Bristol Community College announces 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony, Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Salutatorian and prestigious award recipients.
热点爆料入口 will celebrate its 54th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at 5:30 p.m., on , and pages. The ceremony鈥檚 unique virtual format will feature new additions, including fun 鈥渨atch party鈥� packages sent to each graduate with their cap, gown and special celebratory items. The college would like to take this opportunity to announce our prestigious award recipients including the Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Distinguished Citizen Award and Honorary Degree; and update the community on our commencement plans.
Over the last several months, 热点爆料入口 has been working hard to determine and plan the best and safest way to celebrate our graduates鈥� achievements in a unique virtual ceremony.
While the college had hoped to hold an in-person ceremony, given鈥痶he continued uncertainty of the pandemic, the projected number of participants鈥痑nd鈥痶he time that it takes to plan a large-scale event such as Bristol鈥檚 commencement ceremony, the college will continue forward with its plan to host a personalized, virtual鈥痗ommencement鈥痗eremony on the event鈥檚 original date May 22, 2021.
Last August, hundreds of students and their families, as well as faculty, staff and
guests from across the world, tuned into Bristol鈥檚 first-ever virtual commencement ceremony, to celebrate and cheer on
our graduates together in real-time. This year鈥檚 event will continue to feature many
of the same elements of鈥痑 traditional in-person commencement including recognizing
each dedicated graduate by name, who earned their credential.
For updates about Bristol鈥檚 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony, please frequently visit .
CLASS OF 2021 VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN
This year鈥檚 Valedictorian is Katherine Haley, of Fall River, Associate in Arts in liberal arts & sciences (psychology transfer); and the Salutatorian is Lydia Bolger, of Mansfield, Associate in Science in office administration (executive administrative assistant).
Katherine Haley, of Fall River, is a student leader focused on issues pertaining to homelessness and addiction. At
Bristol, she excelled academically and served the college as the recording officer
of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a student advocate on the National Community
College Funding Committee and as a Commonwealth Honors Program Scholar researching
how the addiction recovery community is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. A believer
in the power of education and connection to community, she designed and participates
in mentorship programs for students in need of additional support at the college.
She credits Bristol鈥檚 dedicated faculty and staff for encouraging and challenging her, both academically and personally, to expand her horizons and explore opportunities that she had not considered.
Katherine has extended her critical work by volunteering in her community at the River
to Recovery substance abuse recovery program in Fall River and at Bristol鈥檚 monthly
Mobile Food Market, in partnership with the Greater Boston Food Banks. Through her
work with local addiction treatment programs, Katherine is focused on assisting others
through their recovery process and ending the stigma about addiction.
She will continue her education in the field of psychology, with a focus on trauma.
Lydia Bolger, of Mansfield, enrolled at Bristol in 2018 as an ambitious adult learner determined to achieve her life-long
goal of earning a college degree. After losing her job of 10 years to her company鈥檚
closing, Lydia decided to view her situation as a positive, life-changing opportunity
to begin her college education and pursue a new career.
In addition to her excellent academic record at the college, Lydia has enhanced her
Bristol experience by serving as a peer tutor for the college鈥檚 office administration
degree program, as well as an embedded tutor for Bristol鈥檚 Early College program, assisting BMC
Durfee High School students through the program鈥檚 opportunity for high school students
to try college while earning college credits in a supportive environment.
Lydia is currently pursuing a second degree at Bristol in computer information Systems (computer programming and web development concentration) with the goal of transferring to a four-year institution to earn her bachelor's degree in computer science or information technologies (with a concentration in web design and development) to become a front-end web developer.
The college is proud to announce the following prestigious award recipients to be
honored at Bristol Community College鈥檚 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony:
DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented annually to an outstanding local citizen whose character and achievements have enriched the life of the community, or to an individual who has made distinguished contributions in the fields of health, education, business, industry, labor, government or the arts.
This year, the 2021 Distinguished Citizen Award was presented to the Fall River Fire
Department Division of Emergency Medical Services (FRFD EMS Unit)
When the coronavirus impacted the South Coast region, the Fall River Fire Department鈥檚
Division of Emergency Medical Services (FRFD EMS Unit) was tasked with keeping our
communities safe, with limited personal protective equipment (PPE). The unit rallied
to collect and distribute the PPE and rapidly initiated a COVID-19 testing program
to keep first responders as safe as possible. This combined effort has kept hundreds
of first responders healthy and safe, enabling their dedicated service to our community
without interruption.
In early August of 2020, the department鈥檚 EMS unit, under the direction of Fire Chief John D. Lynch and EMS Director Timothy Oliveira, quickly volunteered to assist Bristol Community College develop an on-campus COVID-19 testing site and administered weekly COVID-19 testing for Bristol鈥檚 hybrid students, faculty and on-campus employees who remained learning and working on-campus or in face-to-face learning environments, such as classrooms, labs and clinical settings.
This critical effort enabled Bristol to continue its mission to keep its college community, learning and working on campus, safe and make a seamless transition to a specialized COVID-19 testing service. The initiative also ensured that the college鈥檚 students in degree programs requiring face-to-face components remained academically on-track for success.
The collaboration between the college and the Fall River Fire Department has continued since Bristol鈥檚 Fall River Campus began serving as the host location for a regional COVID-19 vaccination site, provided by the Fall River Board of Health and Fall River Fire Department Emergency Medical Services. This coordinated effort has resulted in an ongoing, large-scale COVID-19 vaccination for our region鈥檚 qualifying general public and first responders.
Collaboration between 热点爆料入口 and the Fall River Fire Department is not new. The department has long supported the college鈥檚 Fire Science Technology program with equipment demonstrations and instruction. The first two directors of the college鈥檚 Fire Science Technology program were former Fall River Fire Chiefs Thomas Moore and Louis A. Shea and many of the program鈥檚 instructors have served as ranking members of the department.
The Fall River Fire Department鈥檚 Division of Emergency Medical Services (FRFD EMS Unit) responds to approximately 12,500 emergency calls annually. The department is highly rated as one of the best in Massachusetts by the Department of Public Health Division of Emergency Medical Services.
The college extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Fall River Fire Department鈥檚 Division of Emergency Medical Services (FRFD EMS Unit) including Fall River Fire Chief John D. Lynch, Director of Emergency Medical Services Timothy Oliveira, Deputy Director of Emergency Medical Services Beth Faunce, EMS Captain Robert Camara, EMS Captain Jen Farias, EMS Captain John Morin, EMS Captain Jennifer Rodriques, EMS Lieutenant William Lonardo, EMS Lieutenant Nicholas Silva and the department鈥檚 many dedicated paramedics.
HONORARY DEGREE OF ASSOCIATE IN HUMANE LETTERS
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has granted 热点爆料入口
the right to award the honorary degree of Associate in Humane Letters. The college
awards these degrees to individuals who illustrate, through a career of intellect
and service, the best of 热点爆料入口鈥檚 vision 鈥� advancing a vibrant,
diverse community through education, learner by learner.
This year鈥檚 recipient is Elizabeth A. Poirier, for her support of higher education within the Commonwealth and dedication to the establishment and promotion of the college's Attleboro Campus location.
Elizabeth A. Poirier is the former Massachusetts State Representative representing
the 14th Bristol district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1999
to 2021. During that time, she also served as Massachusetts' Third Assistant House
Minority Leader.
Elizabeth has lived in North Attleboro for her entire life and attended North Attleboro
High School before graduating from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I., where
she earned a bachelor's degree in business. Prior to becoming a State Representative,
Elizabeth worked for many years in the banking industry before co-owning a retail
business in downtown North Attleboro.
While in office, State Representative Poirier鈥檚 accomplishments included membership on the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, the Foster Care Committee Caucus, the Special House Committee on Ethics, the Executive Committee of the House Women鈥檚 Caucus and a special appointment to the House Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect. During this time, she also served as the Assistant House Minority Leader. She considers it the honor of a lifetime to have served the good people of the 14th Bristol District.
She is equally dedicated to her local community and has served as a board member and former Vice President of the North Attleboro/Plainville Chamber of Commerce, a board member and former President of the Downtown Associates of North Attleboro, and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Attleboro YMCA.
Elizabeth is the recipient of the Community Impact Award, presented by the North Attleboro High School Alumni Association in 2014; the Legislator of the Year Award, presented by the International Interior Design Association in 2019; as well as the New Hope President鈥檚 Award, presented by the United Regional Chamber in 2020.
She is married to her husband, Kevin Poirier, Town Clerk of North Attleboro, who retires in
early April this year. Mr. Poirier formerly served as Director of Development at Sturdy
Memorial Hospital and as a Massachusetts State Representative for 23 years. She has three
grown sons and six grandchildren. When she is not volunteering in her community, she
enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends.
LAST LECTURE
The Last Lecture is a faculty honor created by the 热点爆料入口 Student Senate. The award honors one exemplary faculty member who has affected students鈥� education and their lives in significant ways.
Manal Mogawer, RDH, MSD, BDS, Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene and Sophomore Clinical Coordinator at Bristol Community College was selected by students to deliver the Last Lecture
at Bristol鈥檚 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony.
GRAND MARSHALL
Silvino Ferreira, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems and Victoria Revier, Coordinator and Professor of Medical Administrative programs at 热点爆料入口, have been honored to serve as the Grand Marshalls at Bristol鈥檚 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony. Continuing Bristol's tradition of awarding this honor to one of the college's longest-serving faculty or staff members, Ferreira and Revier will lead this year鈥檚 graduates and proud viewers to the virtual commencement stage.
For more information about 热点爆料入口鈥檚 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony, please visit .