April 30, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MCCC TO HOLD 41st COMMENCEMENT
CEREMONY ON MAY 2

Dr. Karen Brooke to Serve as Honorary Grand Marshal;
Donna Bruck to be Presented with 2008 Alumnus of the Year Award

MONROE, Mich. – Monroe County Community College graduates will be recognized during the 41st Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 2 at 8 p.m. in the Gerald Welch Health Education Building, located at 1555 S. Raisinville Rd.

More than 180 students will participate in the ceremony out of about 500 candidates for graduation.

Two graduation candidates have been selected to make commencement remarks – one transfer program student, Jeffrey Kodysh, and one occupational program student, Judith Bert.  Kodysh will be introduced by faculty mentor Sandy Kosmyna, director of the Whitman Center, and Bert will be introduced by faculty mentor Dr. Karen Brooke, professor of nursing.  Kodysh will be awarded an associate of science degree, while Bert will be awarded an associate of applied science degree in nursing.

In addition, Brooke has been awarded the position of Honorary Grand Marshal for the ceremony.
This traditional honor is peer-awarded and bestowed upon a full-time faculty member who is held in high academic and personal esteem for his or her contributions to the institution.

Dr. Brooke has touched the lives of hundreds of Monroe County Community College graduates, mostly in the area of nursing, since joining the college as a part-time clinical instructor in 1977, followed by a full-time faculty appointment in 1978.
 
During her tenure at the college, Brooke has taught courses in the fundamentals of nursing, psychiatric nursing, medical terminology, nursing preceptorship, transition to medical-surgical nursing, mental health, psychology and clinicals.  

She holds a doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the University of Toledo, a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of science degree in psychiatric nursing from Ohio State University, and a bachelor of arts degree in vocal music from Eastern Michigan University.

Other ceremony officials include:  Robert Pettit, assistant professor of biological sciences, as Faculty Marshal; Randell Daniels, vice president of student and information services, as Student Marshal and Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction, as Platform Party Marshal and Mistress of Ceremonies.

At the ceremony, the 2008 Alumnus of the Year Award will be presented to Donna Bruck.  She was selected for the award by the MCCC Board of Trustees based on her outstanding community leadership, exemplary service to the college and distinction in her chosen field. 

Bruck is a 2001 graduate of MCCC and earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Eastern Michigan University in 2006.  While a student at MCCC, she survived breast cancer – utilizing the services of the Monroe Connection – and once recovered, began as an active volunteer for the agency.  She now serves as a program director for the Monroe Cancer Connection, a United Way agency offering support and education in the community fight against cancer. 

She has received much recognition for her work to increase awareness and early detection of breast cancer.  In 2007, she received a Yoplait Champion Award, a national award honoring 25 people from across America for making a difference for breast cancer.  She also made a guest appearance on ABC’s “The View” in a special edition for breast cancer awareness, received the Barbara Ann Karmanos “Heroes of Breast Cancer” Geri Lester award and was nominated for a Rotary Club “Service Above Self” award.

Degrees will be conferred by MCCC President Dr. David Nixon as the candidates are presented by Vice President Yackee. 

The Agora Chorale, conducted by John Tyner and accompanied by Stacie Dreger, will perform “Sure on this Shining Night” by Morten Lauridsen and “Prelude to Peace” by Z. Randall Stroope.  The College/Community Symphony Band, conducted by Mark Felder, will open the ceremony with Edward Elgar’s “Fanfare and Processional” (also known as “Pomp and Circumstance”) and conclude the program with “Fanfare and Recessional” by James Ployhar.

MCCC’s Board of Trustees includes: Chair Marjorie A. Kreps; Vice Chair William J. Bacarella, Jr.; Secretary Joseph N. Bellino, Jr. and Trustees William H. Braunlich, Michael R. Meyer, Mary Kay Thayer and Thomas R. Waldecker.