NVCC's Largest Graduating Class Includes 48 Naugatuck Residents

WATERBURY – At a ceremony held May 19, 2011, Naugatuck Valley Community College graduated its largest class ever, awarding 25% more associate degrees than it had in years past. As of June 7, the College had awarded 726 degrees. Approximately 300 more are still being evaluated.

In addition to being a part of the largest class ever, graduates were folded into the college’s history in a number of other ways, as Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., president of NVCC pointed out. In academic year 2010-2011, NVCC Danbury Center moved to Main Street, across from the Danbury Public Library. At the same time, Danbury experienced a 71% growth in enrollments. At the college’s main campus, the library was literally inverted this year, moving student services up to the fifth floor walkway. The library also added a collaboration studio and converted the fourth floor to a quiet study area.

This is the first year courses have been offered seven days a week and beginning at 6:30 am. To complement, the Academic Center for Excellence expanded tutoring services to seven days a week. It has been proven that students who use the ACE consistently have an almost unanimous passing rate in English and math classes.

Four more gardens were added to the grounds: a Japanese Garden, Biblical Garden, Sustainable Garden and Medicine Garden. The Women's Center opened in the fall and offered a series of lectures and events throughout the year and housed partnerships with the Women's Business Development Center of Connecticut and Jane Doe No More.

Four students were inaugurated into the first-ever President's Circle and lobbied in Hartford to restore budget fairness to community colleges. Eight high school students graduated with 23 college credits and a certificate in manufacturing thanks to the College Connections program, a partnership with the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board.

• Wessam Ahmed 
• Michael W. Allison
• Jennie L. Ashford
• Ed J. Barbuto
• Alfea A. Beausejour
• Corey R. Bochicchio
• Kerey L. Boylan
• Maria A. Butrymowicz
• Ana C. Cabral
• Christopher Carvalho
• Scott R. Conover
• Janice M. Crystal
• Alana J. Cuneo
• Peter J. Curulla
• Diana M. DeCrescenzo
• Danielle M. DeRocco
• Jolee M. Dinho-Guerreiro
• Carl J. Edgett Sr.
• Sierra E. Edwards
• Robert A. Estes
• Robert B. Evarts
• David L. Freedman
• Danielle Gadue
• Lauren J. Howe
• Melanie N. Kaucher
• Danielle Kelly
• Tracey Kelly
• Bryan P. Kirdzik
• Anna Kotlewska
• Joshua Lees
• Brittany L. Lemos
• Marissa J. Lightsey
• Tara K. Lyons
• Megan E. Maisto
• Lisa K. McManus
• Margaret E. Nardozza
• Alexandre N. Oliveira
• Nichole E. Pereira
• Alyssa J. Piccirillo
• Andrea V. Pisani
• Emily J. Polek
• Matthew H. Prewitt
• Janneth R. Quezada
• Elizabeth G. Robinson
• Louis R. Rodriguez
• Tony Vitale
• Virginia I. Weed