Largest Class Graduates from MxCC Including 87 from Middletown

For the third year in a row, Middlesex Community College has awarded degrees to a record-setting number of students. The College’s 49th commencement ceremony, held May 26, included 471 students, which is a 14 percent increase over its number of 2015 graduates. These students earned degrees in 24 different disciplines, as well as certificates in 24 different areas of study, and 75 received more than one degree and/or certificate, which was another record for MxCC. Additionally, this is the first graduating class for the College’s new Radiology Certificates in Computed Tomography and Mammography.

Graduates from Middletown were:

Laila Alhalabi General Studies

Alexia Ampuero General Studies

Cora Anthony Marketing

Brian Axelrod Criminal Justice

Lisa Barrett Human Services

Ebony Beall Human Services

Taylor Beaumont General Studies

Allison Bidwell General Studies

Amy Burgess Radiologic Technology

Shaun Byrne General Studies

Travon Campbell General Studies

Krista Cianfaglione Mammography

Tyquan Crump General Studies and Marketing

Chester De Castro General Studies

Arzu Demir Early Childhood Education

Matthew Doolittle Engineering Science

Rebecca Durfee Early Childhood Education

Melissa Eldridge General Studies

Christopher Ennis Liberal Arts and Science

Maya Eriksen Human Services

Brittany Fitzpatrick Accounting

Danika Fordham Human Services

Jennifer Foster General Studies

Matthew Frederick Multimedia Web Design & Development and Multimedia

Donika Freeman Human Services

Sean Gamble General Studies

Tawanda Gaston Human Services

Joseph Gatti Computer Information Technology and Help Desk Technician

Evan Glenn General Studies

Stephanie Green General Studies

Christopher Haynes General Studies

Thomas Heintz Environmental Science

Kalen Hill General Studies

Musammad Hossain Ophthalmic Medical Assisting

Sehar Iftikhar General Studies

Desiree James Early Childhood Education

Samea Jasavic Early Childhood Education

Ivon Kalonji Engineering Science

Sarah Kammerer Early Childhood Education

Courtney Kennedy General Studies and Multimedia

Taslima Khanum Early Childhood Education

Hunter Kita Technology Studies: Computer Engineering Technology

Sarah Koba Multimedia

Jeremy Lambert Technology Studies

Jackson LaRose Environmental Science and Liberal Arts and Sciences

Michelle Leone Accounting Technician

Jalen Lewis General Studies

Malcolm Loman General Studies

Sarah Lombardo General Studies

Steven Long Computer Information Technology

Joseph Mariano General Studies

Vincent Marotta III Engineering Science

Jean Mathon Human Services

Shannon McKenna Therapeutic Recreation and Human Services

Judith McMillan Early Childhood Education

Kristen McQuillen General Studies

Jodi Moore General Studies

Miranda Murphy Ophthalmic Medical Assisting

Shardae Nicholson General Studies

Shawna Niles Child Development Associate and Early Childhood Education

Johana O'Donnell Human Services

Angelique Ortiz Fine Arts: Graphic Design and Multimedia

Sneha Parekh Accounting

Brendan Plake Broadcast - Cinema

Onima Rahman Early Childhood Education

Kyara Riley Human Services, Substance Abuse Education and Therapeutic Recreation

Brandon Rowe General Studies

Kristen Rzasa General Studies

Alyssa Scionti General Studies

Nathaniel Seng Business Administration

Alexander Sessoms Broadcast - Cinema

Christopher Skomro Communications Networking and Computer Information Technology

Brian Stafford Accounting Assistant

Michael Stielau Management Information Systems

Charo Taylor General Studies

Milagros Torres Ophthalmic Medical Assisting

Jacek Trelski Engineering Science

Victor Triay Jr. General Studies

Jeng-Chyi Tsai Accounting and Accounting Assistant

Alain Tshipamba Engineering Science

Kyle Van Almkerk General Studies

Brett Van Etten Computer Information Technology

Michael Weller General Studies

Victoria Wiernasz General Studies

Todd Wilcox Environmental Science

Dylan Williams General Studies

Gregory Winter General Studies

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal made a special stop at the College to congratulate students and their families who supported them during their long journey.

“Anyone who thinks the American Dream is no longer alive ought to come here to MxCC,” he said. “You are at the cutting edge of the American Dream. If anyone here feels uncertain about jobs, they are out there when you have the skills – and you have them!”

The evening began in 85-degree heat with a procession of students led by the MxCC Veterans Color Guard. A trio of MxCC students – Jessica Grote (class of 2016), Marina Cappezzone and Daniel Ortiz – sang the National Anthem before MxCC President Dr. Anna Wasescha made welcoming remarks.

“For the past three years, I have been welcoming the largest class in the history of MxCC, and, each year, our classes keep getting bigger,” President Wasescha said with a smile. “I congratulate each and every one of you and applaud those who helped you to stay the course.”

Dr. Wasescha encouraged students to remember their time at MxCC as a period of exploration and discovery. Later in the evening after she conferred degrees, Dr. Wasescha charged each student to keep learning every day of their lives. “Learn so that you can improve your own life and the lives of others around you,” she said. “I charge you to embrace change. Learning is about change. When we learn, we change. Smart people are able to change their minds because when they learn something new, it increases the complexity of their mental models. Strive to be smart, to learn and to change.”

Kevin Wilhelm, chairman of the Regional Advisory Council, advised graduates to approach the next steps of their lives with boldness, compassion and creativity. “Create your own opportunities,” he said. “It is possible you can change your piece of the world.”

Joseph Tolisano from the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities and Richard J. Balducci from the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education each congratulated graduates and their families.

“Be proud of your accomplishments. Going to college is daunting, especially in today’s society,” Balducci said. “For those students who work full time, take care of families, or are in the military, it is a real honor to say thank you for what you have done and will do in the future.”

Izzi Greenberg, executive director of the Middlesex Coalition for Children and a proud graduate of both Middlesex Community College and Wesleyan University, delivered the commencement address. As a self-described non-traditional learner, Izzi shared how she carved out a unique life built on a willingness to have experiences. She encouraged students to “get curious and stay that way,” reminding them that just as they are part of a learning community here at MxCC, they will be part of a living community when they leave.

“You don’t need to stick to a certain path; you don’t even need to have a path in mind,” she told the crowd. “Be non-traditional. Travel. Get your BA. Write songs. Follow your heart. Your lifetime of stories will be well worth it. I wish you a very windy road and more adventures than you can handle.”

MxCC’s youngest graduates were 16-year-old twins Noah and Ben Radcliffe. Ben read his original poem, “We Must Never,” which is a sincere reflection on letting go of childhood while trying to hold onto it.

During the ceremony Angelique Ortiz was named 2016 Class Valedictorian. She joined Mary Lou Cooke and Joshua Rivera as recipients of MxCC’s Awards for Academic Excellence for achieving a perfect 4.00 grade point average (and completing 50 percent of their requirements at MxCC). Angelique and Joshua also received the Pritchett-Taylor Awards for having the highest cumulative quality point average among students who have earned at least 30 credits at MxCC, and who have attended full-time for at least two semesters.