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Kaua‘i Community College Class of 2004 ; Longtime student receives distance education Master's degree
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| Marlana Lynn Patterson, center, leads her classmates in celebration after the class is presented by Kaua‘i Community College Chancellor Peggy Cha at the 39th Annual Commencement Exercises held Friday night at the college's Performing Arts Center. |
By KENDYCE MANGUCHEI - TGI Lifestyle Writer
Wilhemina "Billie" V. Perreira became Kaua‘i Community College's first student to receive a master's degree in accounting through the University of Hawai‘i's distance education program.
The Hawai‘i Interactive Television System television relay service allowed Perreira to enroll in classes offered at UH—Manoa but attend those classes at KCC.
Perreira began her education in 1968 with an associate's degree in accounting from KCC, then returned to earn a certificate in automotive technology. She ran a service station for years, then went back to KCC to go for a bachelor's degree in accounting. Her bachelor's degree was also earned by the distance education program, through UH—West O‘ahu. Perreira completed the HITS master's program in 2.5 years. She recently retired from the State of Hawai‘i Unemployment Division after 16 years of service.
"There's a big joke around here, that I keep coming back," Perreira said.
Perreira said she hoped other students would take advantage of the distance education program. "For me, I wouldn't have been able to afford this, leave my job and move to O‘ahu," Perreira said after graduation.
There was "interaction off-island, because we had (students) from Maui, Big Island and Honolulu … it's like being in a big classroom," she said.
Surrounded by friends and family, and bedecked in lei in the celebration area set up in the Performing Arts Center parking lot, Perreira called of her wreaths a "survivor lei," made up of pens, pencils, beef jerky and mac nuts — all the tools to survive higher ed, Perreira said.
Addressing the class of 2004 was student speaker Marlana Lynn Patterson, who received an associate in applied science culinary arts degree. After a 14-year hiatus from education, "got through it" with a positive attitude Friday night as one of 90 Kaua‘i Community College students who attended graduation Friday night.
Patterson, who served as the class of 2004's student speaker, talked about the importance of having a positive attitude.
She read a piece given to her by chef Alan Wong, himself a graduate of the University of Hawaii community college system, which said in part: "The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day how our attitudes will affect our lives."
After reading, she added: "If we go out there with a positive attitude, we'll probably still have a hard time, but we'll have an easier time getting through the problems," she said. Patterson is a single parent of three, and once owned Marlana's Party Shop. At KCC, she participated in recipe contests and in her last year, served as the president of the Culinary Arts Club. Patterson also received a $500 award from Hawaii Flour Mills, for achievement in her culinary arts education. Now that she's a graduate of the KCC culinary arts program, she said she's planning to work aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line as a pastry chef, and among her long-term goals are to reopen her store Marlana's Party Shop.
Delivering the keynote address was former administrator of the KCC Office of Continuing Education and Training, Barbara "Bobbie" Bulatao-Franklin. Bulatao-Franklin retired in December 2003 after 23 years of service. She began her career at KCC as a speech instructor in 1966.
She had also worked in various public relations and communications capacities for the Office of the Mayor, Statehood Silver Jubilee Annniversary celebration under the Office of the Governor, Kauaians for Nukoli‘i group, public Kaua‘i Hilton, and ‘Iniki Recovery Task Force.
"Knock on any door" was one of Bobbie's themes.
"I don't care where you go, knock on that door and you will find a Kaua‘i Community College or a community college graduate," she said, stressing the importance of a community college education in all walks of life.
Bulatao-Franklin also talked about continuing one's education. She then made note of all the departments at the college, their workers who keep things running smoothly for students, and how many of them are also KCC graduates. She capped off her speech by saying she hoped that each graduate felt KCC left a "footprint on their hearts" and would return to the campus to leave their mark, too.
Lifestyle Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 226)
The Hawai‘i Interactive Television System television relay service allowed Perreira to enroll in classes offered at UH—Manoa but attend those classes at KCC.
Perreira began her education in 1968 with an associate's degree in accounting from KCC, then returned to earn a certificate in automotive technology. She ran a service station for years, then went back to KCC to go for a bachelor's degree in accounting. Her bachelor's degree was also earned by the distance education program, through UH—West O‘ahu. Perreira completed the HITS master's program in 2.5 years. She recently retired from the State of Hawai‘i Unemployment Division after 16 years of service.
"There's a big joke around here, that I keep coming back," Perreira said.
Perreira said she hoped other students would take advantage of the distance education program. "For me, I wouldn't have been able to afford this, leave my job and move to O‘ahu," Perreira said after graduation.
There was "interaction off-island, because we had (students) from Maui, Big Island and Honolulu … it's like being in a big classroom," she said.
Surrounded by friends and family, and bedecked in lei in the celebration area set up in the Performing Arts Center parking lot, Perreira called of her wreaths a "survivor lei," made up of pens, pencils, beef jerky and mac nuts — all the tools to survive higher ed, Perreira said.
Addressing the class of 2004 was student speaker Marlana Lynn Patterson, who received an associate in applied science culinary arts degree. After a 14-year hiatus from education, "got through it" with a positive attitude Friday night as one of 90 Kaua‘i Community College students who attended graduation Friday night.
Patterson, who served as the class of 2004's student speaker, talked about the importance of having a positive attitude.
She read a piece given to her by chef Alan Wong, himself a graduate of the University of Hawaii community college system, which said in part: "The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day how our attitudes will affect our lives."
After reading, she added: "If we go out there with a positive attitude, we'll probably still have a hard time, but we'll have an easier time getting through the problems," she said. Patterson is a single parent of three, and once owned Marlana's Party Shop. At KCC, she participated in recipe contests and in her last year, served as the president of the Culinary Arts Club. Patterson also received a $500 award from Hawaii Flour Mills, for achievement in her culinary arts education. Now that she's a graduate of the KCC culinary arts program, she said she's planning to work aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line as a pastry chef, and among her long-term goals are to reopen her store Marlana's Party Shop.
Delivering the keynote address was former administrator of the KCC Office of Continuing Education and Training, Barbara "Bobbie" Bulatao-Franklin. Bulatao-Franklin retired in December 2003 after 23 years of service. She began her career at KCC as a speech instructor in 1966.
She had also worked in various public relations and communications capacities for the Office of the Mayor, Statehood Silver Jubilee Annniversary celebration under the Office of the Governor, Kauaians for Nukoli‘i group, public Kaua‘i Hilton, and ‘Iniki Recovery Task Force.
"Knock on any door" was one of Bobbie's themes.
"I don't care where you go, knock on that door and you will find a Kaua‘i Community College or a community college graduate," she said, stressing the importance of a community college education in all walks of life.
Bulatao-Franklin also talked about continuing one's education. She then made note of all the departments at the college, their workers who keep things running smoothly for students, and how many of them are also KCC graduates. She capped off her speech by saying she hoped that each graduate felt KCC left a "footprint on their hearts" and would return to the campus to leave their mark, too.
Lifestyle Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 226)
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