Graduation 2010

College Celebrates Sixth Graduating Class of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Subtitle: Twenty-three Earn DPT Degrees During October Ceremony
Date: 10/09/2010

Mount St. Mary’s College (MSMC), Los Angeles, proudly announces the fifth graduating class of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Program. In a ceremony Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 twenty-three students celebrated completing the program at the Rose Hills Auditorium followed by the reception at the South Lawn of the College’s Doheny Campus near downtown Los Angeles.

The graduates are: Amy Caudillo, Domenick Cava, Marc Comrie, Amy David, Danika Dykstra, Alan Eldridge, Stephanie Elliott, Jennifer Frost, Sara Jintapracha, Morlay Kamara, Christopher Lanski, Michael Lockwood, Sachie Maeda, Hazel Manabat, Amy Matteson, Rebecca Pitts, Kristine Pleimann, Aarti Prajapati, Christopher Reinbold, Heather Rempfer, Miranda Romero, Helen Setyan and Jamie Storm.

"I am going to tell you all a story. It’s a story about how 23 students became one class. From day one we introduced ourselves and learned why each one of us wanted to be here, as well as learning something 'unique and interesting' about each other, such as being an identical twin (who not only look identical, but sound identical), having a sister in the same DPT program at the same time, speaking fluent Russian (and 2 other languages), being well traveled to places like Thailand and Australia, being at the ‘98 Winter Olympics in Japan, having a love for flamenco dancing, knowing every word to virtually every song, being a skilled pizza thrower, a competitive gymnast and being competitive in the sport of curling. Gradually, we learned just about everything there is to know about one another, the good, the bad, and everything in between." said Stephanie Elliott, as she addressed her 23 fellow graduates and their families. “We have shared many, many moments of laughter during a time that we lovingly referred to as 'therapy Thursday’s' or 'circle time.'  This also a time that shared some tears. It was here that we bonded; it was here that we started to become one class. We learned our more personal, intimate stories, like having family members deployed over seas and not knowing when you were going to speak to them next; losing your best friend at the age of 13, at 19, 1 month before starting this program, and even during the program; knowing that families were sacrificing everything they had in order for us to be here; and the different struggles we faced growing up. Each of our stories is what makes us unique, and yet each of our stories is what bonds us together." Elliott concluded, "We started as strangers with one goal in mind, to become doctors of physical therapy.  We were strangers that became peers, who became friends, who became a family, and who became one class. I am happy to say that we are about to accomplish this goal, and I am proud call each of you my colleagues."

In 1981, the College established its Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy program, which was converted to a Masters of Physical Therapy program in 1991. In 2001, the College developed the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in response to a need for more extensive preparation in physical therapy. The College currently totals 92 students in the DPT program.

Click on the link to View a video of the 2010 Graduation Ceremony

HOODING CEREMONY

Program Ceremony	Celebrating before the ceremony	Soon to be DPT graduates
Walking to the ceremony	Faculty Address Speaker Daniel Kirages, DPT	2010 DPT Graduates listening to their class speaker
Faculty and Administration	2010 DPT Class Speaker Stephanie Elliott	2010 DPT Graduate Alan Eldridge
2010 DPT Graduates	Chair & Director Dr. Debbie Lowe hoods Amy Caudillo	Chair & Director hoods Danika Dkystra
Chair & Director hoods Christopher Lanski	College President, Dr. Jacqueline Doud congratulates Kristine Pleimann	Heather Rempfer celebrates her triumph
Dr. Jacqueline Doud congratulates Jamie Storm	DPT 2010 graduates reading the oath	Proud father and DPT graduate Danika Dykstra
DPT Class of 2010 Class Photo	Congratulations DPT Class of 2010	Dr. Lowe and three graduates
Jennifer Frost celebrates after the ceremony	Rebecca Pitts celebrates after the ceremony	Reception honoring 2010 DPT graduates