2005 Mary Washington graduates Alice McClain and Mary Rothlisberger cheer on friends at yesterday's commencement. SUZANNE CARR ROSSI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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A bittersweet celebration

Germanna Community College graduates see diploma as fulfillment of their dreams

Date published: 5/14/2006

By CATHY JETT

By CATHY JETT

Before he died, Christine Chi Duong's father made her promise to finish nursing classes at Germanna Community College.

The former South Vietnamese judge had flown in from his home in Washington state two years ago to help baby-sit so Duong, who is married to an engineer who travels frequently, could attend class full time.

"Dad encouraged me. He told me: 'Go for it. I'll help you,'" she said yesterday after receiving her Associate in Applied Science degree from Germanna. "He can't be here, but he would be happy that I fulfilled my time and graduated."

Duong, who barely spoke English when she and her family immigrated to the United States in 1993, was one of 51 nursing students and 551 Germanna students eligible to receive associate degrees or certificates of study during graduation ceremonies yesterday at the college's Spotsylvania County campus.

Theirs was the largest class of graduates in Germanna's 35-year history, and the last class to have Frank S. Turnage preside at its commencement ceremony. He retires Jan. 1 after serving as the community college's president for 20 years.

Keynote speaker William H. Leighty, a Mary Washington College graduate who is Gov. Tim Kaine's chief of staff, thanked Turnage for his almost 40 years of service to Virginia, which drew a standing ovation from the crowd.

Leighty then launched into light-hearted comments about the perennial problem facing commencement speakers: trying to come up with a great speech that graduates will remember.

"I did what you would do. I Googled 'really great speeches' and got 279,000 hits," he told the graduates, who burst into laughter.

Leighty got a similar response from the faculty when he added: "Your professors are probably thinking, 'Wow! This speech is going to be short and full of typos!'"

Then he got serious and urged the graduates to set a goal of reading two newspapers a day and one book a month.

"Read every trade publication and every industry magazine about your profession that you can get your hands on," he said. "Read. It opens opportunities and inspires creativity. Read, read. It inspires life."

He also suggested that they reach out to people they disagree with and make amends.

Germanna Community College's President's Awards recognize student organizations and individual students for exceptional leadership and service given to the college community. Selection is based on a number of criteria, including distinguished leadership, service, scholarship and endorsement by members of the faculty and staff. Other criteria include a commitment to assist others, efforts to enhance and to improve the college community, and ability to overcome obstacles and find solutions in achieving goals. Here is a list of this year's winners: Outstanding Leadership: Angela C. Tilley Outstanding Service: Annie R. Washington Outstanding Club: Student Government Association, club President Jeffrey A. Sisk Special recognition for being selected for Phi Theta Kappa Top 10 Virginia All-State Academic Team: Nilofar Hashim and Juanita Maley Very Special Person Award: Loretta Becker

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Date published: 5/14/2006