 Paralegal Technology graduate Crystal Elks pauses for a photo after receiving her degree. |
WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College held its spring commencement Sunday in East Carolina University’s Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. On the same day America celebrated Mother’s Day, family and friends came out to show their appreciation for the hard work put in by members of PCC’s Class of 2008. Approximately 400 of the 610 students graduating this spring took part in Sunday’s ceremony. Susanne D. Sartelle, president of the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce since December 2001, delivered this year’s commencement address. Quoting from Jim Collins’ book “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don’t,” Sartelle told the graduates that greatness is a matter of choice, not chance. She cited vision, passion and faith as the keys to achieving greatness and overcoming the inevitable hardships life presents. “The path to ‘great’ is before you,” Sartelle said. “Take your vision, take your passion, and keep your faith.” PCC President G. Dennis Massey encouraged the graduates to remember where they came from in the years ahead. “I urge you to be one of the proud alumni of Pitt Community College and take the opportunity to thank those faculty who coached you to this victory,” Massey said. “And please stay connected to PCC. We are a college on the move and hope you will return to see our new Goess Student Center and many other new developments in the years to come.” This year’s graduates’ response speaker was Student Government Association President Derek Combs. A University Transfer student and this year’s President’s Award winner, Combs reminded his fellow graduates that commencement was not the end of their journey but rather the beginning. “As we complete our degrees and move on to (four-year institutions) and exciting new careers, we have the opportunity to give back to our communities and our college,” he said. A total of 440 associate degrees were conferred to 433 students from the Class of 2008. Another 76 students received diplomas while 101 members of the graduating class received a total of 115 certificates.
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