Page 43 - Florida Sentinel 7-10-20

Class of 2020
HCC Hosts Virtual Spring Graduation Ceremony
RASHAD STUBBS MONIQUE JAMES
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last month, the faculty and staff at Hillsborough Commu- nity College held their Com- mencement Ceremony. In addition to the usual last minute details graduates face, these stu- dents also had to deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Instead of hosting their normal graduation with family and friends wishing them well, the graduation was held virtually.
Some of the young adults graduating with the respective degrees were the following stu- dents.
Rashad Stubbs is an HCC Honors student and first African America student trustee at the college. He is actively in- volved in the HCC community.
His service includes the Stu- dent Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa and the Na- tional Society of Collegiate Scholars. He has also served as a resident assistant at HCC’s stu- dent apartment complex, Hawks Landing, and is a mem- ber of the Engineering Club. He graduates with an engineering degree.
Sergeant Monique James is the first African American fe- male at HCC to deliver the Pledge of Allegiance at a com- mencement ceremony.
A native of Jackson, Missis- sippi, Sgt. James graduated from Jim Hill High School in 2013. Shortly after, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served her country from 2015-2019.
Sgt. James knew she wanted to continue her education. “I had many notes on each city and state that I visited.” When she visited a friend in Tampa, she also visited HCC. “I had the best time in Florida. I remember I was on the Riverwalk on a scooter touring the area, and I fell in love with it! I was like,
JESSICA BUCKNER
‘Wow, it’s gorgeous and the school is amazing, I would love to live here.’”
In late 2019, she made the decision to move to Florida and enroll at HCC, where she began taking courses in August. She earned her Criminal Justice De- gree this Spring.
A Tampa native, Ms. Jessica Buckner graduated from King High School in 2003. In the years following her high school graduation, she primarily worked in customer service po- sitions including four years as an administration manager.
At the age of 32, she made the decision to go back to school and continue her education. “I always had a passion for ani- mals, and it was just the right time for me.
“HCC offered the program I was looking for, and the cost ef- ficiency was a huge factor,” she stated.
Ms. Buckner enrolled at HCC in the fall of 2016. But be- fore she could enter the veteri- nary technology program, it took her about a year to finish her prerequisite courses.
In 2019 and 2020, Ms. Buck- ner was able to attend “VMX,” the world’s leading veterinary conference, held in Orlando, FL.
She received her Associate in Science Degree in Veterinary Technology.
PAGE 16-C FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020