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WELLESLEY – MassBay Community College honored graduating students at the College’s 58th virtual commencement ceremony on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
The prerecorded ceremony celebrated the 671 graduates from 41 countries from around the world.
The College recognized these six diverse and talented students who earned a 4.0 GPA, eight students who earned the highest GPA in their academic divisions, and the 29 Who Shine awardee.
MassBay graduated six students who earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average an All-College Academic Awards.
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The awards were present to the following students:
- Vincent Paul Briselli of Norfolk, Associate in Science degree in General Studies
- Tyler Farr of Falmouth, Associate in Science degree in Automotive Technology, BMW
- Michael Maiocchi of Marlborough, Associate in Science degree in Computer Science
- Anna Leigh Mattox of Providence, Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts, Psychology and Sociology
- Kerry Christina Paraskevoudis of Natick, Associate in Science degree General Studies
- Clayton Charles Ward of Westborough, Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts
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Vincent Paul Briselli of Norfolk,earned an All-College Award for his 4.0 GPA, as well as the All-Divisional Award for the highest GPA in the academic division of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). He was also recognized for his leadership and service to community by MassBay and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, being named a 2020 29 Who Shine honoree. Briselli was heavily involved on campus and served as an orientation leader, a Student Government Association member, and a member of the STEM Mentor program. He is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for two-year college students. Briselli graduated with an Associate in Science degree in General Studies. He will transfer to a four-year university to continue his education in chemistry, where he hopes to conduct research on sustainable energy and its environmental impact on at-risk populations.
Tyler Farr of Falmouth, earned an All-College Award for his 4.0 GPA, as well as the All-Divisional Award for the highest GPA in the academic division of Automotive Technology. Farr came to MassBay after dropping out of high school and working for ten years as a truck driver in the special event industry. In the winter of 2018, Farr took a basic automotive repair class at the Upper Cape Technical School, which ignited his interest in automotive technology. This newfound passion was the driving force he needed to move forward to earn his GED and enter the BMW program at MassBay. Farr’s experience inspired him to continue his education after MassBay to become a BMW master technician. His goal for the future is to become an automotive technology professor. While at MassBay, Farr was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. He credits his wife, Libby, who “helped me achieve my dreams” and his family for their “encouragement and support.” Farr graduated with an Associate in Science degree in Automotive Technology, BMW.
Michael Maiocchi of Marlborough, earned an All-College Award for his 4.0 GPA, as well as the All-Divisional Award for the highest GPA in the academic division of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).Maiocchi was born and raised in Brebbia, Italy and moved to the United States in 2011. He enrolled at MassBay to study computer science, because he “always had a strong interest to learn more about technology, specifically computer coding, cyber security, and robotics.” As a married father of two small children, he attended MassBay while working full-time. He credits his family, as well as MassBay Professors Moussavi, Riggs, and Sena who played an important role in his educational journey. Maiocchi graduated with an Associate in Science degree in Computer Science. He plans to continue his studies to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the near future.
Anna Leigh Mattox of Providence, RI earned an All-College Award for her 4.0 GPA, as well as the All-Divisional Award for the highest GPA in the academic division of Humanities and Social Sciences. In high school, Mattox became involved in Habitat for Humanity and Feed America, volunteering whenever she could. While studying at MassBay, she landed an internship at a non-profit women’s shelter in Rhode Island and helped survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence. Her passion and spirit for volunteering and helping others guided her into a career path, and she set her sights on becoming a social worker. A first-generation college student, she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. Mattox graduated with her Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts Psychology and Sociology and is transferring to the University of Connecticut Hartford to pursue her bachelor and master degrees in social work starting in fall 2020.
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Kerry Christina Paraskevoudis of Natick, earned an All-College Award for her 4.0 GPA, as well as the All-Divisional Award for the highest GPA in the academic division of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Born in the United States, Paraskevoudis moved to Greece as a child and lived there until 2016. After completing high school in Greece, she attended a bachelor program to study physical therapy. During that time, she moved back to the U.S., but found that she needed to take general education courses to complete a physical therapy program. Although she was devastated by the news that she would need to take more courses to reach her dream of becoming a physical therapist, she came to MassBay to complete those requirements. She eventually changed her “mindset,” as her professors motivated her to both enjoy her studies and to do the best she could, academically. To her, what initially seemed like an obstacle, ultimately turned into a great opportunity. Paraskevoudis completed her degree in just three semesters, graduating with her Associate in Science degree in General Studies. She is currently studying for the National Physical Therapy exam and she plans to enroll in a doctorate bridge program at Northeastern University to continue her education.
Clayton Charles Ward of Westborough, earned an All-College Award for his 4.0 GPA, as well as the All-Divisional Award for the highest GPA in the academic division of Humanities and Social Sciences. Ward moved to Massachusetts from Tennessee and started driving school buses for the City of Framingham. Inspired by the students he was driving to and from school, he decided to head back to school to earn his college degree. Ward attended classes full-time while working full-time. He earned a spot on the Dean’s List every semester, was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and completed his studies at MassBay in just one year. Ward earned his Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts and will be transferring to Framingham State University in the fall to pursue his bachelor degree in history, with a minor in secondary education. His long-term goal includes teaching history to high school students.
MassBay also awarded eight Divisional Awards to the students with the highest GPA in each of the five academic divisions.
Those awardees include:
· Automotive Technology Divisional Award
o Tyler Farr with a 4.0 GPA, earning his AS in Automotive Technology BMW
· Business and Professional Studies Divisional Award
o Lin Zhu with a 3.981 GPA, earning her AS in Early Childhood Education.
· Health Sciences Divisional Award
o Christina DiRado with a 3.752 GPA, earning her AS in Nursing
· Humanities and Social Sciences Divisional Award
o Anna Leigh Mattox with a 4.0 GPA, earning her AA in Liberal Arts Psychology and Sociology
o Clayton Charles Ward with a 4.0 GPA, earning his AA in Liberal Arts
· Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Divisional Award
o Vincent Paul Briselli with a 4.0 GPA, earning his AS in General Studies
o Michael Maiocchi with a 4.0 GPA, earning his AS in Computer Science
o Kerry Christina Paraskevoudis with a 4.0 GPA, earning her AS in General Studies
The MassBay Foundation provides each MassBay graduate who receives a Divisional Award with $125 and each All-College Academic Award winner with $200.
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