BHC celebrates graduates
Kristin McKenzie
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: News
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Thoa Vo, director of admissions and registrar, said since she started her job in 1999, Brookhaven surpassed the largest number of registered graduates for commencement this spring.
Held in the Commons Courtyard, the party included a fire-eating magician, live music by the Razzmatazz Band, Sonny Bryan's barbecue, a caricature artist, handwriting analysis, palm reading, two Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders who signed autographs and much more.
Candice Prentiss, nursing sophomore, said she went to Eastfield College first and then came to Brookhaven because she heard about the impressive nursing program. Prentiss said she enjoyed the graduation party but wished there had been memorabilia - T-shirts, hats or something for the graduates. She said she will not go to the graduation ceremony, and she didn't know it was her time to graduate.
She said an adviser recently told her graduation was nearing and that she should apply. Prentiss said she wants to transfer to The University of Texas at Arlington or Texas Woman's University to finish her nursing degree.
Michael Butts, graduating high school senior, said he is home-schooled, and after this semester, he will have 10 credit hours from Brookhaven. Butts said he plans to return for two more semesters before transferring to Texas A&M University.
He said attending Brookhaven proved cost efficient compared to university prices. "It accelerated me a lot faster," he said. "I will have 30 hours after two more semesters and be able to transfer soon." Butts said his professor let him out of class early to savor the graduation party.
Hector Trevino, psychology sophomore, said what he enjoyed most was the food, free iced tea, the caricature drawing of himself and the weather. The caricatures were drawn by an artist in less than three minutes at no cost to students and captured the longest line at the party except for the food.
Juan Mendez, automotive technology sophomore, said he will go to the graduation ceremony. He said he saw a flier for the graduation party, and he appreciated the recognition. Mendez said he learned a lot from the hands-on method used at Brookhaven in the automotive technology program, and he plans to open his own mechanic shop in the future.
Dwayne Andrew, professional entertainer for 23 years, captivated students by taking two large torches with cotton material and cotton thread and lighting them on fire before using his tongue to extinguish the flames.
Andrew said to get the right color mixture for the flames, he mixes white gas, Bacardi 151 rum and naphtha. He stressed that eight to 10 people die every year from trying this stunt.
He said there is a crucial breathing trick, and, if done incorrectly, could be lethal. Andrew said he has burned his face and seared his vocal cords in the 16 years he has played with fire professionally.
He also said he has a high pain threshold and that the act itself does hurt.
The Razzmatazz Band played for nearly three hours to a variety of tunes from different decades.
Vendors varied from The Pampered Chef; home-baked goodies; clothing and jewelry vendors; a credit union; an insurance agency; and even a Brookhaven alumni counselor, Dr. Annette Colby, who handed out motivational packets and sold books and CDs.
Colby said she graduated from Brookhaven in 1988 before she attended The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and TWU. She said Brookhaven appealed to her because it attracts different age groups and ethnicities.
"Many of the students have come from difficult backgrounds, many are creative individuals carving out their own unique paths, and many are consciously changing the direction of their life course," Colby said. "It was an honor and an inspiration to share my message of self-determination and authentic expression at Brookhaven."
Student Programs and Resources helped organize and coordinate the graduation party.
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