Commencement 2024
[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://threerivers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/commencement-2018.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1469639571895{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”450px”][mk_fancy_title strip_tags=”true” tag_name=”h1″ color=”#ffffff” size=”80″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” el_class=”page-title”]COMMENCEMENT[/mk_fancy_title][vc_empty_space height=”100px” el_class=”page-titlebg” css=”.vc_custom_1469639726224{background-color: rgba(253,181,21,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(77,49,142) !important;}”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1469635777230{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1718057058314{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Commencement 2024
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 10:00 am
Welcome graduates and families! Commencement is a great milestone in one’s life. It is a time where graduates, family members, and friends come together to celebrate the students of CT State Three Rivers, their dedication, and their successes.
Congratulations to the graduates in the Class of 2024!
Commencement Central
This webpage will serve as the hub for all things Commencement: the ceremony, graduate profiles, a video recording of the ceremony, Nursing Pinning information, as well as a collection of media coverage, speeches and all the relevant information pertaining to the 2024 Commencement Ceremony.
Date and Location
Commencement 2024 will take place on Tuesday, May 28 at 10:00 am at Mohegan Sun. The event will take place rain or shine.
Participation in the ceremony
The annual May ceremony allows the campus to recognize students that completed their degree at the end of the Fall or Winter Terms plus those that will be finishing their degree requirements in May or August. Students must have filed a graduation application in their myCTState portal before April 15 and must be successfully completing (or registered in for Summer) their final classes prior to the Graduation “Palooza” event. All participating graduates must have ordered their cap/gown via Josten’s as coordinated by the Student Programming Office (SPO).
Commencement Ceremony
Those graduates and degree candidates participating in the ceremony are expected to arrive at Mohegan Sun Uncas Ballroom by 8:30 am on May 28. Students are asked to report to the Uncas Ballroom where directions will be provided for check-in and the processional line up will begin to form by 9:00 am.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be available at a later date, and students that have met all degree requirements will be notified via email when their diploma is ready for pickup
Cap and Gown Pick-up
Caps and gowns must be ordered by April 15 via the Cap and Gown Ordering form. Caps and gowns can be picked up on May 15 from 9 am to 7 pm at the Grad-a-Palooza in the multi-purpose room.
Grad Party
Graduates should attend the festive grad party on May 21 from 4 pm to 7 pm. The party will double as the rehearsal with free food, great music and giveaways!
Nursing Pinning
The 63rd Nursing Pinning Ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 28, at 1:00 p.m. at Mohegan Sun.
Day of Commencement
Seating
There is no assigned seating, however the best seats will normally be taken first and quickly. Each participating graduate will be allocated a limited number of tickets, depending on size of graduating class. Watch for specific information that will be available closer to Commencement.
Directions and Parking
- Directions to Mohegan Sun
- Parking is free. The closest parking garage to the venue is Riverview Garage.
Photography
Professional photos of the graduates will be taken by GradImages™ as students receive their diploma case and again after they exit the stage. Students will receive proofs from GradImages™ via email and these can also be viewed online at www.gradimages.com, however there is no obligation to purchase.
Personal photographs and videos may be taken only from seats or in the designated photo area to the left of the stage.
View photos from commencement.
Video
The entire commencement will be filmed by Three Rivers and live streamed on the Three Rivers YouTube page. A link to the live stream will also be available on the CT State Three Rivers Facebook page. The video will be available on the Three Rivers YouTube Channel.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Photographs and videos may be taken only from seats or in the designated photo area.
- Cell phones should be set to silent during the ceremony.
- Please remain in your seat until the end of the ceremony.
- No balloons or confetti will be permitted inside the ballroom.
- No liquor or smoking is permitted.
Disruptive Behavior Notice
Commencement is a celebratory occasion and we should respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges
Congratulation Videos
Congratulations to this Year’s Graduates!
Congratulations Class of 2024!
CT State Inaugural Commencement Exercises 2024
Video Transcript
| Time Code | Audio | Visuals |
| 00:00-00:03 | [BAGPIPE MUSIC – The Brave] | Blue screen with CT State seal
Words on the screen read “Inaugural Commencement Exercises 2024-Connecticut State Community College” |
| 00:03-00:06 | [BAGPIPE MUSIC – The Brave] | Musicians march while playing the bagpipes and drums |
| 00:12-00:16 | Male Voice 1: “In May, Connecticut State Community College celebrated its inaugural commencement. | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 00:16-00:31 | The product of the consolidation of Connecticut’s twelve community colleges, CT State is Connecticut’s largest college and recognized its first graduates with ceremonies across the state.” [Music and Students Cheering] | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies, including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassels, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 00:32-00:51 | Male Voice 2: “Whether a student started at one of the legacy colleges, or completed their credentials completely under the auspices of CT State, one thing was clear – their commencement was the highlight of their academic career and an opportunity to celebrate their hard work and thank the family and friends who supported their success.” [Music and Students Cheering] | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 00:52-00:57 | Male Voice 3: “More than five thousand degrees and certificates were awarded during the twelve ceremonies.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies, including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassels, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 00:57-01:04 | Female Voice 1: “CT State President Dr. John Maduko offered words of congratulations and encouragement at six of the campuses.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 01:04-01:28 | Voice of Dr. John Maduko: “We are thankful to your families and faculty and staff and mentors in your lives, who have been with you for every step of your journey. These relationships have been fundamental to your success, providing a foundation of support that has brought us to this joyous celebration.” [MUSIC] | The video of Dr. Maduko’s speech overlaps with clips from each of the campus ceremonies, including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping a tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 01:29-01:35 | Female Voice 1: “Special guest speakers and student award winners inspired graduates at all twelve.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 01:35-01:44 | Dr. Richard Blumenthol: “Congratulations! You did it. You made it, and you deserve a great round of applause from all of us!” | Richard Blumenthol speaks at the podium |
| 01:44-01:46 | [APPLAUSE] | Students in audience clap |
| 01:46-02:07 | Student speaker: “No matter how low you’ve been, you’ve made it to where you are now. And if you’ve done this, you already have the tools to accomplish whatever you want to in life. Keep taking those steps little by little, one by one, day after day, and don’t let your challenges or your past define you.” [MUSIC] | Student Speaker at the podium and students in the audience listening intently to her speech. |
| 02:07-02:16 | CEO Kim Hogan: “Campus CEOs and Presidents lead the proceedings, and were joined on the platform by campus leaders, dignitaries, and students with exceptional academic records.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 02:16-02:22 | Male Voice 4: “Faculty ushered their students through the commencement procession while staff encouraged them.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies, including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassels, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 02:22-02:31 | Male Voice 5: “Families and friends cheered as diplomas were handed out, and tears of pride were shed both on the stage, and in the audience.” [MUSIC] | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 02:32-02:41 | Male Voice 6: “After every ceremony, students and their guests posed for photos. Prominent in each was a proud graduate holding a diploma.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies, including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassels, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 02:41-02:58 | CEO Kim Hogan: “CT State’s inaugural commencement ceremonies celebrated the very best that each campus had to offer – their outstanding students, the support of faculty and staff who saw them through their journey, and the love and pride of their family and friends as they saw the tangible reward of their student’s commitment and dedication to improving their lives and that of their families.” | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassel, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
| 02:58-03:05 | Overlapping voices: “Congratulations to all of the Class of 2024!” [MUSIC] | Montage of video clips from each of the campus ceremonies, including students marching, receiving degrees, crossing stages, waving at the camera, flipping tassels, speakers at podiums, shaking hands, clapping, etc. |
Press
Press coverage will be posted here.
Social Media
Please feel free to share your own photos and videos with us on social media. Be sure to use #CTSTATE2024.
QUESTIONS?
Please email to: TR-Commencement@trcc.comment.edu with any questions you may have related to the Commencement event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
READ MORE
Commencement 2023
[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://threerivers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/commencement-2018.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1469639571895{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”450px”][mk_fancy_title strip_tags=”true” tag_name=”h1″ color=”#ffffff” size=”80″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” el_class=”page-title”]COMMENCEMENT[/mk_fancy_title][vc_empty_space height=”100px” el_class=”page-titlebg” css=”.vc_custom_1469639726224{background-color: rgba(253,181,21,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(77,49,142) !important;}”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1469635777230{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1711652620977{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Commencement 2023
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Welcome graduates and families! Commencement is a great milestone in one’s life. It is a time where graduates, family members, and friends come together to celebrate the students of Three Rivers Community College, their dedication, and their successes.
Congratulations to the graduates in the Class of 2023!
Commencement Central
This webpage will serve as the hub for all things Commencement: the ceremony, graduate profiles, a video recording of the ceremony, Nursing Pinning information, as well as a collection of media coverage, speeches and all the relevant information pertaining to the 2023 Commencement Ceremony.
Date and Location
Commencement 2023 will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at 5:00 pm on the Green at Three Rivers Community College. The event will take place, rain or shine.
2023 Graduate Profiles
We’re excited to announce that we will have a Graduate Profiles page again in 2023. You’ll be able to see profiles of our pending graduates who participated and sign their guest book to wish them the best. View the Graduate Profiles here.
Graduates, you can access the Graduate Profile Information Form here to enter your information and upload your photo. Your profile will be posted within a week of approval.
Participation in the ceremony
The annual May ceremony allows the campus to recognize students that completed their degree at the end of the end of the Fall or Winter Terms plus those that will be finishing their degree requirements in May or August. Students must have filed a graduation application before May 1 and must be successfully completing (or registered in for Summer) their final classes prior to the Graduation “Palooza” event. All participating graduates must have ordered their cap/gown via Josten’s as coordinated by the Student Programming Office (SPO).
Commencement Ceremony
Those graduates and degree candidates participating in the ceremony are expected to arrive on campus by 3:30pm on May 24. Students are asked to report to the Multi-purpose Room (D-117) where the directions will be provided and the processional line up will begin to form by 4pm.
Diplomas
For students that applied early, printed diplomas have been ordered. TRCC is hopeful that diplomas will be able to be distributed at (or after) the ceremony to those that have been completed all degree requirements. Should this not be able to be facilitated, the Registrar’s Office will be in contact with all graduates about picking up their diploma (or having it mailed) about June 1.
Cap and Gown Pick-up
Caps and gowns must be ordered by April 15 via the Cap and Gown Ordering form. Students will need to come by the “Graduation Palooza” on Monday, May 15, between 11am and 6pm at the Dining Hall (Cafeteria seating) area.
Nursing Pinning
The 61st Nursing Pinning Ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 23, at 5:00 p.m. in the Three Rivers multi-purpose room.
Day of Commencement
Seating
There is no assigned seating, however the best seats will normally be taken first and quickly. No tickets are issued to graduates to reserve seats for family.
Rain Plan
- There will be no rain date.
- If the weather is too inclement (thunder and lightning), Commencement will be moved indoors to the Multipurpose Room which can only accommodate students, faculty, and platform party members. All family and guests will be directed to others areas including classrooms and the Dining Hall to watch a live stream broadcast of the ceremony.
Directions and Parking
- Directions
- Parking is free and can be found in multiple lots around the campus.
- Graduates will receive two parking passes with their cap and gown package, which were distributed during Graduation Palooza.
Photography
Professional photos of the graduates will be taken by GradImages™ as students receive their diploma case and again after they exit the stage. Students will receive proofs from GradImages™ via email and these can also be viewed online at www.gradimages.com, however there is no obligation to purchase.
Personal photographs and videos may be taken only from seats or in the designated photo area to the left of the stage.
View photos from commencement.
Video
The entire commencement will be filmed by Three Rivers and live streamed on the Three Rivers YouTube page. A link to the live stream will also be available on the Three Rivers Community College Facebook page. The video is now available on the Three Rivers YouTube Channel.
Flowers
Flowers will be available for purchase before the ceremony near the Clock Tower. All proceeds will support the Three Rivers Alumni Association.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Photographs and videos may be taken only from seats or in the designated photo area to the left of the stage.
- Cell phones should be set to silent during the ceremony.
- Please remain in your seat until the end of the ceremony.
Press
Social Media
Please feel free to share your own photos and videos with us on social media. Be sure to use #TRCC2023.
QUESTIONS?
Please email to: TR-Commencement@trcc.comment.edu with any questions you may have related to the Commencement event.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MOREThree Rivers Community College 58th Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 38 Nursing Student Graduates (List of graduates and their towns included at end of release)
Norwich, Conn. — On Friday, December 17, Three Rivers Community College held its fifty-eighth Nursing Pinning Ceremony. Hundreds of friends and family gathered to watch their loved ones take the final step in becoming nurses, a select few in the same room and others in nearby classrooms where the ceremony was broadcast live. During the ceremony, 38 nursing students of the Class of Fall 2021 received their nursing pin, marking the completion of their nursing degree and serving as a symbol of their readiness to be compassionate professional caregivers.
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).
38 newly pinned nurses smile in celebration at Three Rivers Community College.
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 95%. Graduates also report a 98% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.
List of Nursing Graduates with their towns
Dakota Anderson, Moosup
Samantha Armstrong, Plainfield
Matthew Blackburn, Uncasville
Christina Bottomley, Norwich
Allyson Briggs, North Franklin
Kristen Burdzy, Norwich
Justin Butler, Pawcatuck
Jennifer Carver, Groton
Christa Conville, Taftville
Krystal Csuka, Colchester
Tanya Durand, Pomfret Center
Rachel Gaines, East Lyme
Jamie Gonzalez, Stonington
Jacquelyn Hatlee, Norwich
Allison Hill, Mystic
YuFang Hua, Stonington
Jennifer Kudlach, Norwich
Rebecca Lee, Windsor Locks
Nancy Linn, Gales Ferry
Nicole Los, New London
Miranda Marriott, Griswold
Melissa Martinez, Columbia
Jamey Martyn, Windham
Samantha Morrison, Hebron
Kathryn Murphy, Gales Ferry
Stacy Myles, Norwich
Nathalie Onema, Middletown
Roxanne Palladino, Brooklyn
Aayushi Patel, Jewett City
Mariah Qualley, Waterford
Elizabeth Robbins, Norwich
Jordin Sanborn, North Windham
Lisandra Santana, New London
Bronwen Seaman, Plainfield
Jennifer Shiling, Preston
Angelica Sonnema, Quaker Hill
Kelly Thayer, Chester
Kala Warren, Norwich
Alison Zerull, Canterbury
READ MORECommencement 2022
[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://threerivers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/commencement-2018.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1469639571895{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”450px”][mk_fancy_title strip_tags=”true” tag_name=”h1″ color=”#ffffff” size=”80″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” el_class=”page-title”]COMMENCEMENT[/mk_fancy_title][vc_empty_space height=”100px” el_class=”page-titlebg” css=”.vc_custom_1469639726224{background-color: rgba(253,181,21,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(77,49,142) !important;}”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1469635777230{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1654106683420{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Commencement 2022
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Welcome graduates and families! Commencement is a great milestone in one’s life. It is a time where graduates, family members, and friends come together to celebrate the students of Three Rivers Community College, their dedication, and their successes.
Congratulations to the graduates in the Class of 2022!
Commencement Central
This webpage will serve as the hub for all things Commencement: the ceremony, graduate profiles, a video recording of the ceremony, Nursing Pinning information, as well as a collection of media coverage, speeches and all the relevant information pertaining to the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
Date and Location
Commencement 2022 will take place on Wednesday, May 25 at 5:00 pm on the Green at Three Rivers Community College. The event will take place, rain or shine.
2022 Graduate Profiles
We’re excited to announce that we will have a Graduate Profiles page again in 2022. You’ll be able to see profiles of our pending graduates who participated and sign their guest book to wish them the best. View the Graduate Profiles here.
Graduates, you can access the Graduate Profile Information Form here to enter your information and upload your photo. Your profile will be posted within a week of approval.
Participation in the ceremony
The annual May ceremony allows the campus to recognize students that completed their degree at the end of the end of the Fall or Winter Terms plus those that will be finishing their degree requirements in May or August. Students must have filed a graduation application before May 1 and must be successfully completing (or registered in for Summer) their final classes prior to the Graduation “Palooza” event. All participating graduates must have ordered their cap/gown via Josten’s as coordinated by the Student Programming Office (SPO).
Commencement Ceremony
Those graduates and degree candidates participating in the ceremony are expected to arrive on campus by 3:30pm on May 25. Students are asked to report to the Multi-purpose Room (D-117) where the directions will be provided and the processional line up will begin to form by 4pm.
Diplomas
For students that applied early, printed diplomas have been ordered. TRCC is hopeful that diplomas will be able to be distributed at (or after) the ceremony to those that have been completed all degree requirements. Should this not be able to be facilitated, the Registrar’s Office will be in contact with all graduates about picking up their diploma (or having it mailed) about June 1.
Cap and Gown Pick-up
Caps and gowns will be available for pick-up only to those who requested them via the Cap and Gown Ordering form. Students will need to come by the “Graduation Palooza” on Wednesday, May 11, between 11am and 6pm at the Dining Hall (Cafeteria seating) area.
Nursing Pinning
The 59th Nursing Pinning Ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 24, at 5:00 p.m. in the Three Rivers multi-purpose room.
Day of Commencement
Seating
There is no assigned seating, however the best seats will normally be taken first and quickly. No tickets are issued to graduates to reserve seats for family.
Rain Plan
- There will be no rain date.
- If the weather is too inclement (thunder and lightning), Commencement will be moved indoors to the Multipurpose Room which can only accommodate students, faculty, and platform party members. All family and guests will be directed to others areas including classrooms and the Dining Hall to watch a live stream broadcast of the ceremony.
Directions and Parking
- Directions
- Parking is free and can be found in multiple lots around the campus.
- Graduates will receive two parking passes with their cap and gown package, which were distributed during Graduation Palooza.
Photography
Professional photos of the graduates will be taken by GradImages™ as students receive their diploma case and again after they exit the stage. Students will receive proofs from GradImages™ via email and these can also be viewed online at www.gradimages.com, however there is no obligation to purchase.
Personal photographs and videos may be taken only from seats or in the designated photo area to the left of the stage.
Video
The entire commencement will be filmed by Three Rivers and live streamed on the Three Rivers YouTube page. A link to the live stream will also be available on the Three Rivers Community College Facebook page. The video will be posted here by June 1, 2022.
Flowers
Flowers will be available for purchase before the ceremony near the Clock Tower. All proceeds will support the Three Rivers Alumni Association.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Photographs and videos may be taken only from seats or in the designated photo area to the left of the stage.
- Cell phones should be set to silent during the ceremony.
- Please remain in your seat until the end of the ceremony.
News Coverage
The Day – “From ages 17 to 69, students from all walks of life graduate from Three Rivers”
Social Media
Please feel free to share your own photos and videos with us on social media. Be sure to use #TRCC2022.
QUESTIONS?
Please email to: TR-Commencement@trcc.comment.edu with any questions you may have related to the Commencement event.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MOREIn The News | TRCC educating future RNs during pandemic
Norwich, CT (The Day, May 28, 2021) —Prior to March 2020 there was already a national nursing shortage, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the situation became worse due to retirements and the decision of some nurses to stay home with their families, among various other reasons.
Nurses bravely and stoically administered care and compassion during the pandemic while working tirelessly for those in their care.
And now there is hope for reducing the RN shortage here due to the creative strategies implemented by the nursing faculty at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich. On May 14 at Three Rivers Community College’s 57th Pinning Ceremony (first in-person pinning ceremony since the pandemic began), 33 students graduated at at Dodd Stadium; in total, the program has graduated 81 students since the pandemic began.
Corinne Eichelberg, a former TRCC nursing student and current nurse at Backus Hospital, explains, “TRCC has a very challenging nursing program. When I was enrolled, it involved two full eight-hour class days and two full eight- to 10-hour clinical shifts in a local medical facility each week.”
She continued, “TRCC had a very high rate of success for passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and was known in the region, by word of mouth, to be a very good program.”
In March 2020, when the world experienced quarantine restrictions, so did the nursing students across Connecticut. Three Rivers Community College nursing faculty and students quickly transitioned to remote learning.
Dr. Edith Ouellet, director of nursing and allied health at Three Rivers, states, “The real challenge included clinical education. While the COVID cases were climbing and clinical facilities needed to conserve PPE, restricting nursing students was necessary.”
Nursing faculty at TRCC surveyed and assessed several virtual programs that offered clinical and critical thinking teaching scenarios. The faculty selected the most robust programs, and the TRC Foundation funded the cost to purchase these programs for all students.
Nursing student Kelsey Wilson states, “From Day 1 we were told to be flexible and prepare for the ever-changing circumstances as we navigated pursuing a nursing degree in a pandemic.”
By fall 2020, the TRCC nursing program staff hoped to return to the clinical settings, which includes Hartford HealthCare’s Backus, Windham, and Natchaug hospitals, Yale New Haven’s L+M and Westerly hospitals, Day Kimball Hospital, and other clinical facilities.
With the inclusion of many safety guidelines, screening processes, COVID testing, and an increase in availability of masks and gloves, the TRCC nursing program was invited back to resume clinical education in person.
Classroom learning remained remote while the nursing simulation laboratory was open and available to the nursing faculty and students.
Ouellet states, “We paid close attention to COVID screening, exposures and positive cases, and quarantined as per the CDC guidelines.”
Wilson added, “I think I can speak for my class when I say, we have all learned to be flexible. Adapting and overcoming has been instilled in us.
“I am confident that the trials we have faced amid the pandemic, in both an academic and clinical setting, will allow us to be strong and resilient nurses in the field.”
By October, the COVID case rate began to climb again as did hospitalizations.
“Nursing students were asked to return to simulation and virtual clinical learning,” Ouellet said. “This day-by-day schedule required an incredible amount of flexibility by the student and the faculty. Policies changed and we adapted.”
The spring 2021 semester has offered hope and many opportunities for the TRCC nursing program to participate in in-person clinical education. They have been able to bring students to the clinical setting and also participate in COVID vaccination efforts with the Uncas Health District and Day Kimball Hospital.
Nursing student Brittany Turner remarked, “These last couple semesters have been hectic for me. I lost my father due to COVID-19 one month before beginning the program and this was extremely hard for me. I have a 7-year-old son who I also had to home school while also trying to focus on nursing school so many days were very overwhelming….”
Online learning, she added, had its pros and cons.
“There is nothing like being hands-on and learning the practical way,” she said. “My first semester did not allow for as many in-person clinical days with actual patients, but the school did what they could to accommodate our learning.”
For Cassandra Reyes, a May TRCC nursing graduate who was in her second semester when the pandemic hit, the health crisis was a terrifying experience at first.
“At first, I even questioned if I was brave enough to be the next front-line worker, an ‘essential superhero,’ trying to save lives amid a modern-day plague,” she said. “I thought ‘superheroes are supposed to be fearless,’ and I said to myself ‘I’m so scared, how could I ever do this?’ In spite of the fear, stress, and ‘new normal’, all of us nursing students kept pushing.”
Reyes continued, “I finally realized that true bravery is not being fearless, it is taking action in the face of fear, deciding to overcome never before seen obstacles to be successful nurses.”
May 2021 marks three semesters of teaching nursing students through a global pandemic.
Nursing student Wilson states, “Edith Ouelett and faculty, in collaboration with the college, have gone above and beyond to keep the program running safely and successfully during the pandemic. On behalf of myself and my class, I want to say thank you for making it all possible for us to earn our nursing education.”
— By Aidan Schuler, member of the Times’ Young Journalists Initiative
The original article can be found here: “TRCC educating future RNs during pandemic”
READ MOREIn The News | Students from all walks of life graduate from Three Rivers Community College in virtual ceremony
Norwich, CT (The Day, May 29, 2021) — More than 400 graduates from Three Rivers Community College were celebrated on Saturday in a virtual commencement ceremony.
The prerecorded ceremony combined video montages of students learning, online profiles of graduates, speeches and video footage of in-person events held earlier this month where each graduate — from this year and last year — was able to walk across a stage dressed in their cap and gown.
Although the college gave students the opportunity to walk in a traditional commencement-like ceremony on May 7, the soon-to-be graduates couldn’t bring along their family members or friends because of the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t receive their diplomas that day. Students were invited to pick up their diplomas this past week in a drive-thru processional.
The roughly 450 students officially graduated on Saturday during the online ceremony where faculty and staff members read every graduate’s name, and families and friends were welcome to log on and watch. Graduates included several high school students who earned their associate degrees while still in high school, a 74-year-old, a single mother, a father-and-son duo and nine valedictorians — the highest number of honorees the school has ever had.
From center left, graduates Alissa Simkowski of Lisbon, Cassandra Reyes of Woodstock and Kaylen Sadler of Norwich, all of the Three Rivers Community College nursing program, pose for a photo with members of nursing faculty after participating in the presentation of their degrees for the taping of the virtual commencement ceremony Friday, May 7, 2021 in Norwich. The commencement ceremony recording was broadcast online May 29 at 2 p.m. Due to COVID-19 the school had video-cast as it did last year, but this year it will show video of graduates getting a scroll representing their diplomas instead of just a photo of each graduate as it did last year. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
Though the ceremony — the 56th annual commencement for Three Rivers — wasn’t what most students likely expected of their college graduation, faculty and staff said they were committed to honoring every student who persevered through the pandemic to earn their degree or certificate.
“Graduates of the Class of 2021, I recognize this is not the graduation you dreamed about with family and friends cheering you on as you walked across the stage,” said Mary Ellen Jukoski, president of Three Rivers Community College, who recognized that many members of the class were first-generation college graduates.
Jukoski said the school was honored to celebrate students who come “from all walks of life, each with your own unique story,” and highlighted the stories of a few students who overcame obstacles to earn their diplomas this month, including a single mother of three who worked full-time while attending school and a student who was pursuing a career in human services after suffering from substance use disorder and being incarcerated.
Jukoski applauded the resilience of every graduate who achieved their academic goals while surviving a global pandemic that drastically changed their learning experience.
“As a class you have shown resilience and strength to complete your courses when the year was disrupted by the pandemic,” she said. “You faced the challenge of remote learning with perseverance and an unwavering resolve so that you could make your graduation today a reality.”
Allen Lyon, vice president of student government, graduated with an associate degree in environmental engineering technology and delivered the student address for the virtual ceremony. He shared the struggles he endured as he and his classmates pivoted to online learning during the pandemic.
“The pandemic has challenged me in ways I could have never imagined, it has challenged all of us,” Lyon said. “I went from seeing my Three Rivers friends and studying with them to being locked in my house and going it alone; I went from seeing my Three Rivers professors face to face to watching them glitch on (video calls).”
Despite its challenges, he said the pandemic forced him to value things he took for granted and give himself more credit for what he was capable of.
“We have our cap and gown and I realize now that if COVID can’t stop us from achieving our goals, nothing can,” the graduate said.
Meghan Lacasse, assistant director of institutional advancement, left, gives Three Rivers Community College graduates instructions before they take their turn to cross the stage during the taping of the virtual commencement ceremony Friday, May 7, 2021, in Norwich. The commencement ceremony recording was broadcast online May 29 at 2 p.m. Due to COVID-19 the school had video-cast as it did last year, but this year it will show video of graduates getting a scroll representing their diplomas instead of just a photo of each graduate as it did last year. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
Three Rivers has students from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, providing many an education they might not be able to get otherwise.
David Medina, 53, graduated with his general studies associate degree, after getting his construction management certificate from Three Rivers in 2012 and then taking classes on and off and part time. He graduated with his son.
Medina said that growing up in a rough neighborhood in New Jersey, he was told he’d never amount to anything, and he accepted that as a part of life. But he saw joining the U.S. Marine Corps as a way out, and his experience in the Marines from 1986 to 1990 showed him he could go to college.
“That’s why I pushed my kids to go, and that’s why I wanted to finish, to show them you could go and you can go,” he said.
Medina, who has mostly been working in carpentry since, said he went to college in his 20s but didn’t finish, as he needed to put his kids and his job first. Unfortunately, he then lost a lot of credits moving from New Jersey to Connecticut; he now lives in Norwich.
“It’s a long journey,” he said, and he credits his wife with pushing him to finish.
Grace Carlos, 21, said she is grateful she went to Three Rivers because it allowed her to figure out what she wanted to do: She entered as an engineering science major but realized she wasn’t passionate about it, and she was easily able to change her major to liberal arts and sciences.
“I probably would not have been able to do that at a four-year school, because that’s a lot of money to just change your major around,” she said with a laugh. Carlos is sticking around to take four more classes to get a CSCU Pathway degree in political science, meaning she’ll have two associate degrees.
She then wants to transfer to a four-year school to get her bachelor’s degree in political science. She said her interest in political science arose from working in the president’s office at Three Rivers, which involved interacting with elected officials.
The Montville student helped with the campaigns of Democratic state legislature candidates Baird Welch-Collins and Matt Geren last year, organized a gathering in Montville in July to encourage civic engagement among young people, and interned in the office of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz in the fall.
Nine students were named as valedictorian on Saturday for their exemplary academic performance this year, which included completing all of their program requirements while maintaining a 4.0 GPA: Raleigh N. Aboy, Yamila N. Garcia, Valerie Glover, Anastasia Larionova, Katja A. Sieling, Sarah M. Walsh, Amanda E. Williams, Ara Wilnas and Paul Urbanowicz Jr.
Three Rivers Community College faculty members use noise makers turn Friday, May 7, 2021, while they cheer for the graduates appearing on stage for the presentation of their degrees for the taping of the virtual commencement ceremony in Norwich. The commencement ceremony recording was broadcast online May 29 at 2 p.m. Due to COVID-19 the school had video-cast as it did last year, but this year it will show video of graduates getting a scroll representing their diplomas instead of just a photo of each graduate as it did last year. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
Faculty and staff read the names of every graduate on Saturday, starting with 2020 graduates who weren’t able to walk because of the pandemic.
Jukoski and other members of the staff and faculty, including Kem Barfield, interim dean of academic and student affairs and Diba Khan-Bureau ’96, chair of the faculty senate, congratulated students on their commencement and their new roles as proud alumni of the college.
Jukoski told graduates that their graduation marked a step toward changing the world.
“Your graduation is an invitation to use your education to begin to heal the afflictions of society by applying the best of what you have learned in your head and felt in your heart,” Jukoski said. “As a class you have the power to stand for healthier conditions that will create a healthier society.”
She said she hopes graduates will go on to “create more equity, more justice and more joy in the world.”
— By Erica Moser & Taylor Hartz, Day staff writers
The original article can be found here: “Students from all walks of life graduate from Three Rivers Community College in virtual ceremony”
READ MOREIn The News | Three Rivers Community College Gives Out Diplomas
Cinderella Mosley, 70, of Norwich, celebrates after getting her Three Rivers Community College Associate of Science diploma in a drive-by pick up event in Norwich Wednesday during the 56th annual commencement exercises curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mosley said “My goal is to be a role model for early childhood students.” Approximately 450 students graduated. A pre-recorded video will be online at threerivers.edu this Saturday at 2 p.m. Students can also pick up their diplomas today from 11 am to 5 pm. See more photos at NorwichBulletin.com [John Shishmanian/ NorwichBulletin.com] [JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Skylar Petersen, 21, of Griswold shows off her Three Rivers Community College Associate in Arts, Business Studies diploma in a drive-by pick up event in Norwich Wednesday during the 56th annual commencement exercises curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 450 students graduated. A pre-recorded video will be online at threerivers.edu this Saturday at 2 p.m. Students can also pick up their diplomas today from 11 am to 5 pm. See more photos at NorwichBulletin.com [John Shishmanian/ NorwichBulletin.com] [JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Audrey Bartelt, 22, of Bozrah, shows off her Three Rivers Community College Associate in Science, Nursing diploma in a drive-by pick up event in Norwich Wednesday during the 56th annual commencement exercises curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 450 students graduated. A pre-recorded video will be online at threerivers.edu this Saturday at 2 p.m. Students can also pick up their diplomas today from 11 am to 5 pm. See more photos at NorwichBulletin.com [John Shishmanian/ NorwichBulletin.com] [JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
Three Rivers Community College gives out diplomas
[JOHN SHISHMANIAN/ NORWICHBULLETIN.COM]
— By John Shishmanian, Norwich Bulletin
The original article can be found here: “Three Rivers Community College Gives Out Diplomas”
READ MORECommencement 2020
[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://threerivers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/header-commencement2020.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1469639571895{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”450px”][mk_fancy_title strip_tags=”true” tag_name=”h1″ color=”#ffffff” size=”80″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” el_class=”page-title”]COMMENCEMENT 2020
[/mk_fancy_title][vc_empty_space height=”100px” el_class=”page-titlebg” css=”.vc_custom_1469639726224{background-color: rgba(253,181,21,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(77,49,142) !important;}”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1469635777230{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1617036710329{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Date and Location
Commencement took place virtually on Saturday June 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
The COVID-19 Pandemic changed how we celebrated our graduates in 2020. We were living through unprecedented times, yet our students’ strength and determination to finish their coursework and graduate was inspiring to us all. Together but separate, we celebrated their accomplishments via a virtual commencement with all the “pomp and circumstance” that they deserved.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1617036811038{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
Videocast of Commencement 2020
Commencement 2020 Program
You can see the official Commencement 2020 program here (pdf).[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1617036891384{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
2020 Graduate Profiles
Graduate Profiles pages were launched for the first time in 2020. You can see profiles of our graduates who participated. Visit 2020 Graduate Profiles here.
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Media Coverage
The Bulletin — Three Rivers students had virtual commencement
The Day — Online graduation ceremony celebrates ‘the COVID-19 class’ at Three Rivers
Commencement Speeches
Please visit our Commencement 2020 Speeches page to read the transcripts of the following:
- Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D., President, Three Rivers Community College
- Mark Ojakian, M.A., President, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities
- Michael Carta, M.S., Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Faculty Senate
- Sebastian C. Bartosiak, Student Government President
Nursing Pinning
With a traditional Nursing Pinning ceremony not possible right now, some of the Nursing faculty divided up the graduating students and went to their homes to deliver their pins in person – following social distancing rules, of course! Learn more about our Pinning ceremony and find links to photos from these individual pinnings on our Nursing Pinning Page.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1617037234690{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
Message from President Mary Ellen Jukoski (6/11/20)
A message from Mary Ellen Jukoski, President of Three Rivers Community College, for the 2020 graduating class regarding the state of the country, racism, the College’s commitment, and the graduates’ role for the future.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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In the News | Three Rivers students had virtual commencement
NORWICH — Samantha Zod, a Three Rivers Community College graduate from Mystic, said she, like many, didn’t expect her graduation ceremony to go the way it did.
“I was on my couch in my slippers,” the graphic design major said.
Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, Three Rivers held a virtual commencement on Saturday, the first time in its 55-year history according to Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services Robert Farinelli.
“Today’s virtual commencement will be different from Three Rivers usual commencement but, we will still bring you all of the important parts that matter,” he said during the ceremony.
Three Rivers Community College President Mary Ellen Jukoski reflected on the uniqueness of the current moment during her graduation speech for virtual commencement.
The virtual commencement started with a compilation of time-lapse footage taken in and around the Three Rivers campus. Then, anthropology professor William O’Hare played bagpipes, which was Zod’s favorite part of the ceremony.
“It’s kind of a staple of any graduation ceremony,” she said.
Then, speeches were given. Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski reflected on the uniqueness of the current moment.
“Your lives are going to be marked by the pandemic in the same way that previous generations experienced Pearl Harbor and World War II, the Vietnam War, 9-11, and the recent national events revealing some ugly and enduring inequities in American society,” she said Saturday.
Jukoski also hoped students would be inspired by these ongoing struggles.
“Can you show us how to create a new world, a world more kind and compassionate, where social justice inequities are addressed,” she said. “Your graduation is an invitation to use your education to begin to heal the afflictions of society by applying the best of what you have learned in your head and felt in your heart.”
The last speech given was from Sebastian Bartosiak, the Three Rivers Student Government Association president. He compared the current semester to the trials and tribulations faced by the characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” “with the trek through Mordor comparable to the experience of social distanced learning, figuratively of course.”
“I decided that I wouldn’t let this pandemic hold me back from creating valuable connections and memories that I will always hold close to me,” he said. “My hope is that you have created your own memories here too.”
For Zod, she felt being at home made the graduation ceremony more personal, since she was joined by her boyfriend and family members.
“It was kind of cool to have that intimate moment as well, ” she said.
For Zod’s future, she wants to work in a graphic design job while working on a bachelor’s degree at Central Connecticut State University. When asked about high school students that might be disappointed in their own socially distanced ceremonies, Zod said it won’t be their only graduation.
“Keep on working really hard, and you deserve the honor of an in-person one as well,” she said.
—By Matt Grahn, The Bulletin staff writer
The original article can be found here: “Three rivers students had virtual commencement”
READ MOREIn the News | Online graduation ceremony celebrates ‘the COVID-19 class’ at Three Rivers
Norwich (The Day June 13,2020)— Many Three Rivers Community College students have experienced disruptions as they struggled to earn a college degree — work, family life, physical challenges, language barriers — but a global pandemic added a different twist for the Class of 2020.
Instead of gathering on the college lawn in Saturday’s perfect weather, the approximately 450 graduates receiving degrees and certificates celebrated at home as they watched the virtual ceremony online. About 190 students filed personal profiles online to receive congratulatory notes from family and friends.
“You will always be remembered as the COVID-19 class when you talk about your graduation from Three Rivers in the days and years to come,” college President Mary Ellen Jukoski said. “Your lives are going to be marked by the pandemic in the same way that previous generations experienced Pearl Harbor and World War II, the Vietnam War, 9/11, and the recent national events revealing some ugly and enduring inequities in American society.”
Wilfredo Dolores reacts as his name is announced while his mother, Sandra Santana, captures it with a video on his cellphone while watching the Three Rivers Community College graduation ceremony Saturday, June 13, 2020, at their home in New London. Dolores’ aunt and uncle Nery Santana and Ricardo Francisco and grandfather Miguel Santana also watched the ceremony. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
Jukoski said more than the pandemic, 2020 graduates will face the challenges of persistent racial inequities and the call for social justice.
“Can the disruption wrought by COVID-19 be a call to action for the graduates of the Class of 2020?” she said. “Can you show us how to create a new world, a world more kind and compassionate, where social justice inequities are addressed? Your graduation is an invitation to use your education to begin to heal the afflictions of society by applying the best of what you have learned in your head and felt in your heart.”
Graduate Wilfredo Dolores, 25, celebrated Saturday with his mother and grandmother at their New London home. Dolores, one of five siblings, became the first in his family to graduate from college, earning an associate degree in engineering sciences.
Dolores immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic four years ago. He applied to Three Rivers and started learning English.
At first, he said, school was “kind of easy,” because he was taking math classes. He got a job working in a nursing home, and school got tougher.
“The first semester, I would cry every single day because I was trying to learn the language and not fall behind,” Dolores said. “I had to write down everything and go home and try to figure it out.”
He will transfer to the University of Connecticut to major in manufacturing and business and is looking for internship opportunities in manufacturing.
Graduate Doug Capazzi of Groton planned to watch Saturday’s ceremony with his very supportive girlfriend, Allison Keck of Waterford. Afterward, Capazzi planned to celebrate with family and friends at his favorite restaurant, Two Brothers Pizza in Salem.
Capazzi, a 1998 graduate of Ledyard High School, joined the U.S. Army that September and served two tours in Iraq. He injured his back on his second tour and left the Army as a staff sergeant to be home for his young son. Capazzi held different jobs while working on his nonprofit, Guardians of the Purple Heart.
“Being available in that capacity I realized this is what I want to be doing full time, working with veterans,” Capazzi said. “I knew the only way to get that done, and to work with the veteran community, was I needed a degree.”
Using the GI Bill, Capazzi left his security job at the Millstone Power Station in 2018 and went to Three Rivers full time. Now 40, and with his son, Nicholas, in middle school, Capazzi graduated with an associate degree in psychology studies. He enrolled full time at Eastern Connecticut State University studying industrial/organizational psychology.
Capazzi said he felt “out of place” at first, sitting in classes with students 20 years younger than him, but became more comfortable in time.
“It’s a little bit weird, because I never saw myself going to college,” Capazzi said. “In high school, my grades were nothing to put on the refrigerator. One of the things I’m most proud of, I was able to stay on the dean’s list the whole time (at Three Rivers).”
Graduate Mary Ellen Wilcox, 61, of Norwich has seen global events disrupt her life before. A 1977 Norwich Free Academy graduate, Wilcox said she “walked away” from a college basketball scholarship for a chance to play on the U.S. Olympics handball team. She played in the Pan-Am games and trained for the 1980 Olympics. But President Jimmy Carter pulled out of the games in Russia in response to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan.
Wilcox came home and entered the workforce. She enrolled at ECSU, but she found it “cold,” with no friends or support. She “met someone,” gave birth to a daughter and left college behind. Wilcox now is a licensed field adjuster in the Geico corporate office, traveling the country to assist with insurance claims following natural disasters.
But her family and Geico co-workers encouraged her to try college again. In 2016, her brother, Charles Wilcox, an English professor at Manchester Community College, took her to Three Rivers. She graduated Saturday with a 3.66 GPA and an associate degree in general studies.
Wilcox thanked several Three Rivers professors for their support, including Phil Mayer, Louise Summa and Edwin Muenzler.
“I was the oldest kid in the class,” Wilcox said. “Most were right out of high school. (Professor Mayer) was very patient with me, genuinely supportive. I said I’d been away from school 35-40 years. We used to take notes, now everyone has tablets, making PowerPoints. It’s a whole new world.”
—By Claire Bessette, The Day staff writer
The original article can be found here: “Online graduation ceremony celebrates ‘the COVID-19 class’ at Three Rivers”
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