Posted on September 7, 2011 by David Wayne

Columbus State Community College's summer commencement will find students who faced challenges and adversity walk away with diplomas to begin exciting new chapters in their lives. A total of 486 students have petitioned to graduate for the ceremony.

Sharon Wilkins Holley began her journey before her husband passed away seven years ago due to various medical issues. "My husband needed an advocate at the end of his life to navigate the medical system," say Holley, 38. "I found that opportunity through the Paralegal Program. I am now working in a law office on workers' compensation issues and I spend my days advocating for injured workers."

Medical issues of her own led Linda Thumboli, 55, to persevere. Despite fighting cancer and combined with the loss of several family members in recent years, she never gave up. Her medical treatments required the removal of 70% of her stomach. Then Thumboli had to be trained to eat all over again. She will graduate with an Associate of Arts.

For Alexandria Axline, a job in a group home led her to a new career. The 24-year-old had enrolled in the environmental science program. "I was very close to finishing but when I began working in a group home assisting adults with developmental disabilities I started to question my plans," she says. "After weighing my options and praying I changed direction and began studying in the field of human services." Axline's long-term goal is to open her own day habilitation center for adults with developmental disabilities.

Ashley Watts was homeless for a short time with her children before turning her life around. Her original goal was to become a nurse. "After visits with my career counselor I decided that social work is what I wanted to do," says Watts, 26, who will graduate with an Associate of Arts degree. She plans to transfer to Ohio State where she will major in Social Work.

Graduating with his brother was the plan for Eric Rogers. The pair enrolled together in the accounting program. Last year, Eric's brother, Brent Kreuter , 41, died in a motorcycle accident. "The last year has been a constant struggle not having him here to go through this with me, but thanks to the determination and dedication that he showed, I have learned to keep going and work my way through the struggles," says Eric, 37. He will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting.

Reuel Barksdale, Associate Professor of Business Management at Columbus State, is the keynote speaker. Class valedictorian Jacob Goodfleisch, 35, will also speak.

Graduation begins at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 9, 2011, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, located at 300 W. Broad St., Columbus. The event is free and open to the public. The ceremony will also be available on a live stream at http://www2.cscc.edu/services/graduation/.