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JCC Celebrates 67th Annual Commencement Ceremony

For hundreds of ambitious, hard-working and understandably relieved Jamestown Community College students, a lifetime of academic dedication and perseverance has finally reached its culmination.

And yet, for every single one of those students, a new journey is just beginning.

JCC celebrated its 67th annual commencement on Saturday inside the physical education complex. The ceremony was inaugurated with the traditional playing of "Pomp and Circumstance," performed by the JCC Concert Band and led by Ralph "Razz" Rasmusson. Afterward, Dr. Cory Duckworth, Jamestown Community College president, gave the ceremony's opening speech.

Duckworth devoted the majority of his speech to the acknowledgment of three students -- unnamed out of respect-- who overcame misfortune and adversity to earn their respective degrees.

"Among this year's graduates is a man who was raised in poverty," Duckworth said. "He and his mother were homeless for a period of time, relying upon shelters for survival.

He saw education as a way to extend his interest in basketball, but realized soon after that he would need to choose (between the two) in order to be successful in either. He chose to focus his efforts in the classroom, and has since demonstrated the skills of a master student.

"Another graduate was diagnosed with a learning disability," Duckworth continued. "It's something she struggles with every day. She was discouraged from attending college while in high school because of this diagnosis. But, she decided to enroll anyway; her first attempt was not successful, but that did not stop her from coming back. In 2011, she returned … and through her hard-work and dedication, she will be receiving her second degree from JCC today.

"One graduate was in Iraq, and the vehicle she was in ran over an IED. She survived, but the medication she used to treat (her pain) lead to a significant battle with addiction. Overcoming her addiction and learning to live with PTSD, she pursued her degree at JCC, was a member of Club Valor, continued her treatment through the V.A., and today, graduates with a degree in Human Services."

Following, Preston Ross, JCC Student Senate president and class of 2017 graduate, addressed his peers.

"Today, we are taking the next step into a successful life," Ross said. "The key to success is recognizing and making the decision to take it. Opportunity is defined as, 'a chance for progress or advancement, or a situation or condition favorable for the attainment of a goal.' I believe the most challenging part of an opportunity is recognizing it, and then actually taking it. We are present here today because we recognized the opportunity (JCC) gave us. Despite the odds against us, we are now one step closer to (achieving) the endless opportunities ahead of us."

This year's keynote speaker was 2009 JCC alumnus Theo Collins. Since his graduation, Collins has gone on to have an illustrious and manifold career. He continued his pursuit of higher education, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science from SUNY Fredonia and his juris doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, having served in Afghanistan for seven months.

Collins currently works as an attorney with the Spilman, Thomas and Battle law firm in Pittsburgh, focusing on corporate litigation, real estate, commercial loan finance and business planning.

In his address, Collins detailed his journey from JCC student to attorney--thanking his father, his former professors and his opportunity to serve his country along the way. Once his story reached the present day, however, he addressed what many-- perhaps even some present graduates-- consider a dirty word: Millennial.

"We're called lazy and told that we have a poor work ethic," Collins said. "But I remember being told the importance of making time for family and friends. It's said that we're cheap … but we were told to value life experiences over materialistic gains. We're called flaky and non-committal, but we were told to value travel and to experience our world. It seems the messages that we received from the generations before us are confusing, but maybe it's just because they're confused (themselves).

"But why should we care?" Collins continued. "Nothing about being a Millennial bothers me, and it shouldn't bother you. To me, Millennial means adventurous, non-conformist-- willing to buck the traditional social and professional norms. We can be good people and be productive members of society at the same time. Nothing about being a Millennial means working less hard; it means working smarter. So the next time you hear someone talking about Millennials in a negative sense, use that as motivation to prove to them and to everyone else that our generation is going to be the best one yet by achieving more in this world … show them what these Millennials can do. And whatever you're going out into the world to do after today, do the best you possibly can."