Graduates will walk on Friday

Irvine Valley College will recognize 621 graduates at its 20^th annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 20. The outdoor ceremony begins at 6 p.m. in the Student Services Center Quad. This year, in addition to conferring associate degrees on its graduates, the college will publicly confer certificates on students who have completed college occupational programs as well. Occupational certificate recipients were recognized for the first time during commencement last year.

“We are very excited to be holding our 20th commencement exercises at Irvine Valley,” President Glenn Roquemore said. “Although we are one of the state’s newest community colleges, we continue a tradition of quality education for the people of Irvine and southern California.”

President Roquemore will host the commencement ceremony. Tustin Mayor Lou Bone will make keynote address. Student Body President Shaun O’Neil will speak on behalf of the students.

The Teachers of the Year will also be recognized. Professor Dorothy Sherling will receive an award as the 2005 Full-time Teacher of the Year. Sherling lives in Irvine and has taught mathematics at IVC for 14 years. She also directs the college Honors Program. Mathematics Instructor Barry Pearlstein will receive an award as the Part-time Teacher of the Year.

Professor Rebecca Welch, one of IVC’s founding faculty members and last year’s Full-time Teacher of the Year, will also speak. She retired in 2004 and now teaches part-time.