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Published on 06/05/1995 All articles from this issue

Foothill graduation ceremonies set for June 16

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Nearly 500 people will receive Associated Arts (A.A.) degrees at Foothill College commencement ceremonies June 16 at 7 p.m. in the Robert Smithwick Theater on campus.

Two students, Sean Fuller and Richard La Mere, will be the principle speakers. The two were chosen from open auditions and were such strong contenders that both were selected, said Bill Frankeberger of the students affairs office.

More students than ever earned 4.0 GPAs (all As) and will receive President's Medals, said Evaluations Officer Stephanie Franko.

The number of graduates, too, is considerably higher, perhaps the highest number Foothill has ever graduated, Franko said. Last year's total was 362; in 1990, it was 234.

Student speaker Sean Fuller is a firm advocate of Foothill's Bridge Program, which is designed to help minority students bridge the gap between high school and college. Fuller says that the Bridge Program, with its tutorial help, was supportive enough and slow enough to turn him from a D student in high school to a student leader today.

Fuller served as assistant coordinator of the Bridge Program, was student body president, and a leader in "Into the Streets," a student-run volunteer program at Foothill. Helping eliminate adult illiteracy is his focus in that program.

Fuller, who describes himself as a "born again academia," intends to continue at the University of California at Berkeley, majoring in public policy, with a goal of becoming a city planner or an elected legislator.

"Sean is what community college is all about." said Don Dorsey, director of student activities and coordinator of the Bridge Program. "I've been fortunate to see Sean's finding his focus through helping others. He's going to do extremely well at Berkeley."

The other student speaker, Richard La Mere, is a special education student who had to overcome learning difficulties associated with dysphasia in order to graduate. It was an arduous struggle, since he had to repeat several classes in his six-year journey through Foothill.

"I had a dream and I wanted to tell people how I achieved it," La Mere said. "I wanted to say, 'Never stop dreaming, but don't expect miracles to happen, unless you make them happen.' Miracles don't happen by themselves."

"An incredibly determined, hard-working young man, his openness and tenacity are an inspiration to others," said counselor Bea Cashmore, who had worked with La Mere closely for four years. "He wanted to tell others how important this victory is to him."

La Mere, who will graduate with an A.A. in general studies, humanities, has worked at NASA Ames for the past three years in shipping and receiving. His next dream is to become an actor and James Earl Jones is his model.

Those students graduating with 4.0s are Beate Broese, San Mateo; Lindy Guzenda, San Jose; Aileen Kaur, Belmont; Laurie Nelson, Los Gatos; Terri Prehm, Los Altos; Kelly Vitorino, Milpitas; and William Wilson, San Francisco.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Evening Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mark Anderson, will accompany the processional and recessional. Foothill student Monica Leon will lead the National Anthem. Foothill College President Bernadine Chuck Fong and Interim Chancellor Don Perata will deliver welcoming addresses. Mary Mason, president of the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees, will confer the degrees.

Foothill College is located at 12345 El Monte Road, in Los Altos Hills. For more information, call Judy Handa, dean of student affairs, at 949-7241.