Home Students Faculty & Staff Visitors Home > FacultyStaff > PublicRelations > Special Post-Graduation Edition of The Newsletter for Faculty and Staff at COD June 5, 2006 Volume 17 Number 22 Graduation 2006 Outdoor Graduation The largest graduating class in COD celebrated commencement with an outdoor ceremony at Boone Field this year. About 240 graduates walked, although some 430 signed up to participate. Warm weather may have kept some grads away, but they needn't have worried. The night was in the 80's with a cool breeze. Above, from left, a scene on the stage: retiring Financial Aid Counselor Matteo Monica, selected "Faculty of the Year," appears pensive; Yessica Morales, ASCOD President, stares off stage; Maria White, one of two student speakers, looks at the camera; Toshio Sasaki, the other student speaker and International Student from Japan, watches the proceedings. More commencement photos below. A Big Hug Celebration was the order of the day as nursing students received their pins and joined the ranks of Registered Nurses. The 36 RNs were pinned in a solemn candlelight ceremony at the McCallum Theatre on Friday, May 26. During the event, there were lots of congratulatory hugs. Later that night, many of the students took part in the graduation event at Boone Field. More photos from the RN pinning appear below.
This special post-graduation edition of The Insider features photo coverage of graduation, the nurses' pinning and the the Public Safety Academy recognition and advancement ceremony held on May 25. See more pictures below. Graduation Rehearsal Getting It Right Going over the script at rehearsal for graduation are, from left, Dr. Maria Sheehan, Superintendent/President, Revae Reynolds,Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/President,Chuck Hayden, Chairman, DCCD Board of Trustees, and Dr. Diane Ramirez, Vice President, Student Services. Moving the event to a new venue, planned in five short weeks, was viewed as a big success, according to committee members who held a post-event review late last week. Tuning Up For The Big Night It's not graduation without a stirring rendition of the national
anthem, and this year's featured soloist was Chris Baloga, a COD music student who has appeared in some of the college's operatic performances. He really belted out the patriotic song, accompanied by Donald Ross. The two are shown rehearsing earlier in the day. Lining Up For Tickets Standing in line to get extra guest tickets for the upcoming graduation were dozens of students who attended a Friday morning rehearsal. Happy With New Arrangement Students were largely supportive of the changes made to the graduation event this year. With the venue
moved outdoors to Boone Field, students were allowed more guests than in the past at the McCallum where limited seating often meant some family members missed being there for the presentation of diplomas. Above, Joanne Decapite, Lead Evaluator and Admission and Records Specialist, distributes extras guest tickets to a line of students. Graduation Night Let the Procession Begin! Led by students speakers Toshio Sasaki, left, and Maria White, the Class of 2006 leaves the Hilb Student Center en route to Boone Field for the outdoor graduation ceremony on May 26. Below, students share moments and laughter with fellow grads and friends.
Taking Their Seats Filing onto the field and taking their seats are some of the estimated 240 graduates who participated in the graduation ceremony this year at COD. Below, left, students smile in anticipation of receiving their hard-earned diplomas. Below, right, Jessica Bollinger, a COD Adjunct Faculty member, was one of the people reading off names of graduates.
Below: Members of the faculty and administration gather on the stage on the athletic field prior to the start of graduation. Left: Maria White, one of two COD student speakers at graduation, expresses her feelings; Below: Toshio Sasaki also spoke and delivered a passionate address about leaving his family in Japan to come to America to get an education.
One Last Look Around A quartet of COD students stroll through the landmark archways for perhaps the last time prior to graduation ceremonies that will send them on their way to universities or jobs and a bright future. Registered Nursing Graduates Pinned Becoming a Nurse After two years of hard work, little sleep, juggling jobs, family responsibilities, studies and clinical work, 36 students of the COD nursing program were pinned May 26 and became RNs. Above, Dr. Maria
Sheehan addresses the graduating class, seated in front of a symbolic lit candle on the McCallum stage. Joining Dr. Sheehan at left are members of the administration and nursing faculty. Below, some of the faces seen during the ceremony. The Many Faces of Nursing Clockwise from upper left, nursing student Amanda Konegeris delivers an address to the class then later poses with her children during the pinning ceremony held on stage at the McCallum Theatre under the red and blue lights; A newly-pinned nurse gets a congratulatory kiss from her husband; Speaker Wendy Edwards shares a memory with her fellow students while Sandi Emerson, Dean, Health Sciences and ECE Division and head of the nursing program, looks on. A Happy Day A COD nursing student stoops to receive her pin from her daughter - a symbol that she is now officially a Registered Nurse. There were 36 graduates at the May 26 ceremony, all from the daytime program. The Nights/Weekend program graduates, 19 of them, were pinned in a
separate cermony on May 1. According to Dean Emerson, the program has 220 nursing students enrolled. Public Safety Academy Awards All Smiles
Division Dean Rick Post, left, and Clayton Mayes, Associate Professor, Administration of Justice, enjoy the moment at the annual Public Safety Academy ceremony at Wright Gymnasium on May 25. The colorful event, which features an inspection of the 57 cadets being honored, an all-star cast of speakers and presenters including police chiefs from all the area cities as well as Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle (a COD alum), members of the Board of Trustees and Superintendent/President Dr. Maria Sheehan, all gathered to honor cadets for their achievements. The transition ceremony marks their advancement to higher levels of training. Sheriff, Trustee Share a Laugh Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle, a graduate of College of the Desert, poses with Chuck Hayden, Chairman of the Desert Community College District's Board of Trustees, at the PSA Ceremony. About 500 persons gathered at the college gym for the annual rite of passage for cadets in the popular program. A new PSA training facility and classroom building are scheduled to be built as part of Measure B. At Parade Rest Cadets in the COD PSA program looked their best during the recognition ceremony held graduation week on campus as they prepared for inspection. Inspection Commander Mark Miller (left) of the Indio Police Department gives the
cadets close scrutiny during the inspection prior to the recognition ceremony held on the COD campus on May 25. The Insider is the newsletter for Faculty and Staff at College of the Desert, 43-500 Monterey Ave., Palm Desert, CA 92260. Published weekly during the school year, except during holidays. Send submissions via email or interoffice campus mail. Information: Tom Wixon, Director, Public Relations, ext. 2589. From off-campus: (760) 773-2589 or twixon@collegeofthedesert.edu. College of the Desert 43-500 Monterey Ave Palm Desert, CA 92260 760.346.8041 2009 Acceptable Use Guidelines Disclaimer