Philip A. Berry, a graduate of Borough of Manhattan Community College who is now Vice President of Global Workplace Initiatives at Colgate-Palmolive, returns to his alma mater to deliver the keynote address at BMCC’S 43rd Commencement exercises on Friday, May 30. Some 2,470 students will receive their degrees at Commencement, beginning at 11:30 AM in the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. BMCC President Antonio Pérez will preside over the ceremony.
Philip A. Berry, BMCC’s Alumnus and CUNY Trustee
Berry, a 1971 graduate of BMCC and Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York, will also receive the Presidential Medal during the ceremony. It is the College’s highest honor, given to individuals with outstanding service to the community. Berry, named one of the “100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders” by Crain’s New York Business, serves as Chair of the NYC Department of Education’s Human Resources Advisory Panel and of the CUNY Business Leadership Council, and as a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s Education Advisory Panel.
BMCC’s President Pérez said that, like Berry, the 2008 graduating class will serve as an inspiration to students from a wide variety of backgrounds: “BMCC takes great pride in providing educational opportunities to students with extraordinary potential who frequently have faced substantial obstacles to their academic careers. Not only has the class of 2008 proven their abilities to themselves, but they also demonstrate to their fellow students that academic success is within their reach.”
Belinda Fischer is Valedictorian
Belinda Fischer of Brooklyn will be honored as the graduating class’s Valedictorian. Born and raised in Austria, she worked as a bookseller but felt unfulfilled and decided to seek new challenges. She moved to Central America where she learned Spanish, developed a passion for traveling and realized that she wanted to pursue an academic career. She came to New York and enrolled at BMCC. A Dean’s List student with a 4.0 GPA, she is the Vice President of the “Out in Two” Scholars Club, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, a note taker, proctor and reader for students with disabilities, and a member of the BMCC Student World Assembly Chapter. She has also completed an honor’s project with Modern Languages Professor, Hilario Barrero, on “En las huellas de los Mayas.”
In addition to her academic success, Fischer was a volunteer at the Housing Works Used Book Café, where she provided assistance to the homeless and those with HIV/AIDS. She is a member of the United Nations Association of the United States, was an active participant in the National Model UN – as part of her delegation, she was honored as “Distinguished Delegate” and created two resolutions for the United Nations General Assembly – and she has done volunteer work in Austria and Guatemala.
Fischer now attends City College, where she is majoring in International Studies. Her goal is to work for the United Nations and use her linguistic skills, her passion and her educational, professional, and volunteer experience to improve the welfare and well-being of communities throughout the world.
Khrystal DeMyers is Salutatorian
Khrystal DeMyers of Brooklyn will be honored as the graduating class’s Salutatorian. She was born in Canada and raised in St. Lucia, Virgin Islands. She enrolled at BMCC and pursued a degree in Accounting, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She has always had a passion for accounting, even during her high school years, as well as an employee of the National Insurance Corporation. In addition, she has been on the Dean’s List and is a member of both the Honor Society for Black and Latino Students and the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa.
Besides her academic accomplishments, she has been very involved in the extracurricular life of the College and her community. She has served as a senator for the BMCC Student Government Association, chairperson of the House of Clubs, and president of the Fashion Media Arts Club, and has done volunteer work for Hands on New Orleans and for Catholic Charities.
