News

May 16, 2017

SUNY Schenectady County Community College Class of 2017 to Graduate This Week, 5/18

On Thursday, May 18, 2017, SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY SCCC) will celebrate its 47th Commencement, as another group of students graduate with transfer degrees, career degrees and certificates. SUNY SCCC’s Commencement will take place at Proctors in downtown Schenectady at 2 p.m., with more than 570 students earning degrees and certificates in academic programs within the Division of  Business, Criminal Justice and Law; School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism; Division of Liberal Arts; Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health; and School of Music.

Dr. Steady Moono, SUNY SCCC President, will deliver remarks, and the keynote address will be given by New York State Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul, the highest-ranking female elected official in state government. Lt. Gov. Hochul chairs the Community College Councils and is widely regarded as a champion for women and families statewide.

“I’m incredibly proud of the SUNY SCCC Class of 2017, and all that they have accomplished to be able to walk across Proctors stage,” said Dr. Steady Moono, SUNY SCCC President. “They’re talented and committed, and I look forward to hearing all about their new career paths and their successes. We appreciate our alumni and are thrilled to count this new group of graduates among them.”

The student address will be given by Margaret Ketchen, president of the Student Government Association, who will earn an associate’s degree in Paralegal. Ketchen is set to study civil engineering and public policy at the University at Albany this fall.

Notable graduates include:

  • Richard Ham is a Criminal Justice major whose passion for law began as a child. He plans to transfer on after SUNY SCCC to either Morehouse College (earning an impressive academic scholarship), the University at Albany or Union College. Then, it’s off to law school and a career in criminal law to examine and help reform government policy focusing on the way that offenders are treated in the system. A member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Richard is active in the community, facilitating domestic violence accountability and prevention classes for parolees through Community Fathers and serving as a youth worker at Safe Inc., in Schenectady.
  • Jennifer Van Strander is a Teacher Education major whose lifelong dream has been to teach elementary school. She will be attending SUNY Oneonta this fall for her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education 1-6 and then wants to return to the area to pursue her master’s degree. While at SUNY SCCC, Jennifer maintained a 3.94 GPA and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and secretary of the Student Volunteer Organization.
  • Andrena Nichols is a Computer Networking Systems and Cyber Security major who began attending SUNY SCCC after retiring from a career in business administration in her native Virginia. She followed her passion for computers, continuing to persevere even while dealing with a lung cancer diagnosis. This mother of two and grandmother of five plans to run her own computer repair business.

The College will host a reception for graduates and their guests in the Student Commons in Elston Hall immediately following the ceremony.

Honors Convocation will be held the same day, at 9:30 a.m. in the Carl B. Taylor Auditorium, where 127 students will receive multiple honors, including the Broughton Fellowship Program for Excellence Award, the Hector Boiardi Scholarships, and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.