Fresno City College’s traditional commencement ceremony will take place Friday, May, 16, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Selland Arena.

According to Dr. Ned Doffoney, Commencements is the most important college event of the year, it’s what the college has been working hard on all semester.

Frances Lippmann, Admissions & Records Manager, says approximately over a thousand students will be graduating this semester. This includes students who have attended FCC summer to summer.

Lippmann says most students graduating will either receive their AA or AS degree or certificate. An AA degree shows the completion of a mid-goal in a preparation for your bachelor’s degree or the end of an effort which is general education or liberal arts oriented. The requirements of receiving an AS degree is taking specific classes that lead to achieving specific academic goals and skills.

Most common majors are: General Studies and Liberal arts. According to Lippmann, the Nursing program grows as well.

Diane Dorais and Trish Houston are recipients of the prestigious Dean’s Medallion. Dorais will receive her Medallion from the Health Science Division and Houston will receive hers from the Humanities.

Both Dorais and Houston are deaf, but they haven’t let their disability define them nor discourage them from following their dreams.

They were both equally shocked when they received news that they would be given the distinctive award.

Houston describes her recent accomplishment as “gratifying”. She’s a mother of three boys, they’re 11, eight, and five. According to Houston, juggling motherhood and school has been a challenge, but feels everything worked out without damaging her academic performance.

Dorais has also had some obstacles to overcome these past couple of years. Dorais’s father became ill in recent months. Most of her focus was directed on her sick father and not on her schoolwork.

“My focus was on my father, so there was a time when I wanted to give up.” said Dorais

She found her focus and worked hard at making sure school was a main priority.

Houston will be going to UCLA this year and plans on majoring in English. Dorais plans on finding employment and is also interested in volunteering or applying for internships at hospitals.

“This award is significant because it shows deaf people can do anything.” said Dorais

Melissa Freeman, recipient of the Dean’s Medallion in the Business Education Division, says her recent feat is a “wonderful honor”.

Freeman attended FCC last semester but since then has moved on to Fresno State, where she’s majoring in Business Administration and Linguistics.

According to Freeman, an obstacle she had to overcome while attending FCC last spring was the planning of her June wedding.

She recently purchased a house and says her parents have emotionally and financially supported her college career.

” I love Fresno City College!” said Freeman excitedly “Many complain about Fresno City College, but it offers a lot.”

As of this August, new Title 5 changes take into effective. What these new changes mean is students will now have to be specific in the major they select; this excludes choosing General Studies as a major.

Students will have the option of choosing general courses, but they have to specific and relevant to your major. For example; you have to take particular mathematics or English courses.

According to Lippmann, visible results could be felt after the three year cycle has taken place.

“I don’t think the district will be happy with the results, because it can mean fewer degrees,” stated Lippmann “but it depends on how the faculty responds and the accommodations they make.”

Commencement ceremony is the closing of an anything but average semester.

According to Dr. Doffoney the academic semester has been exciting and challenging. Some of the challenges for Dr. Doffoney this semester has been: making sure the campus had adequate programs and making sure the new on-line classes met to par with academic standards.

The highlight(s) for Dr. Doffoney has been the wide array of competitions that have taken place on FCC campus. Student Government recently held officer elections, the Men’s and Woman’s Basketball teams have had a successful season, and many intramural sport games have taken place, including: flag football, volleyball, and ping-pong.

Robert Fox, Dean of Students says, the many celebratory events about to take place on campus this week, has been a highlight for him. The ICC leadership Awards Banquet takes place this Wednesday, International student graduation was held last Wednesday and the staff and faculty recognition ceremony takes place next week. These are just a name of a few ceremonies.

“We had a good year at FCC,” stated Fox “we were blessed to not have any disruptions on campus or any deaths take place.”

Dr. Doffoney advices students who are about to commence on to other endeavors, to “live a balanced life. Focus broadly. Take care of yourself, family, and spiritually being.”

Fox recommends students to focus on being part of the community. For example, volunteering to help serve dinner at a homeless shelter or volunteering to help coach a soccer game.

The meaning behind graduation can vary. Some say graduation is a time to say “thank you” to students for their hard work or it can mean “personal achievement”, being the only member of your family to graduate from college.

For those interested in finding out more information on commencements, go to fresnocitycollege.edu/commencement/