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Students
gather in the Edison Gymnasium during a graduation
walk-through held on Friday, May 6, at the Piqua campus.
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Edison Commencement Celebrates Historic Milestones for College
Edison Community College will close out the spring term with its 2011
commencement ceremony this Friday, a day that will celebrate several
significant firsts for the school.
This will be the first graduation in 23 years without Dr. Kenneth
Yowell, Edison’s former president, who retired in April. Dr. Cristobal
Valdez, Edison’s fourth president in its 38-year history, will be on
hand for the ceremony.
“For us, as faculty and staff, graduation is an ending and it’s
important to remember that we call in commencement because it marks the
beginning for our graduates,” said Scott Burnam, registrar. “Edison’s
size and personal touch make graduation a very special time for
everyone involved. All of us will know many of these students by name
because of our ability to deliver personalized, high-touch service in
an environment of success.”
The class of 2011 is among the largest that Edison has ever had
graduate. More than 500 students will receive degrees and certificates
in the allied health fields, business and accounting, and paralegal.
This will also be the first year for Edison to graduate students from
the newly accredited physical therapy assistant (PTA) program.
“I feel very special and privileged to be a part of the first PTA class
at Edison. It has been a long road for many of us and to see the light
at the end of the tunnel is exhilarating,” said student Lauren May.
“After graduation I plan on sitting for the boards and starting my
career as a PTA in an outpatient therapy setting.”
Additionally, another first at Edison this year will be five graduates
from Hydro Aluminum in Sidney who are receiving their associate degrees
in a program that takes Edison faculty and classes to off-campus sites.
The program is funded through Hydro Aluminum with the resources and
curriculum being supplied by Edison. All classes but one were taught on
location Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
“It was exciting to work with this cohort because they developed a
community of learners who supported one another academically both
inside and outside the classroom,” said Steven Sykes, professor of
manufacturing and industrial management. “Their capstone presentation
not only integrated their learning, but also made direct improvements
to their process. We’re hoping to continue this program with other
businesses in the community.”
Edison’s involvement with the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program
(PSEOP) continues to help high-achieving students get a jump start on
their college careers by offering them courses for college-credit while
experiencing daily campus life. This year, Edison will have 13 students
who are graduating with an associate degree before graduating from high
school.
“This program is such a great opportunity for students. To graduate
from college with an associate degree before graduating from high
school is a major accomplishment and will provide these students a
significant head-start on their college careers,” said Velina Bogart,
admissions coordinator. “Most will transfer to a four-year college or
university as a junior, and will be able to begin to work in their
careers earlier than most. It takes a lot of hard work,
discipline and determination to accomplish what they have done, and
Edison is most proud.”
The speaker for the 2011 commencement will be Edison Community College
graduate Valorie Welbaum. She is a 2002 graduate of Tipp City High
School and received her associate of science degree from Edison in
2003. She went on to receive bachelor’s degrees from the University of
Dayton in chemical engineering and accounting. She now works with
Cargill in Dayton as a natural resources engineer.
This is the 36th commencement ceremony to be held by Edison. Doors open
at 6 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 7 p.m.
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