Public Employee Press

DC 37's new college grads:

Dreams become real

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Proud families celebrated with faculty and friends as 90 union members completed their undergraduate degrees May 17 at the DC 37 Campus of the College of New Rochelle after long semesters of combining hours in the library, studying for tests and writing research papers with their family and work responsibilities.

Campus Ministry Director Helen Wolf started the traditional academic hooding ceremony with an invocation, and the new college graduates were honored with a blue-and-white sash placed on their shoulder over their black graduation gowns. The hooding ceremony dates back to medieval times, and the sash indicates that the recipient is now part of the community of scholars.

"We are all very proud of you tonight," said CNR Dean Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd. "The act of service to others is your quest."

CNR President Stephen J. Sweeny congratulated the students for achieving their dream. "You make our city a much better place to live in," he said. Sweeny also spoke about the pride of coming from a union family. Both of his parents were DC 37 members.

Patrice Gouveia-Marks, campus director of CNR's School of New Resources at DC 37, praised the grads on a job well done. "This is just your first step in the exciting journey of lifelong learning," she said. "This is the foundation upon which you build your castle."

DC 37 became the only union in the nation with its own college for members in 1972 when Executive Director Lillian Roberts initiated the program with CNR. More than 3,100 DC 37 members have earned their college degree at the DC 37 campus.

"More people are entering college, but more people are not completing college, and for doing that you are to be commended," said DC 37 Education Fund Administrator Barbara Kairson. "I hope, however, that you don't view this as an ending but as a beginning."

Delia Zayas, a Clerical Associate and member of Local 957, addressed her fellow graduates. "I came to realize here, especially as a single parent, that continuing my education is real important to my family," she said. "The college experience has helped me develop a new way of thinking."

On May 27, the DC 37 grads joined the rest of the CNR's graduating class - a total of 1,200 successful students - and received their degrees in a dramatic commencement ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.