Bangor, Maine - This time three years ago, Cody Hand was preparing to graduate from Hodgdon High School, one of 43 members of the class of 2009 located in Aroostook County. Hand says he “was the first member of his family determined to live in a larger area.” Striving for independence, he headed to Bangor with the ambition of becoming a radiology technician (RT). While waiting for acceptance into the RT program at Eastern Maine Community College, he spent his first year away from home meeting his liberal studies requirements.
On Saturday, Hand will accept his Associate degree, as will Jessica Freeman. Prior to attending EMCC, Freeman was home schooled. “I had to get past my shyness and move out of my comfort zone,” she says. “During my three years here I have been fortunate to be challenged by faculty who believe in me.” Following graduation with an Associate degree in education, Jessica will enter Husson University as a junior, expecting to attain a degree in secondary education in 2014 on her way to a Master’s degree.
Completing two years at EMCC, a semester of study in Ireland as a Mitchell Peace Scholar, and a summer semester at Vassar, Morgan Talty will also continue to advance his education after graduation. Talty spent the past winter and spring writing and working as a substitute teacher at Orono High School. In September, he will enter Dartmouth University. After earning his Doctorate, Talty plans to teach creative writing or contemporary Native American studies at the university level.
Before the conferral of degrees, Hand, EMCC Student of the Year; Freeman, recipient of the EMCC Distinguished Student Service Award; and Talty, a recipient of the National New Century Scholarship award sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, will speak to their fellow students, family and friends as part of the forty-fifth annual Commencement of Eastern Maine Community College.
Congressman Michael Michaud, EMCC President Lawrence Barrett, Maine Community College System Trustee Kris Doody, and Susan Roeder, Chair of EMCC’s Medical Radiography will also speak to the 384 members of the EMCC graduating class of 2012, their family and friends on Saturday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Bangor Civic Center.
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