Caps, gowns abound
Toolbox
By Cristina Kumka STAFF WRITER - Published: May 17, 2009
CASTLETON — Three of Castleton State College's 2009 graduates walked onto campus four years ago without anything in common.
Criminal Justice Major Simeon Gervais of Enosburg Falls was the baby of his family, slated to be the last one to graduate.
Kandi Clark moved in from Swanton, with the urge to start a career in social work and raise a family.
And Sarah Davidson of Hyde Park was seeking stability after a number of turbulent moves across the state.
But on Saturday, the three Vermonters wore matching caps and gowns and sat under a tent at the college's 222nd commencement with a common sentiment — they were stronger and better prepared people following the friendships they made with other students and teachers on campus.
"They (the professors) make you professionals," Clark said before she lined up to graduate.
"The friends … the relationships were the best parts," said Davidson. "People are easier to meet because it's a small school."
Even though Castleton State College graduated it's largest class ever this year — 450 undergraduates and education masters, according to the school — students said it's still living by its motto of being a small college with a big heart.
CSC President David Wolk warned the crowd that some of what they may hear about the school may be unique.
"If you hear the students say thanks for last night, it's for the safe ride," Wolk said amidst cheers from the crowd, after telling them that he and his wife made due on their yearly tradition — driving the campus bus to safely taxi students around the night before graduation.
Wolk said the college has always "respected and honored" the individuality of students.
Class of 2009 President Edward MacEnulty thanked the school for the memories students now share, either through academia, sports, commonalities or relationships with each other.
In his commencement address, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, spoke about the school from personal experience.
"Graduate Jake Richards interned in my Washington, D.C., office last summer and if he is anything like the other students here, you are doing OK," Leahy said.
Leahy commended the graduating class for having the largest student-run recycling program in the country through a green campus initiative.
"As we go through life, we gradually come to understand that what our lives ultimately boil down to is not how much we have accumulated, but whether the world is a better place for our having spent time in it," he said.
As for the three students, Gervais lost his father in 2007 but decided to stay at the school and get support from the many friends he made there, his family members said.
Gervais now has a job offer with the U.S. Border Patrol.
Clark is headed to graduate school to one day become a case manager for adolescents in the justice system.
And Davidson is seeking a job after receiving a bachelor in social work degree alongside Clark, her friend and fellow graduate.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
Castleton State College
Commencement 2009
Nearly 400 students received diplomas from Castleton State College at commencement exercises held Saturday, May 16. Following is a list of Vermont graduates:
Master of Arts
Fair Haven: Tricia Doran, Curtis Hier, Michael Thornton; Manchester Center: Geoffrey Chamberlain; Rutland: David Warrender; Swanton: Alice Johnson.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Education
Brandon: Leslie Mitrano; Castleton; Laura Steere; East Middlebury: Dawn Saunders; Middlebury: Michael Giorgio; Orwell: Barbara Papandrea; Rutland: Danielle Horner; Sudbury: Judith Lashof.
Bachelor of Science
Barre: Janice Beach, Derek Gilbert, Eric Seel; Bellows Falls: Adam Kuhn; Bennington: Ryan Beddie, Jeffrey Morse; Benson: Benjamin Hahn; Bomoseen: Edward Carbonaro, William Lezzer, Mollie McKenzie; Bondville: Justin Schwartz; Braintree: Courtney Bonoyer, Raymond Boule; Castleton: Esther Ehmann, Samantha Galvin, Steven Vail; Chester: Christopher Albert; Colchester: Timothy Neary; Dorset: Erin Casey; Essex Junction: Nancy Ravey, Shelby Sorrentino; Fair Haven: Jake Adams, Courtney Parker, Matthew Wiskoski; Fairfield: Benjamin Gleason; Hartford: Ashley Caruso, Jason Gramling; Hartland: Lauck Blake, Trishia Fellows; Hinesburg: Joseph Marcum; Jericho: David Stephenson; Johnson: Terri Eldred; Killington: Erika Austin; Manchester Center: Sarah Bovey; Milton: Ryan Dempsey, Megan Robitaille; Montpelier: Rubin Jennings, Meredith Pope; Morrisville: Daniel Cook, Benjamin Tourangeau; Newbury: Paul Metayer; Newport: Wesley Allen; North Clarendon: Paul Bisaillon; Orwell: Terry Badman II; Pawlet: Diane Waite; Proctor: Joshua LaRose; Richmond: Robert Scanlon; Rutland: Christopher Adams, Kyle Bourgeois, Alexandra Culver, Adrian Hill, Jaimee Kuhl, Lindsay Martelle, Alfred Morgan, Molly Rhodes, Emily Shea, Max St. Pierre, Jonathan Wallett, Michael Weins; Shaftsbury: Timothy Zorio; Sharon: Angela Carpenter; Shelburne: Alex Gover; South Burlington: Jason Weiner; South Hero: Corey Thacker; South Londonderry: Corey O'Connell; South Royalton: Jennifer Manning; Springfield: Sean McIntyre, Eric Paton; St. Albans: Justin Morris; St. Johnsbury: James Strickland; Starksboro: Stephanie Bell; Sudbury: Travis Ketcham; Wallingford: Ian Graves; West Rutland: Don Dunchus Jr., Rina Girardi, Kristin Holmgren, Joshua Webster; Westford: Andrew Rissman; Westminster: Christopher Dryden; Williston: Laurie Hassett; Windsor: Jacob Brush, Bryan Woodbury; Winooski: Michelle Spier; Woodstock: Batu MacEslin.
Bachelor of Social Work
Barre: Maria Conti; Colchester: Kandi Clark; Orwell: Christina Douglas; Putney: Jaime Boyd; Randolph: Erin Barry; Waterbury: Sarah Davidson.
Bachelor of Arts
Bennington: Joanna Cardillo; Benson: Heather Hurd; Bomoseen: Jamie Cook, Kyle Ellis, Clarence Martell II; Brandon: Jennifer Mallory; Brattleboro: Jamie Howard, Joseph Martell; Bridgewater: Shaun Jeffery; Bridport: Michael Sumner; Bristol: Tirzha Palmer, Elizabeth Steggerda; Brownsville: Meagan Ebare; Burlington: Emily Bond, Jessica Dewes; Cambridgeport: Susan de Hernandez; Castleton: Elizabeth Blodgett, Rebekah Blodgett, Laura Caravella, Leanne Golfin, David Rampone Jr., Robert Van Noordt; Cavendish: Wendy Wentz, Tyler Woodell; Charlotte: Annmarie Randall; Chester: Robert Pelletier II; Chippenhook: Cortney Williams; Colchester: Whitney Grassley; Danby: Joslyn Bender; Dorset: Thomas Heinel; Duxbury: Ty MacWalters; East Dorset: Ashley Bourque, Kelly Marrone; East Dover: Trisha Clark; East Fairfield: Heather Westcom; Enosburg: Steven Lumbra; Enosburg Falls: Simeon Gervais, Katherine Lawyer; Fair Haven: Nicole Eaton, Wendy O'Brien, Leeanna Robinson, Samantha Wesnefski, Jessica Williams; Fairfax: Danielle Haley; Fairlee: Sarah Mills; Glover: Sarah Arnold; Highgate Center: Brianna Gagne; Hinesburg: Eliza Barnard; Hydeville: Tamara Gregory, Trista Gregory, Melissa Hyjek; Lincoln: Carolyn Griggs; Ludlow: Jason Potter, Montana Roby; Manchester Center: James Van Der Kar; Mendon: Sophie Leger; Middlebury: Mary Nienow; Milton: Megan LaFromboise; Moretown: Julian DeFelice; Orwell: Jessica Davis, Nicholas Korda; Pittsfield: Dale Gray; Pittsford: Samantha Blow, Jacqueline Haas; Poultney: Sarah Burke, Kenneth Holmes, Elizabeth Moyer, Tami White; Proctor: Evan Briggs; Putney: Myles Mickle; Randolph: Sarah Delia; Rochester: Maria Murray-Urdaneta; Rutland: Nicole Adams, Matthew Bersaw, Heidi Bird, Kalyn Burns, Brandon Bushey, Samantha Clark, Stefan Comparini, Shawn Dayton, Michael Fredette, Kathleen Genovesi, Adam Howland, Gregory Lewis, Ashley Manley, Kaitlynn Massey, Kathleen McDonald, Jason Merriss, Jessica Miles, Michael Nesshoever, Colin Paradee, Elizabeth Root, Ashley St. Peter, Erin Webster, Rebecca Webster, Kathryn Young; Salisbury: Michele LaFlam; Saxtons River: Grant Lawrence; Shelburne: Jennifer Kleptz; Shoreham: Victoria Vondle; Shrewsbury: Ingrid Wilson; South Burlington: Kevin Chiu; South Royalton: Kathryn Knaeble; Springfield: Nicole McAllister; St. Albans: Matthew Hetrick, Sarah Pearl, Trafton Thomas, Casey Toof; St. Johnsbury Center: Samantha Greeno; Stowe: Amanda Galloway; Waitsfield: Jerome Wortman; Waterbury Center: Jessica Viens; Wells: Amanda Chalmers; West Haven: Cynthia Renninger; West Pawlet: Sierra Waite; West Rutland: Seth Bosch, Sean O'Brien; Westminster: Katelyn Rumrill; Weybridge: David Foote; White River Junction: Jacob Richards; Windsor: Michelle Rice, William Rose; Winooski: Donna Sims.
Associate in Science
Bennington: Angela Russell; Bomoseen: Rojana Krailassiri; Burlington: Craig Jones; Concord: Rebecca Braley; Danby: Robert Bromley; Dorset: Eileen Black; East Middlebury: Yvonne Tchida; Fair Haven: Shauna Bowen, Michael Flanagan, Katelynn LaDuke, Elizabeth Magoon; Fairfax: Alex Airoldi; Island Pond: Allison Shelp; Ludlow: Jennifer Smith; Lyndonville: Danielle Ball, Deborah Leduc; Manchester Center: Danny Boudreau; Mendon: Joseph Casella; New Haven: Stephanie Paquette; North Clarendon: Timothy Griswold; Orleans: Donna Dolan; Pittsford: Katie Blanchard, Emily Drummond; Proctor: Amy Taylor; Randolph: Andrew Bent; Richford: Kory Woods; Rutland: Janet Crateau, Brittany Ellison, Courtney Gandee, Sarah Gemmiti, Jody Haynes, David Kirk, Kathleen McDonald, Shelby Stukus; St. Johnsbury: Valerie Lemieux; Sutton: Katherine Walters; Wells: Michael Barrett, Laura Newton; West Rutland: Danika Beaulieu; Weybridge: Teresa Messenger; White River Junction: Hillary Lanza.
Associate in Arts
Athens: Kyle Mack; Manchester Center: Jennifer Katz; St. Johnsbury Center: Samantha Greeno; Waterville: Erica Adams; Williston: Joseph Trasciatti-Holmberg; Winooski: Kara LaFond.
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