AIC holds 122nd Commencement
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| Justin Crawford, Blaine Stevens |
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| President Maniaci, President Rubenzahl, Patricia MacLachlan, Alvin Paige and Ronald Abdow |
SPRINGFIELD--An author, an artist and an educator were honored at the 122nd commencement at American International College. The ceremony took place Sunday, May 20 at 3:00 p.m. in the MassMutual Center. AIC President Vince Maniaci awarded more tha 460 diplomas to undergraduate and graduate students.
Bestselling author Patricia MacLachlan was the keynote speaker, while honorary degrees were also awarded to AIC Artist-in-Residence Alvin Paige, and Ira H. Rubenzahl, president of Springfield Technical Community College.
MacLachlan told the graduates that writing is her passion, and urged them to find something they love, and pursue their dreams.
MacLachlan has written several books for young readers, including "Arthur, For the Very First Time," winner of the Golden Kite Award for fiction and "The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt." She is probably best known for "Sarah, Plain and Tall," winner of the Newbery Medal, as well as its sequels, "Skylark," "Caleb's Story" and "More Perfect Than the Moon."
"Sarah, Plain and Tall," has captured numerous other awards and honors, among them the 1985 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children, the 1986 Christopher Award, the 1986 Jefferson Cup Award of the Virginia Library Association, and the 1985 Golden Kite Award for fiction.
She currently resides in Williamstown, Mass., with her husband Robert MacLachlan, a psychologist and former AIC professor.
The 72-year old Paige, who retired last December, has left a permanent mark on the AIC campus and the people who worked and went to school at AIC. His familiar columns and neo-Georgian architecture can be found throughout the campus, including on the building he has called home for the past 22 years, the Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center.
Originally from La Grange, Ga., Paige began working at AIC while a student in 1976. He became artist-in-residence in 1978.
"My 27 plus years at AIC have truly been a labor of love, from which many benefits have been issued to both me personally, and the college.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political science and masters's degree in administrative management from AIC. He has also studied at the University of Texas, Harvard University, Cambridge College, Antioch University, the Monson Proctor Institute and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Rubenzahl became the fifth president of Springfield Technical Community College in July, 2004. He holds a B.A. in mathematics from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. He is a Woodrow Wilson Scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a National Science Foundation Fellow.
Prior to assuming the presidency at STCC, he had served as President of Capital Community College in Hartford, Connecticut for eight years.
Rubenzahl taught for nearly two decades at the college level, at Greenfield Community College, Middlesex Community College, MIT, and the Mass. College of Liberal Arts. He was a full-time faculty member at Greenfield, before serving as Dean of Academic Affairs and then Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Support there, from 1991-1996.
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