OLEAN, N.Y. — A student body, varied in age and background, were united under the term “graduate” during commencement ceremonies for the Jamestown Community College Cattaraugus County Campus class of 2015.
“I am constantly amazed at the high quality of our students,” said Dr. Cory Duckworth, JCC president. They are bright, intelligent and dedicated to accomplishing wonderful things through hard work. Many of them have overcome difficult challenges.”
He described a student from Haiti, who came to campus not yet able to speak English. He also highlighted among this year’s class a grandmother who put off her education until her children were grown.
With the many roads of the scholars sitting before him, John Sayegh, JCC vice president of the Cattaraugus County Campus, took a moment to appreciate the sea of hard-earned caps and gowns.
“All those caps and gowns symbolize your hard work — the obtainment of your goals — and it is a wonderful view,” said Sayegh.
The administrators also took time during the ceremony to recognize not just the graduates, but also those who supported them along the way.
“Graduates, there is another group in this room who deserve recognition and thanks today — your families,” Duckworth added. “Without the support of your loved ones … your achievement would have been much more difficult, if not entirely impossible.”
The president of the college noted that this class was the 39th to graduate from JCC Cattaraugus County Campus, joining thousands of proud alumni.
With a nod toward that legacy, Sayegh reminded the graduates of the responsibility ahead of them.
“The milestone that you will reach today should be a step for many more accomplishments in your personal and professional lives,” he said. “The same resolve and endurance, perseverance and resilience that you have show to this point will be used to propel you and help you reach your goals.
“Today we add your names to the JCC success stories, and you are charged with the duty of upholding a strong and honorable tradition of success forged by JCC alumni. I wish you all the best as you rise to meet it.”
The degree candidates are Shawn Dubin, Juley Kime, Jeremy Pula, Lindsay Putt, Gabriella Ross and Danielle Wisniewski of Allegany; Brandi Kio of Austin, Pa.; Shelby Middaugh of Belfast; Nicholas Fanton and Amanda Fay of Belmont; Brandi Lananger of Bolivar; Shelby Bello, Kara Chapman, Carrie Gerwitz, Olivia Hollowell, Meredith Hubbard, Brock Muntz, Claudia Neu and Walter White of Cuba; Nina Metzger of Delevan; Daniel Merriam of Fillmore; Daniel DaSilva of Franklinville; Dallas Glover and Christopher Morey of Friendship; Taylor Sherman of Great Valley; Lance Easton and Tyler Elderkin of Hinsdale; Lindsay Langworthy and Megan O’Donnell of Kill Buck; Brittany Schroeder of Lakeland, Fla.; Abigail Maguire of Limestone; Julia Barnes and Randy Parker of Little Genesee; Elizabeth Glanowski of Machias; Joseph Anderson, William Beggs, Deanna Broughton, Adam Cashimere, Amy Chaffee, Trista Dickerson, Brigette Duvall, Gregory Farris, Hannah Forrest, Halee George, Kari Hall, Stacie Hatzell, Robert Herrmann, Laveren Jimerson, Sirwan Kakarash, Ebenezer Kamara, Rebecca Kasper, Faith Labadie, Robin Lananger, Junel Lapp, Courtney Lentz, Kristi Lewis, Michael Lyons, Marissa Magro, Carl McGowen, Ashley Pavlock, Carolyn Payne, Judith Perry, Ryan Robbins, Janet Sanderson, Michael Slater, Jonathan Smith, Michael Sparkie, Melissa Stephen, Jordan Strauss, Nicole Tucker, Melinda Weber, Deanna Wetherby and David Woodbridge of Olean; Diane Blauvelt, Jessica Martin and Andi Mix of Portville; Reesa Abrams, David Camden, Kariann Kettle, Megan Koniak, Amanda Mazzone, Carly Tucker and Carol Williams of Salamanca; Ashlyn Comstock of Scio; Jessica Barr of Shinglehouse, Pa.; Nurlelah Litzburg, Mary Lowery and Nicole White of Wellsville; and Catelyne Unterburger-Mazur of Yorkshire.
Candidates for the AAS nursing degree include Amanda Elliott, Elizabeth Rodgers and Kristina Schlepko of Allegany; Grace Dowd of Andover; Amy Sheer of Arcade; Aisling Barton, Jean Mahoney, Alexis Weaver and Katie Weaver of Belfast; Jeanette Decker of Belmont; Hiliary Armagost, Shana Maybee and Lisa Traina of Salamanca; Katie Alviti, Carley Frisina, Lindsay Kroah, Jessie Mascho, Olivia Mascho, Mary Sirline and Brooke Soyke of Bradford, Pa.; Amanda Fry of Coudersport, Pa.; Sarah Arnold of Caneadea; Amie Secrist of Cuba; Inge Thomas of Eldred, Pa.; Allyson Ciesla and Katherine Elliott-Thompson of Franklinville; Joshua Clayson of Great Valley; Joshua Creed of Kill Buck; Brittany Bentley of Little Genesee; Bethany Territo of Machias; Margaret Chamberlain, Carley Donahue, Ryan Hasper, Atiya Ramadhan, Kristin Simon, Pamela Todd and Nicole Walker of Olean; Sadie Cole of Shinglehouse, Pa.; and Melanie Murphy of Smethport, Pa.
