HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Base officials held a Community College of the Air Force commencement ceremony at the Minuteman Commons here May 27.
The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of graduates for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.
While 63 CCAF Airmen earned degrees, only 15 were able to attend the in-person ceremony. The ceremony was live-streamed via Zoom for those unable to attend.
Chief Master Sgt. Jason O’Donley, superintendent of the 319th Recruiting Squadron, delivered the commencement address.
"Take time to reflect on what you have achieved," he told graduates. “Cherish this achievement, this moment, with your friends and loved ones. You should feel proud about what you have accomplished.”
For many of the graduates, a CCAF degree is merely the first step toward a bachelor's degree.
During closing remarks, Col. Katrina Stephens, installation commander, discussed the significance of this event as the installation expands.
“Mark this on your calendar as ‘I took the first step,’” she said. “If you look to your left and to your right, there’s an Airman, NCOs and Senior NCOs – the moral of that story is it’s never too late. Thank you for investing in yourself.”
Scott Hardiman, representing the Lexington-Concord Chapter of AFCEA, and Chief Master Sgt. William Hebb, installation command chief, presented $1,000 scholarships to Staff Sgt. Caleb Kenley and Staff Sgt. Grant Killian. Killian was unable to attend the ceremony.
The CCAF is a federally-chartered, degree-granting institution that serves the U.S. Air and Space Force’s enlisted total force. It’s partnered with more than 112 affiliated Air Force schools, 300 education service offices located worldwide. The college annually awards over 22,000 associate in applied science degrees from 71 degree programs.
The CCAF was activated in 1972 in order to gain academic recognition for the technical training conducted by Air Force schools.
The following Airmen received their CCAF Associate Degree of Applied Science:
Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Tech. Sgt. Corry Bowman, Intelligence Studies & Technology
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boyd, Criminal Justice
Master Sgt. Samuel Burke, Criminal Justice
Airman 1st Class Maria Fox, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Caleb Kenley, Criminal Justice
Staff Sgt. Leilanie Kenley, Business Administration
Master Sgt. John Tremblay, Human Resource Management
Master Sgt. Sara Wright, Human Resource Management
319th Recruiting Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Bryan Dvorachek, Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Troy McCourt, Human Resource Management
Tech. Sgt. Dale Clark, Human Resource Management
Geographically Separated Units
Staff Sgt. Bjandrew De Guzman, Logistics
Tech. Sgt. David Fromm, Human Resource Management
Staff Sgt. Todd Gwaltney, Information Systems Technology
Staff Sgt. Christopher Hilliard, Human Services
Staff Sgt. Efrain Santiago Hernandez, Aviation Maintenance Tech