UCB
Commencement Archive
Commencement 2005
Commencement
2004
Commencement
2003
Commencement
2002
Commencement
2001
Commencement
2000
Commencement 2003
Ninety-eight residents of Boston's low-income neighborhoods,
most of whom never expected to go to college, received
associate degrees, certificates of achievement and Child
Development Associate credentials at the Urban College
of Boston's May 30 commencement exercises at the Boston
Swiss Hotel.
Marian Wright Edelman, President
and founder of the renowned Children's Defense Fund, will
delivered the commencement address. "We are thrilled and
honored to have Marian Wright Edelman join us to celebrate
the significant accomplishments of our graduates and this
college," said Dr. Linda Turner, President of the Urban
College of Boston. "She has truly made a difference for
children and families in America and around the world.
In my mind, our graduates personify what she has worked
for throughout her distinguished career. The Urban College
is helping inner-city resident and their children to become
empowered through education and to have the opportunity
for a better quality of life." Click here for
more information on Edelman's commencement address.
The majority of Urban College graduates
have worked for several years, taking one or two courses
a semester, to earn their degrees. Most have children and
are low-income working people who must juggle the demands
of college with jobs, child care and household responsibilities.
 
Turner noted that
Urban College students persevere because they know that
in today's world a college degree is essential to moving
ahead in jobs and careers. "The college has a retention
rate of 71 percent, which is higher than most colleges
serving lower income students," she said. "Over the past
ten years, Urban College has come to fill a special niche
in the higher education arena through our success in providing
people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity
to succeed in college."
 
A highlight of the commencement
was the presentation of the Robert M. Coard Scholarship
awarded by Endicott College , Beverly , MA , to Urban College
graduate Valda Gabriel Goodwin. This award was first granted
last year by Endicott College to enable Urban College graduates
from Boston 's inner city to complete their education at
prestigious Endicott College on Boston 's North Shore .
Robert Coard is the founder of the Urban College and a
member of the Board of Trustees.
Also, a list of the students who
will benefit this year from the generous Moses and Hannah
Malkin gift to Urban College was announced. In 2000, Urban
College received $85,000 from Hannah and Moses Malkin to
establish a scholarship fund and build a UCB/ABCD alumni
association.
Commencement
2002
Urban
College held its seventh commencement celebrating the achievements
of 68 inner-city residents on June 14th, 2002. The keynote
speaker was Dr. Mary Jane England , President of Regis College
in Weston, MA.
The
graduates, residents of Boston 's low-income neighborhoods, most of
whom never expected to go to college, received associate degrees,
certificates of achievement and Child Development Associate credentials
at the commencement exercises which took place at the Boston Marriott
Copley Place Hotel.
"This
is a great achievement for our graduates," said Dr. John Kendrick,
Interim President of the Urban College of Boston. "Many of them have
worked for several years, taking one or two courses a semester, to
earn their degrees. Most have children and are low-income working
people who must juggle the demands of college with jobs, child care
and household responsibilities."
Kendrick
noted that Urban College students persevere because they know that
in today's world a college degree is essential to moving ahead in
jobs and careers. "The college has a retention rate of 71 percent,
which is higher than most colleges serving lower income students,"
he said. "The Urban College has come to fill a special niche in the
higher education arena through our success in providing people from
disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to succeed in college."
A
highlight of the commencement was the presentation of the first Robert
M. Coard Scholarship awarded by Endicott College , Beverly , MA ,
to Urban College graduate Sherrie-Ann Hodge of Mattapan. This award
is the first of ten scholarships from Endicott College to enable Urban
College graduates from Boston 's inner city to complete their education
at prestigious Endicott College on Boston 's North Shore . Robert
Coard is the founder of the Urban College and a member of the Board
of Trustees.
The
evening's Commencement Speaker was Dr. Mary Jane England , President
of Regis College in Weston , Massachusetts . A child psychiatrist
and longtime social activist,
Dr.
England is nationally recognized for her creative thinking in social
change and her commitment to children, youth and families. Born and
raised in Brighton , she became involved in the antipoverty movement
as a young child psychiatrist and served as president of the ABCD
Board of Directors during the turbulent 1970s. In March, 2002, she
was sought out to become a member of the blue ribbon task force of
professional experts in the new Commission for the Protection of Children
in the troubled Archdiocese of Boston.
Commencement
2001
Former
President Lee J. Hines, Jr. officiated at the UCB commencement on
June 15, 2001. Enormous excitement was generated when a gift to
the College amounting to approximately $480,000 in scholarship funds
was announced. Commencement speaker Dr. Richard E. Wylie, President,
Endicott College, and former Chair, Urban College of Boston Board
of Trustees, announced the contribution to Urban College of 10 two-year
scholarships including full tuition, room and board enabling one
Urban College graduate to matriculate as a junior at Endicott college
each year for ten years. This generous gift benefits Urban College
graduates and furthers the College's mission to provide Boston's
inner-city residents with access to true economic, personal and
professional advancement.
For
his more that 13 years of service to the College's Board of Trustees,
Dr. Wylie was presented the Urban College of Boston Outstanding
Service Award.
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| Dr.
Richard Wylie (center), President of Endicott College, prepares
for the 2001 Urban College commencement, where he announced
a gift of 10 full scholarships with room and board for Urban
College graduates to complete their bachelor's degrees at Endicott
College. Pictured with Dr. Wylie are Harold Mezoff, trustee,
and Chairman John Nucci. |
Guest
speaker Dr. Lisa Jackson, project director of Gear-Up inspired students
to pursue further higher education and to continue to serve as role
models for their children.
The
Jill Alexander Award for Excellence was presented to Brid Martin.
Maureen Largey was the recipient of the Roberta Nourse Memorial
Award. The Vivienne S. Thompson Memorial Scholarship was awarded
to Sophia Webb Barrow.
Faculty
recognition awards were presented to class of 2001 graduates Leda
Brooks and Elvia Payne. Awards for meritorious service were presented
to senior faculty members Grace Caines, Nancy Daniel and Charna
Heiko to acknowledge their long term dedication to the College and
its students.
A
second award from the U.S. Department of Education in the amount
of $800,000, sponsored by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Senator
Tom Harkin added to the excitement and joy of the evening. The class
of 2001 brought the number of graduates of UCB since 1994 to 118.
Commencement
2000
The
UCB Board of Trustees and President Lee J. Hines Jr. hosted the
Urban College of Boston's fifth commencement ceremony at the new United
States Courthouse on June 9, 2000. Children, parents, family members
and friends gathered to celebrate with the 89 UCB degree, program
certificate, and Child Development Associate recipients. During
its first five years, a total of 118 Associate of Arts Degree students
graduated from the Urban College. Many of them are continuing their
education at 4-year colleges.
During
the commencement, four outstanding students were recognized for their
accomplishments and noteworthy perseverance in pursuing their degrees.
These Special Recognition awards included the Jill Alexander Award
for Excellence, named to recognize Ms. Jill Alexander, the first
director of the Urban College Program. The award is given to those
students who emulate Ms. Alexander's dedication, specifically in
their ability to demonstrate leadership and overall commitment to
the College. The Vivienne S. Thomson Memorial Scholarship was established
to honor the late Ms. Vivienne S. Thomson, founding trustee of UCB
and longtime ABCD board member. This award recognizes those students
whose lives have been significantly impacted by disabilities and
who inspire others in overcoming obstacles in their lives. The Urban
College of Boston Annual Faculty Award is presented by the UCB faculty
to an outstanding student who demonstrates high academic performance
and who has exhibited significant progress in professional development.
Lastly, the Roberta L. Nourse Memorial Award, named for the late
Ms. Roberta L. Nourse, a longtime faculty and staff member of the
Urban College, recognizes students who exemplify the qualities Ms.
Nourse valued, such as perseverance and effort.
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| UCB 2000 commencement
ceremony at the new United States Courthouse in Boston |
UCB
Founding President and ABCD President/CEO Robert M. Coard was presented
with the Trustees' Recognition Award for his vision, tenacity and
hard work in establishing the College and guiding it through its
formative years to full independence. Also, Meritorious Service
Awards for their significant work on behalf of the College went
to David Bradley, Executive Director, National Community Action
Foundation (NCAF) and Dr. Meg Power, Ph.D., Director, Economic Opportunity
Research Institute, and Urban College Trustee.
The
evening's commencement speakers were Charlotte Golar Richie, who
is the director of Boston's Neighborhood Development and a former
State Representative from Dorchester, and State Representative Jarrett
T. Barrios from Cambridge.
The
evening also marked a special event as Urban College announced a
grant of $925,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to expand
and enhance its successful efforts in assisting disadvantaged residents
of Boston's inner city neighborhoods in obtaining higher education
degrees. Robert M. Coard, founding president and trustee of the
Urban College and president and CEO of Action for Boston Community
Development, thanked Senator Edward M. Kennedy for helping to secure
the federal appropriation for the Urban College.
"We
are thrilled with the grant from the Department of education which
will enable us to expand our work," said Urban College Former
President Dr. Lee J. Hines, Jr. "Efforts to move out of poverty
and into good jobs that keep pace with the economy are all but impossible
without at least an associate degree."
At
the Urban College's 5th commencement on June 9, graduates of the
Urban College of Boston realized it is never too late to achieve
their goals. And thanks in much part to the federal grant, the Urban
College can continue to give the opportunity for many more residents
of Boston to pursue higher education.
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