KCC graduates offer hope

PUHI — Ben Sullivan, in delivering the keynote speech at the 45th annual Kaua‘i Community College commencement exercises Friday, said the graduates are the solution to the critical problems that face the global community.

More than 290 students earned a variety of degrees, certificates, upper division and graduate level degrees. Roughly 100 students took part in the commencement ceremonies marking completion of the Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010 courses of study at the Puhi campus.

“He has a way of connecting with students that brings out their best performance,” said University of Hawai‘i Regent James Lee, in announcing the annual Excellence in Teaching Award. “He is extremely patient with his students and believes in each student’s potential and unique voice.”

Lee was reading the nomination form for Greg Shepherd, Associate Professor in Music, who earned the Regents medal and $1,000 cash for his achievement.

That kind of professionalism is what helped Kahakuali‘i Kaimina‘auao and Sasily U‘ilani Corr-Yorkman achieve their respective goals and degrees, Friday night.

“I knew what I wanted, but I didn’t know how,” said Corr-Yorkman, a candidate for a master’s degree in education technology, attributing her appearance on the stage of the KCC Performing Arts Center to the college’s faculty and staff.

Corr-Yorkman attributes her son as the reason for staying on Kaua‘i and pursuing three degrees over a 10-year span, all while balancing being a mother, full-time teacher and a student.

Similarly, Kaimina‘auao, a candidate for an associate’s degree in liberal arts, attributes the help of family, friends and the KCC staff for helping him get a step closer to his dream of flying.

Kaimina‘auao said when he reached high school, his aviation goal hit a roadblock — one that lasted nine years — before he set out to make that dream a reality.

“It’s never too late,” Kaimina‘auao said. “I’ve seen grandparents come here to get the education they’ve always wanted. It’s never too late. For us in the Class of 2010, we have the knowledge and now it’s up to us to pass on that knowledge.”

Sullivan, in his speech, alluded to the class theme of “Sustainability is good, self-reliant is better.”

“This is a very heartening statement,” said Sullivan, described as a community activist. “We are inundated by the ‘s’ word, from sustainable underwear to sustainable jet fuel. ‘Self reliant’ cuts to the chase — let’s go out and do something already. Let’s take control of our future in this place.”

Corr-Yorkman said if you can dream it, you can do it.

“It’s a long journey. You give up a lot, but it’s doable,” she said before an overflow audience at the auditorium. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes, as long as you don’t stop.”

Sullivan said the goal of self-reliance is explicit, demanding that people take action in their own community with the resources that fall under their shared kuleana.

“We have settled into certain ways of doing things and in the process have come to believe there are no alternatives to these methods,” he said. “This is where we desperately need your young minds. Minds that are unpolluted by the burden of knowing what can not be done. Minds that are free to pursue unique solutions to our local challenges here on Kaua‘i.”

About half of the group stood when asked about special awards from community donors by Molly Kaimi Summers, the emcee for the evening.

A special awards ceremony was held on May 4 where students received their awards, taking off almost an hour from the graduation ceremony where each student was called to receive his commencement certificate.

“To quote Mrs. Audrey Hepburn, if you need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you’ll discover you have two — one to help yourself, and one to help others,” Corr-Yorkman said.

Visit www.kauai.hawaii.edu for more information.