Throngs of successful students who have reached their goal of transferring to a four-year college or university, whether they are transferring this fall or have already transferred this semester, filled the Fireside Room Thursday for the 13th annual Transfer Reception.
“I’m so happy for all of you,” Transfer/Career Center Director Robin Harrison said in her welcome address to the crowd of transfers. “Thank you all for working so hard.”
For this occasion, the Fireside Room was brightly decorated with blue table cloth and colorful balloons of green, light and dark blue, and purple were spread out across the area.
The sounds of employment development specialist services John Christensen’s trumpet resonated throughout the building.
After Harrison welcomed the students, she introduced President McKinley Williams to give his remarks to Contra Costa College’s soon-to-be alumni.
“What a wonderful day it is today that so many students are transferring,” Williams said. “We hope that you’re not only transferring from CCC, but we hope that you’ve made friends and connections here as well.”
He also talked about how CCC, and community colleges in general, have trouble staying connected with its alumni, unlike four-year universities.
To resolve this problem, he would like to form an alumni association at CCC.
“This is not the end,” Williams said, “Once a Comet, always a Comet.”
UC Davis representative Robert Hickson and UC Berkeley Transfer Alliance Project Coordinator Merryl Owen also both gave speeches.
After Owen’s remarks, Harrison gave out special awards to staff and faculty members for the immense amount of time they have given to the students to help them succeed.
Owen, Hickson, Tutoring Center Coordinator Jason Berner and Matriculation Services Coordinator Kenyetta Tribble received awards.
Then, past CCC students recounted their experiences of transferring to a four-year college or university.
Sheyrian Burns, a Howard University transfer, recalled her experience.
“Transfer students are in a gray area when they come to UCs and CSUs,” Burns said.
To help her and make her transition smoother she joined a transfer student association.
She ended her comments by singing “God Bless the Child.”
After Burns, various other successful transfer students spoke to the audience.
“Like Merryl and Sheyrian said, I also felt scared and out of place when I transferred,” UC Berkeley transfer Vanessa Mercado said. “But no matter where you’re from, know that you’ve made it, and there will always be people to support you. You are not alone.”
Tribble said these transfer receptions have been extremely successful thanks to Harrison’s caring personality and her ability to connect with students on campus.
Contact Jon Pinlac at jpinlac.advocate@gmail.com.
Transfers honored
Annual event bids farewell to scholars
Published: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Be the first to comment on this article!