CCAF students graduate

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  One hundred ninety-two Community College of the Air Force associate degrees were awarded to Tyndall personnel during a commencement ceremony held at the 325th Air Control Squadron auditorium, April 20; though all graduates were honored, not all were able to attend due to deployments, permanent changes of station, retirements or separations. 

The commencement address was delivered by Chief Master Sgt. Benjamin Van Vleet, 325th Fighter Wing command chief, who spoke about the history and significance of CCAF, as well as congratulated all the graduates for their efforts. He reminded them, however, though they had made a significant step, they should not allow this to be the end of their educational pursuits.

Later in the ceremony, six Pitsenbarger Awards were presented by the Air Force Association to top CCAF graduates who were also continuing to pursue their bachelor's degrees. The award winners were:

Tech. Sgt. Jerry Adcox, 325th Communications Squadron
Master Sgt. Schuyler Beers, 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airman Alexis Brown, 325 CS
Tech. Sgt. Jeramiah Dempsey, 325th Maintenance Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Mealer, 325 MXS
Senior Airman LaToya Smith, 325th Medical Group

The CCAF degrees were awarded and conferred by Brig. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 325th Fighter Wing commander. He closed the formal ceremony by quoting Aristotle. "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge," he said.

A reception to honor the graduates was sponsored and held afterward by the 325th Force Support Squadron and Education Center at the Heritage Club.

Congratulations to the graduates of Tyndall's Spring 2009 CCAF class. A full listing of students can be found here.

CCAF is the largest accredited community college in the United States. To date, there are more than 326,000 degrees awarded since its inception in 1972.