OIC Director: Graduates Will Succeed Through Perseverence

Work hard and treat people with love and justice. Those were the messages imparted to 100 graduates from the on Thursday evening.

In a ceremony held at 's Evans Hall, OIC recognized 49 people for completing the certified nursing assistant courses, 26 for completing the culinary arts program, and 25 for completing the office skills courses. Comparing their work ethic to the people who are profiled in the Discovery Channel television show Dirty Jobs, executive director Liz Binger said the graduates will be confronted with difficult tasks but expressed confidence that they will be up to the challenge.

“I don’t think any of you came to OIC looking for a handout,” she said. “You came looking for a hand up.”

The featured speaker was Dr. Robert Fox, Jr., a member of the OIC board of directors. Fox spoke about the importance of spirituality in life, defining it as the ability to express love and tolerance. He brought up the example of Marcus Aurelius, an emperor of the Roman Empire, who kept a book reminding himself about how to live his life and treat others. Fox said Aurelius concluded in the end that life is a fleeting thing.

“What doesn’t matter is material things,” said Fox. “What does matter is how you live your life.”

Graduates also spoke about the role OIC has played in their own lives. Wendy Bianca, who completed the CNA program, said she will be working full-time at Bridebrook Health and Rehabilitation Center in Niantic. Bianca said she decided to be a CNA after her father came down with cancer, and said OIC has been instrumental not only in job training but in services such as running a food pantry and case management.

“They’re there in more ways than anyone could possibly know,” she said.

Katie Eastty, who completed the culinary courses, said a relative suggested OIC to her after she lost the job she had held for three years. Eastty said she hopes to own her own restaurant sometime in the future.

“I was lost and I didn’t know where I was going,” she said. “Starting here at OIC made me feel like I had a purpose again.”

Kaitlynn Cristello, a graduate of the office skills program, thanked the staff and fellow classmates for their support.

“I’m so proud of everyone who finished this with me,” she said.

The following people graduated from the OIC programs:

CNA

• Tasha Annunziata
• Tammy Antisdel
• Kimberly Ash
• Megan Alves
• Kristi Banks
• Wendy Bianca
• Fiordaliza Billias
• Johanna Bowen
• Jessica Davila
• Kassaurndra Dolzenchuk
• Nikki Donovan
• Wendy Downing
• Johrdyn Eckard
• Faye Edmond
• Mavis Edobor
• Eliezaire Exantus
• Ashley Feliciano
• Angelina Frascarelli
• Clinton Gee
• Yessenia Gerena-Jimenez
• Dena Gittens
• Jeannette V. Gonzalez
• Widaliz Gonzalez
• Marisa Hodges
• Dianhui Hu
• Felicia Johnson
• Nicole Johnson
• Ashley Kelly
• Shontee Ladson
• Diana Lazare
• Ruz Linares
• Chiara Longo
• Melissa Lopez
• Elizabeth Martin
• Milenid Montalvo
• Sarah Monty
• Pamela Parkman
• Liliana Deluna Pena
• Rodger Pennant
• Sasha Princevalle
• Amy M. Reitz
• Greysi Reyes
• Adanna-Lee Robitaille
• Brenda Rodriguez
• Leilani Rudd
• Eduardo Silva
• Victoria Denise Smith
• Amber Tift
• Shayla Williams

Culinary Arts

• Jordan Adams
• Kohl Chappell
• Tavares Collins
• Thomas DeMauro II
• Terry Darden
• Marjorie Dawson
• Katie Eastty
• Lisa Gibbs
• Jeffery Goodale
• Shantay Green
• Richard Guinn
• Carlena Hall
• Jermel Jacklin
• Catherine Jullarine
• Fortuna Lebron
• Isaiah Murray
• Joshua Olsen
• Benjamin Parker
• Rhodia Perry
• Rolando Rivera
• Michael Rock
• James Schofield
• Ashley Shelby
• Annie Spencer
• Hayriye Taylor
• Kamini Tiwari

Office Skills

• Kaitlynn Cristello
• Roxanne DesJardins
• Lindsay Dunnigan
• Jane Faust
• Angelique Fuentes
• Dwan Gathers
• Maria Y. Gonzalez
• Laureanna Goodson-Robinson
• Maurene Kennedy
• Leslie King
• Hollis Marshall
• Crystal McFarlane
• Angela Miller
• Emily Morel
• Elena Outlaw
• Mylinda Outlaw
• Amanda Raschello
• Erica Rodriguez
• Rimmy Speedwell
• Kim Steineke
• Joanna Thaxton
• Nandia Turner
• Jeannette Velando
• April Winslow