Bridgewater State University Awards Bachelor’s Degrees

Bridgewater – Nearly 2,100 bachelor’s degrees in the arts, sciences, business and education were awarded during Bridgewater State University’s 176th Spring Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 13 on the Boyden Quadrangle.

Undergraduate majors from the Ricciardi College of Business, College of Education & Allied Studies, and the Bartlett College of Science & Mathematics were awarded their degrees during the morning ceremony while graduates in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences received their diplomas in the afternoon.

Two of the region’s long-serving community college presidents, both of whom are retiring this summer, addressed graduates – many of whom began their college careers at community colleges – at the ceremonies.

Dr. John J. Sbrega, president of Bristol Community College, was the featured speaker at the morning ceremony while Dr. Charles Wall of Massasoit Community College, addressed graduates during the afternoon. Both were awarded an Honorary Degree in Public Education from Bridgewater State University President Frederick W. Clark Jr., Esq., ’83.

Each year, approximately 300 students/graduates transfer from Bristol to Bridgewater and 350 transfer from Massasoit.

Dr. Sbrega’s community college career began in 1974 as professor of history at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Downtown Campus in Richmond, VA. Throughout his career – including his 17 years at Bristol – Dr. Sbrega maintained a continuous presence in the classroom and has earned awards for teaching excellence. While at Bristol, he created opportunities for students and invested in their success. He developed a new administrative structure to strengthen student services by unifying all enrollment functions.

Under Dr. Wall’s leadership, Massasoit strengthened and bolstered student support services and became a leader in expanding access to college. Dr. Wall drove significant programmatic and physical growth at Massasoit, expanding into Middleboro, Plymouth and Marshfield while creating new degree programs in engineering transfer and veterinary technology.

At the afternoon ceremony, Ron Burton Jr. accepted university’s Distinguished Service Award on behalf of the Ron Burton Training Village, which was named for his father, the legendary All-American New England Patriot. The village, located in Hubbardston, has empowered more than 4,000 young men and women from low-income families through its extraordinary programs and messages of peace, love, patience and Humility.

Jacob Ames of Ashland, a physical education major, delivered the student address at the morning ceremony while Munah Wisner of Worcester, a criminal justice major, addressed her fellow graduates in the afternoon. Both remembered their BSU peers who passed away during the course of their studies and thanked them for “reminding us of the true value of life.”

The following area residents were among those who graduated:

Rehoboth
Heather Chamberland, Wendy Colby, Rachelle Dubois, Denise Lanigan, Kayla Mourato, Ryan Norberg, and Rayshawn Zavala.

Seekonk
Mary Cote, Marinna Emond, Elizabeth Jensen, Rachel Kerrins, Kelly Lewis-Hicks, Kristi Melo, and Bonnie Wyrostek.