College Celebrates Class of 2023 Commencement

The Class of 2023 was celebrated during commencement ceremonies at Tompkins Cortland Community College Tuesday, May 23. The College held its 52nd in-person commencement, recognizing the 449 members of the class in the College's gymnasium.

Professor Matty Hamel, serving as Grand Marshal, opened the ceremony and Board of Trustees Chair Judy Davison welcomed the graduates and guests. Student Trustee Louis Scholl offered comments on behalf of the student body. “If I needed to choose one word when I think of the class of 2023, it would be perseverance,” said Scholl. “No matter what came you way… through thick and thin, you still made it to this day and that is truly incredible.”

Student Trustee Louis Scholl

President Amy Kremenek closed the proceedings with a charge to the graduates. “I am sure that you have learned at TC3 that academic inquiry teaches us to approach the world with an open mind,” said Kremenek. “It teaches us to approach the world with an open mind. It teaches us to consider and to research, to listen earnestly, and to engage each other with kindness.” She talked about how the graduates have been taught to take educated risks, and she encouraged them to look for opportunities to say “yes,” even when it might be uncomfortable. “To me, this means saying yes to small things like saying hello to people you don’t know yet, letting someone else go first when they’re clearly juggling a lot,” she said. “There are big things, too. Saying yes to trying something new when you’re not sure you will succeed, saying yes to making the first move when you don’t know for sure what will happen next, saying yes to a new project, promotion or opportunity at work or in your community, and saying yes to stepping up when someone else needs you.”

Kremenek ended her remarks with a request for each of the graduates. “As you go forth in the next chapter of our life, seek out the good in people, seek out understanding, meet people where they are, and, finally, I encourage you to actively look for reasons and opportunities to say yes!”