For Immediate Release
05/19/2016
Delta College Class of 2016 to Graduate 1,657 Students
Annual
Commencement Ceremony to take place May 26 at Stockton Arena
Megan Maxey, 2016 Student Commencement Speaker
(Stockton, CA) Originally known as “The Junior College of the College of the Pacific” in 1935, San Joaquin Delta College will hold its 81st Annual Commencement on Thursday, May 26, 6 p.m. at the Stockton Arena. Delta College Superintendent/President Dr. Kathy Hart will preside over the ceremony,
featuring Delta College Board President Claudia Moreno, Class of 2016 speaker Megan Maxey, and the annual “Distinguished Faculty” presentations, announced during the ceremony.
The Class of 2016 will graduate 1,657 students, with 2,534 degrees awarded. Students will receive Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, with many graduates earning multiple degrees. Additionally, 510 Delta students earned 663 certificates, signifying the completion of specialized or technical training in specific career fields.
The ceremony will also honor 22 students that earned perfect 4.0 GPAs during their Delta College academic careers. Congratulations all!
Megan Maxey - Embrace the Opportunities!
Now and then, arriving at the right place at the right time in one’s life is transformational. For 2016 Delta College Commencement Speaker Megan Maxey, that place happened to be San Joaquin Delta College.
Megan’s journey to Delta started in 2006 as a 5th grader at River Oaks Elementary School in Galt. Megan and her parents took the Passport to College Pledge. Parents and kids vowed to abide by specific standards that included: good grades, attendance, and parental involvement. Completion of this promise guaranteed admission to Delta College with paid tuition. “My parents made sure to attend every meeting so I could go to Delta,” adds Megan.
At Liberty Ranch High School, Megan was a three sport star: basketball, swimming and golf. “I think I’d be a good coach,” she volunteers with a smile. “I have lots of student pride and was involved in many things, including student government and charity work.” As you might expect, Megan brought her diverse interests to Delta College. “I had my foot in so many different things I was about to sink.” Megan admits she was hardly “enthusiastic” about going to Delta College. “All my friends were going to four-year schools. I felt left out.” Megan concedes she was a student who “needed direction.”
As Megan tested the Delta waters, she may not have realized her community college journey was becoming transformational. Best friend and Delta student Midori Morita, a budding photo journalist, encouraged Megan to take journalism classes. Megan decided to take Midori’s advice in hopes of fulfilling one of her “many interests” as a writer.
Was this Megan’s career light bulb moment? Well…not initially.
“Megan told me that Passport to College was the ‘only reason’ she was here,” explained journalism instructor Tara Cuslidge-Staiano. Though Megan continued to struggle with her misgivings about community colleges, she persevered. Delta’s journalism classes, including work on the Collegian newspaper, soon became Megan’s second home. Over the next two years, Megan advanced from staff writer, to co-feature editor, opinion editor, and reporter for numerous local events - most recently the U.S. Senate Debate at the University of the Pacific.
In short order, Cuslidge-Staiano notice Megan’s attitude start to change as she excitedly covered campus stories of all sorts. “The change was vast by the time this school year rolled around. She was eager to tell the stories of her peers and bring the campus to life through her writing.”
Megan’s dedication and quality work has earned honors from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. "Megan’s work, vision and attitude makes me proud to be a teacher, and has brought our standards to a new level,” points out Cuslidge-Staiano. “I have no doubt she will continue to do remarkable things. Megan will be the student I ask to come back and talk to my classes in future years.”
Megan Maxey ultimately dropped her preconceived notions and saw the writing on the wall. She understood that Passport to College was no longer her excuse for attending Delta College, but was quite literally, “a passport to education and opportunity. I also realized that journalism was the avenue to all my interests, all the things I loved.”
With a career path taken, Megan’s change-of-heart about Delta College was also complete. “There are so many great programs at Delta. The teachers and managers really care about student success, and the financial burden for students and parents is much less.” Megan’s attitude became that of an evangelist for the college, challenging those prone to negative interpretations, and those who didn’t “embrace the opportunities that Delta offers.”
Not bad for someone who thought she “needed direction.”
In addition to journalism, Megan’s interest in Speech and Debate seemed a natural. She competed on Delta’s award winning debate teams with encouragement from Passport student Hailey Hepperle and Forensics Director Kathleen Bruce. “Debate came naturally,” said Bruce. “Megan was well spoken, intelligent and never afraid to offer a rebuttal!
As spring drew to a close, Megan didn’t give much thought to applying as Delta’s 2016 commencement speaker. Besides, she was extremely busy with the Collegian. Tara Custlidge-Staiano thought Megan had a compelling story of transformation and nudged her to apply. The competition was stiff, with over 30 applicants, but Megan’s story of conversion to an enthusiastic student that embraced and took advantage of Delta’s opportunities won out. “I’m honored and excited to be selected. I’m grateful to share my story of pride, Delta’s incredible opportunities, and the futures we are about to embark on as graduates.”
Megan Maxey’s new journey is just beginning. Perhaps it begins with her acceptance to CSU Fullerton this fall. Megan isn’t one to wait. “I’ve already applied to be on the student newspaper.” If nothing else, Megan will have time to rest and reflect this summer before embarking on new academic challenges…right? “I’m leaving for an internship with the Institute on Political Journalism this summer in Washington D.C.” Megan feels this internship is an obvious fork in the road to her journalistic ambitions. “As a journalist, I want to improve my writing and carry out my civic duty to inform the public as best I can.”
Megan Maxey makes no secret that she is grateful for the support she received from Delta’s faculty, staff and students. She wraps up observations on her Delta College journey succinctly…as you’d expect from a journalist. “My path is lined with successes because of my positive experiences at
Delta College. This is an amazing place!”
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