The Catskill Chronicle

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY – Sullivan County Community College will hold its 46^th annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse. 

This year’s class speaker will be Miriam Asare of Mount Vernon, NY. Asare will be graduating with honors from the college’s nursing program. During her time at SCCC, she took part in the Honors Program which stresses academic excellence, personal achievement and community service. In addition, Asare is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and received the organization’s All-USA Academic Team award. She also will be recognized with a State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. 

Approximately 236 students are expected to graduate this academic year.    

Commencement speakers include SCCC President Dr. Mamie Howard-Golladay, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Sullivan County Legislator Leni Binder and SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees Chairperson Phyllis Coombe. As part of the ceremony, there will be three faculty/staff SUNY Chancellor’s Award presentations: 

· SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching: Debra Lewkiewicz, assistant professor and chair, division of mathematics and natural sciences;

· SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service: Cheryl Welsch, data development specialist, IT department; and 

· SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service: Anne Gattus, administrative secretary, division of liberal arts and humanities.

In addition, the pinning ceremony for the college’s nursing program graduates will be held in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at 9:00 a.m. on the same day. Approximately 52 nursing students are expected to graduate.

Founded in 1962, SUNY Sullivan is a two-year community college and a part of the State University of New York.  It offers 40 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as a variety of continuing education and specialty courses, on its 405-acre campus, online and through its distance learning program.  For more information, visit www.sunysullivan.edu.