AUC Students Graduate from Professional Certificate Program

Atlantic Union College (AUC) students, past and present, as well as faculty, staff, and supporters gathered on August 28 in Machlan Auditorium for a convocation to kick off the 2016-2017 school year, and for the graduation of six students from the college’s professional certificate program.

Avis Hendrickson, AUC president, welcomed the attendees and introduced the platform guests. In her remarks to the students, Hendrickson said, “You must put the effort into your work. The only place where ‘success’ comes before ‘work’ is in the dictionary. This is a faith-based journey.” She shared a scripture text with the students from Philippians 3:14: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Hendrickson admonished the students to “Continue to press forward, because you can obtain the goal through the indwelling of our sweet Holy Spirit.”

Bringing greetings from the Atlantic Union Conference administrators and staff Jerrell Gilkeson, Atlantic Union Conference Office of Education director. He encouraged the students to take the what they have learned at AUC and share it with their family, the church, and the community.

The guest speaker for the occasion was H. Roger Bothwell, a former AUC professor, and current Education professor at Fitchburg State University. He told the graduates, “Education is about coloring your life in a multitude of colors.”

In January 2016, in addition to the two degree programs, a B.A. in Religion/Theology, and a B.S. in Health Sciences/Biology, AUC began offering accelerated certificate programs in office management, bookkeeping, medical billing and coding, enrolled agent (tax preparation), and information technology.

AUC awarded certificates of completion to five students who graduated from the medical billing and coding certificate program: Jeffrey Clarke, Esther Noel, Jennifer Sierra, Patricia Sierra, and Sherine Tulloch. AUC also awarded a certificate of completion to Oneli Sanchez, who graduated from the professional bookkeeping certificate program. When these students have taken the exam to become certified, they will be able to seek employment in the area in which they are certified.

AUC also awarded the following scholarships to six students: Samuel Jerome and Eric Jean-Baptiste received the Nosworthy-Wright Endowment Community Engagement Scholarship; Kevin Maldonado and Newton Joseph received the Dr. and Mrs. Roland J. Brimes Scholarship; Fredy Canales received the Hispanic Scholarship; and Edmund Joseph received the David E. Counter Memorial Endowment Scholarship.

A moment of silence was observed in honor of Susan Willoughby, a staunch supporter and faculty emeritus of AUC, who passed away on May 4. Hendrickson spoke of Willoughby’s work and her love for Atlantic Union College.

Orientation for the new school year was held August 25-28. AUC’s certificate program began on August 28 and the degree program began on August 29. For more information about AUC and programs offered, visit the school’s Web site at www.auc.edu, or call the Office of Enrollment at (978) 368-2251, or e-mail enroll@auc.edu.

Atlantic Union Gleaner staff