By Nathan Duke
Hundreds of graduates who ranged in age from 19 to 70 enthusiastically cheered on their classmates last week in Bayside during Queensborough Community College’s 49th annual commencement.
A massive gathering of students, families, Queensborough administration and Queens elected officials celebrated the accomplishments of the school’s graduates in the class of 2010 Friday under a large tent on the school’s lawn.
“There is palpable enthusiasm for what is happening in Bayside today,” said Eduardo Marti, the college’s president. “Today, there are among you veterans who placed their lives at risk for you. Among you are those who have overcome insurmountable obstacles.”
A total 1,672 students graduated from the college this year. Hundreds of them marched across the stage last week.
At the ceremony, Borough President Helen Marshall announced that Marti had been named deputy chancellor of the city’s community college system.
The school’s president said this year’s graduates hailed from a diverse variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. The youngest graduate was 19 while the eldest was 70.
Parents sailed bright, colorful balloons with “Class of 2010” or “Graduate” written on them above the heads of the audience.
Elected officials representing Queens said the students were graduating into a difficult economy, but that their training at Queensborough had left them well prepared.
“These are tough times, but Queensborough graduates: You are tougher, smarter and more resilient,” U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y) said. “Figure out what your dream is now and reach deep inside yourself to see if you can reach it. Go for it.”
This year’s President’s Award for the highest scholastic average went to Harshpreet Kaur, while the Joseph McMurray Award, for the second-highest average, was given to Monica Quintero, who also took the Col. John C. Lackas Award for the highest average in the Applied Science program.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Award, for a student who promotes leadership and racial harmony, was given to Billy Jnohope, while the Thomas R. Jennings Memorial Award for an outstanding student in the Liberal Arts and Sciences was handed to Edwin Gonzalez.
Student Fan Kit Tsang was given the Associate in Science Achievement Award, while Student Government President Gladys Juca won the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award for community leadership.
“Today, we celebrate our achievement and success,” she said. “We are taking a bigger step toward our future and accomplishments. All milestones are earned one step at a time.”
State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) quoted philosopher and psychologist John Dewey in his speech to the graduates: “Education is not the preparation for life. Education is life.”
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
