Celebrating the Class of 2023
& 50 Years of Excellence!
The 47th Commencement Ceremony at Roxbury Community College (RCC) was held on Friday,
May 12, 2023. Held during the College’s 50th anniversary year, the ceremony was held
during RCC’s first-ever, three-day homecoming celebration. Class of 2023 graduates
were joined by family, friend, alumni, college supporters, faculty, staff, and fellow
students to commemorate the completion of their RCC studies.
During the commencement ceremony, the following leaders were recognized for their support of RCC and their contributions to the Greater Roxbury Community:
 |
José Massó – Lifetime Achievement AwardJosé C. Massó III is the host of “¡Con Salsa!,” the longest-running music show on Boston’s WBUR 90.9FM on National Public Radio (NPR). A proud Afro Puerto Rican, his purpose has been to highlight Latino culture, history, traditions, and language, to empower Latinos, especially Afro-Latinos, with a sense of pride, unity, and collective strength. In 2010 Massó was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame during its fourth annual ceremony giving him the distinction of being the first Puerto Rican/Latino to receive the honor. “You look so beautiful from where I stand,“ Massó told the Class of 2023. “You should feel very proud as we are of you for being the class that celebrates the 50th anniversary of this storied institution that respects our collective and diverse heritage, cultivating you as the leaders of today and tomorrow.” |
Michael Curry – Community Service AwardMichael Curry is currently the President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 52 health centers, serving over one million patients out of over 300 practice sites. Mr. Curry has over 30 years' experience and results in civil rights advocacy health reform and health equity. He is the immediate past president of the Boston Branch of the NAACP and has over 25 years of dedicated service to the NAACP. He served on RCC’s Board of Trustees from 2012-2017. During his remarks, Mr. Curry encourage graduates to hold tight to their dreams: “Please don’t let anything distract you from your purpose. Move aggressively to figure out why you’re here, what challenges you can solve and people you can help.” |
|
|
|
Tashanea Whitlow – Inaugural Alumni Achievement AwardTashanea Whitlow is a journalist and news anchor on Fox 5 N.Y. and the Co-anchor for Fox 5's 'Good Day New York,' a highly rated morning entertainment show. Before working at Fox 5 (WNYW), Tashanea was an anchor on the national Black News Channel (BNC), a startup network in Tallahassee, Florida. Tashanea has covered numerous entertainment events and news specials including her Fox 5 Special' Health, Hope, and Happiness, The Black Woman Experience,' an in-depth feature on the Radio City Rockettes, and coverage of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Black and Brown communities. Tashanea shared her story with RCC graduates and reminded them “if your goals do not scare, they are not big enough. Do the things others are too lazy to do. Every ‘no’ bring your closed to a yes.”
|
Before graduates received their degrees, they heard inspiring remarks from Student Speaker Haqikah Greaves, the 2023 SGA president who received her degree weeks after becoming a first-time mom, and Keynote Speaker David C. Banks, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, the largest school system in the nation.
Graduates also received words of encouragement and hope from Interim President Jackie Jenkins-Scott, Board of Trustees Chair Steve Tompkins, RCC Foundation Chair Ray Hammond, and Executive Vice President Joyce Taylor Gibson. Latifa Ziyad, co-chair of the Alumni Network, officially welcomed the Class of 2023 to the RCC alumni family!
If you missed watching the 2023 commencement ceremony live, you can still view the livestream recording on RCC’s YouTube Channel. You can also check out photos from commencement on RCC’s Facebook page.
