RichmondCC Sets Another Record for Graduation

For the fourth year in a row, a growing number of Richmond Community College graduates walked across the stage at the Cole Auditorium on Saturday in what Dr. Dale McInnis called a “pinnacle moment” in their lives. According to the college registrar, 393 degrees, diplomas or certificates were awarded for spring commencement.

To accommodate the graduates and their families, two ceremonies were held Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

McInnis, RichmondCC president, provided the welcome for the ceremony and recognized the RichmondCC Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, as well as the many family and friends who supported a student through college.

“This is the largest graduating class in RichmondCC’s 52-year history,” said McInnis to a thundering applause in his opening remarks. “This day belongs to our students, the Class of 2016.”

One graduate was invited to speak before her fellow classmates. Student Government Association President Sandra Huneycutt talked about being a high school drop-out who never even considered college to be in her future. She turned her life around by enrolling in the Adult High School program. She soon found herself taking college classes and making the President’s List her first semester at RichmondCC.

“Money can’t buy the team of cheerleaders you inherit when you enroll at Richmond Community College,” Huneycutt said.

Huneycutt is transferring to the University of North Carolina-Pembroke to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics.

Dr. Angie Adams, sociology instructor and director of General Education Outcomes at RichmondCC, was the guest speaker for the morning ceremony. She noted that she has taught 65 percent of the students who were graduating on Saturday.

“I was honored and humbled when I saw that number,” said Adams, who is also a graduate of RichmondCC. “You came to us like little baby caterpillars; we wrapped ourselves around you like a cocoon, and today you are butterflies.”

Adams encouraged them to not stop their education here. She talked about how education has been a constant for her as she continued on after RichmondCC and earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a doctorate.

“I, just like you, have done what others did not think I would be able to do,” Adams said. “My story is probably like a lot of yours. I walked in those doors (of RichmondCC) not knowing many things, but I walked out of those doors knowing a lot of things.”

At the second ceremony, instructor Lee Ballenger, department chair for Humanities and Social Sciences, was the guest speaker.

Before becoming a teacher, Ballenger served six years as a radar technician in the U.S. Navy and was awarded the Navy’s second highest peacetime medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, for his outstanding performance in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.

Ballenger has traveled to 17 countries. He talked about his travels in three of these countries to dispel the negative view of the world that comes from television. He talked about the kindness and complete lack of selfishness he experienced from the people in Thailand, Mexico and Chile – people who helped him, a complete stranger, and never asked for anything in return.

“Before I started traveling, my view of the world also came from the television. We think the world is filled with terribly violent people. Ninety-eight percent, in my opinion, of the world are wonderful people,” Ballenger said.

“Don’t be afraid of the world. Don’t believe everything you see on TV. Take it from me, it’s way better than that. Be kind to each other. And remember, people out there care about you, too. You’ll never be alone, remember that too,” he added.