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Contact: Marilynn Fryer
(517) 796-8466
e-mail: FryerMarilynT@jccmi.edu
05/06/04
For immediate release

JCC Plans Commencement Ceremony

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, Potter Center

Jackson Community College will host 2004 Commencement exercises at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, in the Harold Sheffer Music Hall, Potter Center.

Keynote speaker for the commencement exercises will be Thomas D. Watkins, Jr., Michigan superintendent of public instruction. Watkins is a strong advocate for quality, public education for all young people.  His diverse background includes leadership roles in the profit, non-profit and public sectors, including State Director of the Department of Mental Health under Gov. James Blanchard. 

JCC will also present awards for outstanding alumni and community service. Recipient of the Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett Distinguished Alumni Award is Robert D. Thomson, 1949 graduate of Jackson Junior College.  Thomson was a longtime employee of Kellogg Co. in Battle Creek who has served in numerous local government and non-profit groups over the years.  

Receiving the Distinguished Service Award will be Georgia Fojtasek, president and chief executive officer of Foote Health System.  In addition to guiding the Health System, Fojtasek serves on the Boards of the Enterprise Group of Jackson, Tomorrow's Child/Michigan SIDS Alliance, and Michigan Health & Hospital Association.  She also serves as a local director of Comerica Bank, Jackson, and is Past Chair of the Jackson Community Foundation, now serving on its Governance and Trustee Emeritus Committees. 

Representing JCC's student body in the ceremony will be Student Parliament President Mike R.Wolin, and graduating class representative Halette C. Burgess. 

JCC hosts commencement each spring for students who complete their requirements from the previous four semesters.  Also participating in the ceremony will be the Jackson Community Concert Band and JCC Concert Choir.