125 spring graduates noted at CCAF ceremony

  • Published
  • By Ryan Larsen
  • Hilltop Times correspondent
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Family, friends and colleagues gathered at Club Hill for the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Spring 2011 Graduation ceremony Tuesday. The ceremony honored all who had put in the extra time and effort to further themselves and their education by completing the requirements for the CCAFs Associate Degree of Applied Sciences program.

Tech. Sgt. Jason Sutherland, 26, 419th Maintenance Squadron, said that he decided to continue his education with CCAF because, "I want to better myself. I have a son, (2 years-old) -- I want him to see that things can be accomplished and to just help my career as well." He started attending courses with the CCAF in 2009 and received his degree in Aircraft Armament Systems Technology. Sutherland is planning to further his education and become a radiology technician. He has served eight years and intends on staying in the Air Force. Sutherland has also considered becoming an officer as his education progresses.

The Air Force offers the CCAF as a way to apply the training and experience gained in the Air Force and put it towards one of 67 associate's degree programs offered through the program. This spring there were 125 graduates receiving 131 degrees that represent 35 different degree programs. Other branches of the military service also have educational programs to support such efforts, commonly known as Voluntary Education.

Master Sgt. Bruce W. Valk, 36, of 75th Air Base Wing received his second associate degree in emergency management, while his first was in the area of criminal justice through the CCAF. His wife Master Sgt. Tabra L. Valk is also receiving an Associate Degree in Information Management.

"An associate degree is a step in the right direction and it is one way to motivate people who don't go to school at all and give them a leg up when up against someone else for a promotion or advancement," said Valk. "It gives a needed push to continue towards a bachelor's degree."

The Air Force Association Pitsenbarger award of a $400 grant was received by Staff Sgt. Tomas Loyde, Airman 1st Class Allen Henderson, Senior Airman Vanessa Mason, and Master Sgt. Timothy Moorehead.

Representatives from several higher education institutions such as Weber State University, Park University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University were on hand to give out scholarship awards, one of which was a Kindle e-reader from the University of Phoenix, which went to Staff Sgt. Nicole Greene.

Special guest commencement speaker was first sergeant for the 388th Maintenance Operations Squadron, Master Sgt. Jeffery Garcia, who pointed out that the youngest of the degree recipients is 21 and the oldest is 41, which is great because starting or continuing an education is good at any age, he said.

"It is real easy for us to make excuses not to further our education," said Garcia. Some excuses like deployment and temporary tour of duty assignments used to be valid, but he pointed out, the Internet has allowed this young generation to further their education anywhere they go. "With today's technology there is no excuse not to further your education," he said. He used the University of Phoenix's award of a Kindle as an example of how mobile technology has taken away easy excuses not to engage in further education. He stated that 28 percent of Hill's E-4s to E-7s have CCAF degrees and the goal of Hill is to get that percentage to 50 percent.

Garcia ended his speech with, "Stay the course and continue to engage, utilize these scholarships, utilize what is available and take yourself to the next level." He encouraged everyone to promote education and use positive pressure to encourage others to further their education. He then quoted Nelson Mandela who said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

Commander of 419th Fighter Wing Col. Keith A. Knudson handed out degrees and then closed the ceremony with a short speech.

"Especially in today's day and age our education is a tremendous force provider and force multiplier and it is going to be in the end, what our Air Force, what our armed forces and ultimately what our nation is going to call upon as we face the challenges of the future," Knudson said.