Robeson Community College Graduates 235
LUMBERTON, NC (May 15, 2008) — Robeson Community College held its 2008 curriculum graduation on Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the A.D. Lewis Auditorium on the RCC campus. It was a momentous occasion for the 235 graduates who walked across the stage.
The auditorium was filled with family members, friends, faculty and staff that came to help the graduates celebrate another chapter of their lives.
The commencement speaker was Dr. Terry S. Lowry a cardiovascular/thoracic surgeon at the Southeastern Heart Center managed by Duke University Health System in Lumberton. A native of the Prospect Community, Dr. Lowry and his wife, Paula, who grew up in Pembroke, returned to Robeson County in May 2006.
“Although an education is something that can never be taken away, it cannot remain static”, Lowry stated.
“I cannot remember what my commencement address was about”, Lowry added. “If you take anything away from today, I hope it would be this: Continue to educate yourself and encourage those around you to do the same. Change is constant, except in Washington and hopefully that will change following this election, but I won't hold my breath. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and broaden your horizons. Build on your experiences and your relationships, don't rest upon them”.
For the first time, the 2008 RCC graduating class included graduates of the Public Schools of Robeson County Early College High School. Five Early College students received either an Associate of Science, or Associate of Art degree in addition to their high school diploma. RCC is one of only seven community colleges in North Carolina with the Early College program, which enables students to graduate with a high school diploma as well as two years of transferable credit or an associate degree.
Governor Mike Easley launched the Learn and Earn Early College High School Initiative in response to a dire workforce development need in North Carolina. The Initiative is designed to improve high schools, to better prepare students for college and career, to create a seamless curriculum between high school and college and to provide work-based experiences to students.
