Senator Charles Schumer, Keynote Speaker at BMCC’s 45th Commencement

This year’s Commencement will feature keynote speaker U.S. Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer from New York, Presidential Medal Honoree Raymond O’Keefe, and Valedictorian Leslie-Ann Reid-Bacchus.

The Spring 2010 graduating class also includes graduates from August 2009 and January 2010, for a total of over 2,700 graduates.

Senator Schumer: supporting students’ “opportunity to thrive”

Keynote Speaker Senator Charles Schumer, born and raised in Brooklyn, is Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, a consumer advocate and pioneer in the fight against crime. He authored the Omnibus Crime Bill, which put 100,000 new police officers on the street, and was a leading sponsor of the Brady Bill, which instituted mandatory background checks for handgun purchases, the Violence Against Women Act, and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

In addition, Schumer has delivered over $20 billion in aid to New York City since 9-11, and is a tireless proponent of educational opportunity for all students, especially those in need of financial aid.

“Where you grow up and how much money you have should not define your potential and opportunity to thrive,” says Schumer.  “In these trying economic times, our nation and our state cannot afford to lose tomorrow’s doctors and scientists and teachers. Investing in education is one of the most important investments we can make.”

Raymond O’Keefe honored with Presidential Medal

BMCC President Antonio Pérez will also address the graduates, and present the Presidential Medal to long-time BMCC supporter Raymond O’Keefe, a successful real estate broker with a 44-year career, and philanthropist known for his civic leadership.

O’Keefe founded the BMCC College Foundation, and as President of the James T. Lee Foundation has awarded over $300,000 in scholarship support to BMCC. He is also past Chairman of the Young Men’s and Women’s Real Estate Association in New York, former Chairman of the Brokerage Division of the Real Estate Board of New York, and recipient of the Real Estate Board’s Louis Smadbeck Memorial Broker Recognition Award, and Kenneth R. Garrety Humanitarian Award.

A former President of Grubb & Ellis New York Inc., O’Keefe is now a Principal at the prestigious and highly specialized commercial real estate consultancy, Gallin Glick Sullivan O’Keefe.

Valedictorian Leslie-Ann Reid-Bacchus: “I was not alone”

This year’s Commencement Valedictorian, Leslie-Ann Reid-Bacchus, an Out-in-Two scholar who came from Trinidad and worked as a full-time nanny before pursuing her education says, “At BMCC, I learned that I was not alone. BMCC wants nothing more than to help you succeed, and this aim is personified in its staff and faculty.”

Reid-Bacchus graduated from BMCC with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in Fall 2009, and is now majoring in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University, with plans to become a speech and language pathologist.

“I hope to work in the public school system,” she says, “where I would help children improve their speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension skills, and give them a much-needed boost up the ladder of success.”