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BY BETTY ADAMS
Staff Writer 05/18/2008

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

PROUD FAMILY: Family members of nursing student Mallory Provost of Skowhegan wave at her at Saturday’s commencement. From left, they are sister Meghan French of Anson, and father and stepmother Gary and Liz French of Canaan.

enlarge Staff photos by Joe Phelan

LITTLEST GRADUATE: Week-old Easton Houghton sleeping snugly in the arms of his mom, Heather Houghton, goes into the auditorium on Saturday morning during Kennebec Valley Community College commencement exercises at the Augusta Civic Center. Houghton, a nursing graduate, had to leave graduation rehearsal last week because she went into labor.

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Houghton, of China, had to leave last week's graduation practice after she went into labor, and two of her fellow nursing students accompanied her to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville.

"It was exciting," said newly minted nurse Angel Pinkham of Strong. "We were so happy."

Hundreds of black-gowned graduates of Kennebec Valley Community College celebrated with their families Saturday morning after receiving diplomas, degrees and certificates in ceremonies held at the Augusta Civic Center.

Those attending heard Sara Burns, president and chief executive officer of Central Maine Power Co., urge the community college graduates to anticipate and embrace change.

"When you wake up tomorrow -- a newly minted graduate of this fine college -- put your feet on the floor beside the bed and try to feel the ground shifting under you," she said. "Everything's changing and you want to see it coming. Get in front of it. Seize it. Make it yours and you will be a success."

She said 42 graduates of the college's lineworker training program work at CMP as well as 11 other people who graduated from different programs at the college.

Barbara Woodlee, president of Kennebec Valley Community College, offered four pieces of parting advice:

• value diversity

• act with integrity

• keep pace with the information economy

• continue your exceptional commitment to serving your communities.

Honored at graduation were Greg M. Sabins, of Union, who won the Bernard King Award "for academic excellence, dedication and sincerity." Sabins held a 4.0 grade point average in his quest for an applied science degree in precision machining technology.

His classmates referred questions to him as he stood in line to march into the auditorium.

He defined the field of precision machining technology as "helping to design new products and make parts."

Sabins said he works for Plante's Lobster Escape Vents Inc. in Somerville and hopes to start a new business with his boss.

Praising Sabins for his work at the school were fellow classmates Jordan Grady of Whitefield, Elvi Stanziale of South China, Jacob Thibodeau of Augusta and Clifford (Sam) Salley III of Waterville.

Rebecca Cirillo of Waterville, a 2004 graduate of the college's occupational therapy assistant program, was honored as distinguished alumna.

The Aaron Levine Outstanding Student Award was presented to Jared Paradee of Farmington, occupational therapist assistant program, and Sacha Genest of Sidney, nursing program.

The Fred Whitney Award went to Debra Irish of Clinton, business administration program, and Christopher Wands of Oakland, respiratory therapy program.

Over in the nursing ranks, Houghton's friends talked of the excitement generated when Houghton's labor began during graduation practice at the school.

The speaker at the practice wondered aloud, "Did I do something wrong?" after four of them walked out together.

Houghton, Renee Jean Gilcott of Rumford, and Danielle Goff of Skowhegan all earned nursing degrees, and all of them work at or will work at local hospitals.

"I'm going to continue to work at MaineGeneral," said Houghton. She does client relations and billing management for Workplace Health. Houghton's two other children, Jacob, 10, and Peyton, 6, were in the audience with dad Shawn Houghton, for graduation, proudly watching their mom.

Goff will work in the emergency room at Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan and Gilcott is heading for the emergency room staff at Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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