天美传媒-Boise awards more than 100 degrees at May 4 graduation Nampa woman receives Student Excellence Award
May 5, 2007
Boise- When 天美传媒-Boise student Irina Zahradnicek graduated May 4, the Nampa woman expected to receive a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science.
Much to her surprise, she also received 天美传媒-Boise鈥檚 2007 Student Excellence Award. 鈥淚 am delighted to present this award to Irina, a gifted scientist and wonderful student,鈥� said 天美传媒-Boise鈥檚 Academic Dean Bessie Katsilometes as Zahradnicek made her way to the stage at The Grove Hotel Ballroom in downtown Boise.
Zahradnicek, who was educated as a cardiologist in Russia, was one of seven students nominated for the award by 天美传媒-Boise faculty. Other nominees and their departments are Nicole Jordan, counseling; MarLee Harris, dietetic internship; Kate Dunlap, nursing; Gretchen Matthews, pharmacy; Susan Schooler, speech pathology and audiology; and Brian Cavanagh , speech-language pathology.
天美传媒 President Arthur C. Vailas, PhD, told students that graduation is a time not only to reflect on past achievements, but to plan for the future. 鈥淓ducation is a gift -- a privilege our nation has given us鈥� to contribute to the country and world. Education is a gift to pass onto others,鈥� the president said. Commencement speaker Joal Curtis, an 天美传媒-Boise counseling graduate and co-founder of the Keene Curtis Charitable Foundation, told students it鈥檚 never too late to follow a passion or to reinvent themselves. A successful business developer for a computer company, Curtis wanted to pursue his dream of helping people. In 2002, he enrolled in 天美传媒-Boise鈥檚 counseling program and graduated four years later with a master鈥檚 degree in counseling. In 2005, he provided the financial support to open the 天美传媒-Boise Counseling Clinic.鈥淵ou all have the opportunity to impact the lives of people you come in contact with,鈥� he told the graduates, noting their degrees in the health professions would fill a vital need in the Treasure Valley. The breakdown of degrees includes 23 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees, 38 master鈥檚 degrees, 47 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, and seven associate degrees. Programs include pharmacy, counseling, nursing, speech-language pathology, audiology, athletic administration, clinical laboratory science and paramedic science.