Ariel Lassiter
More than 100 students were honored and recognized for academic achievement at the President’s Honors List Reception May 13.The Music Quad was filled with smiles and families as the honorees received medals for making the Dean’s List three consecutive times, achieved by maintaining a 3.5 GPA as a full-time or part-time student at Pierce College.”It’s rewarding,” said Hovanes Hovanisian, 19, art major. “The 4 a.m. papers to get the A, then to receive an award, makes you want to do more. I think its great, and we definitely deserve it.””I’m overwhelmed with joy,” said Raul Morales, a fourth-semester addiction studies major. “Pierce College staff has always helped me to achieve in school.”Shelley Gerstl, dean of admissions and records, opened up the reception by congratulating all the honorees present for showing consistency in academic excellence.”This is a remarkable achievement,” she said.Two graduate students from the American Sign Language department performed an interpretive signing of “Life Is A Highway,” by Rascal Flatts.Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, vice president of academic affairs, showed his gratitude to the students. “You all are bright people who deserve a formal recognition, with thanks from Pierce staff and students for showing us the way,” he said. “You give others hope because you’ve been consistent achievers.””It is so wonderful to congratulate you all today,” said Dr. Joy McCaslin, vice president of student services. She gave a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:”To laugh often and much to win the respect of intelligent people/and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and/endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best/in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child/a garden patch or redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”Tessa Moss, president of the Associated Students Organization told the students, “You guys are awesome. And yes, life is a highway, so take it for all it’s worth.”Trish Loughnane, All-USA Academic Team member, was nominated and received a special certificate and medal from Sacramento for excellence in academics, as well as being a member of the Community College League and the honor society Phi Beta Kappa.”I would like to thank Kathy Oborne for nominating me for this honor,” Loughnane said. “She is a fantastic person and has supported all students with all types of backgrounds.”Robert Garber, president of Pierce, offered the honorees and their friends and families a trip down memory lane into his own experiences as a college student and his quest to achieve his educational goals by attending a community college and moving on to a four-year university.”I am honored this award being presented to you is in the name of my office,” Garber said. “Semester after semester, you all have committed to education. Beyond Pierce, I hope your commitment to education resonates into future endeavors.”To conclude the reception, Garber, along with the help of the Pierce faculty, presented each student honoree with a medal for their achievement.After the reception, the guests and honorees gathered for refreshments in the Music Quad with the accompaniment of the Wayne “Skip” Perkins Jazz Quartet, who also played the overture for the reception.