May 8, 2006 - Estrella Mountain, a Maricopa Community College, will honor its graduating class of 2006 at the college's tenth annual commencement exercises on Friday, May 12, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. in the Ceremonial Plaza, the beautifully landscaped outdoor courtyard nestled in the center of the campus, located at 3000 North Dysart Road, in Avondale. The ceremony recognizes recipients of 345 degrees and 253 certificates in a variety of disciplines. Among the recipients are 10 graduates of Genesis West program, a partnership between Estrella Mountain and West Valley high school districts that enables students to simultaneously earn their high school diploma and college credits.This year's program will include a commencement address by Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community College District. Dr. Glasper has served as Chancellor since 2003, and has held several executive leadership roles within the District over the past twenty years. Barbara Herzog will address graduates as a representative of Estrella Mountain faculty. Herzog is the founding mathematics faculty of the college and has taught courses ranging from fundamental arithmetic through calculus since 1992. This year's student speakers include Kristin Faulkner and Lena Kimmons Vahle. Faulkner will receive an Associate of Arts in General Biology, while Kimmons Vahle will receive an Associate of Arts in General Education. Both students plan to transfer to Northern Arizona University in the Fall 2006 semester.For all graduating students, commencement signals the beginning of a new phase in their education and career paths. Many students will continue their education as they transfer to universities in the summer and fall semesters, while others will make immediate entry into the workforce with newly developed occupational-specific skill sets. For the faculty and staff of Estrella Mountain, graduation is an annual culmination of combined efforts to ensure student success. Through quality, expert instruction, a variety of campus resources from instructional support to financial aid and counseling, the tenth annual commencement ceremony of Estrella Mountain Community College represents a collegewide commitment to helping West Valley students achieve real results and improve their lives through both education and the personal and social experiences that make up their time within the Maricopa Community Colleges.The following are just a few examples of the unique stories, successes, and experiences of this year's graduating class of 2006 at Estrella Mountain Community College.Kristin Faulkner, Graduating StudentA graduate of Agua Fria High School, Kristin Faulkner is a President's scholarship recipient who also has been named to the All-Arizona Academic Team, recognizing excellence among community college students in the state of Arizona. An active member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honors society of community college students, Kristin is actively involved at the Estrella Mountain campus-but her education experience goes well beyond the normal classroom walls. In addition to her full load of honors courses, Faulkner has been a supervisory intern with the Phoenix Zoo for more than five years, in a variety of roles. Faulkner has participated in community outreach and educational programs, where she took animals out into the community for presentations at schools and other settings, to educate the public about endangered animals, and show children and adults alike how to coexist with wild animals whose habitats are near their homes. Faulkner developed a passion for training people to coexist with animals in manner healthy for both animals and humans. Among the animals she had direct contact with, her favorites were the hawks, owls, vultures, Fennec foxes, and several endangered species including Arabian Oryx, white rhinoceros, Asian elephants, and hyacinth macaws - the world's largest and most endangered parrot. While Faulkner's plans upon first arrival at Estrella Mountain were to follow her parents urgings to become an engineer, Faulkner developed a love for biology and zoology, and has changed her career focus to an interest in public outreach programs for game and fish or zoos. On May 12, in addition to being one of the two student speakers, Kristin Faulkner will graduate with an Associate of Science degree in General Biology, with distinction. She has plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University in the fall, to major in Biology.Steven Babyar, Graduating Student, Genesis WestSteven Babyar is one of ten high school students graduating from Genesis West, a partnership program between Estrella Mountain Community College and West Valley high school districts to provide motivated, hard-working non-traditional students an opportunity to complete their high school diploma as they simultaneously earn college credit. As one of these bright, diligent students, Babyar, who only recently came to the West Valley from his hometown of Chicago, will not only graduate from the Genesis West program, but at the age of just 18 years of age, is already a licensed pilot. What's more, when Babyar's mother arrives in Arizona in honor of his graduation, Babyar will celebrate not only his completion but Mother's Day by flying his mother over the Grand Canyon. In the fall, Babyar will continue his college education at both Estrella Mountain Community College, and Arizona State University, and will join the R.O.T.C. program at ASU. His long term goals are to meld his education, military training and love of flying, and become a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force.Andrea Goodman, Graduating StudentAndrea Goodman returned to the pursuit of her education after a long absence. Goodman began working toward her degree in 2001 at the encouragement of her boss, and first began her studies at the most basic level of math and computing classes, but over time advanced to and succeeded in much more challenging courses, including accounting, statistics, and even calculus. Throughout her struggle to keep up with her classes, Goodman worked the graveyard shift, and would come to her early morning classes at Estrella Mountain on her way home from work, before going home to catch up on her much needed sleep. Goodman has now successfully completed the business transfer curriculum at Estrella Mountain, a demanding course of study that can challenge the most 'traditional' of students with the most ideal circumstances. On May 12, she will earn her Associate of Transfer Partnership degree, with distinction. Goodman has plans to transfer to Arizona State University West in the fall, majoring in Global Business.Estrella Mountain Community College is located on Thomas and Dysart Roads in Avondale and offers transfer-ready academic courses and job-specific occupational training to more than 13,000 students annually. Estrella Mountain is part of the M
