Commencement
Jack Oharah, Welcoming Speech
Edmonds Community College
June 17, 2005
Good evening and welcome to Edmonds Community College's 2005 Graduation. We are honored to have with us special guests and board members and so many proud friends, family members, faculty and staff members. Welcome and thanks to each of you for all you have done to help and support these graduating students.
This ceremony marks the success of 1,908 students who reached an academic goal this year-a diploma, a certificate, or a degree-and it marks the success of all who believe in these graduates and who believe in the power of education. For the students and for the whole community, this evening is a great occasion. It is a celebration of completion-yes-but more important, it is a celebration of the good work these graduates will do in the future. This is a graduating class of contributors!
Our students have been doing important work this year. They created one of the state's best art and literary magazines; they are all-star athletes. They built a submarine; they studied hard. They are raising children, and they have volunteered 8,417 hours of service to local agencies and schools. As graduates, we know they will continue to do great things.
Two years ago, Athena Halverson came here for a new career, after seven years as a hairstylist. But she leaves here with far more than a career path. She leaves Edmonds Community College with her associate of arts degree, a plan to pursue her bachelor's degree in philosophy, and an abiding passion to use what she has learned to help oppressed women.
That is the power of education. Our graduates leave here ready to take their place as key players in the workplace, as committed students in the universities, and as people who will make our community and our world a better place.
Whether a graduate is 19, like Felicia Cain, who started here as a Running Start student—or somewhat older, like Denise Serfas, who was an honors student in high school more than 20 years ago, but didn’t get to college then—today’s graduates are going places. Felicia is now heading to the University of Washington to study Asian language and literature. Denise is raising teenagers, working full time and making step-by-step progress toward her goal: a master’s degree in social work.
As our students graduate, thrive and succeed they inspire the people around them to seize the opportunity for learning and improvement.
One might say the Morales family sums up the kind of opportunity Edmonds Community College offers. Maria Morales's husband Philip earned a Computer Information Systems degree after he was laid off from the aerospace industry. Now he works at Comcast. Maria's son Steven graduated from Cascade High School, came to Edmonds Community College for his associate's degree and then went to the University of Washington for his bachelor's degree. He is now a civil engineer. Maria's daughter Lisa will begin at Edmonds this fall in the Running Start program.
But tonight is Maria's big night. She said, "If they can do it, I can do it" and she did! Maria leaves here with her associate of technical arts degree in Business Information Technology, a plan to pursue another degree, and an admirable goal: to become a certified interpreter and advocate for people who do not understand English.
To everyone who helped these students reach this graduation, thank you.
Thank you to the parents, the spouses, the children and the friends who paid the tuition, took care of the kids, allowed mom or dad to have a little quiet study time, encouraged and supported.
Thank you to the teachers, tutors and staff who challenged, explained, listened, encouraged, supported and believed in these students.
Thank you to the community members who contribute to our Foundation scholarships and who support our system of public higher education-especially our community and technical colleges-so we can make this precious opportunity available to hard-working students like these.
And to the graduating class of 2005, thank you for taking advantage of the opportunity, for taking responsibility for your success and for setting important goals.
Good luck, best wishes, and congratulations!
