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May 5, 2006
May 5, 2006
Contacts: Suzanne Higgins
suzanne.higgins@gcmail.maricopa.edu 623.845.3808
George A. Martinez
george.martinez@gcmail.maricopa.edu 623.845.3605
Graduation Marks Goal Completion for Students of All Ages at GCC
Emily Tomforde and Ed Kocner, both of Glendale, are decades apart in age, but on May 12, along with hundreds of other students, they will receive degrees that mark the completion of their goals at Glendale Community College. Emily is this year's youngest graduate at 16; Ed, 62, is the oldest.
GCC's 41st Graduation Ceremony will be held Fri., May 12, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the central campus mall, 6000 W. Olive Avenue in Glendale. Colleen Hallberg, Chief Executive Officer of Banner Thunderbird Medical Center and a member of the GCC President's Circle, is the keynote speaker. There are 1,117 students receiving Associate degrees (982 last year) and 1,378 receiving Certificates (829 last year). Approximately 300 students are expected to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Tomforde started at GCC at age 13 after being home-schooled by her parents. In addition to college "basics," her schedule has been full of math and chemistry classes. She tutors other students, most of whom are older than she, in the GCC "Math Solutions" center. Her goal was to earn an Associates degree that would transfer to ASU to major in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology. She has achieved that goal and will start at ASU this fall. She is one of the youngest people ever to graduate from GCC with an Associate's degree. Kocner enrolled at GCC in 1998 when he was a 53-year-old computer engineer with a Master's Degree working at Honeywell. His goal then was to take computer classes to update his skills and knowledge. He has taken classes almost every semester since. Even after he retired from Honeywell in 2002, he kept taking classes--this time in Video Production Technology--and earned enough credits to graduate with an Associate in Applied Science. His Video Production degree has already led him to a new hobby producing videos on a volunteer basis. His current project is producing a short video of Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth V. McGregor addressing an association of volunteer lawyers.
"Any student can achieve of his or her educational goal at GCC. We offer more than 100 certificates and degrees, and literally thousands of classes. No matter a student's age or interest, GCC has something to offer," says Interim President Jean Ann Abel.
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Spring 2006:
 | May 5, 2006 |
News Service:
Copyright © 2007College Advancement Services
Glendale Community College
6000 W Olive Ave
Glendale AZ 85302
(623) 845-3605 
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