CHARTER OAK STATE COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES HELD JUNE 7

"Second Chance Learners" the theme

NEW BRITAIN, CT - June 7, 2009 - Charter Oak State College, Connecticut's public online college, held commencement ceremonies June 7 for the Class of 2009. Bachelor's degrees were awarded to 482 graduates.

Honorary degrees were presented to Dr. Merle Harris, Charter Oak President Emeritus, and Hartford Courant columnist, Stan Simpson. Charter Oak president, Ed Klonoski addressed the graduates, The student speaker was William Hackett. The ceremony was Webcast to graduates across the country who were unable to attend in person.

In his remarks, Klonoski noted the untraditional nature of Charter Oak and the impact the class of 2009 is expected to have on today's economic landscape. He characterized the graduates as 'second- chance learners,' loosely defined as adult students who likely attended school part-time and used more than one educational institution to complete their degrees. Klonoski told the graduates, "You represent one of the key strengths of the American economy and are key elements in our nation's efforts to remain a competitive economic force. You are what I call 'second- chance learners,' and you will become major factors in our economic recovery."

Klonoski continued, "Charter Oak specializes in second chance learners because we are devoted to adult students who managed not to get their bachelors degree when they were 22. All of you were students who left the higher education highway at some point, for some reason, and then decided that you wanted back on. Well, I am proud to lead an institution that is devoted to providing second chances to learners like you."

Klonoski concluded by encouraging the graduates to "pay it forward", as the movie suggests. "Somewhere along the line, you will get the opportunity to give someone else a second chance. It may be your child, it may be a co-worker, it may even be a stranger. But when that moment arrives, you tell that person with pride, 'I am a second-chance learner.' My college and my family believed I was worth a second chance, and I believe you are too."

Awards presented to Class of '09 graduates

The Doris G. Cassiday award is given to those graduates of Charter Oak who have achieved excellence in innovative learning and who exemplify the essence of the Charter Oak mission. With this award, the College recognizes individuals who avail themselves fully of a broad range of learning options, earning credits both inside and outside the traditional classroom setting. These options include distance learning, testing, portfolio assessment, contract learning, military service school courses and other non-collegiate sponsored instruction, which has been evaluated for credit, as well as classroom instruction.

2009 award recipients include Julia L. Bartlett, Reno, NV; Fauna J. Eller, Niantic, CT; Angel V. Gomez, Rancho Cordova, CA; Hanna A. Grymek, New Britain, CT; Maria T. Pringle, Miami, FL; Larri Ann Rosser, Fort Worth, TX; and Dale E Walters, Baltic, CT.

Awards for Outstanding Academic Performance were presented to Elizabeth Hoerle Fangiullo, Plainville, CT; and Tracy Walton, Northfield, CT.