Springfield Technical Community College 49th Commencement ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: MassMutual Center, Springfield
DETAILS: Approximately 1,042 students in the Class of 2016 are expected to receive diplomas/certificates from Springfield Technical Community College.
Breakdown of credentials:
604 associate in science degrees
279 associate in arts degrees
120 certificates of completion
39 certificates
Student population data:
Age range for STCC graduates: 18 years-old to 72 years-old. More than one-half of the students graduating are older than 25.
Of those graduating, 54 percent of the graduates are female; 46 percent of the graduates are male; 61 percent are white; 21 percent are Hispanic; 13 percent are black; 5 percent identify as “other.”
Speakers:
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito - greetings from the Commonwealth
STCC President Dr. Ira H. Rubenzahl - welcomes the Class of 2016
Student speaker Juhi Dasrath - greetings from the Class of 2016
Student speaker Michael Caine - Invocation
Honorary degree 2016: Raymond L. Warren
A resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, Raymond L. Warren graduated from Saint Anselm College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Ray retired in 2013 after a 40 year career as a senior level community and economic development professional. He has held positions in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut in public and private sectors including Director of Development for the Town of Enfield, CT, Assistant Commissioner of Community Development for the City of Springfield, and Vice President of Westmass Area Development Corporation.
Throughout his career, Ray has managed all aspects of development projects including planning, permitting, enforcement, marketing, recruitment, lending and public incentives to generate jobs and investment. His work included economic development projects ranging from neighborhood commercial improvements, industrial park developments in East Longmeadow, Agawam and Enfield, strategic planning initiatives, workforce training programs and numerous business expansions including those of LEGO, Mass Mutual and Eppendorf Manufacturing Corporation.
In 2004, Ray was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Springfield Housing Authority and was instrumental in the agency’s turnaround to a respected, high performing and continuously improving organization. The New England Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials named him a Distinguished Public Housing Commissioner for his efforts and determination to restore this critical Springfield housing organization.
A tireless ambassador for STCC, Ray has referred countless students to the college for workforce training. He and his wife Maureen, a former Field Work Supervisor for STCC’s Early Childhood Education program, are the parents of two and grandparents of three. Retirement hasn’t slowed Ray down. He is a dedicated swimmer, logging 150 miles in the pool each year and competing in freestyle and breaststroke events in the Massachusetts Senior Games.
Tonight we honor Raymond L. Warren with an Honorary Degree from Springfield Technical Community College in recognition of his role as a public servant, passionately advocating for transparency in city government, and fair housing for the residents of Springfield, Massachusetts.
STCC Distinguished Alumnus 2016: Jeffrey E. Poindexter
Jeffrey E. Poindexter grew up in Springfield and attended Springfield public schools. Like their father, a retired Springfield police officer, Jeffrey and two of his three brothers attended Springfield Technical Community College. After graduating from STCC in 1989, Jeffrey went on to graduate from Western New England College and received his law degree from Georgetown University. He is currently an attorney and partner at Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas, LLP, a firm with 45 attorneys. As chair of their litigation department, Jeffrey focuses on commercial litigation in both Federal and State Courts.
Appointed by the STCC Alumni Association, Jeffrey served with distinction as the Alumni Trustee on the STCC Board of Trustees from March 30, 2010 to July 1, 2015. Jeffrey continued his commitment to service when he accepted the Governor’s appointment as one of three Western Massachusetts attorneys to serve on the 21 member Judicial Nominating Commission, responsible for recommending
judicial candidates for all open judge positions for all courts in Massachusetts. He also serves as the Chair of the Board of the Greater Springfield YMCA.
Jeffrey’s long history of service to our community includes chairing and participating by appointment on various judicial commissions to select several federal judges in Massachusetts, serving on the board of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club, the board and executive committee of Springfield School Volunteers and the board of Hampden County Lawyers for Justice. Jeffrey is a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and its Springfield chapter, Beta Sigma Boulé, which is a national fraternity of African American professionals and the first Greek-letter organization to be founded by African American men. Jeffrey lives in Wilbraham with his wife Stephanie and his daughter Gabrielle, who is a freshman at Minnechaug High School.
Tonight, in recognition of his devotion to STCC, and for his selfless commitment to making a difference in our community and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we are honored to recognize Jeffrey E. Poindexter as the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus of Springfield Technical Community College.
About Springfield Technical Community College www.stcc.edu:
Founded in 1967, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), is located on 35-acres of the
Springfield Armory National Historic Site and is a major resource for the economic vitality of western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical option for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of over 8,500 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
Media Contact: Jim Danko, Coordinator of Media Relations, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu