“I am so grateful to so many of you who engage generously in the process of planning, implementing programs, and supporting our students,” said NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. “The college continues to be the only community college in Connecticut to award more than 1,000 associates degrees and certificates in a year and we have done it five years in a row.”

Other highlights for the College this year include: a September 2016 ranking by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the “top 25 community colleges nationwide that advance opportunities for low-income students,” the opening of a 20,000-square-foot campus at 190 Main Street in downtown Danbury, and the recognition of numerous faculty for their teaching and scholarship through various awards and publications. What’s more, the College will soon be celebrating the opening of its long-awaited new Center for Allied Health Sciences at Founders Hall, projected to open its doors in the Spring 2017 semester.

Joined by NVCC Dean of Academic Affairs, Irene Rios-Knauf and Director of Human Resources Kim Carolina, President De Filippis presented eight longtime employees of the College emeritus awards. President De Filippis highlighted each employee’s contributions to NVCC over the years and thanked them for their dedicated service to the College.

The event concluded with a talent show highlighting the extensive and varied talents of NVCC students, faculty and staff. The show, produced by NVCC Payroll Clerk Yolanda Crowder and Library Services Director Jaime Hammond, featured everything from music to poetry to a martial arts-themed performance:

• NVCC student Daniella Patterson read a poem.
• The CAPSS team, aka The CAPSStars, performed an original song, “Joy in the Halls,” written by CAPSS Counselor Sam Johnson to the tune of “Deck the Halls.”
• Professor William H. Foster III performed a martial arts-themed demonstration with various traditional weapons.
• Accompanied by violinist and Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Felipe Karam, Provost James Troup performed spiritual “Hold On,” arranged by Margaret Bonds. 
• Karam also performed a duet with Advising and Retention Specialist William Carleton on Carleton’s original song “Bound by the Levy” off his 2009 album “Squeeze the People.” The song was followed by an impromptu Irish jig.
• NVCC student Nicole Hayes showed off her DJ skills as she mixed a medley of beats for the crowd.