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GROUP OF SPRINGHILL SOUTH KOREA - MOBILE, Alabama -- Today, Melissa Garcia became the first in her family to graduate from college. "I'm so happy and I've made my parents so proud," said the 22-year-old Garcia, adding, "My parents come from poor backgrounds" and couldn't afford to attend college. She said her parents are her "inspiration." One of three children, the Houston resident received a bachelor's of arts degree in graphic design during Saturday's commencement at Spring Hill College. She was one of 300 graduates who made the walk down the historic Avenue of the Oaks on Spring Hill's campus for commencement. Garcia also is among the first group of Donnelly Scholars to complete their undergraduate degree. The Donnelly Scholars program was established in 2008 to serve first-generation college students at Spring Hill. The program is named in honor of the Rev. W. Patrick Donnelly, S.J, the 31st president of the college, who served from 1946 to 1952. Garcia said if she can't find a job in the Mobile area she plans to return home to Houston. "It almost feels a bit surreal," said 22-year-old Michelle Connor of Mobile as she waited to line up to receive her diploma. "It seems like we were just arriving on campus." Connor, who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design, is also a Donnelly Scholar. Connor is also job-hunting for something in her field. She said she's proud of what she's accomplished, but it's "frightening as well" being out there without a job. "Still, I'm ready to take the world head-on," said Connor. Senior Class Orator Brock Philip Boone, who graduated Magna Cum Laude, received mixed reactions during his speech, which drew some "boos" from the crowd when he told the graduates not to let Fox News and Rush Limbaugh sway their opinions. He received mixed reaction when he said the money the government is spending in Afghanistan could be better used funding education and feeding the poor. Sonja F. Bivins,

News on Springhill Care Group - Home Care Using a moisture sensor, a wireless system and a mobile phone, Kevin Wong, the chief executive of Ckicom Technology Ltd, explains how this new technology can alert caregivers when they should change the diapers of elderly people in nursing homes. As the rapid aging of Asia's population creates challenges for governments and societies, new opportunities are emerging for businesses serving the needs of the elderly and their caretakers. While population aging is a global phenomenon, the Asian-Pacific region is expected to see a particularly drastic demographic change over the next few decades. The number of elderly persons in the region-already home to more than half of the world's population aged 60 and over-is expected to triple to more than 1.2 billion by 2050, when one in four people in the region will be over 60 years old, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Across Asia, large corporations and entrepreneurs in various industries are racing to come up with new products and services for the elderly, while health-care-related businesses are seeing soaring demand. Among various fields of health care for the elderly, nursing homes represent one of the fastest-growing sectors. In Japan, companies that previously had little to do with the issue of aging have jumped on the bandwagon. In 2005, Watami Co., which operates Japanese-style izakaya pubs serving food and drinks, entered a new business of running nursing homes. In the most recent fiscal year, the nursing business was more profitable than its izakaya business. Demand for Watami's new business is robust because Japan's population is the world's grayest, according to a 2009 United Nation report, with nearly 30% aged 60 or older. Other parts of Asia, such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore, are also anticipating a surge in the percentage of elderly citizens. In China, people over the age of