Nunez Celebrates Largest Graduating Class in College History at 33rd Commencement Ceremony

Nunez Community College in Chalmette set a new record with its 33rd Commencement Ceremony on May 21, 2025, awarding 1,132 degrees.

The largest graduating class in Nunez history was congratulated and cheered on by inspiring words from special guest commencement speaker and two-time Olympic medalist and Louisiana native Hollis Conway. Conway, a high jumper for Team USA who earned a silver medal in Seoul in 1988 and a bronze medal in Barcelona in 1992, laid out the keys to success, using his own story as an example.

“Successful people have vision, make good decisions and work hard,” he told graduates.

Listening among the graduates were students who had already distinguished themselves among their classmates at Nunez, who are now poised to realize the success Conway described.

Shalom Alexander has already achieved much success in her young life. The Saint Bernard native was part of the Dual Enrollment program at Nunez and received her diploma from Chalmette High School and her associate degree in Aerospace Manufacturing Technology in the same month. Shalom received the Soaring Pelican Award during Nunez’s Dual Enrollment Completion Ceremony on May 20 for her many noteworthy accomplishments, including her membership on Nunez’s competitive robotics team, and plans to pursue higher degrees in engineering.

Practical Nursing graduate Constant Alexander of Avondale is also leaving Nunez with accolades in-hand. Constant was presented with the Florence Nightingale Award at the Spring 2025 Nursing Pinning Ceremony for embodying the spirit of the founder of modern nursing. Her instructors described her as “quietly energized, passionate, and logical while delivering patient care” during her clinical practicum.

Kavante Moore of Harvey is already on his path to success, having been accepted as a process operator at Shell’s Norco refinery. While earning his associate degree in Process Technology at Nunez, Kavante earned Chancellor’s Honors with a 3.94 GPA, completed an offshore internship with Chevron, and was chosen to represent the PTEC program by speaking to high school students during Chevron’s Manufacturing Day at Nunez.

Nunez Chancellor Tina Tinney said these students’ success during their college years illustrates the boundless opportunities for excellence at Nunez and beyond.

“Our student body represents a broad cross-section of our community, from high schoolers to grandparents, from every community in our region. The thing they tend to have in common is that they make the most of their time at Nunez,” said Dr. Tinney. “They use the college for the purpose it was designed to serve, to advance them from wherever they’re at in life closer to where they want to be. You see it at the individual level with personal accomplishments and at the collective level with a record number of students earning a degree this semester.”

Among Nunez’s Class of 2025, the college’s youngest graduate was 17 years old and the oldest 70 years young.

Graduates hailed from 50 cities in 3 states, including a mother and son graduating together, and a grandmother and grandson graduating together. Four graduates earned a perfect 4.0 GPA: Britney Ann Bressler, Valerie Helmstetter, Christian Kline and Perla Jany Salinas.

During the ceremony, Nunez 2024 Excellence In Teaching Award winner Kathleen Huff announced Dr. Charles Miller, Assistant Professor of Sociology, as the winner of the 2025 Excellence In Teaching Award, which is accompanied by the Lamarque Endowed Professorship.

The Excellence In Teaching Award nominees are selected each Spring by the Nunez faculty, and the winner is chosen by the Excellence In Teaching Committee.

“I am very honored and humbled,” said Dr. Miller. “The students who take my class don’t necessarily come to major in sociology. They just want to learn how to think about society. And I love what I do.”

Dr. Miller’s fellow nominees for the 2025 Excellence In Teaching Award included Electrical Instructor Steve Baiamonte and Clinical Coordinator & Nursing Instructor Melanie Schmill

Registration is currently open at Nunez for Fall 2025 term at Nunez, with classes set to begin Aug. 19.

View available classes at Nunez.edu/schedule. Assistance applying and registering for classes is available from our Student Success Team at Nunez.edu/advising.

Nunez graduates for 2025 are listed below by hometown:

 

About Nunez Community College

Nunez Community College is a student-centered institution that delivers relevant and innovative curricula integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities leading to academic credentials and workforce opportunities. Nunez serves a vital role in the community by engaging with partners to support student success and personal growth. Nunez Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Nunez Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Nunez Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA  30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Nunez is located at 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. For more information, visit www.nunez.edu.