Commencement 2020 Speeches

[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://threerivers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/giving.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1469639571895{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”450px”][mk_fancy_title strip_tags=”true” tag_name=”h1″ color=”#ffffff” size=”80″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” el_class=”page-title”]

COMMENCEMENT 2020

[/mk_fancy_title][vc_empty_space height=”100px” el_class=”page-titlebg” css=”.vc_custom_1469639726224{background-color: rgba(253,181,21,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(77,49,142) !important;}”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1469635777230{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″]

[ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1592329837355{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Commencement 2020 Speeches

Welcome: Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D., President, Three Rivers Community College
Greetings from Connecticut State Colleges and Universities: Mark E. Ojakian, M.A., President
Greetings from the Faculty: Michael Carta, M.S., Professor of Chemistry, Chair, Faculty Senate
Student Graduate Address: Sebastian C. Bartosiak, Student Government President

Welcome: Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D., President, Three Rivers Community College

Congratulations to the class of 2020! You will always be remembered as the covid-19 class when you talk about your graduation from three rivers in the days and years to come.

Your lives are going to be marked by the pandemic in the same way that previous generations experienced pearl harbor and world war ii, the Vietnam War, 9-11, and the recent national events revealing some ugly and enduring inequities in American society.

Graduates of the class of 2020, I recognize that this is not the graduation ceremony you dreamed about with family and friends cheering you as you walked across the stage. For many of you, you are the first in your family to earn a college degree. The entire three rivers community is honored to celebrate the over 450 graduates we are honoring today who are coming from all walks of life, each with your own unique story. The class of 2020, the pandemic class, is united because the whole world is celebrating your graduation.

Today, I speak to all our graduates and say, this is your day to celebrate your commitment to achieve your goal of earning an associate degree. You may not know it, but the word “graduate” comes from the latin gradus, meaning “a step toward something” and in the early 15th century, “graduation” was a term used in alchemy to mean a tempering or refining. You, graduates, are being called to define not only who you are but what will define your success and provide meaning to your lives as well as make a difference in the world.

As a class you have shown resilience and strength to complete your courses when the semester was disrupted by the pandemic. You faced the challenge of remote learning with perseverance

And an unwavering resolve so that you could make your graduation today a reality.

You are living in unprecedented times with the covid-19 virus along with the killing of George Floyd and the demonstrations across the country and the world last week. You are living with uncertainty about your future and i wish i could tell you what the future will be. What I do know is that the same determination and imagination that got you to this moment are going to be the motivators to sustain you for whatever is coming. I am reminded of the words of the German poet Rainer Marie Rilke, “be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything.”

The disruption caused by covid-19 has illuminated the vast systematic inequities that have defined life for too many for too long—for poor communities with inadequate health care, for immigrant communities forced to hide in the shadows, for incarcerated people with no ability to social distance, for every person burdened by bias and bigotry. Can the disruption wrought by covid-19 be a call to action for the graduates of the class of 2020? Can you show us how to create a new world, a world more kind and compassionate, where social justice inequities are addressed? Your graduation is an invitation to use your education to begin to heal the afflictions of society by applying the best of what you have learned in your head and felt in your heart.

I am reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King decades ago, who understood that “we are caught in the inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny.”

We are being challenged like never before and we are seeing images from around the world with people doing acts of kindness and compassion for members of the global family who have been inflicted with the virus. As a class, you have the power to stand for healthier conditions that will create a healthier society. We all have the responsibility to keep the global community healthy by keeping ourselves healthy in mind, body and spirit.

My hope for you is that you will use your talents to harness your energy, your education, your creativity, your voice and your vote—to create more equity, more justice, and more joy in the world. May you be the class that blazes a new way forward and commences a new beginning for living, loving and being on this planet we call earth.

Greetings from the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities: Mark E. Ojakian, M.A., President

I am Mark Ojakian, President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. On behalf of the CSCU System I want to offer my sincere congratulations to all of this year’s graduates. I know that this isn’t the graduation you envisioned when you first walked through your institution’s doors. Instead of a packed space filled with your friends, families, and classmates you are home, practicing social distancing and helping to keep not only yourself, but also your community healthy and safe. I know that when you started your studies you couldn’t have imagined that midway through your final semester a global pandemic would force your campus to abruptly close, forcing you from a campus that has become a home to so many of you.

Yet through this difficult time, you have grown both as people and as students. You adapted quickly to a completely new way of learning and you put in the hard work necessary to complete your degree. While we may not be able to celebrate in person, with the pomp and circumstance you so richly deserve, what you have achieved is even more special because you did it in such trying times in an unprecedented academic year. You did it and in the process many of you discovered passions that will translate into fruitful careers.

All of you expanded your horizons by challenging yourselves, thinking critically, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and embracing creativity. I have no doubt that it made you a better educated, more well-rounded version of yourself. You have shown that it is today’s students and graduates that are the change agents for the future and the next generation of leaders. So, whether today is the beginning of the next step in your academic journey, or you’re planning on entering or continuing in the work force, or if you have other plans entirely, know that you have made the CSCU System and the state of Connecticut by extension very very proud. So, congratulations to the class of 2020. I can’t wait to see the great things you will accomplish.

Greetings from the Faculty: Michael Carta, M.S., Professor of Chemistry, Chair, Faculty Senate

On behalf of the faculty at Three Rivers Community College, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to this commencement exercise and congratulate you on a job well done.

Whether you are entering the workforce, or re-entering the workforce, or continuing on to further studies, you have reached an important milestone, and we are grateful to have been a part of your journey.

You know, the educational experience is a two-way street.

The faculty are in a unique position because we have the opportunity to observe first-hand your thought processes and creativity, your technical skills, and, above all, your individuality.

We are privileged to work with such a diverse student population, and we are committed to helping you succeed; not just while you are here, but beyond three rivers.

As students, you have challenged us and opened our eyes to questions and viewpoints that we might not have considered.

It is our hope that you take with you fond memories (aside from the exams!) And a strong desire to continue learning. Because that is what makes life interesting.

As a teacher once told me, it’s not about the subject; it’s about the students! You inspire us, and hopefully we have inspired you.

Thank you for being a part of our lives and making us better teachers. Congratulations and best of luck moving forward!

Student Graduate Address: Sebastian C. Bartosiak, Student Government President

Hello, I am Sebastian Bartosiak.

Good morning/evening/afternoon class of 2020, my name is Sebastian Bartosiak and I am the current three rivers student government association president. What a year this has been. It feels like just yesterday i was registering for my final semester of classes. Like everyone else, I was without a single inclination that we would be transitioning to a fully online model due to a global pandemic. Yet, despite everything, here we are, even virtually, we are here together. We came out victorious against the great foes that are procrastination, potentially obnoxious housemates, faulty web-ex connections, and an onslaught of khan academy videos. Today marks our collective achievement of success despite this very unique circumstance that we’ve been placed in.

I’d like to think that my journey through college has been akin to the lord of the rings, with the trek through Mordor comparable to the experience of social distanced learning, figuratively of course. Truthfully, this has been a very challenging semester for many of us that struggled with no longer learning in a classroom setting. There were many moments of joy, tears of happiness and sadness, and eventually, the farewell. A quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s character Gandalf has always stood out to me, it reads, “all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” I decided that i wouldn’t let this pandemic hold me back from creating valuable connections and memories that i will always hold close to me. My hope is that you have created your own memories here too.

In the time given to me, i attended a great number of college events that took place over the past few years. I’ll miss our fresh check days, fall festivals, and New York city bus trips that the student programs office always put on for students. I’ll miss the faculty and staff like Alycia Ziegler, Rhonda Spaziani, Dean Farinelli, Betty Williamson, and countless others who went above and beyond as mentors and made me feel welcome at TRCC as a transgender individual. Even the small things like saying good morning to cafeteria staff and facilities members when I walked into the building will be sorely missed. However, i like to remind myself that the only constant in this world is change, and while we may be finished with our time here at TRCC, there will always be a part of this college in our hearts that we’ll carry with us. Even apart, we are together.

So, as you look over to your diploma or your cap and gown, I want you to remember that “all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Use that time to create, inspire, and make more memories like the ones you’ve made here at TRCC to share with the world. I wish you all a happy and healthy summer, and a heartfelt congratulations to all of us for graduating from TRCC.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MORE

Commencement 2019 Speeches

Commencement 2019

[ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1560270177480{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Commencement 2019 Speeches

Welcome: Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D., President, Three Rivers Community College

Regent Balducci, distinguished guests, Three River’s faculty and staff, students, family, and friends … welcome! Thank you all for joining us today. Congratulations, graduates, on this spectacular day, one of my favorite days of the academic year. Today, we celebrate and honor you, our graduates. You number almost 600, and you come from all walks of life, each with your own unique story.

You chose to enroll at three rivers for its quality education and its affordability. You walked the halls of this fine institution, studied in the library, attended classes with your peers and our faculty … you did all of this to reach your goal … to graduate! And here you are today … and here we all are today … Gathered to celebrate you and your accomplishments!

This evening, I would like to highlight the diversity and achievements of you, our graduates. As I call your name, would you please stand and be recognized. We have:

Joseph Victorino and Joshua Curry, president and secretary respectively of our student government. Joseph is graduating with an associate in liberal arts and sciences earning cum laude honors, while Joshua is receiving an associate in business administration: management. Thank you.
Thomas and Mary Baudro Tom and Mary are not only our oldest graduates but they’ve been married for 45 years. Tom, who already has a bachelor’s from UConn and three certificates, is today receiving his technology studies degree, his third from three rivers. As tom says, “three’s the charm.” Mary, who has attended all of tom’s previous graduations, is now graduating magna cum laude with a visual fine arts degree. Congratulations!
Elise Sperry. Elise is our youngest graduate, receiving a liberal arts and sciences degree before graduating high school from three rivers middle college in June. She will continue on to UConn with a full scholarship.
Jogaintz Ledoux Jogaintz came to the U.S. from Haiti as a boy. He is graduating with an associate in mechanical engineering technology. He was a summer intern at Pratt and Whitney, where he will return as a full time employee and participate in their program that will pay for his bachelor’s degree after he has worked for a year.
Zaha Bush. Zaha, a nursing graduate, is a Pakistani immigrant who, as a child, thought college was an unattainable dream. Yet today, her dedication and perseverance enabled her to graduate magna cum laude in nursing, while helping the homeless and volunteering in the medical reserve corps and Uncas health district. She plans to continue on to a BSN program and aspires to be a great nurse. Congratulations.
Hanna Brosofske Hanna is a parent like many of today’s graduates. She came to three rivers to give her child and herself a strong financial foundation and a bright future. Hanna was a student worker while balancing a full-class schedule and a busy home life. Graduating with a liberal arts & science degree, she plans to continue her studies to achieve her goal of becoming a certified public accountant. Congratulations.
Marie Perry. As the president of our veteran’s organization, she has energized the group and transformed the annual thanksgiving drive for the Norwich vet center from 20-turkeys to over 75 dinners. Marie is graduating with an environmental engineering technology degree and a certificate. She has already begun a bachelor’s degree at Goodwin College and will graduate in April of next year. Thank you, Marie.
Kevin Valencia Kevin is graduating with his associate’s degree in general studies and will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business at eastern. While juggling many jobs, he worked hard to raise his gpa, held a leadership role in the business club and always had time for a friend in need. Kevin has been inspired and supported by his mother, who came from panama, and his sister, both of whom graduated from three rivers community college.
We like to call the following our own “all in the family.”
1. First, I would like to ask Professor Ed Muenzner, his son Kyle, and nephew Randy to stand. Kyle is graduating with both an associate degree and a certificate in marketing, while randy is graduating with an associate in accounting. Congratulations!!!
2. Would Sue Turner, assistant professor of nursing, and her daughter Morgan please stand? Morgan is graduating today with an associate’s degree in nursing. Congratulations, Morgan!
3. Continuing with our “all in the family theme,” I would like to ask sisters Alexandra and Sydney Santiago to please stand. Alexandra is graduating magna cum laude with a degree in psychology and Sydney is graduating magna cum laude with a degree in early childhood education. Congratulations to you both.
We have 5 students graduating today with 2 degrees. Would Corrine Garraty, Fernando Galvez, Michael Macek, Adam Rugh, and Hope Whiteley please stand? Congratulations to all of you.
We also have five international students graduating. Two are with us today. Please stand, from India, Sakshar Bhardwaj, and from Peru, Jose Rios. We’re so glad you chose three rivers for your college education. Congratulations.

As you know, going to college is hard work. Yet you have all made it through. So please stand if you fit my question…

Who of you needed to work to get you through college?
How many of you have been raising a family or taking care of family members?
How many of you are the first in your family to graduate from college?
How many of you have parents or other family members who went to three rivers, Mohegan or Thames Valley.
And, this question is for our audience – how many members of our audience attended three rivers, Mohegan or Thames Valley?

Wow, what a growing family we have at three rivers!

Today I would also like to acknowledge veterans, both our graduates as well as all other veterans here today. Please stand so we can honor your service to our country!

Friends, at this time, I would like to ask that we have a moment of reflection to remember those not with us today. May they remain forever a part of the fabric of our lives and hearts.

Today I speak to all our graduates and say, this is your day to celebrate your commitment to learning, and your perseverance that make this day possible.

Graduates, I hope that three rivers community college has been –

A place that, having ignited your love of knowledge, will cause you to be a lifelong learner ,
A place that instilled in you the desire to strive for excellence academically, personally, and professionally,
And, a place where the relationships you developed will lead to lasting friendships.

Finally, your parents, spouses, siblings, children, extended family and friends, some of whom I’ve met and many who join you today, know well your educational journey.

Graduates, as you celebrate your accomplishments and new beginnings, remember that none of us succeeds alone. Your current and future successes are made possible in part by family and friends. Please stand, turn around, and salute your faithful supporters and enthusiastic cheerleaders!

Graduates, we are so happy to share this day with you and the promise of a bright future! Congratulations!

Greetings from the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education: Richard J. Balducci, M.A., Board of Regents for Higher Education

Thank you!

How good is this? Just look around. You’ve got a great night, you’ve got a wonderful school, you’ve got an outstanding faculty and staff, and you’re graduating. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Now I have a 10-15 minute speech, but after what’s gone on, you don’t need to hear it, I’m sure. I’m really really amazed by some of the stories that were just told by the President. What I’m here to do and very proud to do is to bring greetings from the Board of Regents to you and congratulate you on your accomplishments. Many of you who had to work to go to college and work to provide food for your tables and your families, the backgrounds of some of you are just outstanding. It’s absolutely amazing. I hope you go on to further your education either here or elsewhere; go on and take a job in the private or public sector; go on to who knows where, maybe across the United States, maybe elsewhere. The idea is that we, as members of the Board of Regents, are very proud of you. We are very happy that you are here and graduating. You make your college proud, you make the board proud, you make our state proud, and you make our country proud.

Thank you and God bless.

Greetings from the Faculty: Michael Carta, M.S., Professor of Chemistry, Chair, Faculty Senate

Good evening.

On behalf of the faculty at Three Rivers Community College, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this commencement ceremony and offer you congratulations on a job well done.

You invested in your future by coming here, and we are privileged to have been a part of your educational journey.

It is our hope that we have helped to open your minds to new and interesting topics and provided you with the tools necessary to apply your knowledge.

Some of you may be returning to the work force while others may have a new job lined up. For many, this is a stepping stone toward further education. In any event, keep on learning.

Graduation is a time to celebrate your accomplishments. And, it gives the faculty great joy in seeing students move on to bigger and better things.

By all means, keep in touch. Who knows, you might even find yourself working at a community college someday.

Congratulations and thank you for being a part of our lives.

Student Graduate Address: Michelle Lynn Reynolds, Valedictorian

Good afternoon, members of the board and administration, faculty and staff, friends and family, and, of course, my fellow graduates. First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the Class of 2019!

I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity to speak today as your valedictorian, especially after the speech committee learned that I wanted to thank Google and YouTube.

On behalf of the entire student body, I would like to thank the amazing, passionate, and dedicated faculty and staff of Three Rivers Community College, without whom we wouldn’t be here today.

Thank you for pushing us, for encouraging us, for asking more of us than we thought we needed to give, and for making today worth all of the hard work we put into it.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our family and friends who helped us achieve this significant milestone in our lives. You, the people who put up with us through our sleep-deprived, hungry, and stress-induced panicking, you are the unsung heroes of today.

Like the dutiful student I am, I spent hours Googling, I mean researching funny valedictorian speeches, which brought me to some pretty exciting places on the internet.

What I found to be a common theme uniting them was that they were all delivered by folks who seemed to have some sort of comedic timing. That’s right, they were funny.

I know myself well enough to know that this may not be a strong point of mine. Therefore, I will leave a few uncomfortably long pauses between lines where I had anticipated your laughter.

In all seriousness, I spent hours poring over what to say today. What inspirational anecdote to share that could sum up our time here, while simultaneously encouraging people to go forth and create the future they dream of? Constantly worrying that my speech will sound like a collection of quotes that my mom has framed on the living room wall. You know the ones: “live, laugh, love,” and, “life is what you make it,” and, “home is where the wine is.”

That one is not as relevant to today but still something to think about. (Sorry, mom.)

We all have a story.

We’ve all overcome our own hardships and pushed ourselves further than we even thought possible to be here today.

We have risen to each and every challenge thrown at us.

Although the stress of all-nighters and last minute flash card reviews may be over for now, the will and perseverance you’ve shown throughout your time here will push you forward through the challenges that await you in the future.

I applied to TRCC on a whim. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing here. It had been nearly a decade since I effectively navigated my way around a Mac computer. I hadn’t even heard of Google drive yet. I was ten years older than most of the students around me — a generation of people who had grown up with smartphones and MacBooks, Justin Bieber and memes. I felt overwhelmed and not just because I registered online and accidentally signed up for all the wrong classes.

To my surprise, you all came to my rescue. The willingness of those around me to help, to offer advice, to stay and answer questions I had. Questions that were pretty easy, questions like, “How do I turn this computer on? Where is the E-wing? What is taking Blackboard so long?”

The patience and humility of my fellow students, the encouragement of the professors and tutors, the sense of community you get as you stroll through the halls here, have all impacted me and all of us in such a powerful way. It is because of all of you that I am here today. Your kindness, your patience, your willingness to help others allows everyone to succeed. So today, we’re all valedictorians.

We don’t succeed alone. We stand on the shoulders of those who have lifted us. We rise together. Today, together, we celebrate our accomplishments, our ability to rise to the challenges of life and to raise others with us as we soar.

As we embark on a new adventure, with its own set of challenges, may you keep the drive that got you through those all-nighters, may you push yourself even when you think you have nothing else to give, may you have the strength to ask for help when you are in need, and may you always have the patience to aid and encourage those around you.

The future is ours, and we’ve worked hard for it. Life really is what you make of it. Believe in yourselves. Don’t be afraid to take chances, to challenge yourself, to do things on a whim, and of course, to “live, laugh, and love.”

Thank you, and congratulations, Class of 2019!

Commencement Address: Frederick-Douglass Knowles II, M.A., Hartford Poet Laureate, Associate Professor of English

Cultivate Your Community: The Power of Purpose

The burnt, hollow structure to your left was once my childhood home. Although, it is not the first time it’s felt the force of fire. When I was 6 years old, my family showered buckets of water over a burning cross that scorched our front lawn. This was our welcome to the neighborhood. Although this malicious act shook the hearts of 11 grandchildren, it did not prevent my grandmother, Martha Montgomery from cultivating her Eden.

Our backyard (where the adjacent house now stands) was half the size of a football field consisting of: two pear trees, an apple tree, a grapevine, a cherry stone tree, a flower garden, a vegetable garden and a rosebush, all encased within a white picket fence. And with my grandmother’s Georgian hands she cultivated the fruit of her legacy.

She moved to Norwich in 1940, with two, young daughters and established herself in her community by joining Union Baptist Church, in which she remained a member for over 70 years. My grandmother was also a longstanding member of the Norwich chapter of the NAACP, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the Household of Ruth, as well as, the captain of her Neighborhood Watch. She often be seen driving around town in her maroon, Plymouth Horizon, waving while delivering “meals on wheels” for TVCCA. She was truly dedicated to the betterment of anyone in need.

American Statesman, Colin Powell affirms, “As you seek your way in the world, never fail to find a way to serve your community. Use your education and your success in life to help those still trapped in cycles of poverty and violence.” My grandmother used her education to help those who were trapped. Graduates, use your education to help those who are trapped. Use your education to cultivate your community. Citizens who torment their neighbors out of fear are a nemesis to our neighborhood.

In 1980, my grandmother purchased 575 New London Tpke. in this East Great Plains neighborhood. Nicknamed the Whitehouse, this home nurtured a kaleidoscope of over a 110 grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren.

And on our very first night in our new home, an act of fear symbolized as a flaming cross, attempted to dissuade my grandmother from cultivating her community. An amber white flame hovering above our bedroom windows bellowed the decree: “This is not your neighborhood.” This insidious act did not deter my family from purpose. The Native American land of East Great Plains was and still is our community.

I was well aware of the rich Mohegan history many years before the casino. The symbolic rock outside our cafeteria window, honoring the “Great Battle” between the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes was a common reclose of mine. As a youth, I played run, catch and kiss behind the high school, Norwich Tech that once occupied your student parking lot behind you.

The lot to the right was once an open field where I spent one day trudging through PAL soccer practice before quitting, because my ex-marine cousin was more of a drill sergeant than a coach. The housing complex behind you, Melrose Park, is where I spent infinite hours jostling with my friends Joey, Lori Skorwin, Richie DeLorge, James Wicker, Artie Schlough and many more.

There is an apartment complex to the right beyond those trees, Jane Arms, now known as Rose Hill Estates, where my drill-sergeant cousin lived with the rest of my extended kin. And I cannot forget the complex that sits atop the hillcrest to the far right, Oakwood Knoll, where I came into adolescence in the late 80’s hanging with the Coca-Cola posse: Chanise, Tasha, Candice, Tony, Eric, Jay Gill and so many more who molded memories of community.

And as I stand in front of you today, directly across the street from my childhood home, I can earnestly affirm that this is my community. BlackRoseCity is my community. This institution is my community. Graduates, you are my community. Like you, I sat in these same seats and received my Associate’s degree from this institution. Homage is the purpose of community. And so I ask you, Graduates, what is your purpose? How will you pay homage to your community?

So many of us long for the day to cast our wings and soar as far as an upwind will carry us; up and away from the stale air of our locality, to what we perceive to be bigger and better opportunities adorned in bright city lights and sleepless adventure. Only to wrap ourselves in a blanket of nostalgia, longing for home, a home that we can help change.

In my Introduction to Literature course this year, we studied the novel Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. The setting consists of a post-apocalyptic America in the futuristic year of 2025. The main character, Lauren Olamina prepared herself for the collapse of her walled community because she sensed change. Her community collapsed as a result of anarchy. Her community collapsed because it lacked the foresight to adapt to change.

Graduates do not let your community collapse. This is the purpose of a community college education. Though, there is a catch. American Novelist and Activist, James Baldwin sternly affirmed, “The paradox of education is precisely this- that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” In our modern society, many Americans still battle with ancient nemeses such as homophobia, racism, sexism and elitism. These isms want to see your community collapse. Foil their future. Cultivate your community.

Graduates, examine the society in which you are being educated. Examine the paradox of education. In a short while, you will walk across this stage to obtain proof of the tools you acquired to cultivate your community. Many of you will further your studies to obtain a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in your field of expertise. Accumulate these tools to ensure that your community continues to thrive. It will be a demanding life-altering vision that some of you may be fearful of embracing, but how else will we Batman the Banes of our society? How else will we cure our country?

This country may fear the color of your skin, but your community loves your melanin. This country may fear your sexual preference, but your community loves your embrace. This country may fear your Native American/ Latino heritage but your community loves your Taino spirit. Graduates, amalgamate the tools of higher learning with the higher frequency of love to teach this country how to no longer function in fear. Cultivate your community like it was your very own Garden of Eden.

My grandmother’s birthday is tomorrow. She would have been 104. We lost her only two years ago. And for over the century she walked this Earth, she cultivated her community to assure that her future generations would remain fearless in the eyes of iniquity. I am the affirmation of my grandmother’s cultivation.

Before she passed, she passed this moral responsibility to me, and now it is my moral obligation to pass it to my granddaughter, Emerie-Saige, through the Martha Montgomery Memorial Award, here at Three Rivers, so that my grandmother’s legacy will continue to cultivate her community. Emerie-Saige will become the head cornerstone of her community. Graduates, you will become the head cornerstones of your community. Thank you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MORE

Commencement 2018 Speeches

Commencement 2018

[ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1527185077644{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Commencement 2018 Speeches

Welcome: Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D., President, Three Rivers Community College

Three Rivers faculty and staff … welcome! Thank you all for joining us today. Congratulations graduates on this spectacular day! This ceremony is one of my favorite days of the academic year. Today, we celebrate and honor you, our graduates. You number almost 600, and you come from all walks of life, each with your own unique story.

You chose to enroll at Three Rivers for its affordable, accessible education. You walked the halls of this fine institution, you sat in the library studying, you attended classes with our faculty, you sat with your peers to study … you did all of this to reach your goal … to graduate! And here you are today … and here we all are today gathered to celebrate you and your accomplishments! This evening, I want to highlight the diversity and achievements of you, our students. As I call your name, would you please stand and be recognized. We have:

Raven Dillon, President of the Student Government Association graduating with an associates in liberal arts and sciences earning magna cum laude honors. Raven please stand.
We have Miranda Fabre, Vice President of the Student Government Association, President of Sigma, Vice President of SAGE, a student programs student worker and a member of the campus activity board graduating today with an associates in science in general studies.
Zoe Hayn, would you please stand? Zoe is Secretary of the Student Government Association, President of SPAG, (student performing arts guild), a student programs student worker, a member of the campus activity board, and a very talented actress, who is graduating with cum laude honors. Zoe is transferring to the University of Rhode Island in the fall into the theatre arts program.
Benjamin Crowley. Where are you? Benjamin Is Treasurer of the Student Government Association and SIGMA (sexual identity and gender minority advocates), President of the Writers Guild, and a fine actor who is graduating with an associates in arts in liberal arts and sciences along with a certificate in women’s studies. Benjamin is the second one in his family to graduate with an associates degree.
Benjamin Coombs. Would you please stand? Benjamin is the President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the student representative to the College Congress and, Vice President of The Voices of the River Choir.

For so many of you here today, you are the first in your family to earn a degree. Would you please rise if you are the first in your family to earn a degree?

This is a great accomplishment. Welcome to the family of our college graduates. Thank you. You all may be seated.

Today we have Heather Dyer and Adam Dyer with us. Heather and Adam got married on May 23, 2015. As Heather says, “we will both be celebrating our 3rd year anniversary today by walking down the aisle again once more, but this time to get our associate degrees.”
We have Cyndy Arpin, Assistant Professor Nursing, and her daughter, Cassandra Stimson. Cyndy graduated from the TRCC nursing program in 1994 and served as the President of the Student Nurses Association. Cassandra is also graduating from the TRCC nursing program and is also the President of the Student Nurses Association. In addition, Cassandra has just accepted a position as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Backus Hospital, the same emergency department where her mother Cyndy spent many years as the evening charge nurse.
Maximo Alfaro. Where are you? Please stand. Maximo came from Peru just 4 years ago. He did not speak English so he studied first at New London adult education and continued here in our English-as-a-second-language program. Today he is graduating in liberal arts and sciences. And, he will continue his studies this fall at Wesleyan College with a full scholarship. Congratulations, Maximo!
Chloe Johnson would you please stand? Chloe is graduating with an associates in arts, liberal arts and sciences, and with a certificate in general studies. A friend of Chloe’s, Nicole Grabner, Nicole would you please stand. Nicole is graduating with a CT State College and University Pathway Transfer Degree in Psychology Studies. Chloe and Nicole represent so many of our students. According to Professor Pamela Carroll, – “they worked together in the copy center and became good friends, supported each other throughout the ups and downs of college life. They are moving on to Eastern CT State University.” Congratulations to both of you!!!
We have a mother and daughter graduating together today. Nancy Girardin, who is graduating with an associates in science in nursing, and her daughter Melissa Girardin is graduating with an associate in science in accounting. Nancy is already using her nursing degree at her new job at Bridebrook Rehab in Niantic. Melissa is going on To Eastern CT State University to pursue her degree in certified public accounting.
Our next two students are success stories from our 2^nd Chance Pell Program. Maurice Mitchell and Thomas Ibbision, would you both please stand, they are receiving certificates in environmental health and safety management. They started in our program and continued their studies here at Three Rivers, driving from Bridgeport for every class. They both are planning to continue their education here toward a degree in the environmental engineering technology program.
Next, I would like to ask Jean Turnier, to please stand. Jean who is graduating with an associate in science in general studies, took classes at Mohegan in 1974, left to work in the medical field for 40 years including 25 years as a medical practice manager, then she took some classes here over the years but in September 2016, decided to complete her degree. Jean earned 22 credits for her life experience through our assessment of prior learning program. Jean now plans to transfer to Eastern CT State University to earn her bachelor’s degree. Congratulations Jean!!! Jean is a wonderful example that it’s never too late!!!
And………….you’re never too old or too young to learn. Today we have Gary Tobias here, Gary would you please stand. Gary is 68 years young graduating with an associate in science in hospitality management. And we have Christopher Annino. Christopher would you please stand. Christopher, who at just 16 years of age is graduating with an associate in applied science in construction management. Awesome Christopher!!!
We have students from the Three Rivers Middle College Magnet High School graduating today. Jaeden Christopher Spitale is graduating with an associate degree in general studies, cum laude. Jaeden would you please stand? Jaeden is continuing his education at the University of Connecticut honors program in law. I would like to ask Alexi Switz to stand with Jaeden. Alexi is also graduating with an associate in science degree in general studies, summa cum laude and heading to the University of Connecticut in an honors program in bio-medical engineering. Alexi and Jaeden, we wish you both great success!

Today I would also like to acknowledge our veteran students….our graduates from the class of 2018 and those who are pursuing their education, as well as the families and friends of these graduates. I would also like to ask all of our veterans here today to stand along with our veteran students so we can honor your service to our country!!!

Friends, sadly, this year we’ve lost members of our learning community. At this time, I would like to ask that we have a moment of reflection to remember those not with us today. May they remain forever a part of the fabric of our lives and hearts.

Thank you.

Today I speak to all our graduates and say, this is your day to celebrate your commitment to learning, the effort and dedication you invested to pursue your education, and your perseverance to make this day possible.

Graduates, I hope that Three Rivers Community College has been –

a place that ignited the spark of learning that will cause you to be a lifelong learner
a place that introduced you to the value of the liberal arts
a place that instilled in you the desire to strive for excellence academically, personally and professionally
a place where individual faculty members have touched your life in ways you never would have imagined.
a place that provided a solid academic foundation for you to choose a profession to pursue that will allow you to make a difference in the lives of others.
and finally, a place where human relationships will lead to lasting friendships.

As you do so, there are family and friends who join you today who know well your educational journey. I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, spouses, siblings and children when they attended honor society inductions, student leader award banquets, and scholarship awards events to mention a few. These events make us keenly aware that we don’t succeed alone.

Graduates, as you celebrate your accomplishments and a new beginning and a new future of opportunity made possible in part by family and friends, please stand and turn around and salute your faithful supporters and enthusiastic cheerleaders!

Graduates, we are so happy to share this day with you and the promise of a bright future!

Commencement Address and Greeting from the Connecticut Board of Regents: Matt Fleury, M.B.A., Chair of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, President/CEO, Connecticut Science Center

Good Evening.

It’s an honor – and a true joy – to share this moment with you.

Thank you, President Jukoski, for your invitation to address this incredibly promising class of graduates. You suggested that I share some reflections on my experiences as a community college student, and I am very glad to do so.

To rely on stories about my heroics in community college would be to guarantee a short speech. This may be an appealing idea to many of you. But you are not so fortunate. As you know, you have endured a great many lectures for the privilege of hearing just one more on the occasion of your commencement. Far be it from me to deny you that right.

But I am sympathetic. This ironic bit of ceremony can seem endless. So I will strive to offer more wisdom than wind. Understand, there is not a guaranteed ratio here. But, you speaker is considerate of your plight.

Very much to the point of this celebration, I am happy to inform you that my studies and graduation were just the beginnings of my life as a community college student. Even though your “ID Card” status as active students at Three Rivers may expire, you are now and forever a product of this experience. This is the new calling card that you carry forward from tonight, and it matters more than what you have done to get here. That’s the true value of education…the elevated capability that is now part of you: The greater person you have made yourself into, with the guiding, teaching hand of the caring educators who have shared their gifts with you here at Three Rivers.

You have changed yourselves in extraordinary ways. For life. You have exercised those intellectual muscles that we as humans are uniquely blessed to have. That’s a choice. It is not the easy road. But it is the right road and it will make the rest of your days more rewarding for you, and enable you to be a stronger and more beneficial influence on the people and world around you.

I do remember the day, under a music hall shed in Western Massachusetts in spring of 1985 (33 years!), when I walked across the stage in my synthetic, forest green cap and gown. Those were the team colors at Berkshire Community College. Proudly, with some surprise at what I had achieved, and with great relief did that boy receive his diploma that day.

(Incidentally, I have no memory of the commencement speaker, who I feel sure was better than yours. More articulate. And probably a better candidate to fund the endowment).

An Associates Degree in Theater Arts would be the first academic credential of the 2018 Three Rivers Community College commencement speaker. If I can’t handle myself on stage, it’s not for lack of effort by the faculty of BCC.

I mention this because it may resonate with those many of you who undertook your studies here as part of a transition in your life, or career. College has always been part of those transitions for me. Even in those cases where I wasn’t exactly sure where it was taking me. It took me the better things.

In part, I had enrolled in the theater arts program in the afterglow of my acclaimed performance as Captain Hook’s sidekick, Mr. Smee, in the high school production of Peter Pan. The curtain calls on the tiny stage in an old hayloft (our theater) in high school were enthusiastic. Naturally, I saw no reason this shouldn’t carry me to stardom on stage and screen.

But … there was a little bit more to the story. The truth is, the future president & CEO of the Connecticut Science Center had not enjoyed such accolades in high school math and science. Indeed, he sought to avoid future confrontations with these subjects at all costs. So theater arts it was!

Yes, this is a world in which one thing can lead to another in ways that are not always predictable. This road full of surprises is the graph-line of life.

For reasons that may at this very moment have become evident, the stage did not invite me back. President Jukoski, who is truly a good person, must nevertheless be held accountable for this faltering presentation. If this doesn’t get better very quickly, I will have a word with the front office first thing in the morning.

Returning to course momentarily here, I want to credit the Work Study program at BCC for connecting me to what would become my first career … applying my theatrical skills behind the microphones of local radio stations. Ten years into a broadcast news career (aided in part by another community college internship … that one in journalism), change came calling again.

After a tour in corporate public and government relations … all this on that theater arts degree … I found myself involved with development projects in Hartford. Still another unanticipated chapter, and one that led me – finally – back to school.

See if some of this resonates with your story: in my 30’s, moving into managerial roles, the need for additional preparation was apparent. I found a path to a bachelor’s degree here in Connecticut at Charter Oak State College, (which I highly recommend as an excellent, affordable, Bachelors or even Masters option). This enabled me to contend for the MBA program at UCONN, which I finished in my late thirties, in preparation for my return to science at the Connecticut Science Center.

I think this road (now shockingly long) might be familiar to those of you who have returned to school later in your careers. Life presents opportunities. Our capacity is nearly endless, if only we have someone to teach us to use it. And since the need for new capabilities can arise long after the traditional “college years”, it is crucial that vehicles for that change are available to everyone … especially those of us who didn’t grow up with great financial privilege.

This gets to a point I hope you’ll take up as you introduce yourself as a college graduate starting … how does “right now” sound!? A full-fledged graduate of a high quality institution of higher education that worked you as hard as any other. That holds itself and its students to the same standards as any other college. That you can be proud of and that is proud of you.

(Every time I am part of a community college commencement, I find a little chip sprouts on my shoulder. And it grows fast. Just listen):

Too many people misunderstand community college and community college students. We’re not lesser students of lesser institutions. We’re graduates of great colleges that serve great people in great communities across the country. Graduates who become the backbone of American productivity, ingenuity and vitality.

580 of you are receiving degrees and certificates tonight (if I ever get finished here). Some of you are even receiving TWO degrees! (Bow down). Emily Lighthouse is actually getting THREE! Three cheers for Emily! (3 cheers). Something tells us Ms. Lighthouse is not done illuminating the way forward. Stay close to her!

People talk about the “low graduation rate” among community college students sometimes. Do you know how the federal government traditionally calculates graduation rates … the very rates that tell the world whether you attend a “good” college (Like US News ratings)? By that standard, if you don’t get your degree within 3 years of entering the school, you don’t count! Hello! These people work! 50% of the students we celebrate tonight work full time! The other half? Almost all work part time. Statistically, you’re probably not a kid going straight to a 4-year school with room and board paid by mom and dad, where all you focus on is a full load of courses. Are you? You’re piling your studies on top of a full life of personal, professional commitments that grown-ups have. Excuse us if we need a little more time to take all those classes! That’s not failure. That’s character, persistence, rigor and commitment. That’s a WINNER!!!

And even if it took you a little longer to finish up at community college, almost half of you are going straight into a 4-year college. Where you’ll do the same thing. You’ll cram higher education into a world swamped with other grown-up responsibilities. Kids, aging parents, hard jobs, weird hours, mortgages, rent, car repairs. Whatever. (This latter group has already demonstrated brilliant financial management…stacking up half of a “Bachelor’s Degree” at Three Rivers’ affordable prices, leaving just two years left to buy for a degree from a more expensive “four year” institution. Extra credit for you on that test, thank you very much).

And by the way, while US News or Washington might hover over traditional definitions of academic value or success, remember that the boss at the submarine factory or the head of the ER is just as interested in folks from non-credit workforce programs that aren’t even considered.

Indeed, there’s a whole cohort of Three Rivers students not here tonight who are headed for future commencements because of that. They are getting a fast certificate or non-credit course under their belts, going to work at EB, and then EB is paying for them to come back and join you in the great community of Three Rivers alumni. That’s an opportunity pipeline we can believe in!

Ok, rant over.

My passion for that point is matched only by my enthusiasm for this one:

(And if I appear to gravitate to underdog positions, perhaps it will be helpful to know that I cried at the last game in the history of the Hartford Whalers. Yes. I was a Whalers fan and I still am. There’s something about the home team, win or lose, that attracts me. And you’re the home team here in Southeastern Connecticut).

Yes, Connecticut is home. Yes, we can’t go a day without somebody telling us how all the rich people are leaving, or how people don’t love us anymore for one reason or another.

You know who’s not leaving? Us! You. Of all the lofty institutions of higher education in Connecticut, none provides more talent to the workforce of our state than the community colleges. I bet there’s no greater provider of talent to this neck of the woods than Three Rivers. And why not? Look at you!

And there are jobs. Electric Board and its supply chain are under enormous pressure to deliver new submarines. Health care institutions can’t hire fast enough. Employers need people to do that work, and that means opportunity. That means work that feeds your families, pays your bills, fixes your roofs and sends your kids to college. That means there’s life in our economy here. And since you –and students across the community colleges and state universities – are MORE likely to stay in Connecticut and do these jobs in Connecticut, your employers are more likely to stay in Connecticut.

So, by obvious extension, you and your education here are the best investment our state can make. I’m not running for anything, but I hope those who are will consider making that a big part of their platform.

I’m not sure I’m sending you forth with any great revelations here. But if I might attempt a summation of my own ramble…I have tried to offer you this:

Respect for your achievement and the conditions under which you earned it.
Respect for the institution from which you graduate and for institutions like it.
Respect for our community. Connecticut’s not dead. You’re the reason why.
Respect for the reality that life is not always predictable. That self-improvement is the constant. And that our ability to rise to opportunities are immeasurably enhanced by education.

You’re more ready tonight than you have ever been. And, witness your own plans, you’re not finished yet. But this is a great, great milestone.

Your achievement, and the moment you share tonight with your teachers, classmates, friends and families is truly moving and inspiring.

Congratulations. Thank you. God Bless you.

Greetings from the Faculty: Michael Carta, M.S., Professor of Chemistry, Chair, Faculty Senate

Good evening.

On behalf of the faculty at Three Rivers Community College, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to this commencement exercise and congratulate you on a job well done.

You know, the educational experience is a two-way street.

The faculty are in a unique position because we have the opportunity to observe first-hand your thought processes and creativity, your technical skills, and, above all, your individuality.

We are privileged to work with such a diverse student population and we are committed to helping you succeed; not just while you are here, but beyond Three Rivers.

As students, you have challenged us and opened our eyes to questions and viewpoints that we might not have considered.

It is our hope that you take with you fond memories (aside from the exams!) and a strong desire to continue learning … because that is what makes life interesting.

As a teacher once told me, it’s not about the subject, it’s about the students! You inspire us, and hopefully we have inspired you.

Thank you for being a part of our lives and making us better teachers. Congratulations and best of luck moving forward!

Student Graduate Address: Natallia O. Romanenko, Valedictorian

Good afternoon, fellow graduates, faculty and staff, families, and friends. It is a huge honor for me to address our Class of 2018. We finally did it!

I have been at Three Rivers for two years, and this experience has greatly changed me. I’ve met so many wonderful people here and learned so much from them. I came here for an affordable education and a flexible schedule so that I could work, study and care for my kids. I didn’t expect much from it, but I was so wrong. I am greatly impressed and deeply touched by the quality of education, faculty qualification, and warm and supportive environment here. I feel deeply grateful to all professors who taught me, and I’d like to give special thanks to:

Kelly Molkenthin, who is amazing at making math fun and engaging;
Joseph Johnson, who inspired me to major in Computer Science;
Professor Michael Carta, who taught us how to make aspirin;
and Professor George Volkov, whose digital logic opened my eyes to how machines really work…

My fellow graduates, we came to Three Rivers for different reasons: everybody here has a story to tell with his or her own dreams and struggles. Still, we all wanted to get ahead in our lives: to pursue our dreams, to identify our greatest passions, to get a better job, to find friends and mentors … but for whatever reason we came here, it was a great decision to do so.

It is not only the diploma we received here at Three Rivers. What we received was so much bigger than that: a high-quality education and confidence that we could succeed while facing difficulties. We are supposed to become more prepared for real life after college, but many of us are already facing real-life challenges: families to care for, jobs and other life commitments. Receiving a diploma for many of us meant much sacrifice.

It is not so hard to study when you have nothing else to care about. It is way more difficult to graduate from a college when you don’t have enough time, money, and energy, when you have to juggle raising kids, having a job, and being a student. I’ve spent so many nights, seated at my kitchen table, doing my homework while my kids do theirs. I made these sacrifices for the same reason that you probably did, because we want a better life and are ready to fight for it, no matter how hard it is. A quote from Theodore Roosevelt states, “Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” We should be so proud of ourselves and of the hard work we completed. Cherish this moment and this accomplishment!

Congratulations, Class of 2018! We made it![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MORE

Dominion Video Features TRCC’s Nuclear Engineering Program

Dominion/Millstone Power Station created a video featuring their partnership with TRCC’s Nuclear Engineering Technology program.

This partnership goes back to 1983 when the program was created. It has been cited as “the best nuclear technology program in the country” by former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner William D. Magwood, IV. It leads to a career as a technician for the commercial nuclear power industry and the health physics field, or to continued bachelor degree studies.

Dominion began offering their scholarship and internship program starting in 1985. Currently, 16 full-ride scholarships which include tuition and fees, books, and a monthly stipend, plus 16 paid summer internships at Dominion’s Millstone Power Station are available each year.

Interested in learning more about Dominion? Visit Dominion Millstone Power Station and Dominion Educational Programs.