The Nelsonite vol. 20, no. 7

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A R C H I V E S
Vél. XX— issue 7—Tilosas Nelson Community Col lete -June 7. 1989
C t o p t h e F r e S S ( e i]
Ir; Templin confers the degrees on the 1969graduates.
This year's award winners are seen seated to his right.
Thomas Nelson grants
degrees at 20th Annual
Commencement Exercise
On May 13th at 8:00pm In the
Hampton Cdllseum Thomas Nelson
Community College held its 20th
Commencement Exercise. In all. 530
degrees, diplomas, and certificates were
granted for the 1988-89 year. The
actual number of graduates was
somewhat lower because It Is not
unusual for TNCC students to graduate
with dual degrees.
The Reverend Walter Kennedy,
D.D., Retired Minister with the first
Presbyterian Church opened the
ceremonies with the invocation. Mr.
Howard 6. Forrest, Jr.. Chairman of the
TNCC Board introduced the guest
speaker. Anita 0. Poston, J.O.
Ms. Poston serves as the Chairman of
the State Board for Community Colleges.
She is a graduate of the University of
Maryland and College of William and
Mary's Marshall-Wythe School of Law.
She is a partner in the law firm of Black.
Meredith, and Martin and serves as a
substitute judge in the Norfolk 6eneral
District Court. Besides her chosen
positions of wife and mother. Ms.
Poston's schedule includes affiliations
with the Commission on Needs of
Children of the Virginia Bar Association,
the Health Law Section Board of
Governors of the Virginia Bar, the
Virginia Women Attorneys Association,
the Women's Political Caucus, the
American Association of Hospital
Attorneys, the Bioethics Advisory
Committee of Children's Hospital of the
King's Daughters. She has also served as
a director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of
Tidewater. *
Ms. Poston concentrated on the
quality of education we, as students,
receive in our community college and the
importance of education to our daily
and1 Ifie future of our nation and
ourselves, She praised Thomas Nelson
as an institution of higher learning and
pointed to our growing record of
outstanding performance in education and
service to Virginia's community college
system.
Following Ms. Poston's speech. Dr.
Charles Sieracki. Acting Dean of
Instruction, presented the graduates to
Dr. Templin. President Templin then
conferred the degrees upon the students,
and with a rustling, the tassles were
turned to show that the students,.were
now graduates.
The jitters of the evening did not
subside. Now came the traditional walk
across the stage to receive that coveted
piece of paper. The lines seemed
endless, and the long wait ended as each
graduate's name was called. There were
moments of confusion as nervous
students tried to remember whose hand
to shake, which hand to shake, and more
than a few struggled to see through
tearing eyes.
The ceremonies came to a close as
Dr. Templin and Dr. Sieracki awarded the
President's and Dean's Awards. These
awards went to Mark R. Adams. Elaine
Marie Minch. Jamie Ann Sabol. and
Brenda Jean Johnson (See Awards, page
1.) Dr. Templin also gave a special
recognition award to Cecelia Elaine
Salisbury for her achievements in the
national AACJC/PTK Distinguished
Student Scholars Program.
With the pronouncement of the
Benediction the Recessional began and
the evening melted into small celebra-tions,
hugs, tears, and good-byes.
The 20th Annual TNCC Commence-ment
Exercise was over.
by Cecalia Elaine Salisbury
WARNIN6: Opinions Included
A few months ago, when It was
reported in this paper that the student
press was in jeopardy, many students
moaned, wailed, protested, and then went
on about their business. One or two
brave souls came forward to offer
assistance, but unfortunately they came
too late.
This is the last Issue of the student
run publication, heretofore known as The
Nelsonite. Hereafter, an impostor will
appear in its place, bearing its name, but
the "newsletter" style change will not be
the only difference. The new publication
will be produced by the Dean of Student
Services and her staff.
Students will be encouraged to
contribute to the new publication, but
control and editorial responsibility will
be vested in the Dean. The publication
will be on the lines of the Flagstaff, the
in-house newsletter published for the
staff, faculty, and administrative
members of this college. The Dean has
said that there Is a small chance that the
student newspaper could be revived after
the coming Fall semester. Plans as to
how this could be accomplished have not
yet been made available.
This move J^as been justified by the
Dean's need to get a variety of
information to the student body in a
timely manner. The student press has
been staffed entirely by volunteers who
donate their time and services on a
sporadic schedule. Classes and other
responsibilities, such as work, must take
priority with these volunteers.
Another of the problems that the
student press has faced is the need for
what is called "lead time." Accurate
information must be given to the press at
least two to three weeks prior to an
event. Last minute changes and/or
alterations can not be aeeomfpodafect.
(Continued on Page 7)
President's Award makes
Thomas Nelson record book
For the first time In the history of
Thomas Nelson there was not one Winner
of the President's Award—there were
three. President Templin noted while
presenting these awards that the college
was caught off guard. The silver bowl
which is normally presented to the
winner could hardly be split three ways,
so additional bowls were on order.
This award goes to the student who
has attained the greatest overall GPA
(grade point average) in the curriculum
in which he or she has applied'to
graduate. The student must have
completed at least 60 credits of course
work at TNCC and must be receiving an
Associate degree for the current year.
No repeated courses or substitute
courses for higher grades are allowed.
hark R. Adams, Elaine Marie
Mincli. and Jamie Ann Sabol. all of
whom held 4.0 GPA's, were this year's
recipients. This award is the college's ,
highest academic award and it is given to*
reward the dedication and perseverance
it takes to accomplish these goals.
Mark, a 1981 graduate of Menchvllle
High School, is employed full-time. He
has taken a heavy load of night classes
and was able to complete his Associate
in Applied Science/Automotive Degree
work in four years.
Elaine, a mother, wife, and
grandparent received her Associate in
Applied Science Degree in Hotel-
Restaurant-lnStitutional Management and
is employed with the Hampton school
system.
Jamie, who received her Associate in
Applied Science Degree in Management,
also worked full-time, attending classes
on a part-time basis. She is a member
of Phi Sigma/Phi Theta Kappa. This was
Jamie's second Associate degree. Jamie
will be working towards her
baccalaureate in Business Administration
at ODU in the fall, and plans to go on to
William and Mary for further graduate
studies.
These three students are indeed the
pride of Thomas Nelson and The Nelsonite
congratulates all of them on their fine
work.
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