Under a large tent on a perfect spring day, friends and families gathered together to witness over 100 New Hampshire Community College students graduate. The anxious graduates followed faculty, guest speaker US Congressman Charlie Bass, and class marshals Melissa Labonville and Fred Baez to their seats as Martha Laflamme, Vice President of Student and Corporate Affairs and Claudette Mahar, chairperson of the board of trustees, each welcomed the guests.
The President of the NHCTC, Kathy Eneguess, introduced guest speaker Charlie Bass, who went on to say that "...the NH Community Technical College System is the most important educational system in America." Bass told the students, "You have the ability to observe things and do what you haven't done before." Bass's speech was filled with encouragement as well as humor as he joked with Eneguess about growing up in NH.
What followed was the moment all students look forward to, receiving their diploma. Mark Desmarais called each of the students to the stage. While most just shook hands and walked back to their seats, others expressed their excitement; one student jumped on her professor and hugged him.
Two deserving students received special honors. Victoria Vannerom was awarded the President's Cup, given to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average.
Heather Fysh was recognized as the first graduate to take advantage of an online bachelor degree program in conjunction with Franklin University. "NHCTC's alliance with Franklin University has many benefits to a single working mother such as myself. It allows me to work and provide for my family while attending school and getting my degree. I think this is a great benefit that more people should take advantage of."
Albany: Curtis Cote, Nursing.
Allenstown: Theresa Cote, Culinary Arts.
Berlin: Christopher Lunn, Accounting; Shannon Taylor, Business Administration; Joshua Lefebvre, Culinary Arts; Jeffery Turgeon, Computer Technology; Joshua Scoppetto, Computer Information Systems; Wesley Kiviniemi, Mobile Equipment; Amber Oulette, Early Childhood Education; Ronald Bergeron, Barbara Sawyer, Health Service Technology; Meghan Dupuis, Michelle Faucher, Erica Hoyt, Patricia Hynes, Catherine Poulin, Melissa Rich, April Sjovall, Lisa Tavares, Human Services; Annie Pelletier, Medical Transcription; Jonathan Poulin, Management; Tony Chevarie, Mobile Technology; Michael Bunnell, Kelly Cote, Zachary Erickson, Rene Lebel, Nursing; Meagan Demers, Melissa Rines, Special Education; Tamara Allen, Adam Hudziec, Jeffery Leberge, Normand Lettre, Spatial Information Technology; Burke York, Surveying.
Bethlehem: Zoe Norris, Medical Transcription; Jane Lucas, Office Assistant.
Bradford: Anthony Salera, Mobile Equipment.
Campton: Kurt Melendy, Spatial Information Technology.
Charlestown: Kevin Blaine, Mobile Equipment. Piermont, NH: Margaret Hogan, Early Childhood Education.
Colebrook: Judy Grimes, Nursing; Gregory Barr, Carol Rainville, Special Education.
Columbia: Hylaree Moren, Computer Technology.
Conway: Stephanie Franz, Nursing.
Dalton: Margaret Michaud, Management.
Franconia: Sarah Armstrong, Nursing.
Gorham: Jeremy Demers, Automotive Technology; Jeffery Levesque, Business Administration; Jeffery Blais, Computer Technology; Erin Marcou, Early Childhood Education; Beth Host, General Studies; Valerie Lamirande, Health Service Technology; Bethanie Bouchard, Human Services; Melissa Labonville, Nursing; and Theodore Milla, Water Quality Technology.
Groveton: Gail Berony, Culinary Arts; Amber Brown, Early Childhood Education; Katrina Allin, Human Services; Cheryl Bougie, Special Education. Stark: Jamie Croteau, Early Childhood Education.
Jefferson: Chad Davidowicz, Culinary Arts.
Lancaster: Christopher Benson, Accounting & Business Administration; Zachary Colby, Business Administration; Matthew Hilland, Culinary Arts; Ryan Jordan, Early Childhood Education; Jennifer Morrison, Health Service Technology; Albert Heinen Sr., Human Services; Kimberly Force, Terri Scott, Pamela Webster, Nursing.
Littleton: John Alberini, Culinary Arts; Gregoire Lepine, Computer Information Systems; Harold Pines Jr., Human Services; Kacey Marsh, Management; Margaret Ganghan, Colette Haywood, Sherri Relyea, Rebecca Shatney, Nursing.
Lisbon: Kimoko Aldrich, Nursing; Rae-Allyn Gammons, Office Technology.
Manchester: Kevin Mitchell, Culinary Arts.
Milan: Ryan Derosier, Business Administration; Crystal Prince, Human Services; Karen Flint, Nursing; Misty Gagne, Nursing.
N. Conway: Susan Theriault, Nursing.
North Haverhill: Leslie Ramsey, General Studies, Beth Robbins, Human Services; Shelly Cabey, Medical Transcription & Office Technology; Jeremy Hatch, Nursing; LeeAnn Nystrom, Spatial Information Technology.
North Strafford: Diane White, Office Technology.
Pittsburg: Eric Reid, Automotive Technology; Loni Keyser, Human Services.
Randolph: Nicole Chandler, Human Services.
Shelburne: Wendy Niskanen, Nursing.
Stewartstown: Claudette Keezer, Nursing.
Sugar Hill: Fred Baez, Nursing.
Wakefield: James Blackwood, Mobile Equipment.
Whitefield: Keith Rexford, Management.
Newport, VT: Neil Walker, Automotive Technology.
Waterford, VT: Jason Grout, Computer Technology.
Lunenburg, VT: Theresa Dupont, Nursing.
St. Johnsbury, VT: Tara Prue, Nursing.
Greenwood, ME: Alexandria Taylor-Kemp, Accounting, Business Administration; James Autrey, Computer Technology; Jaqueline Libby, Management.
Albany, ME: Christopher Hooper, Culinary Arts.
Porter, ME: Wanda Metcalf, Nursing.
Rockland, ME: Joseph LaBranche, Spatial Information Technology.
Brownfield, ME: Karen Hawley, Nursing.
Fryeburg, ME: Katrina Wiley, Nursing.
Hingham, MA: Victoria Vannerom, General Studies.
White Lake, NY: Travis Brust, Culinary Arts.
6/4/2004