Modesto Junior College’s 95th Commencement Ceremony is on Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. in the Stadium on East Campus. A reception for MJC graduates and their guests is held immediately following the graduation ceremony in the Student Center Rotunda. Both the ceremony and reception are free and open to the public. MJC will have awarded an approximate total of 1,700 associate degrees to 1,400 students during the 2016-2017 academic year, pending recipients’ successful completion of the spring semester. Additionally, 600 certificates of achievement will be awarded to 450 individuals for this academic year. Approximately 600 of these graduates plan to participate in MJC’s annual Commencement Ceremony. Addressing the Class of 2017 is graduating student Tim Truax presenting “Your Dash-Continued!” He is graduating with honors having earned an Associate in Science degree in animal science. During his two years at MJC, Truax was very involved in the Agriculture Department, where he served as a member of the discussion meet team, spear-headed various committees, and most recently served as the Young Farmer President. Student soloist Julia Marsen will sing the national anthem, and music by the MJC Combined Symphonic and Concert Bands, under the direction of Professor Erik Maki, will highlight the ceremony. The graduation program features the presentation of the 2017 MJC Distinguished Alumni Award to Marian Kaanon, CEO of the Stanislaus Community Foundation, which provides grants and scholarships to community organizations in Stanislaus County. To date, the organization has invested nearly $13 million in local nonprofits and students, and since Kaanon took the helm in 2012, the organization has nearly doubled its charitable assets, and launched two education initiatives: Stanislaus READS! and Stanislaus Futures. They recently initiated the Irvine New Leadership Network to equip emerging local leaders with the necessary tools to transform the community. Additional dignitaries on the platform will include Jill Stearns, MJC president; Jennifer Hamilton, vice president of Instruction; James Todd, vice president of Student Services; Albert Alt, vice president of College Administrative Services; George Boodrookas, dean of advancement and executive director of the MJC Foundation; Curtis Martin, president of MJC Academic Senate; Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) trustees Darin Gharat and Abe Rojas, and Jane M. Harmon, interim chancellor of YCCD. MJC graduates and their family and friends are invited to attend the annual Graduation Luncheon on Friday, April 21 at 12 noon in the Mary Stuart Rogers Student Learning Center on West Campus. The luncheon features an address entitled “Communal Strength” by graduating sister and brother Bailey and Bradford Phelps, and presentation of a letter poem entitled “May the Force Be With Modesto Junior College” by Professor Sam Pierstorff, written to commemorate the college’s 95th birthday. Luncheon tickets must be purchased in advance and are available for $12 in the Pirates’ Bookstore on East Campus. For more information on MJC’s graduation contact the Public Information Office at (209) 575-6866.
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