Patuxent Extended Studies site Celebrates 60th Commencement Ceremony

Picture above left to right, front row: Professor Rosalind Woolbright, students Leanne Serman, Thomas Donahue, and Paul Flynn Middle row: Site Director Dr. Robert Schaller Sr., Professor Emeritus Norm Chlosta, students Deborah Atkinson, Kelly Ennis, Sabana Moore-Barnes, Elizabeth Pickering, and guest speaker Captain H.E. “Ted” Mills. Back row: students Pam Collins, Andrew Gordon, Laurie Sinisi, Karen Lynch, and Professor Dr. David Mutschler.

Guest Blogger: Shelley Gordon, Resident Administrator Patuxent Site, MD

Florida Institute of Technology’s Patuxent Extended Studies site held its 60th commencement exercise on Saturday, January 12, 2013. Collectively, from the 2012 Summer and Fall Semesters, 21 students graduated, and 11 participated in the intimate ceremony held at the Hilton Garden Inn on Solomons Island.

The new director of Florida Tech, Dr. Robert Schaller Sr., officiated the ceremony along with Dr. Ted Richardson, senior associate dean of Florida Tech’s Department of Extended Studies in Melbourne, FL. Guest speaker Captain H.E. “Ted” Mills, commanding officer of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, provided the graduates and guests with a rousing speech. Captain Mills urged graduates to make a mark in their professional fields.

As a new tradition to the Patuxent commencement exercises, faculty, staff, and students wore academic regalia for the first time on Saturday. In keeping with traditions, candles were lit to commemorate the lives of faculty members Dr. Danny Weddle and Dr. Eleanor Wormwood and students Kristen Dix, class of 2012, and Maria Morgan, class of 1991. In all, over 80 guests attended graduation, and four instructors participated: Dr. David Mutschler, Dr. Anisur Rahman, Professor Rosalind Woolbright, and Professor Emeritus Norm Chlosta.

Florida Tech Patuxent’s staff Dr. Schaller, AnnaBelle Sanders and Shelley Gordon coordinated the commencement exercise.