Public Employee Press

Union grads achieve their dreams

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

After hectic semesters of juggling family responsibilities with tough work schedules and deadlines for term papers and final exams, 85 DC 37 members finally concluded their mission at the union's college campus May 16 with the traditional academic hooding ceremony.

Proud families, union leaders and faculty of the DC 37 Campus of the College of New Rochelle joined the graduates for the ceremony, which dates back to medieval times. The hood tells the world that the recipient has entered the community of scholars.

"We know that you've made a great sacrifice to be here today," CNR School of New Resources Dean Elza Dinwiddie-Boyd told the graduating students after Campus Ministry Director Helen Wolf delivered the invocation. "I encourage all of you to continue along this path and embrace lifelong learning."

Twenty percent with honors

DC 37 Education Fund Administrator, Barbara Kairson, also encouraged the grads to continue their education. "This is a temporary resting place," she said. "You can always continue to learn."

Of the 85 DC 37 members, a remarkable 17, or 20 percent, graduated with honors for earning grade-point averages of 3.7 or above, and three had perfect GPAs of 4.0.

"I know the future of our country is in very good hands," said DC 37 Campus Director Patrice Gouveia-Marks.

President to retire

"We are extremely proud of the work you have done to complete your degree and also the services you provide and the work you do for the people of New York," DC 37 Associate Director Henry Garrido told the grads. "Now you have a responsibility to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. So I encourage you to join a cause and pick a fight."

The new graduates were also congratulated by the CNR President Stephen J. Sweeny, who will be retiring soon.

"What has made this so special for me is that both of my parents were members of DC 37," Sweeny said. He reminded the hooding participants that it was the foresight of DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts that made their degrees possible. She initiated the CNR program at the union so working members could have access to a college education. "It was her vision," said Sweeny, that made DC 37 the only union in the nation with its own college campus.