Class of 2015 Convocation
On May 14th, New Century College (NCC) celebrated the graduation of its class of 2015. NCC’s convocation ceremony was held in the Center for the Arts and celebrated the achievements of the graduating class while honoring two storied faculty members retiring in the coming year. The 2016 academic year will mark NCC’s 20th anniversary.
Guests entered the hall to live music and the National Anthem sung by Valeria Sierralta and Kara Hollis of Lupe. Following the music and processional, New Century College Dean Lisa Gring-Pemble welcomed the audience and encouraged the graduates to question the news headlines that downplay the value of a college degree. Gring-Pemble asked students to think beyond the credits earned and papers written and to instead consider the lives touched, adventures lived and horizons expanded as a result of their time with NCC.
Next, Dean Deborah Boehm-Davis of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences congratulated the graduates and welcomed them to remain in touch with the university, reminding them that George Mason will always be their home.
Following Boehm-Davis, the student speaker Michelle Fremen addressed the audience. Fremen, who also led the NCC Envoys, a group of NCC students who provide tours and outreach to new and current students, called attention to the diversity she found in her classes and also the strength that the graduates gained from their diversity of experiences and thoughts. Fremen challenged her classmates to take the lessons they learned and to make their mark on the world by their humanity and pursuit of the right path, regardless of obstacles that present themselves.
Next, NCC Alumnus Leo Pareja, BAIN '04, Computer Graphics and Design, took the stage and shared the story of his own professional development. Pareja is currently one of the most successful realtors in the United States, yet faced significant setbacks in pursuit of his goals. Pareja enjoined the graduates to use all adversity as an opportunity to recreate one’s sense of purpose and drive.
Gring-Pemble then announced the retirement of two NCC founders, Professors John O’Connor and Michael Randy Gabel. O’Connor was NCC’s first dean and Gabel was a founding faculty member and both were instrumental to the college’s growth and development.
This year’s convocation ceremony also celebrated New Century College’s 2015 award winners. The following honors and distinctions were awarded:
The Student Envoy Award was given to Michelle Fremen, BAIN, Legal Studies. Selected for their strong interpersonal, communication, and academic skills, Envoys promote NCC and Mason by leading admissions events, working with prospective students, and speaking about our programs in high schools nationwide.
Professor Andrew Wingfield presented the Outstanding Graduate Award to Roger Leblanc, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies. LeBlanc is an Environmental and Sustainability Studies graduate who has made tremendous contributions to the sustainability efforts on campus.
The next awards presented were the 2015 Awards for Academic Excellence. These awards recognize students who have demonstrated excellence in academics and scholarly activities as reflected in their grade point averages. This year, three students, received the honors: Samantha Robbins Kestle, Stuart Lampen-Crowell and Stacey Spillman.
Next, Gring-Pemble announced that Raquel Friedmann, BA Environmental and Sustainability Studies, had earned the university-wide, top undergraduate recognition as being named the Alumni Association’s Senior of the Year.
Finally, all new inductees to the Mason chapter of Phi Beta Kappa were announced: Alison Culhane, Raquel Friedmann, Rose Kenyon, Samantha Robbins Kestle, Stuart Lampan-Crowell, Roger LeBlanc, Bianca Martinez, Julie Ross, Bianca Rodriquez, Julie Ross, Patricia Smithwick, Stacey Spillamn and Elizabeth Young.
Each year, NCC’s convocation marks the next chapter of life for the NCC alumni. To the class of 2015: best wishes and good luck!
