Commencement 2010 rhymes with student success

More than 500 Shoreline Community College students turned into Shoreline Community College graduates on Sunday, June 6, 2010.

Although participating in Commencement isn't required to graduate, an increasing number of students are choosing to don caps and gowns and march down the aisle in an acknowledgment of their achievements.

"Commencement is always an inspiring moment," said SCC President Lee Lambert. (pictured left) "Many of these students overcome great obstacles, show incredible perseverance to attain their goals. When you see what they do to get an education, it just reinforces our resolve to do everything we can as a college to help them."

One of those inspiring students was chosen to give the annual student address -- Angela Carranza. (Photo, right)

Carranza said that growing up in her Chicago neighborhood, she saw a number of friends die in gang-related violence and going to college was not a given. Carranza, who has been accepted to Seattle University where she will study sociology, told her story in a poem.

As she finished, the audience and other graduates gave Carranza a standing ovation.

Elizabeth Hanson, a Humanities professor, gave an equally stirring speech during the faculty address. Hanson spoke of the lessons she learned growing up in a family whose talent, she said, was "finding places for people to live."

Also during the ceremonies, five Professor Emeritus awards were given to Marianne Baker, Dental Hygiene; Helen Hancock, Mathematics; Nancy Matesky, Music Education; Linda Warren, Philosophy; and Donna Wilde, Health Information Management.