Stacey Greene graduates with B.S. Summa Cum Laude

Stacy Greene

The day was also more significant for Greene and her family, as she was involved in a hit and run accident eight weeks prior to her final exams and graduation.

The accident, which had left her without the use of her left leg for some time and unable to attend classes for over two weeks, proved to be a test of will for Greene. She however returned to school and stayed extra hours to make up for the missed course work with the help of her professors, classmates and school administration.

Greene was first an online student and later transferred to complete two years studies on campus, where she was said to have produced a memorable academic career at DeVry.

While there, she received several academic and non-academic awards and scholarships, such as the 2007 Leaders of Promise Award, Leslie O.B Williams Award, which led to a combined US$2 000 scholarship and the S.T.A.R Platinum level Leadership Award. Additionally, she was named to the Dean’s List and President’s Honor Roll throughout her entire academic year of 06-08.

Greene was inducted into several national and international honors societies including the National Dean’s List, All-New Jersey

Stacey Greene and her beaming Mother, Mrs. Carol Smith

Prior to graduating with her Associate’s degree, Greene was nominated by the school’s President, Dr. Chris Grevesen, and Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Delta Chapter to represent the school for the All-USA Academic Team.  The All-USA Academic Team programme is sponsored annually by Phi Theta Kappa, USA TODAY, and the American Association of Community Colleges. 

To be eligible, a student must post a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and be eligible to graduate with an Associate degree. Greene did not make the team, as she was too far along in her Bachelors programme; however she made the All-New Jersey Academic Team. 

She was also selected to be a member of the New Jersey State Student Advisory Committee, a group that uniquely provides an opportunity under the New Jersey law for university students to share their views with key decision-makers in an official government capacity.  She served one school year with this group. She was also elected in March 2007 as President of the American Association for University Women (AAUW -DeVry University chapter). A news release of this phenomenal feat was featured on March 23, 2007 on this website (SKNVibes.com).

~~Adz:Left~~ The year 2007 proved to be a fruitful one for Greene as she continuously excelled as an active student and contributor to student development. As testament of this, she was the founder and nominated member of the President’s Student Advisory Council. The President’s Student Advisory Council serves as the central, participatory governance council. The structure and nature is to facilitate the council’s interactions with all school administration. 

The council meets directly with the school’s President monthly to communicate student concerns, opinions and viewpoints from a divisional/at-large student representative perspective. Since the group demands a fair mindset and personal responsibility of a student, nominations for the council are made by faculty members only.

Other extracurricular activities included serving as an official DeVry University Student Ambassador, member of Student Development Business Club, Toastmasters International Public Speaking Organisation and S.T.A.R Students Taking Active Responsibility Leadership programme.  On campus, Greene worked first as a Faculty Assistant & Student Tutor and then as an Academics Department Assistant after being highly recommended. Outside of school she was enrolled as a student dancer at the American Repertory Ballet and its affiliate Princeton Ballet School, located in Princeton New Jersey.  There she took courses in jazz, hip-hop and ‘en Pointe’, a form within the ballet genre. 

As a final testament to Greene’s invaluable success at the DeVry University, she was selected and given the honor of giving the Pre-Graduation speech. She shared the momentous occasion with her long time friend Lesroy Browne and her proud mother Carol Smith, who travelled to New Jersey to delight in it.

Greene gave thanks to God, who she said was her inner strength, and a number of persons who had contributed to her success. She expressed her profound appreciation for her father, Ernest ‘Shorty’ Hendrickson (employee at the Ross University and Equipment Manager to the Newtown United Football Club), and the Ross University family, especially Michael Chapman, who, under a special programme to employees and their families, afforded the opportunity for her to attend DeVry University at a minimal cost.

She also wishes to extend her gratitude to a number of people including her professors at DeVry, who went above and beyond teaching and helping her to develop intellectually, professionally and socially.

Finally, Stacey Greene extends thanks to other family members and friends including her brothers and sisters, her aunts and uncles including Rovita and Reginal Richards and Ellesworth Diamond, the Cayon Church of God and to those who could not have attended the ceremony but showed their support and assistance during her course of study.