Anne Arundel Community College presented 1,514 degrees and certificates to 1,431 students at the 45th annual commencement May 24 at Siegert Field on the Arnold campus.  

            Both the number of graduates and of awards set new records, with 1,429 degrees and certificates presented to 1,361 students in the Class of 2006.

            Delivering the keynote address was Gov. Martin O'Malley. Following a six-year stint as mayor of Baltimore, during which time he was called one of America's five best mayors by Time magazine, Maryland residents elected him to the top state post. He was sworn in on Jan. 17, 2007.

            Students honored for academic achievements include 129 associate degree recipients who earned summa cum laude honors with a grade point average of 3.8-4.0, 104 degree recipients who received magna cum laude honors with a GPA of 3.6-3.79 and 140 graduates who earned cum laude honors with a GPA of 3.4-3.59.

            Valedictorian Olga A. Rehn of Edgewater graduated summa cum laude with an associate degree in general studies with a focus on accounting. A Russian immigrant who spoke no English, she came to the United States in 1999 with her American husband and began taking English as a Second language classes first in Virginia and then at AACC. She is accepted at the University of Baltimore and will major in accounting.

            Selected as presidential scholar was Ryan Patrick Shain of Chesapeake Beach. The Presidential Scholar Award is given for the best grade point average achieved over the traditional time frame of two years. Leading the graduates as student marshals were Kathleen Larae Dempsey of Bowie, Tracy Elizabeth Estep of Millersville, David Patrick Fink of Glen Burnie and Kelley Jean Oster of Catonsville.

            The valedictorian, presidential scholar and student marshals are selected through interviews with students who earned a 4.0 GPA and took at least 50 credits at AACC. Not every qualified student chose to compete for these honors. In all, 41 students in the Class of 2007 earned an adjusted GPA of 4.0.

            In addition, five graduates were named in the 2007 edition of "Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges." They are Emily Elizabeth Capone of Edgewater, Gideon Agatep Fernandez of Crofton, Angela Lynn Haney of Annapolis, Kathleen Marie Harrington of Stevensville and Amanda Taylor of Gambrills.

            Following the trend of previous commencements, the Class of 2007 was predominantly female, with 969 female graduates and 462 male graduates. The youngest grad was age 18 and the oldest 65; the average age was 29.

            The ceremony experienced a new twist this year as graduates received AACC alumni pins during the "Alumni Welcome" given by H. Stafford "Chip" Bullen III, Class of 1985. Graduates who did not attend commencement will receive their pins by mail.

            Leading the faculty as grand marshals were Fred A. Klappenberger, Ph.D., of Millersville, professor and department chair of computer information systems and Shirley C. Parry, Ph.D., of Baltimore, professor of English and women's studies and coordinator of women's studies.

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