Spring 2021 Commencement Book

SPRING 2021

PRESIDENT

Ava L. Parker, J.D.

DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Wendy S. Link, Esq., Chairperson

Carolyn L. Williams, Vice Chairperson

Patrice Bishop Melissa Friedman-Levine, MD Omar Soto Gabrielle Louis, Student

T H E V I S I O N

Palm Beach State College is nationally recognized as an innovative academic leader advancing student success through its unparalleled commitment to excellence, engagement, and dynamic partnerships.

T H E M I S S I O N

Palm Beach State College provides accessible, student-centered teaching and learning experiences in academic, technical and lifelong learning to transform lives and strengthen our community.

Palm Beach State College, an equal access/equal opportunity institution, complies with all applicable state and federal laws granting rights to applicants for employment or admission to the College, employees, and students and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, pregnancy status, and any other factor protected under the law, state or federal, in employment, admissions, or educational programs and activities.

S P R I NG 2 0 21
C O M M E N C E M E N T P R O G R A M

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
Associate in Science Degree
Associate in Applied Science Degree
College Credit Certificate
Advanced Technical Certificate
Career Certificate Program Certificate
Educator Preparation Institute Certificate
Associate in Arts Degree

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PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

AVA L. PARKER, J.D.

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My Fellow Panthers, To the incredible Spring 2021 Graduating Class: It is with panther pride and pleasure that I, as president of this remarkable institution, confer your degrees and certiﬁcates from Palm Beach State College.

Over the past year we have all adapted to new normals and changing guidelines. Today, we will celebrate your amazing achievements. A Grad Walk is quite different than a commencement ceremony, however, it means so much to me, and all of us at Palm Beach State College, that we can gather to rejoice, in person, with our friends and family.

You have realized a level of success amidst unanticipated hurdles, and now you are ready to face the challenges of our world.

This spring we awarded 2,633 graduates with a degree or certificate, 956 of which are first-generation college students. Our graduating students range in age from 16 to 74, and 60 veterans and active-duty military were awarded a total of 51 degrees and certificates.

Additionally, 42 students will be receiving their associate degrees along with their high school diplomas. Plus, among our graduates, 560 received at least their second award from Palm Beach State College, and two students are receiving their seventh award.

Your achievement represents a commitment to excellence that has been challenged by unforeseen circumstances. Palm Beach State has put forth a standard of distinction, and you have persevered.

Now you are taking your ﬁrst steps in your career or continuing your education to meet your goals. Graduates, your Palm Beach State College experience is one that will be hard to forget. We now look to you to help us to lead and power this community. Your accomplishment drives us to do better, be better, and help create a better world.

Go forth. Go further. And most importantly, Go Panthers!

Ava L. Parker, J.D. President Palm Beach State College

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District Board of Trusteees Chair Address

WENDY S. LINK, Esq.

g

Dear Graduates, On behalf of the District Board of Trustees of Palm Beach State College, I commend you on this wonderful achievement. As the governing body of this great institution, the DBOT takes pride and outstanding pleasure in celebrating this moment with you and your family and friends.

Today we celebrate your success a little differently, not with a typical commencement exercise, but with a more intimate and safe gathering where everyone in the Panther Community can come together and rejoice after more than a year of isolation, separation and uncertainty.

Continue to challenge yourself, like you did over the past several years, and take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. Let today serve as a catalyst to spark your ongoing contributions to our society.

We know what a degree or certiﬁcate from Palm Beach State College can do to transform your life. In fact, it is what this College does best. As you walk across our stage, understand that you have the entirety of Palm Beach State College backing you. Always moving forward, always striving to make a greater impact on our community, PBSC will always support you on your path toward success.

We are honored that you chose Palm Beach State for your higher education experience and through your hard work, determination and dedication, you are now a “Panther Proud” graduate.

Congratulations to you and keep learning. Go Panthers!

Wendy S.Link

Wendy S. Link, Esq. Chair District Board of Trustees Palm Beach State College

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PRESIDENT’S CABINET

Ava L. Parker, J.D.

President

DEANS AND COLLEGE REGISTRAR

Velmarie L. Albertini, Ph.D.

Dean, Curriculum

ASSOCIATE DEANS

Susan Bierster, M.H.S.A.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, ERP Functional Manage r , Lake W o rth Campus

Peter R. Barbatis, Ed.D.

Vice President, Student Services and Enrollment Management

Holly Bennett, Ph.D.

Interim Associate Vice President Academic Affairs

Susan M. Caldwell, M.A.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Lake W o rth Campus
Interim Provost, Lake W o rth Campus

Rachael E. Bonlarron, M.B.A.

Executive Directo r , Community Engagement

Peter Biegel, Ph.D.
Deborah Copeland

Associate Dean in Nursing, Lake W o rth Campus
Interim College Registrar
Special Assistant to the President

Barbara M. Cipriano, M.S.

Interim Dean, Business, T r ade and Industr y , L ake W o rth Campus

Germany Dixon

Associate Dean Boca Raton Campus

Tunjarnika L. Coleman-Ferrell, Ed.D.

Interim Vice President, Academic Affairs

Robert Gingras, Ph. D.

Interim Dean, Academic Affairs, Palm Beach Gardens Campus

Brent Ferns

Interim Associate Dean Lake W o rth Campus

James Dufﬁe, M.Acc.

Vice President, Finance and Administration

Stephen Joyner, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President, Enrollment and Retention

Thomas Gauthier, Ed.D.

Associate Dean, T r ade & Industr y , Lake W o rth Campus

Kevin A. Fernander, J.D.

General Counsel

Don Gladney Ed.D.

Dean, Bachelor ’ s Degree Programs

Dana Hamadeh, M.Ed.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Boca Raton Campus

Scott MacLachlan

Interim Dean, Student Services Interim Provost,

Kimberly Lancaster, M.B.A.

Dean, Academic Affairs, Loxahatchee Groves Campus
Palm Beach Gardens Campus

Linda Lebile, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Palm Beach Gardens Campus

Kathleen S. Karran-McCoy, Ed.D.

Dean, Student Development

Diego Meeroff, M.B.A.

Directo r , C ollege Relations & Marketing

Jyrece McClendon, M.S.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Boca Raton Campus

Ginger L. Pedersen, Ed.D.

Vice President, Information Services

LaTanya L. McNeal, Ed.D.

Executive Dean, Belle Glade Campus

Becky Mercer, Ph.D.
Michael Pustizzi, M.B.A., M.A.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Palm Beach Gardens Campus
Executive Directo r , H uman Resources

Sheila E. Scott-Lubin, M.Ed.

Interim Dean of Academic Affairs, Lake W o rth Campus

David A. Rutherford, M.A.

Vice President, Institutional Advancement Executive Director of the PBSC Foundation

Belinda Mouradian

Associate Dean, Health Sciences, Lake W o rth Campus

Edward W. Willey, M.S.

Dean, Health Sciences, Lake W o rth Campus

Karen Pain

Associate Dean, Belle Glade Campus

Roy M. Vargas, Ph.D.

Dean, Academic Affairs, Interim Provost, Boca Raton Campus

Van P. Williams, M.S.

Dean, Student Services, Lake W o rth Campus

Carlos F. Ramos, M.S.

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Lake W o rth Campus

Roger Yohe, Ph.D.

Vice President , Academic Innovation and Strategy

Richard E. White, M.F.A, M.Ed.

Interim Associate Dean, Arts & Humanities Lake W o rth Campus

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ACADEMIC MACE

The Academic Mace is a descendant from weapons in ancient and medieval times that were carried by bodyguards. Over time, the mace became a symbol of peaceful leadership, and academic maces represent the authority that has been invested in the president by the college’s Board. The mace is carried in processions by a high official or a representative of the Governing Board. At Palm Beach State College, the mace is carried at every commencement by the faculty member with the longest tenure at the College. The Palm Beach State College mace is a tinted glass flame. The College seal is embedded in this glass flame, symbolic of scholars igniting the quest for knowledge. At the base of the flame are golden pillars proclaiming various areas of study pursued at the College.

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ACADEMIC ATTIRE

The academic attire worn at commencement ceremonies today is based on a history of tradition which began in medieval Europe. At a time when the general type of clothing worn was the robe or gown, individual rank or wealth was indicated by colors and materials. As trades, professions, guilds and universities developed, distinctive variations came into being to identify the various members’ individual afﬁliations.

Universities gradually modiﬁed the gowns, capes, hoods and caps into distinctive forms to identify an individual’s level of academic achievement. In the 1890s, American colleges and universities agreed upon a somewhat uniform application of the academic regalia. Typically, scholars with the bachelor’s degree wear the unadorned black robe. Those with the master’s degree also wear a hood lined with the colors of their college and trimmed with the speciﬁc color designated for their academic discipline area. The doctoral degree robe additionally has three velvet bars on each sleeve, and the hood is more ornate.

At Palm Beach State College, all associate degree, certiﬁcate and diploma graduates wear a black gown and mortar board with tassel. Bachelor’s degree graduates will wear a green gown and mortar board with drab tassel and BSN graduates’ tassels are apricot. In addition, the following are the approved academic regalia for honor society members:

Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College (Gold Track)

Gold medallion, royal blue and yellow cord

Phi Beta Lambda

Sapphire blue or gold stole and royal blue and gold cords

Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College (Silver Track)

Silver medallion, royal blue and yellow cord

Psi Beta

Medallion

Bachelor’s Degree Program Scholars Club
Phi Theta Kappa

Black stole with gold lettering
Gold stole with blue Greek letters and gold tassel with

Greek letters

Delta Mu Delta

Purple and gold stole with purple and gold cords

Phi Theta Kappa (approved ofﬁcers)

Medallion

Dental Honors Society

White stole with blue edging

Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society

Medallion, forest green stole with gold/forest green cord and tassel

Dual Enrollment Graduates

Green and gold stole

Lambda Epsilon Chi

Purple sashes with gold Greek letters and seal

Sigma Iota Xi

Purple stole and cord

Radiography Honors Society

Gold stole with Greek burgundy letters (Lambda Nu) & maroon tassel

Student Ambassador

White stole with gold lettering and green edging

Student Government Association

Green and gold stole

Respiratory Honors Society

Gold pin

Veteran Military Service Members and Dependents

Red, white and blue cord

Omicron Sigma Sigma

Blue stole with gold greek letters and blue and gold cords

Faculty and staff members wear the traditional attire of the college or university that conferred their degree.

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DR. FLOYD F. KOCH HONORS COLLEGE

Graduates of the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College have successfully completed 12 hours or more of honors coursework, maintaining a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 and a “B” in honors activities. As students, they have pursued extra rigor in their academic studies and opportunities to connect with peers for honors events and community service projects. They are noted in the graduation listings with an “H” designation after their names, and they are wearing the Honors Medallion today in recognition of their accomplishments.

HONORS GOLD TRACK

Jose Alvarez Bruna Amorim Erin Berish Brianna Dames Saika Janvier
John Mark Liscom Julianna Mancino Juan Vanegas Morales Gabriela Nagli
Jonathan Santos Jonathan Texta Kailani Torrijos Orlando Vazquez

Tianhao Zhang

Kathryn Sanchez

HONORS SILVER TRACK

Thuy-Tien Bacchus Angie Castellon
Bernard Harrigan Shania Haseley
Laura Barreto Montano Ludnie Labranche

Lauvena Deborde Dormezil

Ikalia Maldonado

Annastassia Salma-Zaman

SUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Student Government Association ofﬁcers and members wear green stoles for earning the required merit points for campus involvement, community service, leadership development and civic engagement.

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DEGREES, CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS CONFERRED

The Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees are

career-oriented degrees for professionals and students who have already earned an associate degree. The program includes general education, upper-division coursework and a capstone course where students apply knowledge gained through their coursework.

BAS BSN

The Associate in Arts degree is equivalent to the ﬁrst two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree program. The Associate in Arts degree enables students to continue their studies in baccalaureate programs at colleges and universities offering upper-division course work.

AA

The Associate in Science degree is offered in career-related areas and is designed to provide immediate entry into the job market. In addition, courses may transfer to universities to allow students to continue in baccalaureate programs.

AS

The Associate in Applied Science degree prepares students for employment through a focus on career skill sets that meet workforce requirements.

AAS

The College Credit Certiﬁcate consists of college-level courses within an Associate in

CCC

Science degree program that prepare students for entry into employment.

The Applied Technology Diploma consists of courses within an Associate in Science

degree and leads to employment in a speciﬁc occupation.

ATD

The Advanced Technical Certiﬁcate consists of courses within an advanced specialized

area that are designed to supplement a student’s earned associate or other degree.

ATC

The Career Certiﬁcate Program is a workforce award that prepares students for employment.

CCP

The Educator Preparation Institute Certiﬁcate prepares bachelor’s degree holders for

transition into teaching careers.

EPI

The Certiﬁcate of Professional Preparation prepares bachelor’s degree holders

for licensure, certiﬁcation, credentialing, examination or other demonstrations of competency necessary for entry into professional occupations.

CPP

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BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE

Candidates for Graduation g Spring 2021

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

DATABASE ADMINISTRATION CONCENTRATION

Uzel Ann Cancio Arellano-Macapagal Thomas Peter Dunne Ashley Ellis *
Dominique Leana Gayle ** Erica Michelle Haines *** Christopher Bradley Jarrett Corey A. Kazaks *
Kristin A. Lemire * Gianmarco Lezcano ** Joao Mendes

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION

Shival Maharaj ** Dominic Victor Peluso Rajiv C. Persad Veronica Yamileth Ruiz * Luis Rafael Victoria, Jr. *

SECURITY & NETWORK CONCENTRATION

Nizar Steven Alian * Nicholas Bavosa ** Billy Cadet
Gordon Noel Hendriks Anthony Ryan Kron * Yasmanis Jesus Mendez Freeman ** Kenney Santana
Jeff T. Rossi ** Alex F. Ruggiero

Zachary Estis Anthony Daniel Gomes Nathalia Faria Gomes *
Alyson Paige Moak * Sean M. Morrison ** Juan Pablo Pacheco ***
Shane Andrew Spencer *** Jermario Jovan Staley

SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT

ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONCENTRATION

Erica Joia Aviles

Sabrina Kurtishi

Valerie Renese Bien-Aime Tony Charles * Justin Michael Eggenberger Coisy Rose Guetchina Georges Matthew Howard
Raul Daniel Lorenzo Cruz ** Nancy Nanley Martino Jean Brian Neal Mejia, Jr. Katie I. Saunders

GENERAL MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION

Felicia Evette Adams Dayna Alexandra Alkins ** Jodi Amisial Kimberly Teresa Bavosa * Kia Zuri Beard * Alexandra Maria Beck Cynedra Blake Brian Matthew Bodle
Kenneth Wisdom Bowden Abygale Braithwaite William Evan Burns Cynthia Castillo * Jacqueline Lorraine Connell Tham Nguyet Thi Dang Muhammad Haseeb Ejaz Nicole Fenrich
Rachel Renee Ferreira ** Chrisnel Francois, Jr. Dalace Francois Brianna Leah Garcia Astrid Garcia Paiz ** Katerina Beatriz Gil ** Samantha Lee Greene Jodi Ann Grieve

Continued on page 10

*

Cum Laude 3.2 - 3.49 G P A

**

Magna Cum Laude 3.5 - 3.79 G P A

*** Summa Cum Laude 3.8 - 4.0 G P A
D r . F loyd F . K och Honors College
G P A – C umulative through term prior to graduation

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H

Continued from page 9

Kelcey Dakota Guerra Chad Michael Jordon
Jamie Adriana Ortiz Lisa M. Ortiz
Jeff Wadner Saint Juste Bernardo Salazar

Daniel Jules

Lochard Pamphile

Adam Shapiro **

Danielle Marie Langella Roshane Anthony Lawrence Alexis Brianna Lazzaruolo Alison Marie Liquori ** Janet Maldonado Rueda * Michael William Nicholson Nicole Valerie Nicholson **
Stacy Carmen Pericles Travis Paul Rainey ** Amanda P. Resnick ** Paula Yanira Reyes * Thomas Christopher Robertson * Herland Eduardo Romero Sukaina Sarah Saget
Chelsey Rose Shipley * Brandon E. Sucher Cassandra Lea Tougas ** Briana Nicole Volpe ** Hunter Davis Yeatts

HEALTH MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION

Katherine Armstrong Quesonna S. Blackmon Trecia L. Brown Lakenya N. Campbell Anna Maria Castellon *** Leslie Cervantes **
Jesula Dorsainvil Jamie Valente Dovale ** Adjanie Etienne **
Betty Medelus Sewareg Melaku ** Neila Montelus ** Chance Alan Moseley * Jessica Nettleton Sabrina Pierre Jose Luis Rueda Isabelle Sterlin-Dalla Pola * Elizabeth Monique Stewart Andrew Jordan Temme * Tamara Thomas * Nancy Frances Valenti * Yury Viarenich *
Vivian L. Fischle Valerie Cicely Freitas, Smart Chrisvelly Gouin ** Tamera Nicole Green ** Nicole Cristine Haley Crystal Michelle Haneef * Kendall Nicole Hill ** Ja’Carla Shaunice Humphries Malva Kola ***
Serai Chung * Weslyne Coicou Jazmine Condes Lopez Dayana Alyssa Decicco Molly Katherine Deddens * Molly Katherine Deddens * Joan Marie Depastino * Dana Marie Donahue
Jean Davidson Maxis *** Marcia Mcpherson