SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE SAN JUAN CENTER

GRADUATES

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Skagit Valley College San Juan Center graduation 2000

Story and photos by Matt Pranger

Seven students graduated with two-year degrees from Skagit Valley College-San Juan Center during commencement Thursday, June 8, 2000. The Class of 2000 members, from left to right, are: Bill Alan Cooper, Claire Irene Vedder, Amee D. Forbes, Lacen Kathryn Potter, Sara Elizabeth Staben, Amber Dinon Frey and Cynthia Lynnette Davidson.

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Cynthia Lynnette Davidson of Lopez Island spent more than 1,100 hours driving, ferry riding and waiting during the past two years to a two-year associate of arts degree from Skagit Valley College-San Juan Center. She spent many more hours raising three young children, including volunteering 10 hours a week at their school. Davidson also earned credits through distant learning.

"Lynn did it all," said Linda Fossen, SVC’s vice president of Student Services and Student Success.

"She’s very dynamic," said English instructor Francie Kisko.

"She really sets the tone here," San Juan Center Coordinator Colleen Clancy said. "I don’t want to lose Lynn."

A commitment to learning prompted the six other Class of 2000 members -- Bill Alan Cooper, Amee D. Forbes, Amber Dinon Frey, Lacen Kathryn Potter, Sara Elizabeth Staben and Claire Irene Vedder -- to pick Davidson to speak for them at graduation Thursday, June 8, 2000.

Wonderful support from family, friends, the San Juan Center staff, the islands’ community helped her class reach their academic goal. Davidson noted her class entered college from different points: there were high school graduates, students still attending high school, transfers from other colleges. With a two years of college behind them, they "have so much in common now," she said.

Davidson thanked the center’s instructors for helping them reach their next educational level. Cooper plans to attend Western Washington University; Vedder and Frey will attend the University of Washington; Potter will study at Western Washington University; Staben will go to Skagit Valley’s main campus in Mount Vernon; Forbes will focus on photography.

After commuting each quarter since the fall of 1998, most people would rather stay home or move closer to school. Not Davidson. An even longer commute awaits the future teacher who will be attending Western Washington University in Bellingham.

Francie Kisko, who taught all but one of the students, compared life to a musical composition. She encouraged the students to change their "melody" occasionally to keep life from becoming "stagnant."

Lynn Davidson represented the Class of 2000. She said her class was thankful for the support it received from family, friends and community members.

San Juan Center Coordinator Colleen Clancy told the graduates: "I wish you great joy in your lives."

Claire Vedder was all smiles as she graduated from Skagit Valley College San Juan Center Thursday. She plans to attend UW in the fall.

"Hang in there and make beautiful music," Kisko said.

Fossen congratulated the students and quoted Chistopher Morley. "There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning."

San Juan Center is a small campus and the graduates "became very dear to us…. I wish you great joy in your lives," Clancy said.

The San Juan Center’s new Small Vocal Ensemble sang for the graduates after the ceremony.

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