Shawnee Community College graduated 487 students Friday night during its 39th annual commencement ceremony.

5/18/09

ULLIN— The evening began with a pre-commencement gathering where Maxine Russell, chairperson for the Shawnee Community College Board of Trustees, highlighted some of the college’s successes in 2009. Russell pointed out that for the third year in a row 100 percent of the college’s licensed practical nursing students passed the state’s stringent licensing exam. “To Carol Belt and the entire nursing instruction staff, thank you for continuing to strive for academic excellence,” Russell said. The chairperson also pointed to the college’s engineering program noting that SCC graduates are experiencing the highest success rates at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and that all of those moving from the college to the university have jobs either immediately after or within six months of graduating the university. “That is impressive, and clearly evidence of academic excellence,” Russell said. Russell also noted that the college’s students also excel outside the classroom. She pointed to SCC golfer Logan Loftus who recently qualified for the national college golf tournament. “A tremendous accomplishment helped along by one of the best golf coaches in the nation, D.W. Davis,” she said. The chairperson also pointed to new construction including the college’s new extension center in Anna and the current construction of a new medical arts and science building on the Ullin campus. In closing, the chairperson pointed to the “excellent leadership” of Dr. Larry Peterson, the college’s president. She noted that a fortified relationship with Southern Illinois University Carbondale has created a number of new opportunities for SCC students, including the creation of a new aviation program. Also during the pre-commencement gathering: Craig Bradley was officially named the college’s Faculty Member of the Year; Edward M. Smith was named ICCTA Alumnus of the Year; Ken Meadows was named the college’s Alumnus of the Year; Sarita Faulkner Robinson was named ICCTA Pacesetter of the Year; and Craig Fitzgerald received the ICCTA Lifelong Learning Award.