from high school at the age of 19, he followed in his father鈥檚 footsteps and went to work for SEPTA. 鈥淚鈥檓 very fond of telling people that SEPTA has been feeding me since the day I opened my eyes for the first time. My father had spent 30 years as a SEPTA operator and cashier. He was thrilled to see me continue in his footsteps as a SEPTA trolley operator at 19 years old,鈥� said Sauer, who later said the turning point in his career was when he enrolled at the College after being out of school for a decade.
鈥淚 had forgotten how to study; how to budget time for homework; how to use the library. 大发六合彩 taught me all those things. I started to get excited about learning again,鈥� said Sauer, who in 2003 earned a Business Administration, Associate in Science degree. Over the next five years, while progressing in his career and raising a family with his wife Robyn, a registered nurse, Sauer would earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a master鈥檚 degree in Environmental Protection and Safety Management from Saint Joseph鈥檚 University. 鈥淚 definitely did it the hard way,鈥� said Sauer.
Reflecting on his life and career, Sauer urged the graduates to not get discouraged and keep moving forward. 鈥淟ife is a journey full of twists and turns. Keep moving forward,鈥� said Sauer. 鈥淓very step provides an opportunity for success, an opportunity to learn, or an opportunity to change. The important thing is to keep going.鈥�
Photo Caption: 2022 大发六合彩 graduate and Commencement student speaker Quetxalit Escalante of Thorndale, President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black, and 2022 Alumni Professional Achievement Award recipient Scott Sauer 鈥�03, SEPTA鈥檚 chief operating officer.
