Congratulations To The Class Of 2015! Queensborough Celebrates Its 54th Commencement Ceremony
“I WILL REMEMBER MY PROFESSORS, EACH AND EVERY ONE”
Blue skies presided over a celebratory atmosphere as more than 2,300 graduates —representing 143 countries and 84 different languages—gathered for Queensborough Community College’s 54th Annual Commencement Ceremony on May 29.
Dr. Diane B. Call, President of Queensborough Community College welcomed graduates, family and friends in Spanish, Mandarin, Creole, Korean, Farsi and Hindi. As cheers and applause followed, Dr. Call added, “You all look amazing and this morning you will all be official graduates of Queensborough!”
Among the many graduates recognized were Kyle Chin-How, Daysi Proano and Silvia Salamone who have each been awarded a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship of $40,000 per year to complete their baccalaureate degrees. They are three of 90 Scholars selected from 2,061 applications representing 540 community colleges from across the U.S.
Kyle, who has begun a summer White House internship, will continue his education this fall at The City College of New York (CUNY), where he will double major in Political Science and Philosophy. Daysi is studying this summer at Princeton University, in an undergraduate research program in biophysics and will continue on to John Jay College to study molecular biology in the Forensic Science program. Silvia was awarded a National Science Foundation summer internship to conduct research in Nano chemistry at the University of Connecticut. She will continue her studies in biochemistry at Stony Brook University.
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said, “As you go out in the world and do well, remember that Queensborough Community College and Queens gave you your start and remember that someone, somewhere, someway helped you get to where you are today.”
Highlights of the ceremony included a salute to Queensborough’s military veterans, a rousing speech by Patrick Boucicault, President, Queensborough Student Government, and a shout-out to Queensborough’s youngest graduate, 18 year-old Christian Cordoba who is transferring to Queens College this fall.
History also held court. This year the college celebrates the Golden Jubilee of the Class of 1965 and the silver anniversary of the class of 1990. Members of these classes travelled back to Queensborough to reunite with their former classmates and to congratulate the Class of 2015.
“As graduates, you leave with knowledge, new and advanced skills and most of all with personal values developed through the journey which took you to this special day,” said President Call. “Cherish the friendships you formed and the faculty and staff who were such an important part of your college experience.”
Greetings on behalf of the Chancellor were offered by Allan Dobrin, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer. Other remarks were given by The Honorable Joseph K. Awadjie B.S., CUNY Board of Trustees; The Honorable Judith Bergtraum, M.S., J.D., Interim Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning, Construction and Management; Philip Pecorino, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Chairperson, Faculty Executive Committee; Professor, Social Sciences Department; Peter Bales, B.A., M.S., Ph.D., Chairperson, Academic Senate Steering Committee; Professor, Social Sciences and History; Patrick Boucicault, President, Queensborough Student Government.
Distinguished guests included New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky; Assembly Member David I. Weprin and Mr. Peter Tu, Executive Director of the Flushing Chinese Business Association and a founding member of Queensborough’s Asian Community Advisory Board. Also present were officers of the Queensborough Community College Fund Board, and the Alumni Association.