State House Ceremony to Honor Outstanding Public Higher Education Graduates

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May 11, 2011, 05:26 ET

BOSTON, May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Elsa John, a Bunker Hill Community College graduate, will be one of 29 outstanding 2011 graduates of Massachusetts community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts who will be honored for both academic achievement and their contributions to the Commonwealth in a State House ceremony at 12 noon, Thursday, May 12. She was nominated for the "29 Who Shine" award by faculty and staff at the College.

Elsa John has made many contributions to the College and has already received a number of awards. She was chosen this year as Massachusetts New Century Scholar, a program which honors the top-scoring student from each of the 50 states in the Coca-Cola All-State Community College Academic Team program. She is a founder and co-president of the College's Sustainability Program, has served as a Cultural Ambassador, and Secretary of the Student Government. In 2010, she was presented with the Trustees' Service Award in recognition of her academic achievement and outstanding community service. After graduation, she plans to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst.

As a group, the student honorees range in age from 17 to 52. They hail from each of the state's 29 public higher education institutions, which are located in 25 cities and towns across Massachusetts.

Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville, and Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland will be present at the State House Ceremony. Elsa John and family members will attend the ceremony. Bunker Hill Community College will be represented by President Mary L. Fifield and Associate Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Students Jan Bonanno.

In addition to the awards received at the May 12th ceremony, the students will be honored with donated full-page and half-page advertisements appearing on May 12th in most daily newspapers across the state.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Colleen Roach, Executive Director of Communications & Marketing
Bunker Hill Community College
250 New Rutherford Avenue
Boston, MA 02129	Phone: (617) 228 2177
Email: [email protected]

Bunker Hill Community College is the largest community college in Massachusetts. The College enrolls more than 12,600 students on two campuses and at four satellite locations. BHCC is one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Six in ten students are people of color and more than half of BHCC's students are women. The College also enrolls more than 700 international students who come from more than 90 countries and speak 75 different languages.

SOURCE Bunker Hill Community College