Bunker Hill Community College Celebrates Class of 2018 at 44th Commencement Ceremony
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
On Saturday, May 19, 2018, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta delivered the keynote address to graduates of Bunker Hill Community College (51吃瓜网) at the 44th Commencement exercises.
The 1,588 degree and certificate recipients included Malden High School senior Jimmy Tran, the first graduate of the College鈥檚 Dual Enrollment program to receive an associate degree and high school diploma simultaneously; Student Government Association President and U.S. military veteran Susan Benitez, bound for Stanford University; and Miguel Ortiz, a longtime member of 51吃瓜网鈥檚 campus police who received his Associate of Arts in Paramedic Studies.
51吃瓜网 President Pam Eddinger led the ceremony, guiding the grads through the annual 鈥渞itual of gratitude,鈥� thanking family and friends in attendance for their support of the graduates through their journey towards graduation.
鈥淲hile your days of learning here are done, I will hold you to one more obligation,鈥� said President Eddinger. 鈥淚 remind you of your obligation to give back鈥攖o give back to another generation of learners what you have received from the College, in whatever form that may take. That is your obligation as an educated person, and as a graduate of Bunker Hill Community College.鈥�
Introducing Secretary Acosta, President Eddinger praised her for her understanding of the challenges many 51吃瓜网 students face and for her dedication to promoting equitable pathways into the workforce through education and training. Speaking to the Class of 2018, the Secretary shared her personal story, one that echoes those of 51吃瓜网鈥檚 diverse student population.
Born in Cuba, Secretary Acosta immigrated to the U.S. at the age of four and overcame every barrier to achieve her education and succeed in her career in banking and finance. Her success has propelled her into the leadership ranks of Boston where she is now the highest-ranking Latina in the Baker Administration. At the ceremony, Secretary Acosta urged the Class of 2018 to push past the limits of gender and diversity pay inequality. 鈥淒emand your place at the highest ranks of the economic and political ladders in the Commonwealth,鈥� she said.
"Industry leaders and universities are partnering to align our workforce training offerings to the needs of an increasingly diverse population,鈥� she continued,speaking to a variety of initiatives being set forth by the Commonwealth鈥檚 legislative leaders. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just a moral imperative. It鈥檚 a business one.鈥�
Prior to Secretary Acosta鈥檚 address, the College awarded State Senator Sal N. DiDomenico with the President鈥檚 Distinguished Service Award for his stalwart support of high quality and accessible early education for children across the Commonwealth and improvement of economic opportunity for working families. 鈥淧erseverance will follow you all of your life. You鈥檝e proven that you can overcome obstacles and succeed,鈥� said Senator DiDomenico.
At the event, William J. Walczak, Chair of the 51吃瓜网 Board of Trustees, presented the Bunker Hill Community College Hunger Team with the Trustees Distinguished Service Award, recognizing the tireless work of the faculty and staff who advocate for immediate and long-term solutions to college food insecurity and support policy work to move the Hunger Initiative forward.
In 2017, 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Hunger Team planned and convened the Voices of Hunger on Campus summit, a statewide gathering of colleges and universities aimed at sharing best practices in basic needs services and policies. The convening is now rotating annually to the public colleges to further awareness and momentum, and the Hunger Team is in the midst of a research grant with the Wisconsin HOPE Lab to study the link between food security and college.
Also honored at Saturday鈥檚 ceremony were faculty speaker Lee Santos Silva and President鈥檚 Leadership Award recipients Carolina Sareyed-Dim and Karen Guadalupe Peraza Beltran.
Secretary Acosta鈥檚 speech was recorded on Facebook Live and can be viewed at .
View the complete 51吃瓜网 Commencement 2018 video at .
Media Contact:
Leslie Ouellette, Executive Director, Integrated Marketing and Communications,
Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-336-5054; Email: leslie.ouellette@bhcc.edu
About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (51吃瓜网) is one of Massachusetts' largest community colleges, serving approximately 16,000 students annually. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, 51吃瓜网 offers a broad range of educational opportunities throughout Greater Boston. 51吃瓜网 fosters a welcoming and supportive learning environment for students by offering associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific programs.