Five keynote speakers collaborated to weave their stories of SUNY Jamestown Community College’s past and present into a reflection of the institution’s long-standing core values during commencement ceremonies on Friday at the Olean YMCA and Saturday morning at the Jamestown Campus Physical Education Complex gymnasium.

Two of JCC’s longest-serving employees, Marilyn Zagora and Nelson Garifi, along with current faculty members Jennifer Visbisky, Madison LaVallee, and Brent Harkness, addressed graduates, families, friends, and fellow faculty and staff, to celebrate the college’s 75th anniversary commencement.

Zagora, the recently retired Academic Affairs vice president and JCC vice president emeritus, spoke about the college’s core value of embracing change. Zagora, a 50-year employee of JCC, shared the story of the college’s evolution from humble post-World War II origins. The transformation has included expansion into Cattaraugus County and Dunkirk, embracing women, adult, and international students, introducing fully-online programs, and adapting programs, services, and supports to ensure the success of all learners.

“Our goal has been to prepare you not only to embrace the inevitable change you will encounter in life with confidence and enthusiasm,” Zagora said, “but also to be the architects of positive and meaningful change in your chosen professions, in your communities, and in your personal lives.”

Visbisky, associate professor of Nursing, touched on JCC’s core value of providing a quality education for all learners, noting the rigorous accreditation standards the college is required to meet, continuous course evaluations conducted to improve offerings, and ongoing faculty development to enhance instruction.

“Great teachers don’t just teach,” Visbisky said. “They learn every day from their students, peers, and colleagues. My motto on quality: ‘Review, refresh, redesign.'”

Lavallee, assistant professor of Art and Design, focused on JCC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive campus where students from all backgrounds are encouraged to grow academically, artistically, and personally.

“JCC reminds me of Richard Scarry’s ‘Busytown,’ a place where everyone has a role to play, and learning is a shared, meaningful experience,” LaVallee said.

Harkness, associate professor of Welding Technology, talked about JCC’s core value of growing community relationships and responding to learner and employer needs, adding that students are prepared to step directly into essential roles within local industries.

“JCC’s curriculum is shaped with insight from advisory boards with business and industry representatives, and external reviews to ensure every program aligns with real-world needs,” Harkness said. “Seeing a former JCC student thriving in a community workplace is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching here and a powerful reminder of the impact we are making.”

Nelson Garifi, a 1977 JCC graduate and former executive director of Academic Innovation who served the college for 40 years, emphasized the importance of lifelong learning as a core value at JCC, urging graduates to keep seeking knowledge beyond commencement. He highlighted how the college fosters learning at every stage, starting with Kids’ College and high school College Connection classes up to adult education for all ages.

“Never be satisfied with what you already know,” Garifi said. “Keep on learning.”

Degrees from more than 30 program areas and certificates from 15 fields of study were awarded to 488 graduates from summer and fall 2024, and spring 2025 semesters.

Tarryn Meyer was the student speaker for the Jamestown Campus ceremony. The South African learned to adapt and persist when her course of study didn’t start out as she planned. Besides the challenges of making it in JCC’s demanding Nursing program, Meyer, a talented soccer player, also tried playing softball for the first time with the Jayhawks team.

“It’s a reminder that sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t come with immediate success,” Meyer said. “Sometimes, it’s awkward. Sometimes, you might swing and miss. But that’s okay. What matters is the courage to take the swing in the first place, to push through that initial discomfort and try something new, something challenging.”

Meyer plans to move to Bangor, Maine, for a nursing job and aspires to work in a Level 1 trauma emergency room.

Samantha Simon, a Business Administration graduate, was the student speaker for the Cattaraugus County Campus. An adult student returning to school, Simon faced her own challenges along the way.

“Like many of us, life placed obstacles on my path, pausing a dream I once had,” Simon said. “Yet, through unwavering support, compassion, and encouragement from the JCC community, my family, and Intandem, my employer, that dream was reignited and carried forward to this moment.”

Simon is a native of Rixford, Pennsylvania and the director of operations at Intandem. She plans to continue studying business with the goal of earning a doctorate degree.

Daniel DeMarte, JCC president, greeted guests and awarded degrees with Mark Ward, JCC Board of Trustees chairman. Representatives from the JCC Alumni Association welcomed the new graduates, and a reception hosted by the JCC Faculty and Student Association followed each ceremony.

Visit facebook.com/sunyjcc to see photos from the commencement ceremonies.