Calhoun Announces 2014 Graduation Activities

May 7, 2014

Calhoun Announces 2014 Graduation Activities

Calhoun Community College will conduct its 2014 graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 16, 2014, beginning at 6:00 p.m.   The event will take place on the front lawn of the Math/Science/Administration (MSA) building on the Decatur campus.   In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move to the Kelley Gymnasium, with televised overflow inside the MSA building.

According to the Calhoun Admissions Office, over 1,700 students have qualified for graduation.   Of that number, close to 500 students plan to participate in this year's ceremony.   A unique feature added to the ceremony several years ago will continue this year – the graduation procession will be led by bagpiper Ryan Morrison.  Also this year (and for the first time), the college will recognize its Most Outstanding Alumnus.

Speaker for this year's graduation service is State Board of Education Member for District VIII, Mary Scott Hunter.  Elected to the school board in 2010, Hunter, is a practicing attorney, currently serving as corporate advisor for Compliance, Ethics and Risk for Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation.

Hunter graduated cum laude from The University of Alabama, also earning her Juris Doctorate degree from The University of Alabama School of Law.  After graduating from law school, she was commissioned as a United States Air Force Lieutenant, serving for 10 years as an Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG). As a military attorney, she first served in the active duty Air Force, then in the Reserves, and finally in the Alabama Air National Guard - attaining the rank of Major. Her assignments included two overseas tours to Korea and Germany and a wartime deployment to the Middle East. Her military awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, and a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.

Hunter's husband, Lieutenant Colonel Jon Shultz, is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and is now a traditional guardsman with the Alabama Air Guard where he flies F-16 fighter jets. The couple jointly own a small technology company, Torel Technology, LLC and have three children, two boys and a girl, ages 9, 6, and 5.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Association of School Boards, in leadership for the National Association of School Boards, and is currently a trustee for Athens State University. She has been recognized and awarded honors for her leadership, her economic and workforce development efforts, and for her community service activities. In 2012, Hunter sought to raise $40,000 to celebrate her 40th birthday and to celebrate the healthy life of her own third child who was born 8 weeks premature in 2007 – successfully raising $60,000 for the March of Dimes.

Mary Scott is often described as a "servant leader." Her core values are Integrity, Service, and Excellence.

Earlier in the day on May 16th, 182 students graduating from Calhoun's associate degree Nursing program (one of the largest classes ever) will participate in the annual Candle Lighting Ceremony. The ceremonies will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Kelley Gymnasium.

This year's graduation week events will kick off with the College's 2014 GED graduation on Tuesday, May 13th at 6pm in the Kelley Gymnasium.   Close to 200 students will be participating in the annual ceremony celebrating this important milestone. During the ceremony, selected members of the graduating class will share personal stories about their experiences in the GED program.  Calhoun President Dr. Marilyn Beck will provide a congratulatory message to the class.  

For more information about Calhoun's 2014 graduation ceremonies, contact Janet Kincherlow-Martin, Public Affairs, Community Relations, and Special Events at 256-306-2561.

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Athens State University commencement planned for May 4th

 

For Further Information

Guy McClure

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

April 26, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State University commencement planned for May 4th

                Athens, Ala. –  Athens State University’s graduation exercises will be held in the Carter Physical Education Gymnasium on Saturday, May 4 with three separate ceremonies.  

At 9:00 a.m., the College of Arts and Sciences will commence with Jon Prusmack addressing the attendees.

Prusmack attended the University of Notre Dame for two years on a football scholarship studying architecture.  He then transferred to the United States Naval Academy, and then to New York University where he graduated in 1966 with a degree in Art and Design. In addition, Prusmack earned an M.Eng from NYU Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. from Bernard Baruch Graduate School of Business, part of the City University of New York.

Prusmack played rugby for 15 years and wrote the first American Coaching Book on Rugby titled Rugby: A Guide for Players, Coaches and Spectators.

Prusmack has been a professional artist and designer for over 30 years as well as a successful entrepreneur. He started DHS Technologies with his wife, Patrice, in 1986. Together they built this business from zero up to over $150,000,000. Currently DHS has a major manufacturing plant in Huntsville employing 200 people. Its second manufacturing plant in New York will relocate to Huntsville and employ at least another 150 people.

At 12:00 noon, the College of Business will present diplomas to their graduates with Joe H. Ritch serving as the college’s keynote speaker. 

Ritch, from Huntsville, holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a J.D. from Samford University, and a LL.M. in Taxation from New York University.

As a member of the legal team at Sirote and Permutt, Ritch is well-known throughout the region for his high profile work as Chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee and its efforts on behalf of Redstone Arsenal.  He was recently appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate as a member of the Board of Directors of TVA.  He is only second Alabamian to serve on the board in its 80 year history.  He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System from 2005-2011 and remains a Trustee emeritus of the University System.

               Ritch has an equally active career as an attorney in Sirote's Huntsville office, where he co-chairs the Privacy & Data Security and Government Contracting Practice Groups.

At 3:00 p.m., the College of Education’s graduation ceremony will be held with Representative Jay Love serving as the keynote speaker.

Love represents Alabama’s 74^th District.  He chairs the Ways and Means Education committee which oversees K-12 and higher education appropriations, and taxes and education/benefits for state educators.  He also serves on the Montgomery County Legislation.

Love was born and raised in Montgomery and holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.  As a restaurant owner, he was selected as one of the Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Approximately 300 students will march, encompassing the graduating classes for the three colleges for the 2013 spring semester. 

Athens State's commencement ceremonies are free and open to the public.  For more information call 256-233-8296.

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