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CSM grads put on adult hats
Ceremony leads to grown-up world of job, house, taxes
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND
At the 2009 spring commencement, CSM awarded 416 associate degrees and 191 certificates. Of the candidates for graduation, 72 percent were female; 39 percent were from Charles County, 31 percent from St. Mary's County and 26 percent from Calvert County; 4 percent were from outside the region. The ages of this spring's recipients ranged from 17 to 64.
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Graduates — from 17 to 64 — at the 50th commencement at the College of Southern Maryland prove that you can get your college education at any age.
More than 400 students of all ages graduated Thursday — 204 walked across the stage.
The audience was more than just the average student in his early 20s. In fact, according to Bradley M. Gottfried, president of the college, the average age for a CSM student is 28. The oldest student to graduate Thursday was Llewellyn Hall, 64, of White Plains.
Hall said she went back to school after a 30-year hiatus because as a foster parent, she felt more people should be trained in how to be better foster parents, with better educations; she hopes to one day be able to better provide such training.
Hall graduated with a certificate in drugs and alcohol studies. She is on a path to receive a diploma for human services.
Hall said working with children and teens, she never feels her age.
"I don't have time to remember my age half the time," she said.
Prior to going back to school to get her college education, Hall had only a GED. She said she dropped out of high school due to a pregnancy and years later she went for her GED. Slowly but surely she began taking classes again.
"It's been an adjustment," she said.
Hall said she has learned to adjust to her school schedule and home schedule and finds that she still has time for her family.
She joked that her grandson is able to help her with some of her math homework as he is often learning some of the same concepts.
David Watkins, 43, of St. Leonard got his high school diploma and then attempted college with little success the first time around. Years later, he was married and his father-in-law set aside money for Watkins to complete his college education.
In 2006, after 25 years of being away from the school scene, Watkins went back and had no trouble receiving his associate degree in business administration. Aside from the encouragement from his family, Watkins said moving up in his company was also an incentive to go back to school.
Watkins said he had been promoted at Frito-Lay as much as possible without a degree; if he wanted to go any further, he would need to go further in his education.
Moving further wasn't the reason for Anthony Thenstead, 40, to pursue his degree.
Thenstead, of White Plains, said he just felt it was the right thing at the time.
"It's something I wanted to do," he said.
Thenstead said he took a break from school and joined the U.S. Navy. While he wasn't in school, he said he was constantly in training which felt like school, making the transition to going back to college easier on him.
Thenstead said he pursued a degree in business administration so that when he retires from the Department of the Air Force, he can do a career change and try something different.
Alison Devine has done something different with her education path. Thursday night Devine graduated with an associate degree in English. Next week, she will graduate from Leonardtown High School. Devine, 17, was the youngest graduate at CSM.
"I think it's awesome," she said of the jump start on college. "I wasn't particularly thrilled with the high school experience."
Devine began at CSM in the eighth grade as part of the gifted and talented program at the college. She later got involved in the concurrent enrollment program so she could take college courses while still in high school.
"It's great to say I graduated college before high school," she said.
Devine will continue her college career at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in the fall.
According to Gottfried, for some this commencement marked the completion of a student's education while for others, they will go on to other colleges or continue at CSM.
"Everyone is unique and everyone is very, very special," he said.
Guest speaker for the commencement, retired judge for the Seventh Circuit Court of Maryland Theresa A. Nolan, encouraged all graduates to pursue their dreams no matter what they are.
"If you picture yourself achieving your goal, you will achieve your goal," she said. Nolan spoke from experience as she went from a mother of 11 and a secretary at a law office to become a lawyer and then a judge.
"Have a dream, and go for it," she said.
400 success stories
The following students were recognized as candidates for associate's degrees or certificates at the College of Southern Maryland's 50th spring commencement ceremony May14.
Charles County
Aquasco — Melody L. Hill.
Bel Alton — Maggie Lynn Boyden, Courtney Marie Breaux and Matthew J. Hoepfl.
Brandywine — Paige Marie Rhodes and John Wesley Watkins Jr.
Bryans Road — David J. Gmaz, Keely Shaina Lamarca, Amanda Jean Marks, Helen D. Roberts and Tiffany DeEtte Thompson.
Bryantown — Tanya Lynn Flerlage.
Charlotte Hall — Amy Elizabeth Bowling, William David Burch Jr., Jaime Michelle Connors, John Stephen DeMent, Jaime Finley and Cheryl L. Miller.
Faulkner — Jacqueline M. Gale.
Hughesville — Michelle L. Burnette, Kimberly I. Higgs and Katherine Lynn VanSlyke.
Indian Head — Patricia C. Flesher, Latasha Tamia Haire, Arnita Lavette Jones, Victoria L. Langley, Edward Lee Sealing Jr., Alexa E. Smith and Lakeyia Danyell Smith.
La Plata — Richard Francis Aud, Alexandra Jean Bevard, Geoffry Michael Bowman, Sharon Marie Brown, Tracie S. Brull, Rochelle Tiann Butler, Amy Marie Carroll, Sayshan L. Conver-White, Adrianna S. DePuy, Tina Louise Donaldson, Erica Faith Erb, Sharon J. Garner, David Blair Hanson, Seth Ronald Henley, Benjamin J. Hoffmaster, Christan April Holmes, Robert Douglas Hutchins, Erich A. Johnson, Megan Leigh Kret, Lindsay S. Kuntz, Liberty Ashley McLean, Kelli Ann Mindel, Jenifer E. Mohler, Bethany Rae Mooney, Patricia A. Pegues, Anthony Shukosky, Kimberly Ann Sovine, Tsvetelina Stanev, Paul A. Toscano, Monique N. Tyler, Wanda Denise Woodland and Anita L. Young.
Nanjemoy — Katelyn Lea Morgan, Sarah L. Sandy and Michael E. Stachura.
Newburg — Danielle Marie Hurst and Jessica Lynn Long.
Pomfret — R. Lee Evans and Katrina Liz Marti.
Waldorf — Mary Jean Babiarz, Doris Anne Ball, Jovohn LaToya Belle, Ryan Adam Blackwell, Tara Chantella Blanton, Beverly C. Bolt, Lilian Campos Boswell, Ryan Austin Bowie, Carmen Buckler, Henry D. Buckmon, Scott Russell Bunker, April Joyce G. Caalim, Cherry E. Cabati, Draper Justin Carter, Rebecca Rae Churchwell, Walter L. Claros, Rowena Nicole Conway, Amber Anita Conway, Jessica Lynn Cooper, Ricardo Leigh de Leon III, Brittany Nichel Easton, Carla Danielle Egner, Benjamin Quimado Fix, Tera M. Foster, Candace R. Franklin, Kayala Denise Freeman-Williams, Benjamin Henry Gilbert, Ryan Richard Gimenez, Katherine Lynne Gochnour, Darlene R. Harper, Aaron B. J. Harris, Ibonne Koeller Henriquez, Kimberly R. Holbert, Vernetta Darya Louise Johnson, Teaira F. Jones, Bethany S. Jordan, Brandi R. Justice, Sean Douglas Kennedy, Kelsey Michele Law, Kimberly Ann Leseman, Justin Lyell Lucchesi, Lakeya Danielle Lyles, Lydia V. Manalad, Lara Kristin Matcke, Patricia Ann McGee, Rhonda L. Milhouse, Stacie Mills, Kristin N. Moy, Sametria J. Nettles, Henry O. Onyeador Jr. , Tammy Lynn Padgett, Jack Warren Parker, Diane Patricia Payne, Christina J. Pheulpin, Andrew Xavier Pinto, Naeemuddin Qureshi, Stephanie Lynn Rand, Uzma Safdar, Patrick Ian Schlegel, John Seekford, Denita Nicole Sendish, Sadaf Shafiq, Apryl Lynn Shlagel, Victoria Skelton, Jeremy Robert Snyder, Curtis Deverell Taylor, Latasha Maria Taylor, Shirley Ann Taylor, Shelita V. Taylor, Zachary Trusty, Dorothy Jo Turner, Marc Tyler Jr. , Christina Marie Velez, Lorraine M. Walker, Robert B. Watson, David Erik Westhead, Gregory L. White and Barbara Lee Wood. Welcome — Carol M. Cobey, Jessica Ellen Kemp, Jennifer Maree Murray and Jacob W. Weisman.
White Plains — Lois Irene Deal, Denise Lynn Edwards, Llewellyn C. Hall, Linda Jackson, Lisa Marie Latimer, Jennifer Lee Ryan and Anthony Thenstead.
St. Mary's County
Avenue — Cynthia L. Cryer, Kasey Lyn Shade.
California – Kristen Aimee Bergery, Christy Marie Coombs, Norman Charles Davis IV, Sherri Myong Hadden, Hannah A. Marshall, Jennifer Marie Mason, Jesse Michael McAllister, Steven Scott McPherson, Lianna Marie Pilesky, Krystal Nicole Ringley, Jennifer Ann Russell, Katherine Elizabeth Shepard, Lori Renee Windsor.
Callaway – Christine M. Finch, Charlotte Hall, Rebecca Lynn Rigby, Erin Michelle Summers, Angela Rachael Swann.
Clements – Dominique Nicole Carter, Eowyn Emily Fitch, Rachel Lynn Hayden.
Compton – Elizabeth A. Goddard.
Dameron – Joseph S. Goddard Jr.
Drayden – Danielle Lynn Fluker.
Great Mills – Leisa R. Barrett, Anthony Tang Brown, Alejandro Luis Colon-Martel, Kristine Nichol Dietz, Jennifer Marie Dyson, Stephanie Denise Gonzalez, Theresa Catherine Leonard, Susan Beth Mahoney, Ashley Corrine Merwin, John Joseph Pang Jr., Julie E. Pettie, Meagan Elizabeth Rankin, Rachel Anne Roberts, Christopher Joseph Schumacher.
Hollywood – Ashley Elizabeth Beckwith, Matthew Alden Burgan, Shannon L. Christian, Vincent M. Cucinotta, Anthony E. Garcia III, Kyle Shephard Greer, Sean Michael Hare, Julie Nicole Hayden, Amber Rae Johnson, Toby Elizabeth Kelly, Amy Leigh McDonald, Adam Travis Miedzinski, Brandon J. Miller, Margaret Christine Osborne, Lauren Shelby Pitt, Shameka N. Stevens, Eric Tyler Ward, June Marie Wickwire, Geoffrey Curtiss Williams.
Leonardtown – Taylor A. Breckon, Tamera L. Cooksey, Alison Florence Devine, Traci Lynn Guice, Justin Edward Hall, Jacqueline L. Jones, Rhonda Bonita Jones, Steven T. Miskolczi, Kayla T. Schneider, Mary Christiana Spalding, Cecelia Elizabeth Thomas, Jonathan Kane Varesko, Emily Renee Windsor.
Lexington Park – Helen Louann Bateman, Nicole Budurka, Paula Edwina Curielabreu, Suzanne Annette Davis, Christine Davis, Kathleen Fulchiron, Hou Lim, Amanda Renee Jones, Matthew Ryan Laigle, Franz Therese Restor Lozada, Tamela Taiwan Mirinda Lucas, Sandra Lee Nickell, Janna Marie Roberts, Tabitha L. Roman, Maria Kristen Smith, Mechanicsville, Richard L. Black, Chelsea Jane Bussey, Louise Margaret Cannon, Rhonda Helen Clark, Joseph R. Crews, Kenneth Zachary Graves, Kathleen Michelle Grove, Jacqueline Elizabeth Gullia, Robyn Lynn Helms, Mandy Nadine Helwig, Anjanette Jones-Smith, Roberta D. Kissinger, Elizabeth Anne Kwiatkowski, Gerri R. Long, Robert S. McGann, Scott R. Meredith, Jackson Elias Miller, Sharon Kay Riley, Blake Matthews Robertson, Jessica Anne Sherman, Denise Shlegle, Brandi Nicole Smith, Shannon Lynn Thomas, Jeremy L. Tippett, Jennifer K. Wall, Lindsey Erin LaFon Welch.
Mechanicsville — Rebekah Pearl Engel.
Piney Point – Stephanie Nicole Elgersma.
Ridge – Heather Raye Garvey.
Tall Timbers – Kevin Andrew Williams.
Valley Lee – Shannon Marie Browne.
Calvert County
Chesapeake Beach — Danielle M. Demarco, Steven J. Ead Jr., Rosa Lee King, Jenna Christina Nicholson and Tara Leigh Puliatti.
Dunkirk — Amanda Leigh Barber, Alaina Marie Mullen, Michael William O'Brien, Theresa Marie Pillard and Craig Matthew Gleason.
Huntingtown — Susan Jean Bearns, Sarah Colleen Booth, Donna Lee Brooks, Leah Marie DeMarco, Denice Lynn Dickens, Timothy Daniel Garner, Marci Dee Gramstorff, Kathryn H. Gurbuz, Gail L. Hatfield, Samantha L. Marino, Leanne N. Mettam, Dana A. Miller, Christopher M. Napier, Bradford R. Nash Jr., Cathleen Marie Pirner, Trudy Anne Quade, Tara Lee Reisinger, Kristen Nichole Schofield, Dianna Michelle Shrawder, Jordan Christopher Westfall, Katherine J. Varnell and Lauren Nicole Witchey.
Lusby — Christine LynAnn Alvey, Laura Jean Bearjar, Frances D. Buckler, Jessica Loriann Cable, Kelly Megan Cochrane, Pamela A. Coppins, Alex Martin DeHenzel, Sean Michael Donnelly, Kim R. Edwards, Darci Jean Eubank, Alison D. Gregus, Jacqulyn R. Harris, Robert L. Hazard III, Holly Lynn Hood, Vonda Lee Kenner, Janelle Lacey Martin, Juel Renee' Offer, Teri Anne Rice, Nicole Simmons, Erin Rachael Taylor, Patricia A. Urnosky, Dave Anthony Volpe and Michela Contessa Zagala.
North Beach — Nichole Lynn Helvey, Nicole Yvonna Holland, Jeanetta Ann Johnson and Brett Allen Longfellow.
Owings — Terri L. Bailey, Dustin T. Brady, Rachel Lynn Hall, Margaret Elizabeth Jacob, Lindsey E. Koranda, Kayla Nicole Litton, Carol Elyse Love, Denise M. Malatesta, Sherri Kristin Moseley, Jeana Marie Scaggs, Christopher Gordon Sullivan Jr. , Michelle Caroline Taulbee, William Samuel Turner and Michael Sean Voelling.
Port Republic — Jason Michael Anderson, Candace Renee Bourne, Deena Louise Carnahan, Kimberly Dawn Denton, Pamela Jean Hurley and Jocelyn Anne Richard.
Prince Frederick — Lisa Elizabeth Beckner, Ryan Andrew Bergin, William C. Gilbert, Stacey Marie Hollins, Lashayia T. Kent, Megan Anne Ledda, Shanae T. Mackall, James H. U. Marcum, Thomas P. Martinson, Rachel Elaine Moffett, Lena M. Moore, Daniel T. Potts, Samantha Gail Rambo, Deborah D. Riddle, Alisa Janelle Roberts, Arthur Lee Simpson Jr., Sara M. Spano, Dennis Charles Strahl, Ivana Joy Terry, Lanika Wanisha Titus, Marlena Danielle Vidotto, David Michael Watkins and Chase Eric Windsor.
Solomons — Tina Kooyman and Whitney Alexandrea Williamson.
Sunderland — Tia RaShawn Jones, Ashley Lynn Krick and Brittany Marie Thorne.
Prince George's County
Accokeek – Marlo A. Calungcagin.
Aquasco — Justin Douglas Walt.
Brandywine — Denise Elaine Kennedy.
Camp Springs — Shirley E. Nelson.
Oxon Hill — Shawn Chanece Hughes, Shiketa Renae Jenkins.
Temple Hills — Jacquelyn Renee Hogan.
Upper Marlboro — Jamie Kay Graham, Barbara Ann Haislipp.
Out of region
Baltimore — Jennifer Emily Steward, Paul Edward Sullivan Jr.
Grasonville — Melissa Jean Seward.
Severn — Debra Lynn Kidwell.
Alexandria, Va. — Matthew M. Sims.
St. Stevens Church, Va. — Erick E. Wasson.
Steilacoom, Wash. — Amy Elizabeth Duvall.
