It was a full house, so full that everyone couldn’t fit in.

But the Community College of Rhode Island had a plan for one of its largest graduating classes and the fact that more than 840 of the 1,563 receiving associate degrees would actually walk across stage at the Vincent A. Cullen Field House at the Knight campus Friday evening.

Each of the graduates received four tickets, which meant if all the graduates and their invited friends and family showed up they would exceed the capacity of the field house. The doors would have to be shut. People wouldn’t get to see their friends and loved ones graduate.

CCRI doesn’t turn away people, especially for its 46th commencement.

Technology came to the rescue. In addition to the more than 3,000 seats in the field house there were an additional 775 in the Bobby Hackett Auditorium. An electronic feed provided an up front view – better in some ways than those in the field house could get.

The graduates weren’t the only ones to turn out in record numbers. Elected officials from mayors to state officers and U.S. Senators and Representatives were there. The state’s full Congressional delegation was present and extended their congratulations and advice.

Governor Lincoln Chafee led off the speaking, getting the anticipated cheer and wave of euphoria as soon as he said “Class of 2011.” And college president Ray Di Pasquale, who also serves as the state’s commissioner of higher education, made certain the audience was aware that Chafee has budgeted an increase for the state’s institutions of higher education, the first in five years.

That got cheers, too, although not with the exuberance as whenever the Class of 2011 was mentioned.

As he has done in prior commencement ceremonies, Di Pasquale singled out several graduates in his address. He told their stories and in so doing outlined the diversity of the class and the challenges they have overcome. Those profiled included Paris Fisher who walked away from a fast paced life and a successful business built around the hip-hop movement to start an after-school drug prevention program for youth. A few years later he applied to CCRI. He had only $500 to his name. He studied social work, graduating with honors to become the first in his family to attend college.

Paris stood extending his arms in a triumphant salute as Di Pasquale told the audience he would be continuing his studies at Rhode Island College and that his son, also Paris, would be attending CCRI this fall.

In their greetings, elected officials and Lorne Adrain, chairman of the Board of Governors, praised the determination of the graduates and how many managed to get to where they are while working and supporting families. A theme to their remarks was to become engaged in the community and how they represent the state’s future.

Senator Jack Reed called graduation “a great step forward that won’t be your last step.” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said, “loud and proud is what you are and loud and proud is what you deserve to be.”

Congressman James Langevin had a personal connection to the graduating class. He asked Jennifer Stoddard to stand and be recognized. Stoddard is a former member of the congressman’s staff.

“Never be afraid to challenge yourself,” Langevin advised.

Congressman David Cicilline urged the graduates to celebrate the occasion with family “because no one makes this journey alone.” Alluding to the economy he said, “If ever there’s a time needed for passion it’s now.”

No speaker was greeted more enthusiastically than Jael Acevedo, who is a native of the Dominican Republic and immigrated to this country at the age of 8. She didn’t speak English, yet was placed in a regular classroom. In 2005 her permanent residency petition was accepted and she started attending CCRI.

Acevedo was selected as the student commencement speaker. She graduated with a 3.8 GPA and expects to attend Bryant University to continue her business studies with the intent of becoming a certified public accountant.

“The burdens that we have conquered make us unique and more capable of greatness than we know,” she said. “We are resilient and built to overcome adversity.”

She challenged her peers not to settle, to rest at the plateau they have reached.

She said, “You have the ability to change whatever you wish about your life,” urging the Class of 2011 “to seek out dreams in higher places.”

Warwick residents receiving degrees are:

Kaylor L. Adams

Scott Eric Aldridge

Laila Aziz*

Jeffrey James Babb

Angelica Barajas*

Nicole E. Beagan

Steven Anthony Bernache Jr.**

Grace V. Bertoldi

Jarrod Nicolas Blanchette**

Joseph Charles Bonaldi

Melissa A. Botelho

Brittany Ann Boudreau*

Nicholas Edward Boyd

Christiana Catherine Brucato-Holm*

Rebekah Jean Bruhn*

Oanh Thi Bui-Torres

Mekala L. Bunker

Andrea Marie Burdon***

Shane Howard Burson**

Stephanie A. Bush**

Chanel Desiree Carpenter*

James J. Carroll

Vincent Chan*

Andrew R. Chappell

Derryck Edward Coleman**

Timothy Colerick

Carolyn R. Conroy*

Lindsay Marie Coogan

Dana Andrew Cook

Holly M. Coutu*

Michael Joseph Creamer Jr.***

Lisa Crudale*

Meredith L. Cruz*

Lauren Damato*

John Manuel DaSilva

John Ryan Deignan

Juliette Marie Demers

Melissa L. DeSomma

Anthony A. DiCicco

Stasia Eve Doar*

Kimberly Ann Easton*

Christopher D. Evans**

Jill M. Farrelly

Sarah Christel Firth*

Kerin Beth Fogarty*

Robin Jean Fox**

Thomas Quinn Fratus

Jennifer Kelly Frias

Amy Lee Frigon*

Jennifer L. Greenhalgh

Mark Edward Greenslade

Sandra Guzman

Nicholas L. Hagy

Tori Lorraine Hartman

Daniel A. Hinsley*

Kimberly L. Hornby

Lisa Carolyn Jencks*

Michelle L. Jodoin***

Nicole E. Jones

Daniel James Kavanagh*

Stephen Edward Keane***

Melanie Dawn Koop

Natasha Lee Lait

Kristin M. Lang

Marissa L. Leitao

Melissa M. Lessard**

Virginia Joan Magnan

Michelle Anne Mailloux**

Alicia Marie Maini**

Jonathan F. Maloney

Michael J. Marley*

Donna M. Martinelli*

Bradley William Mattes**

Thomas Christopher Maymon*

Matthew Evan McLinden

Cathleen B. McManus

Heather A. Meegan

Leudi D. Mena*

Patrick M. Merida***

Megan E. Michaud**

Jennifer R. Moffat*

Laura M. Monteiro

Christopher Robert Monteliberto-Spirito

Jillian Marie Morais*

Nicholas H. Morin

Stefanie E. Morin

Chelsie Aurelia Muniz

Ryan D. Murray

Judith F. Nadeau

Beth Nahod

Theodore W. Nerek

Kellie L. O’Brien

Kathleen Ann Ogni***

Maegan Merry O’Sullivan**

Allison Lynn Palm

Giancarlo Pannone

David Pedroso**

Kara J. Pieroni

Bernadette Maria Polichetti

Dominique Brianna Powell

Danielle P. Provencal

Jessica M. Pruski*

Lisa M. Rhodes*

Charlotte M. Richards***

David Edwin Robinson

Jennifer M. Rossignol

Christine Marie Sarza**

Alex Patrick Schneider

Matthew C. Schoeninger**

Nathan B. Servant

Stephen T. Sharkey

Jennifer D. Simon***

Diane L. Skinner**

Caitlin M. Small**

Molly Elizabeth Smith

Jessica L. Smith

Donna M. Soares

Jason Kyle Spencer

Phyllis Lynn Spiece**

Brandon Joseph Spirito

Diana Marie Stamatelatos***

Tyler Joseph Sutcliffe*

Carrie A. Taft**

Jessica Lynn Tanner***

Patricia C. Terceira

Carter A. Thomas Jr.

James Anthony Trivisonno

Amy J. Perfetto-Tuirok

Valerie Veronica Vanais**

Kristin Vandemortele***

Anne Marie Votolato*

Patrick L. Walsh

Breanne L. Wilson

Julie P. Yelle

*** Highest Honors

** High Honors

* High Honors