|
Chelseá Thompson, of Piqua,
addresses her peers during Edison’s 40th commencement ceremony.
|
|
Edison Holds 40th
Commencement Ceremony
Edison Community College honored nearly 450 students during its 40th
commencement ceremony Friday night before a packed house of family,
friends, faculty and staff at the Piqua campus.
To kick off the ceremony, Student Senate President Chelseá Thompson, of
Piqua, gave an impactful speech about how Edison gave her a second
chance to make a better future for herself. Thompson touched on the
adversities she had to overcome to get where she is today and expressed
her gratitude to Edison for helping her determine her path in life.
Edison was pleased to have the Director of the United States Air Force
Research Laboratory (AFRL) Energy Office, Dr. Leslie Perkins serve as
the ceremony’s keynote speaker. In her current role, Perkins is
responsible for developing the AFRL Energy strategy, coordinating
science and technology endeavors across AFRL disciplines, and
advocating the AFRL Energy science and technology agencies such as the
Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Authority, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Army, Navy
and OSD to ensure non-duplication of effort and complementary
energy-related science and technology planning.
Throughout her address, Perkins encouraged graduates to reach for their
goals while overcoming adversities, staying true to themselves, and
embracing diversity.
“You walk into your first college course with no idea what you are
walking into, but after a while there is a sense of pride that wells up
within you. It’s at that time that you realize you can do it,” said Dr.
Perkins. “It’s when you learn to survive and thrive in a stimulating
and demanding environment that you get to feel who you are.”
As the evening’s events drew to a close and the last degrees and
certificates were awarded, Edison’s Interim President Dr. Karen
Rafinski took a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by the
families and friends of those that were being honored, and to note the
overwhelming number of the high school and first generation college
students receiving degrees from Edison this year. Dr. Rafinski also
introduced Dr. Doreen Larson who will become the college’s fifth
President beginning July 1st.
|
|
Dr. Leslie Perkins, Director of
the United States Air Force
Research Laboratory, addresses nearly
450 Edison graduates at the
College’s 40th Commencement Ceremony.
|
|
Alyssa Roberts, of Bradford, receives her associate degree at Edison
before entering her senior year of high school.
|
|
Gabrianna Mescher, of Versailles, receives her associate degree at
Edison before
entering her senior year of high school.
|
|
|
|
