Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 32 Nursing Students

On Thursday, May 24, Three Rivers Community College held the Fifty-First Nursing Pinning Ceremony. During the ceremony, 32 nursing students received their nursing pin, marking the completion of their nursing degree and serving as a symbol of their readiness to serve as compassionate professional caregivers.

Keynote speaker Mary Lenzini, the President and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut, addressed the students telling them that being a nurse is “not just a profession, it is a privilege” and that “we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to make a difference.” Lenzini’s own nursing career spans 50 years, and she concluded her speech by congratulating the students and hoping that they find as great a joy in their nursing lives as she has.

Faculty and administration also spoke to the students, admiring the hard work and determination that brought them to this point. Class speaker Jennifer Netopski read the poem “You Are A Nursing Student” by Anneliese Garrison: “You will learn these things because someday someone’s life will depend on you./You are a nursing student, you will graduate——/You will be, in all it’s wonder and glory,/a Nurse.”

A recitation of the Nurse’s Pledge came after the presentation of the students’ nursing pins. The students have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing. Upon completion of a licensing examination, the graduates will have earned the credential of Registered Nurse (RN).

Three Rivers graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are consistently above the national average, with a three-year average of over 93%. Graduates also report a 98% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.

The nursing students are:

Rebecca Almeida        Sterling, CT

Dawn Bertocki            Griswold, CT

Michelle Bousquet      North Grosvenordale, CT

Michaela Bowman      Niantic, CT

Thomas Campos         Old Saybrook, CT

Cristy Canova              Norwich, CT

Jie Chen                       Uncasville, CT

Kyle Deveau                Westerly, RI

Lesley Dunbar             Ledyard, CT

Kimberly Fitch             Plainfield, CT

Keila Garrido               Willimantic, CT

Brandy Gonzales         Oakdale, CT

Jennifer Goyette         Plainfield, CT

Mahogany Johnson     New London, CT

Sierra Kniskern            North Stonington, CT

Blaine Meek                Groton, CT

Aleck Mikulka             East Lyme, CT

Meagan Muriel           Uncasville, CT

Jennifer Netopski        Oakdale, CT

Kara O’Keefe               Portland, CT

Amanda Pearce          Chaplin, CT

Sarah Pratts                 New London, CT

Kelli Rodgers               Groton, CT

Marisa Rondina           Gales Ferry, CT

Anna Sekula                Putnam, CT

Rachel Shafer              Windham, CT

Jennifer Smith             Madison, CT

Cassandra Stimson      Canterbury, CT

Angela Stohlberg         Woodstock, CT

Alexander Timinskas   Old Saybrook, CT

Leigh Walkoviak          Groton, CT

Colleen Yarchak          Windham, CT

 

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In the News | Unique paths of Three Rivers graduates converge at 53rd commencement

And that hard work paid off as the Niantic resident delivered a speech Wednesday night as the valedictorian of the 53^rd Annual Three Rivers Community College Commencement.

“It’s not so hard to study when you have nothing else to care about. It is more difficult to graduate from a college when you don’t have enough time, money, and energy, when you have to juggle raising kids, having a job, and being a student,” she said. “We are supposed to become more prepared for real life after college, but many of us are already facing real-life challenges.”

But as just one student in a class of roughly 550 graduates ranging in age from 16 to 68, Romanenko acknowledged just how different every students’ path has been to this day.

It’s a sentiment community college President Mary Ellen Jukoski echoed in her address to the crowd.

“You come from all walks of life, each with your own unique story,” she said.

To highlight the diversity of experience and education in the 2018 class, Jukoski took several minutes to tell the stories of 14 graduates, asking them to stand as she called out their names.

One such graduate was Maximo Alfaro, a native of Peru who moved to the area just four years ago with no English speaking skills. He began his studies at New London Adult Education and continued at Three Rivers in the English-as-a-Second-Language program. On Wednesday, he graduated with his associate’s in liberal arts and sciences.

Alfaro will be attending Wesleyan University in the fall, where he will major in Hispanic Cultures and Literature on a full scholarship. He said he plans to pursue his master’s and doctorate degrees down the road.

“I know I’m on the right path,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gotten an outstanding education. I feel very prepared.”

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chairman of the Faculty Senate Michael Carta and Chairman of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and President and CEO of the Connecticut Science Center Matt Fleury also spoke during the ceremony.

Fleury, himself a graduate of Berkshire Community College before going on to the University of Connecticut, was invited as the event’s keynote speaker.

Fleury noted that though the graduates may be turning in their Three Rivers student identification cards, being a community college graduate will be a calling card they always carry with them, and something that has made them an “enhanced, new you.”

During her address, Jukoski highlighted those who were sharing the momentous occasion with loved ones.

Canterbury residents Heather and Adam Dyer were celebrating more than a graduation on Wednesday; the two were celebrating their three-year wedding anniversary.

Heather Dyer said the day’s festivities felt like they were “walking down the aisle all over again.”

But they weren’t the only family celebrating double success. Mother-daughter duo Nancy and Melissa Girardin, both of Preston, heard their names called back-to-back during the procession. Nancy received her associate’s in nursing, and Melissa in accounting.

“We’ve been waiting for this day,” Nancy Girardin said. “For a long time,” Melissa Girardin added, finishing her mother’s sentence.

Nancy Girardin said it took a lot of planning for the two to be taking courses at the same time, especially because she is a single mother with a younger daughter.

“We tried to always have our schedules planned so one of us could be home,” she said motioning to her daughter. “She has worked so hard and I’m so proud.”

The younger Girardin plans on attending Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall and hopes to become a certified public accountant.

“Graduates, as you celebrate your accomplishments and a new beginning and a new future of opportunity made possible in part by family and friends, please stand and turn around and salute your faithful supporters and enthusiastic cheerleaders,” Jukoski said. “Graduates, we are so happy to share this day with you and the promise of a bright future.”

— By Stephanie Menders, Norwich Bulletin staff writer

Related Gallery

Gallery: Three Rivers Community College Commencement

 

The original article can be found here: “Unique paths of 550 Three Rivers graduates converge at 53rd commencement”

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In the News | Three Rivers Community College grads celebrate many paths to success

Norwich, CT (The Day, May 23, 2018) — On a picture-perfect late afternoon Wednesday, the 53rd graduation of Three Rivers Community College featured all the stories often associated with one of the state’s more affordable college choices, with students juggling school, work, family life and career changes.

“I came here for an affordable education and a flexible schedule so that I could work, study and care for my kids,” Nataliia Romanenko of Niantic, Class of 2018 valedictorian, told fellow graduates during her speech Wednesday. “I didn’t expect much from it, but I was so wrong. I am greatly impressed and deeply touched by the quality of education, faculty qualification and warm and supportive environment here.”

Romanenko received an associate degree in computer science technology Wednesday and also was one of seven graduates to receive the Medallion of Excellence for earning a 4.0 grade point average. Class Salutatorian Zaha Bush and graduates Chelsea Ahmed, Rebecca Cipriani, Allison Grills, Debra Kerby and Patrick Meagher joined her in the medallion presentation.

Among the 580 students receiving degrees and certificates Wednesday were mothers and daughters walking together, a husband and wife celebrating their third anniversary with degrees and even two high school classmates receiving associate degrees before they get their high school diplomas.

That was the case for Jaeden Spitale, 17, of Baltic and Alexi Switz, 17, of Stonington. The two were classmates not only at Three Rivers Community College but also at the Three Rivers Middle College High School on the same campus. The high school for 11th- and 12th-graders offers the chance to earn dozens of credits toward college degrees during high school studies.

Spitale and Switz took it a step further by graduating from college Wednesday with associate degrees in general studies one month before they will graduate from high school. Spitale said he was under a bit of sibling pressure, because his sister, Madison Spitale-Hansen, did the same two years earlier at Three Rivers.

Both plan to remain classmates in the honors program at the University of Connecticut in Storrs in the fall. Spitale will bring 57 credits with him to UConn to study environmental sciences in preparation for a law degree, and Switz will start her biomedical engineering studies with a goal of becoming a medical doctor with 69 credits already in hand.

“I’m saving two years of college for zero dollars!” Spitale said Wednesday.

Melissa Girardin, 21, of Preston didn’t have to look far to find her mother in the overflow crowd on the Three Rivers green Wednesday. Mom, Nancy Girardin, 51, would be marching to the stage with her to get her associate degree in nursing.

The younger Girardin earned her associate degree in accounting and already has two jobs in the field, including one at her father, Dennis Girardin’s Broad Brook Heating & Cooling in Jewett City. Melissa Girardin isn’t done, though. She plans to go to Eastern Connecticut State University to pursue a degree as a certified public accountant.

Her mother, too, is putting her new degree to use, working at Bride Brook Health & Rehabilitation Center in Niantic. Nancy Girardin said she has been going to Three Rivers part time for the past seven years, while Melissa, a 2015 Norwich Free Academy graduate, told her mom she would “hurry up” to complete her studies so they could graduate together.

Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski highlighted several such stories Wednesday, asking graduates to stand as she announced their accomplishments.

Heather and Adam Dyer were married on May 23, 2015, Jukoski said. “As Heather says, ‘We will both be celebrating our third year anniversary today by walking down the aisle again once more, but this time to get our associate degrees.’”

The youngest graduate Wednesday was Christopher Annino, 16, with an associate degree in applied sciences in construction management. Gary Tobias, 68, was the oldest, with an associate degree in science in hospitality.

“Today I speak to all our graduates and say, this is your day to celebrate your commitment to learning,” Jukoski said, “the effort and dedication you invested to pursue your education, and your perseverance to make this day possible.”

Keynote speaker Matt Fleury, president and chief executive officer of the Connecticut Science Center and chairman of the state Board of Regents for Higher Education, told graduates his own winding career road that started with a degree in theater arts from Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts. From there, he pursued careers in broadcasting, communications, management and finally business, with a degree from the University of Connecticut.

Fleury lamented that community colleges are often looked down on as the poor sisters of higher education. He told Three Rivers graduates they should expect and demand respect and then turned his voice beyond the green, to Washington, D.C.

“Hello!” he shouted. “These people have jobs! These people have families! … They should get respect!”

 

— By Claire Bessette, Day staff writer

The original article can be found here: “Three Rivers Community College grads celebrate many paths to success”

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Three Rivers Community College to Hold Commencement on Wednesday, May 23

Three Rivers Community College is pleased to announce that its 53rd commencement will be held on Wednesday, May 23 at 5:00 p.m. Approximately 550 students will be awarded degrees and certificates.

The valedictorian of the class is Nataliia Romaneko of Niantic, who is receiving an associate in science degree in Computer Science Technology.  The salutatorian is Zaha Bush of Salem, who will receive an associate in science degree in General Studies. Romaneko will present the student address, and seven Medallions for Academic Excellence will be awarded.

Matt Fleury, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Science Center as well as Chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, will be the keynote speaker. Additional speakers will include Mary Ellen Jukoski, President of Three Rivers Community College; Michael Carta, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Faculty Senate, and Valedictorian Nataliia Romaneko.

The commencement will be held on the campus green at 574 New London Turnpike in Norwich. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors. For more details on the commencement ceremony, visit: threerivers.edu/commencement.

 

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Three Rivers College Foundation Awards $410,000 in Scholarships

Proud families of Three Rivers Community College students packed the room on Wednesday, May 2, when the Three Rivers College Foundation (TRCF) held the twenty-sixth annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony.

Generous contributions led to a record-breaking number of scholarships awarded to 212 students. The total sponsorships awarded came to just over $410,000 which includes $50,000 of summer scholarships.  Many students who have exhausted their financial aid and cannot afford summer courses benefit from the summer scholarships which helps expedite their path to graduation. The summer scholarship program was incredibly successful last year.

See the full list of scholarship recipients ordered by town here.

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Matt Fleury to deliver Commencement address on May 23, 2018

Three Rivers Community College is pleased to announce that Matt Fleury, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Science Center as well as Chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, will be the keynote speaker at the College’s commencement ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, May 23 at 5 p.m. outdoors on the campus green.

Speakers will include Mary Ellen Jukoski, President of Three Rivers Community College; and Michael Carta, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Faculty Senate.

Keynote Speaker: Matt Fleury

Matt Fleury is the chair of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, which governs the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU).  Fleury was appointed in 2016 by Governor Malloy to serve as Board Chair, having been first appointed to the Board in 2011.  Prior to being appointed Chair, he supported the Board’s mission as Chairman of the Finance & Infrastructure Committee.  He currently chairs the Executive Committee and serves on presidential search committees.

Fleury has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Science Center since 2009, after serving as the Center’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer during the Center’s development. Fleury helped to launch the Science Center in his prior capacity with the Capital Region Development Authority (then CCEDA). Previously, Fleury served in management positions in communications and government affairs in the telecommunications industry after a career in broadcast journalism. Fleury earned his MBA from the University of Connecticut, School of Business and an undergraduate degree in business and communications at Charter Oak State College, and he is a graduate of Berkshire Community College. He also has studied organizational leadership at the Yale School of Management, and nonprofit performance and governance at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

In addition to his leadership of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Connecticut Science Center, Fleury is a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the international Association of Science & Technology Centers and a member of the Board of the MetroHartford Alliance. Fleury and his family reside in Hartford.

Get more details on commencement here. 

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Premiere International Engineering Technology Honor Society, Epsilon Pi Tau, Inducts 18 Three Rivers Community College Students

Eighteen Three Rivers Community College students were inducted into Epsilon Pi Tau, an international honor society that recognizes high performing engineering technology students, during two ceremonies, the first held on May 4 at Manchester Community College and the second held on May 9 at Three Rivers.

Epsilon Pi Tau is an academic and professional honor society for technology programs in higher education, workforce development programs, and professionals in practice. Founded in 1929 at Ohio State University, the honor society promotes and recognizes the achievements of academic excellence and provides professional development in technology professions.

Three Rivers students were inducted into Epsilon Pi Tau’s Gamma Phi chapter, which represents the community colleges in Connecticut. In order to be admitted, students maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.25 and completed at least 30 credits.  The Three Rivers Epsilon Pi Tau inductees are:

 

Rebecca Cipriani               Baltic, CT

Jennifer Lafayette            Canterbury, CT

Soulinda Palermo             East Lyme, CT

Heather Palardy             Groton, CT

Mackenzie Ansich          Lebanon, CT

Michael Keedy                  Lebanon, CT

Eric Brumfield                   Ledyard, CT

Besmir Kami                      New London, CT

Jake Carrara                      Niantic, CT

Nataliia Romanenko       Niantic, CT

Kelly Morgan                     Norwich, CT

Daniel Korponai               Norwich, CT

Kari Thibodeau               Norwich, CT

Sergio Yraita, Jr.               Norwich, CT

Christopher Annino         North Stonington, CT

Jeremy Gladd                    Old Lyme, CT

Jennifer Messervy           Salem, CT

Devin Noe                          Salem, CT

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President Jukoski Receives 2018 Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Administrative Award

Three Rivers Community College is excited to announce that President Mary Ellen Jukoski received the 2018 Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Administrative Award from the Connecticut ACE Women’s Network in Higher Education (CTAWN). The award was presented at the CTAWN spring conference, “Transformative Leadership: Enacting Change on All Levels,” on Friday, April 20.

These annual awards recognize and honor women who have distinguished themselves by providing outstanding leadership to women in their institutions, in their profession, and in society at large. The CTAWN Awards Committee was deeply impressed by President Jukoski’s record of mentorship and advocacy for women leaders in higher education.  Wanda Warshauer, State Chair Emerita of CTAWN, described her as “a great mentor and sounding board. We need more women like her. She uplifts other women around her and her whole life has reflected this commitment to empowering women.”

The award is sponsored by CTAWN in Higher Education, which is a member of the American Council of Education National Network of Women Leaders. Nominations for the award are solicited annually from senior leadership of Connecticut universities, colleges, and community colleges.

President Jukoski was also a member of the Presidential Panel, which discussed the conference theme, “Transformative Leadership: Enacting Change on All Levels.” The panel explored styles of leadership that cause change in people and systems, enhancing motivation, morale, and performance while working towards a common objective, goal or vision. Other panel members, all college presidents, included: Dr. Joe Bertolino of Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Marc Camille of Albertus Magnus College, and Dr. Mark Nemec of Fairfield University.

President Jukoski has served as President of Three Rivers since 2014. Prior to that, she was President of Mitchell College for 20 years and held executive positions at Sacred Heart University, Loretto Heights College, University of Memphis, and World University.

Throughout her career, President Jukoski has received an impressive list of honors and awards, and has been appointed to numerous board positions. She has been published extensively, including “Understanding the Adult Learner: How Universities Get Rid of the Peter Pan Syndrome in the Classroom,” published in Proceedings of National Conference on the Adult Learner; and “Learning Styles: The Practical Implications of Current Theory,” published in Proceedings of the University of Chicago and National University Continuing Education Association Conference; among many others.

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