Graduation ceremonies at Clackamas Community College (CCC) honored hundreds of students who earned degrees and certificates, as well as those completing their General Educational Development (GED) and Adult High School Diplomas.
This year at CCC, 488 students earned a GED, and 48 completed their Adult High School Diplomas. The youngest of those earning GEDs and high school diplomas was 16, and the oldest was 61. During the graduation ceremonies, two students were recognized for their achievements: Brittany Dorsey who earned the Adult High School Diploma, and Denise Steel who earned her GED.
During the 2011-12 academic year, 1,411 students earned degrees or certificates at CCC. The youngest of those graduates is 16, and the oldest is 69 years old. More than 480 students earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) between 3.5 and 3.989, and 179 students earned a perfect 4.0.
At the degree and certificate ceremony, several students were recognized for their accomplishments at CCC. They were:
- Blaine Gobler earned a transfer degree. Gobler is an honor roll student, active in Phi Theta Kappa, and an Associated Student Government officer. He plans to transfer to the University of Oregon and study dentistry.
- Tolu Oyedeji-Oyetunde earned her high school degree from Clackamas Middle College on June 4, and earned her general studies degree at CCC. She will transfer to University of Oregon and begin pre-med studies.
- Tina Wecks graduated with a degree in Human Services and a certificate in Gerontology. She’s headed to Marylhurst University to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work.
- Georgia Heimlich graduated with a degree in Human Services and a certificate in Gerontology and plans to transfer to Portland State to work toward a career in social work. She and Tina Wecks served as interns in the CCC Vet Center and helped to create the Pay It Forward grant program to help veterans in need.
- Paulino Cervantes graduated with an associate’s degree in collision repair and finishing. He has opened his own automotive restoration business.
- Amy Phillips has been on the honor roll for the past two years, and graduated with both an AAOT and a general studies degree. She will attend Portland State in the fall and has been accepted into their Child and Family Studies program. Phillips plans to pursue a career in social work and would like to provide outreach education for teen parents.
- Gordon Christiansen, a grandfather and former auto mechanic, graduated from the CCC Digital Multimedia Communication program and plans to attend Portland State in the fall. He is currently working on several film and video projects and plans to own a film company.
- The Clackamas County Master Gardener Association was honored as the Distinguished Friends of the College. The Master Gardener Association created an endowment with the CCC Foundation in 1999. Since that time, the endowment has provided 40 full tuition scholarships to Clackamas horticulture students at the college.
For more information about graduation, please visit the CCC graduation website at http://www2.clackamas.edu/graduation/.