Bridgewater State University awards Degrees in Graduate Studies

Bridgewater – Master’s degrees and certificates of advanced graduate study were awarded to approximately 450 graduate students at Bridgewater State University’s 12th Graduate Commencement Convocation on Thursday evening, May 11 under the tent on the Boyden Quadrangle.

Rep. Patricia A. Haddad, ’72, of Somerset, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, delivered the commencement address and received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in recognition of her 16 years of service to the people of the Fifth Bristol District, consisting of Dighton, Somerset, Swansea and Taunton.

Rep. Haddad has been a leader in advancing social justice, creating educational opportunities, investing in clean energy, expanding access to high quality health care and promoting small business. She is an advocate of equal opportunity for women, and her position as the highest-ranking woman in the Massachusetts General Court reflects her commitment to the highest ideals of public service.

The university presented a Distinguished Service Award to James and Theresa Orcutt, founders of My Brother’s Keeper of Easton/Brockton and Dartmouth. The Distinguished Service Award honors a person or an organization whose significant acts of public service have created opportunities for citizens of Southeastern Massachusetts.

Angelica R. Moore of Marstons Mills who earned a Master of Social Work degree, addressed her fellow graduates. A major academic award for Distinguished Graduate Research-Project Award was presented to Josephine Madonna of Abington for her project titled “Mindfulness Practitioners Clarify the Concept of ‘Re-perceiving’: A Qualitative Interview Study.” Ms. Madonna received her Master of Arts in Psychology at the ceremony.

Graduates from the area were:

Rehoboth
Bryanna L. Rezendes

Seekonk
Steven P. Cetenich