Class defies challenges

Clear blue skies, sunshine and the promise of an old-fashioned barbecue greeted graduates and their families and friends at Saturday's Coastal Carolina Community College commencement exercises.

Coastal Carolina Community College President Ronald Lingle said in his opening remarks the commencement exercises are held outside to accommodate the many loved ones who want to attend the ceremony.

"Many of you have traveled long distances to see a loved one walk across this stage, and that is why we made the decision a few years ago to take our chances with the unpredictable weather along the Crystal Coast and hold our ceremony outside. Our commencement exercises have long since outgrown the capacity of any of the indoor facilities in Onslow County," Lingle said.

He complimented the more than 600 graduates for having earned degrees despite the challenges and obstacles they had to overcome.

"Many of them worked at least part-time while attending college," he said. "Many of them are single parents, trying to maintain a household, raise children, work as much as their studies will allow while attending classes at Coastal. ... And sadly, some of them have chipped away at their degree requirements, held their families together, and overcome loneliness and incredible anxiety while a loved one was in harm's way in Iraq or Afghanistan."

Bruce Brinker and his daughter Sierra, 12, and son Zachary, 19, proudly watched and cheered on wife and mom Kerry Brinker, as she received her Associate in Applied Science degree in office systems technology, graduating with honors.

"She's the fire that keeps me burning," Bruce Brinker said, smiling in spite of the car transmission problem he had to deal with on his way there.

"She hides stressed-out well," he added, when asked how they deal with her job, their six children and his disability from the Marine Corps.

Kerry Brinker works at Coastal as a library acquisitionist and received an associate's degree in medical administration in 2003.

"I kept going and never quit," she said.

She intends to keep going, as she plans to get a bachelor's degree in health care management through Southern Illinois University through Camp Lejeune next.

"With six children and Bruce being a disabled Marine who can no longer work, I'm the sole supporter. I needed to get a better education and get a better job," Kerry said.

"Eventually I would like to teach, but I know I have to get my master's - so I know that's a way down the road. I love my job and where I am at right now, so maybe I can find a higher position within the college."

Heather Calihan, Coastal's counseling coordinator, watched proudly as the first group of seven graduates from the new Curriculum Online for Policing Services received their Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice degrees.

COPS is a 72-hour online course offered to anyone in a public service position with the criminal justice system.

"It's an Internet-based class for law enforcement personnel and gives law enforcement officers the opportunity to take up to four classes a semester, and the online curriculum allows them to fit it into their personal work schedules, and take it from anywhere ... one of our graduates is from Lenoir County," Calihan said.

Jacksonville Police Department officer Peter Witman graduated from the program with honors in two years. He has been a police officer for 11 years.

"I've done the entire program online, it's set up to fit our crazy schedules," Witman said. "I know it opens up doors for a promotion, but I really did this just for me."

His mother, who drove from Reading, Pa., could not wait to congratulate him.

"I am so proud of him, he's worked so hard at this - he has almost maintained a 4.0 average," Connie Witman said.

Lingle also had explained another unusual ritual that takes place each year during the graduation ceremony.

"Each year our nationally acclaimed division chairs nominate one member of their teaching faculty for consideration by a select committee for special recognition as one of our six Educators of the Year. This committee then has the unenviable task of selecting one of the six to be Coastal's nominee for Faculty Member of the Year of the North Carolina Community College system," he said.

Anna Maria Cancelli was presented as Coastal's 2008 Educator of the Year and will be Coastal's nominee for the state award.

Also recognized were: Catherine Cotter, dental; Shirley Crum, communications; Beth Fickling, history; Alia King, phlebotomy and Mark Pike, computer programs.

Graduates and guests were treated to a traditional "Down East barbecue" after the graduation ceremony.

"A couple years ago, we decided to provide the loved ones and honored guests a complimentary introduction to North Carolina Crystal Coast cuisine following the ceremony," Lingle said. "It was an effort to allow our graduates to introduce their friends and classmates to their loved ones and receive congratulatory hugs and handshakes from the faculty and staff. It has proven a wonderful capstone experience for all concerned."

Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at sulbrich@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8466.