This year’s commencement ceremony included a special presentation of a posthumous degree to an exceptional student, Tashyah Greene, who died suddenly in April.

Tashyah’s mother, Stacey McCoy Greene, and sister, Nakiyah Greene, received the diploma. McCoy Greene said that she was proud of the entire graduating class and was touched that she was able to receive the degree for her daughter. Tashyah majored in Business Office Technology: Electronic Health Records & Coding/Health Career Pathways. Being a part of the celebration “was a lovely tribute,” McCoy Greene said.

Tashyah, 25, grew up in Manchester and she was a work-study in Financial Aid for the last year. She also served as a note taker at GCC and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She worked as a substitute teacher for special education students, prepared taxes for H&R Block, and wanted to become an accountant. 

Education was important to Tashyah and she loved to read. McCoy Greene said that her daughter enjoyed attending GCC and when she visited recently she identified what drew her daughter to the college.

“Walking in, you can feel the love,’ she said.

Besides attending classes and working, Tashyah always helped out on Election Day at the polls in New Haven. McCoy Greene said that she was grateful that she was very open in sharing her feelings with her daughter over the years.

“I was so happy I was able to tell her how proud I was,” she said.