6.28.2023 Graduation Ceremony for ESOL and Senior Computer Tech Class

CCACC Adult English Class and the Senior Planet Montgomery (SPM) held a grand graduation ceremony for the ESOL class and the Senior Computer Technology class on the afternoon of June 20th at the CCACC Music Hall. Teachers and students gathered together, joined by Mitsuko Herrera, Director of Montgomery County Connecting Department; Noah O'Ryan, Program Specialist of SPM; Tiffany Ross, Manager of Network Learning and Development at Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL); and Kayla Savoy, Data Analyst at MCAEL, who came to congratulate the event.

The ceremony was hosted by Chiao-Chiao Li, the Director of Community Services Center. Mr. Chih-Hsiang Li, one of the founders of CCACC, former CCACC Executive Director, current CCACC board member, and ESOL teacher, delivered a speech. Having recently stepped down from his ten-year position as CCACC Executive Director, Mr. Li immediately joined the CCACC ESOL team, teaching English and imparting knowledge of daily life in America to both new and old immigrant students. He encouraged the students to be brave, and emphasized that learning is a never-ending process and that happiness comes from learning. Tiffany Ross from the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) and Mitsuko Herrera from SPM also gave speeches. Ms. Ross mentioned the more than ten years of cooperation between MCAEL and the center, praising CCACC's achievements in adult English education and commending the spirit of students who are not afraid of difficulties and work hard to learn. She congratulated the students on their successful completion of the program. Ms. Herrera highly praised CCACC's achievements in Senior Computer Technology Training and expressed that the Montgomery County government attaches great importance to the cooperation with CCACC, hoping to host activities at CCACC that provide free internet and computer access for low-income families. She encouraged the students present to bring a family member or friend to participate in the computer classes of the Senior Computer Technology program.

Chiao-Chiao Li expressed CCACC's gratitude to the teachers for their hard work. Currently, there are nine teachers in the Adult English Class, responsible for teaching physical and online courses at the CCACC, the Evergreen Club, and the ADHC. The teachers are very dedicated and beloved by the students. CCACC Deputy Executive Director Li-Fang Zhang was specially invited to present certificates and small red envelopes to each teacher as a token of appreciation. The youngest but most experienced teacher, Qionghui Ruan, spoke on behalf of the ESOL teachers. She mentioned the convenience brought by online classes, the sense of achievement in class, and the effectiveness of learning through outings. She especially thanked the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy for the free training provided to English teachers, which has greatly benefited her. Teacher Ying Cheng from the computer class also spoke, praising the students of the computer class for stepping out of their comfort zones and bravely entering the computer classroom and persisting in their learning, which allows them to enjoy the achievement of their hard work. Student representatives, including Feng Zhao, went on stage to express their gratitude to the teachers and their expectations for future learning. Mei Wang, a student who is a violin teacher, performed a wonderful violin piece, stunning the audience. She has agreed to start a violin class for the center.

Subsequently, graduation certificates and perfect attendance awards were presented to the students. The ESOL class, consisting of over one hundred students, had 33 students who received perfect attendance awards, which was truly admirable and touching. The students of the Senior Computer Technology Class also displayed a remarkable passion for learning and were eager to register for the next term as soon as they received their graduation certificates.

After the ceremony, everyone gathered in Music Hall 109 for a group photo, expressing gratitude to Mr. Ned Li, a senior volunteer, one of the founder of CCACC, current board member, and our talented photographer. It was a moment to capture memories together, accompanied by the delightful refreshments prepared by the CCACC staff. As they enjoyed the tea and engaged in conversations, a sense of camaraderie filled the air. Everyone expressed their gratitude to the center for providing such a wonderful learning platform, which not only enriched their lives but also brought joy. The graduation ceremony concluded in a harmonious and heartfelt atmosphere.
 

(Article: CCACC Community Services Center Tian-Hui Xu)