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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2012
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| Halifax Community College awards degrees to the Class of 2012 |
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WELDON, N.C. – Halifax Community College (HCC) graduated the class of 2012 on Saturday, May 12, in The Centre. This year marked the 45th annual commencement. During the ceremony, 389 degrees, certificates and diplomas were conferred, including 51 high school equivalency diplomas. Superior Court Judge Alma Hinton was the featured speaker.
Hinton advised graduates to steal, swear and lie:
- Steal time to be good to someone else and steal time for yourself. Also, steal yourself against negativity.
- Swear to learn something every day and learn from your failures. Also, swear that if you are not successful, to get up and try again. Swear to remember that you will not fail until you fail to get back up.
- Lie down at night knowing you’ve treated people right and given your best effort to do the right thing.
"You need to live your present in such a way that in the future you can be proud of your past," said Hinton.
HCC President Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr. gave the charge to the graduates. "You have a lot to do in your life," said Griffin who shared some guidelines to help graduates deal with relationships and lessons of the heart. Griffin credited Bishop T.D. Jakes with providing the inspiration for the following guidelines:
- Accept disappointing realities
- Don’t try to be someone else’s god
- Become comfortable with criticism
- Develop a budget for each level of a relationship
- Compartmentalize the relationships you keep
- Progressively terminate dead relationships
- Never revisit what you have thoroughly examined before
Graduate André Anglin gave the student response. He described some challenges that he faced early in his college career. After receiving much-needed guidance from a mentor, he found new confidence. "I gained a stronger appreciation for what it takes to better yourself," said Anglin. "You have to be willing to work hard and make sacrifices." Anglin graduated during this year’s commencement with a 3.2 grade point average. He is currently enrolled at East Carolina University. "We’re taking on the world," he concluded.
Recipients of the sixth annual Presidential Partnership Award were honored. The award recognizes organizations and individuals who assist HCC in fulfilling its mission. Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, Halifax Community College Foundation Inc. and Weldon Police Department were presented the award for their commitment and partnership in developing education, workforce and economic development programs in the Roanoke Valley.
The ceremony highlighted student academic success. Casey Baird was honored by the North Carolina Community College System as an outstanding student, earning the system’s Academic Excellence Award and representing HCC. She was recognized during the ceremony for this achievement. Also, six students were recognized for making all A’s. These students included William Ansley, Kimberly Ingram, Jessica Mincher, Audrey Spence, Christina Stewart and Alex Vann who graduated with a 4.00 grade point average.
Additionally, there are three Weldon STEM High School students who graduated from HCC with a certificate in advertising and graphic design – computer graphics. These students included Geanne Gibbs, Toni Holt and Rajeen Whitaker. All three students graduated with a 3.00 grade point average or higher.
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| Recipients of the sixth annual Presidential Partnership Award were honored during HCC’s commencement exercises. Pictured from left are: Charles P. McElheney Jr., chairman of the Halifax Community College Foundation Inc., Dr. Chris White, president of Chowan University, Dr. Willie Gilchrist, chancellor of Elizabeth City State University, The Honorable Alma Hinton, Superior Court judge and the event’s keynote speaker, Chief Mark Macon of the Weldon Police Department and HCC President Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr. |
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HCC Class of 2012 graduates celebrated during the 45th annual commencement. |
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Halifax Community College’s Mission
Halifax Community College strives to meet the diverse needs of our community by providing high-quality, accessible and affordable education and services for a rapidly changing and globally competitive marketplace.
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Primary Media Contact: Melanie Temple,
Director of Public Relations and Marketing, templem@halifaxcc.edu,
252-538-4319
Secondary Media Contact: Dr. Dianne Rhoades, Interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Halifax Community College and Interim Executive Director of the Halifax Community College Foundation Inc.,
rhoadesd@halifaxcc.edu, 252-536-7239 |
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