Graduation Ceremonies Friday, June 11, 10:30 a.m. at Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD)

From: PR Newswire (press release) - USA - Jun 7, 2004

Monday June 7, 12:00 pm ET

Noted Deaf Advocate to be Honored

PHILADELPHIA, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Graduation ceremonies will take place Friday, June 11, 2004, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. for thirteen 15-year-old students graduating from The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD). Ceremonies will be held in PSD's own Gymnasium, 100 W. School House Lane in Germantown. Among the 13 graduates, eleven will attend PSD's recently re- established high school next fall and two will attend the Model Secondary School for the Deaf at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Graduates are as follows: ten are from Philadelphia, including Andrew Alvarado, Luis Cesareo, Domonic Gordine, Marvin Griddle, Santos Hernandez, Sharifah Moore, Jasmine Rouse, Derek Stukes, Danisha Tucker and Antenique Waters; two are from Delaware County including Mark Bernardo of Collingdale and Knolis Davis of Lansdowne; and Donta Neal is from East Greenville, Montgomery County.

This year's Nevil Award recipient is Mr. Sandy C. Duncan, State Coordinator for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind Persons in the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). PSD's Nevil Award is presented annually to a person who has made a significant contribution to improving the lives of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Mr. Duncan has always been a vigorous advocate for the deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind individuals, both in his working career and as a volunteer, and his advocacy work has been on behalf of people of all ages -- infants, youth, and adults. Prior to working at OVR, he was Director of the Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of the Department of Labor and Industry. He currently serves as Governor Rendell's designee to the Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's Advisory Council. He was directly involved in the establishment of the Pennsylvania Relay Service and sits on that advisory board, and has worked with the Governor's Management Directive which required state agencies to use only certified interpreters in assisting deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind individuals. Mr. Duncan is a graduate of the North Carolina School for the Deaf and J.S. Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Duncan will receive the Nevil Award of Merit during PSD's graduation ceremonies and be the keynote speaker. He will also help present diplomas to PSD's 13 graduates. In addition to receiving their diplomas, several graduates will make speeches and a group sign-song presentation will also be performed.

For more information, contact Ruth Cella at PSD, 215-754-4778.

Source: Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

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