Commencement
Jack Oharah, Welcoming Speech
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| College president Jack Oharah with student speaker Paris Loutsis. |
Edmonds Community College Commencement June 20, 2008
Good evening and welcome to Edmonds Community College's 2008 Commencement Ceremony. Thank you all for being here — Governor Christine Gregoire, our board members, special guests, and many, many proud friends, family members, faculty and staff. You have all done so much to support the success of these graduates and you are all greatly appreciated!
Congratulations to you and, most especially, to all of our graduates – Let’s give them a big hand — Congratulations, not only for what you have accomplished but, also for taking this step to prepare yourself for a future of further achievement and ever-greater celebration.
Edmonds Community College is proud to award 1,735 diplomas, degrees, and certificates to this memorable class of 2008! The ages of our graduates span six decades — from Jordan Holmes, who earned her Associate of Arts degree while still in high school, to John Goodrick who earned a certificate in building inspection. Tonight, we celebrate:
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| Edmonds Community College Trustees, from left to right, chair Dick Van Hollebeke, Emily Yim, college president Jack Oharah, Jeannette Wood, and Quentin Powers. |
- Graduates who are award-winning musicians, championship athletes, and outstanding theatre arts performers — including some of the first actors to take the stage in our new black box theater.
- Graduates of our now internationally recognized outstanding Construction Management, Project Management, and advanced manufacturing programs.
- Graduates who have received statewide honors and scholarships for both academic achievement and community service. Over a million dollars of volunteer labor was donated to our community.
- Graduates prepared for studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math and also those prepared to teach those skills to the next generation; graduates who are our future teachers including early childhood education graduates and the first student to earn the college’s new Associate in Elementary Education degree.
- Graduates who are educated about global issues as well as knowledgeable about environmental, economic, and social justice issues close to home.
- And many, many graduates who are prepared to make a brighter future for themselves, their families and their community including those who were among the first to take classes in our newest building, Mukilteo Hall, and the first participants in I-BEST, our new basic education and skills training program.
You are a motivated, persistent, hard-working class of talented graduates and we will continue to celebrate your leadership, your volunteerism, your business pursuits, your promotions and your academic and personal successes — tonight, and into the future!
Again, congratulations.
