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The Victoria College. Full-time salaried position with benefits available...
DISTRICT "Champions for Community Wellness" has the following positions...
“The more you hear, the grayer your hair becomes,” he said, white hair under a cap, at the 83rd annual The Victoria College graduation ceremony on Saturday. His comic address was delivered to an animated audience that packed The Victoria College Fine Arts Auditorium.
As grads walked in choreographed lines to their seats, 2008 tassels dangling from their square caps, The Victoria College Band played “Pomp and Circumstance.”Soon the entire room was filled with the familiar blue glow of LCDs from cell phones and digital cameras. Then came the shrieks of joy for the grads as they walked the stage, feet planted firmly so as not to trip.
Graduate Veronica Sue Beran, of Moulton, persevered through some trying times to be in the graduating class. “I’ve been having dreams,” she said, “about not being able to graduate, forgetting my cap and gown, and not being able to walk.”
Despite difficult circumstances– working two jobs, the daily commute from Moulton, a separation and being a single mom with two small children – she managed to graduate summa cum laude – with highest honors – and a 4.0 in an associate degree in applied sciences in medical laboratory technology. She credits her family and friends for her success.
“I just can’t believe it! It’s all just too much to take in. It’s like you’re on cloud nine, but nervous at the same time.” Beran, who started as a phlebotomist at the Yoakum Community Hospital in March, will be moving into a new position there as a laboratory technician.
Charles Duncan Sanders Jr. also graduated with highest honors from the welding certificate program. The 19-year-old Hallettsville man drove about 100 miles a day to get to school. “I was surprised, I didn’t think I was going to get that high honor. It took a lot of hard work and determination,” he said. “That and excellent instructors. If it wasn’t for my shop teachers, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.”
Daily commutes from outlying communities seemed to be a common theme. Laura Pulido, 28, of Beeville, also traveled 100 miles a day.
“Every day, every day.” Pulido said, “I cannot stress enough that I hate that drive.”
She graduated with her associate degree in applied science for registered nursing, cum laude and won the B.J. Peterson Distinguished Nursing Student Award.
“I wanted to have my RN by the time I was 26. I’m a little tardy, but I’m at the party now. I could not have done it without my husband, Luis,” she said.
As the ceremony drew to an end, many of the husbands of graduates were in the wings of the auditorium with small children. Ron Thomas, of Victoria, who graduated in 2005 from college, looked after his 10-month-old and two older stepsons as their mom, Ledi Thomas, graduated with her AA in Arts.
“It has been hard, but it’s also been real exciting to see her go through this process. She’s finally getting a chance to graduate from college,” he said.
“It takes time and patience, and I realize that she is trying to better herself in life and I need to be that support.”
Christina Burke is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6516 or cburke@vicad.com.