Toni Penwell addresses 2010 Southern State graduates
Lead Summary
By
-
Beginning this year, Southern State Community College invited nominations of students for graduation speaker. Toni Penwell of Washington C.H. was selected to address the 2010 graduates.
Toni Penwell addresses 2010 Southern State graduates
Southern State Community College’s 35th annual commencement exercises were held 7 p.m. Friday, June 11, in the Patriot Center on SSCC’s Central Campus in Hillsboro. A total of 491 students applied for degrees or certificates as part of the class of 2010.
The invocation, given by Kenneth Kapaun, president of the SSCC Student Government Association, was followed by the singing of the National Anthem by vocalist Victoria Mikkelson. Dr. Kevin S. Boys, president of Southern State Community College, provided the welcome, along with Randall Massie, president of the SSCC Faculty Senate, and Kay Ayres, chairperson of the SSCC Board of Trustees.
Beginning this year, Southern State Community College invited nominations of students for graduation speaker. The finalists included graduating students Wotsa Klu of Hillsboro, Russ Wickham of Greenfield, Tarina Quraishi of Peebles and Toni Penwell of Washington C.H.. To view a video of the four finalists, please visit www.youtube.com/ssccpatriots.
The selected guest speaker for the evening was Penwell, who received her associate of applied science degree in education during the commencement ceremony. Prior to taking coursework at Southern State, Penwell attended both The Ohio State University and Sam Houston State University in Texas.
“Last summer, I turned 50 and I decided to come back to college,” Penwell said. “Pursuing my education has given me a new sense of purpose in my life. I’ve had some really inspiring educators at Southern State and that really removed any doubt that I wanted to become an educator.”
Penwell plans to transfer to Wilmington College in the fall to pursue her licensure in education for grades 7-12 in integrated language arts.
A new member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Penwell has been on the President’s List for Outstanding Academic Performance in both fall and winter quarters. She also was named the winner of both first and second place in the 2009-10 Southern State Community College writing contest in the poetry category.
Penwell works part time as office manager for Marquee Construction Inc. and is the part-time recycling outreach specialist in Fayette County. She and her husband Richard have three children, Kate, Tyler and Michael.
Ryan McCall, Ph.D. vice president of academic affairs, recommended the candidates for degrees, which were conferred by President Boys and Trustee Ayres. James Bland, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, announced the graduates. The benediction was provided by Wotsa Klu, 2010 graduate and PTK vice president.
To view candid photos of the 2010 graduation, please visit www.facebook.com/southernstate. For more information about Southern State Community College, call 1-800-628-7722, email info@sscc.edu or visit www.sscc.edu.
Southern State Community College’s 35th annual commencement exercises were held 7 p.m. Friday, June 11, in the Patriot Center on SSCC’s Central Campus in Hillsboro. A total of 491 students applied for degrees or certificates as part of the class of 2010.
The invocation, given by Kenneth Kapaun, president of the SSCC Student Government Association, was followed by the singing of the National Anthem by vocalist Victoria Mikkelsen. Dr. Kevin S. Boys, president of Southern State Community College, provided the welcome, along with Randall Massie, president of the SSCC Faculty Senate, and Kay Ayres, chairperson of the SSCC Board of Trustees.
Beginning this year, Southern State Community College invited nominations of students for graduation speaker. The finalists included graduating students Wotsa Klu of Hillsboro, Russ Wickham of Greenfield, Tarina Quraishi of Peebles and Toni Penwell of Washington C.H.. To view a video of the four finalists, please visit www.youtube.com/ssccpatriots.
The selected guest speaker for the evening was Penwell, who received her associate of applied science degree in education during the commencement ceremony. Prior to taking coursework at Southern State, Penwell attended both The Ohio State University and Sam Houston State University in Texas.
“Last summer, I turned 50 and I decided to come back to college,” Penwell said. “Pursuing my education has given me a new sense of purpose in my life. I’ve had some really inspiring educators at Southern State and that really removed any doubt that I wanted to become an educator.”
Penwell plans to transfer to Wilmington College in the fall to pursue her licensure in education for grades 7-12 in integrated language arts.
A new member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Penwell has been on the President’s List for Outstanding Academic Performance in both fall and winter quarters. She also was named the winner of both first and second place in the 2009-10 Southern State Community College writing contest in the poetry category.
Penwell works part time as office manager for Marquee Construction Inc. and is the part-time recycling outreach specialist in Fayette County. She and her husband, Richard, have three children, Kate, Tyler and Michael.
Ryan McCall, Ph.D. vice president of academic affairs, recommended the candidates for degrees, which were conferred by President Boys and Trustee Ayres. James Bland, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, announced the graduates. The benediction was provided by Wotsa Klu, 2010 graduate and PTK vice president.
To view candid photos of the 2010 graduation, please visit www.facebook.com/southernstate. For more information about Southern State Community College, call 1-800-628-7722, email info@sscc.edu or visit www.sscc.edu.
[[In-content Ad]]