MESA, Arizona – On May 15, Mesa Community College (MCC) will recognize the accomplishments of its graduates for the 2014-15 academic year at a commencement ceremony in the campus courtyard of MCC’s Southern and Dobson campus. The processional begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by the program at 7:30 p.m. The general public is invited to this special commencement ceremony during the college’s 50th anniversary year.
Deborah Bateman will be the commencement speaker. Bateman serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for National Bank of Arizona. Bateman’s career has spanned leadership capacities in many areas of banking. She is a graduate of Mesa Community College, Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, and Darden’s Leadership Development Program at the University of Virginia.
An active member of the community, Deborah currently serves on numerous Board of Directors. Bateman, the co-author of two books, Succeeding Through Doubt, Fear, and Crisis, and Help, I’m Moving Out on My Own, is a frequent featured speaker at seminars, meetings and conferences across the U.S.
“I encourage others to really dig deep and truly know who they are,” Bateman said. “Not who your parents wanted you to be, not who your friends think you should be. But really and truly who you are. To truly be successful and have control of your own destiny, one must absolutely know themselves and their purpose.”
Joining Bateman at the podium will be student speaker Valerie Le Grande, an honors student at MCC with a dual major in social work and certificate in communications. Le Grande is one of 20 community colleges students nationwide to be named to the All-USA Community College Academic Team. Other honors include All-Arizona First Academic Team member, New Century scholar, and Guistwhite scholar.
A member of four honor societies, Le Grande is an active member of the Social Work Club and served as an officer for Phi Theta Kappa at both chapter and regional levels. Off campus, she participates in two East Valley non-profit agencies. She has received the Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service award for more than 8,000 hours of documented service.
Le Grande plans to pursue bachelor's and master’s degrees in Social Work at Arizona State University with a minor in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.
She said, “It is through our education that we can see outside our own cultures and personal belief systems to embrace society’s changes.”
2014-15 Graduation Statistics:
Total number of graduates for the summer, fall and spring semesters: 2,666
Number of graduates participating in the commencement ceremony: 561
Number of degrees issued: 4,699
Specialized Ceremonies:
Nursing Ceremony, May 11, 7 p.m., Southern and Dobson, Performing Arts Center.
Dental Hygiene Ceremony, May 13, 6:30 p.m., Red Mountain Campus, Community Room.
Mortuary Science Ceremony, May 14, 10 a.m., Southern and Dobson, Event Tent.
A website about MCC’s Graduation Ceremony is available at http://www.mesacc.edu/graduation/ and includes information about the event such as maps, parking, photography and special accommodations.
Although every graduate has a tale to tell of the path that led them to this moment, we’ve shared a few special success stories here: http://www.mesacc.edu/graduation/graduation-success-stories/spring-2015-stories
MCC is participating in two sustainability initiatives: Greener Grads, launched out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an organization that works to drastically reduce the scholastic ecological footprint and change the way graduation is done throughout the United States. MCC students are also encouraged to sign the Green Graduation Pledge to help encourage sustainability in the workplace as they join more than 1,000,000 students entering the workforce.
Commencement photos will be posted online at: http://www.facebook.com/mesacc
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Contact: Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for its high-quality educational programs, which include university transfer, career and technical, workforce development, and life-long learning. Host to 40,000 students annually, MCC offers more than 200 degrees and certificates at its two campuses and additional locations. Our diverse student body hails predominantly from the East Valley region of metropolitan Phoenix, and international students from 50 countries enrich the learning experience. Award-winning faculty dedicated to student success provide the education and training that empower MCC students to compete locally and globally. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, MCC is one of 11 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information, visit mesacc.edu.