Movin' on up; Quinsig grads worked hard, overcame difficulties.

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Byline: Aaron Nicodemus

WORCESTER - Always ready with a cheer or a laugh, students in the largest-ever graduating class at Quinsigamond Community College received diplomas under sunny skies yesterday.

The 1,031 students hailed from around the corner and around the world, said college President Gail E. Carberry. Each time she called them the class of the perfect 10s, for 2010, the students whooped and hollered. Led into a huge open air tent by a group of bagpipers, graduates and faculty members withstood hot temperatures on a college soccer field.

"After today, there will be 1,031 more confident, caring people out there in the Greater Worcester community," Ms. Carberry said.

Student President Michael Harper, who also received the school's outstanding student leader award, said he does not know where he would be without the education and guidance he received at Quinsigamond Community College.

A product of a single-parent family and Worcester public housing, Mr. Harper said he had a low grade-point average and little idea where his life was headed when he enrolled at QCC three years ago.

But then Barack Obama was elected president, inspiring him to apply himself to his studies and make something of himself.

"The ignorant boy who began this path three years ago has become the man you see before you today," he said, thanking everyone at the school and in his family who helped him along the way.

Ms. Carberry introduced commencement speaker Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien by listing his educational credentials: Fordham University, Harvard University and Quinsigamond Community College.

"He is a graduate of the Big Three," she joked.

Mr. O'Brien, who earned a certificate in QCC's paramedic/EMT training program, told the students that QCC "was then, and continues to be, an inspiration."

He said he spoke with a QCC student who spent some time in a homeless shelter as a youth, who was earning her degree in human services so she could help other people. Another student, who fled poverty and oppression in his native Uganda, earned his degree and a chance at a better life from QCC, he said.

And he told the story of his two adopted children, both unable to speak English very well, who recently enrolled in a Worcester preschool. On the first day, perhaps sensing their apprehension, other preschoolers took the hands of his children and showed them around the classroom.

"We need to look out for each other, it's a tough world out there," he said. "We need to help each other."

An emotional moment in the ceremony was the presentation of the professor emeritus award to professor Daniel A. King, who has taught at QCC for more than 40 years. He did not speak, but acknowledged a standing ovation.

The following is a list of area residents:

Associate in Applied Science

Athol: Andrew Kenniff

Auburn: Fred Comeau

Charlton: Patrick Foley

Clinton: Alex Gomez

Gardner: Edward Giancaterino

Holden: Steven Prosser

Leicester: Dennis McGrail

Leominster: Peter Callahan, Colin Cuddahy

Millbury: James Hunter

Oxford: Joseph Lynch

Paxton: Jason Kuntz

Spencer: Abdul Sandakli

Upton: John Saulen

Webster: Doreen Avery

Worcester: Christopher Boza, Joshua Ehrich, James Laprade, Michael Vessello

Associate in Arts

Ashby: Alanna Mulford

Auburn: Timothy Antkowiak, Lynn Beauregard, Eugenya Clark, Jeremy Clockedile, Lukas Godaire, William Jacobson, Kaylee Johnson, Michelle Olson, Erin Renihan, Adaliz Santiago, George Scobie, Jeffrey Shimkoski, Melanie Smith, Christopher Voas.

Berlin: Jason Bandzul

Bolton: Michelle Kelly

Boylston: Mary Dutczak

Brimfield: Elizabeth Phillips

Brookfield: Valerie Goyette, Christopher Ross

Charlton: Ashley Henrard, Andrea Laprade, Michelle Leufstedt, Melissa Longden

Charlton City: Allan Andre

Cherry Valley: Mark Derosier

Clinton: Carla LeBlanc, Christopher Lippmann, Carree Villeneuve

Douglas: Amanwil Armanious, Jacqueline Butler, Kiani Kasper

Dudley: Ashley Cherry, Patricia Gorgone, Arthur Kiritsis, Justine Laporte, Lesli Patrock, Megan Sullivan

East Brookfield: Jessie Lazarick

East Douglas: Bitar Armanious, Tarah Havalotti

Grafton: Michael Bakis, Gregory Caswell

Holden: Katherine Convery, Jayson Crosby, Crystal Henderson, Christopher Melanson, Derek Orne, Emily Rosenlund

Holland: Tonya Olsen

Hopedale: Martin Meyer

Hubbardston: Erica DeGaetano, Kimberly Ivanowski

Hudson: Matthew Cadigan, Sally Ellis, Karen Sanford, Kathryn Thomas

Jefferson: Christopher Monroe

Leicester: Bryan Belmore, Jade La Brie, Brandi Rose

Leominster: Ashly Lynch, Angel Miranda, Jason Mitchell, William Seuss, Michael Stevens

Marlboro: Caitlin Horman, Felicity Igbo-Mbala, Dawn Lehman, Iyke Mbala, Emily Moog

Milford: Edgardo Feliciano, Robert Fleet, Evelyanne Perez

Millbury: Matthew Gurinian, Amanda Hagstrom, Emily Kelosis, Juan Lopez

North Brookfield: Steven Matasavage

Northboro: Samantha Penzone, Corey Phelps, John Reardon, Kendall Schmidt

Northbridge: Cassandra Campbell, Ashley Ferrucci

Oakham: Linda Prunesti, Michael Sheridan

Oxford: Chad Binette, Julianne Hammond, Britney Pellerin, Justine Radloff

Paxton: Bethany Eddy

Princeton: Jacquelyn Sargent

Rutland: Alexandra Brockway, Rhonda DiMatteo, Pamela Duncan, Danielle Vozzella

Shirley: Katherine Monaco

Shrewsbury: Joyce Akman, Jessica Card, Eric...

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