FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2009
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310 office; 904.608.0415 cell

FCCJ Commencement May 9 at 11 a.m.: More than 5,600 Florida Community College at Jacksonville students earned bachelor and associate degrees or certificates for 2008-2009; first bachelor’s degrees will be presented

What:	Forty-second Annual Commencement Florida Community College at Jacksonville College Credit and Post-Secondary Adult Vocational Graduates and Candidates
When:	May 9 at 11 a.m.
Where:	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Phillip Randolph Blvd.
Program Details:	Processional Symphonic Band Prof. Paul E. Weikle, Jr., Director Welcome Dr. Steven R. Wallace, College President National Anthem Florida Community College Chorale Prof. R. Wayne Bailey, Director Introduction of Platform Guests Dr. Wallace Presentation of Faculty and Staff Prof. Nancy J. Mullins, Faculty Senate President Commencement Address Honorable Ander Crenshaw United States House of Representatives, District 4 Presentation of Honor Graduates Dr. Wallace Presentation of Associate in Science Degrees and Technical Certificates Dr. Donald W. Green , Executive Vice President Instruction and Student Services Conferral of Degrees Dr. Wallace and Members of the District Board of Trustees Presentation of Associate in Arts Degrees Dr. Green Conferral of Degrees Dr. Wallace and Trustees Presentation of Bachelors Degrees Dr. Green Conferrral of Degrees Dr. Wallace and Trustees Congratulatory Remarks Mr. Thomas R. McGehee Chair, District Board of Trustees Closing Remarks Dr. Wallace

Details: 5,642 Florida Community College at Jacksonville students have earned (or are candidates for) degrees or technical certificates for the 2008-2009 academic year. More than 3,300 will receive their Associate in Arts (A.A.) degrees and another 2,300 will receive Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees and certificates. Six students will receive their bachelor degrees — the first awarded from Florida Community College. (Note: not all eligible graduates and candidates participate in the ceremony.) Among those receiving their degrees are:

• The first six students graduating from Florida Community College with the Bachelor of Applied Science in Fire Science Management, the College’s first bachelor’s degree. (Five graduates will attend.)
• Nearly 350 Associate Degree in Nursing graduates
• Twelve Early College High School graduates from Ribault High School (based at North Campus, and the first ECHS grads from Ribault) who will receive their Associate in Arts degrees before receiving their high school diplomas. Some of these students are graduating with High Honors.
• Twenty-six early College High School graduates from Lee High School (based at Kent Campus). Half of them are graduating with honors or high honors; eight more ECHS current students are within several credits.
• The first six Air Traffic Control graduates. The program began operations in Fall 2008 in the new state-of-the-art Aerospace Resource Center which had a grand opening in March 2009. (These students, who are graduating with an A.S. degree in Aviation Operations, had completed many program requirements before the ATC specialty was offered).
• Phi Theta Kappa President Yvonne James is graduating with her A.A. degree and will continue her education in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree at Kent Campus. Her two sons, Laurent James and Daniel Krilick will graduate on the same day from Pathways Academy (at the 3 p.m. graduation ceremony).