More than 2,000 students of BMCC’s 2008 graduating class celebrated the end of their “Start Here” and the beginning of their “Go Anywhere” on May 30 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden.
Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer made a surprise appearance at the college’s 43rd commencement, praising BMCC as “one of the finest community colleges not just in New York City, but in the whole country.”
BMCC alumnus Philip Berry (’71), vice chairperson of the CUNY Board of Trustees and vice president of global workplace initiatives at Colgate-Palmolive, gave the keynote address. Afterwards, he also received the Presidential Medal in recognition of his longstanding commitment to BMCC.
“I can tell you from experience that you will never regret learning the habit of working hard, and that you will treasure your decision to attend BMCC for the rest of your life,” Berry told the crowd of students, staff, faculty, and joyous families.
Salutatorian and Valedictory Addresses
The 2008 Salutatorian and Valedictorian, Khrystal DeMyers and Belinda Fischer, respectively, have much in common. Both were born and raised in another country — DeMyers was born in Canada, and raised in St. Lucia, West Indies, while Fischer was born and raised in Austria — and both were extremely active in the community while holding a 4.0 GPA.
In her welcoming address, DeMyers told classmates to reflect on the challenges they met on the way to graduation.
“The struggle will always be a part of our journey, and our challenge is to transform these barriers into something positive. But we have proven to be capable of such transformations: we’re all sitting here today,” said DeMyers, an accounting major and former BMCC Student Government Association senator.
After quitting her job as a bookseller in Austria in 2005, Fischer traveled to Guatemala to study Spanish. Wanting to go back to school, she did some research and ended up picking BMCC, a choice she credits for her success.
“We are living in times of change after all and can be whoever we want to be,” she said, “and whatever our title may be in the future, the BMCC community, the faculty, staff, and fellow students, equipped us with the skills and confidence to do great things.”
Fischer, who has begun working toward a degree in International Studies at City College, bid her fellow students adieu by reminding them that “the relationships we built here with faculty, staff and peers will endure.”
“The door to BMCC won’t close on us when we leave here today. The finals and term papers may be over, but the relationships and memories from our time at BMCC will last forever.”
The Keynote Speaker’s Turn
Berry took the podium to a room continuing to fill with energy, as the conferring of degrees was to follow his speech.
But Berry, who is one of the “100 Most Powerful Minority Leaders in New York City” according to Crain’s New York Business magazine, got the attention he deserved by sharing valuable advice, and letting the graduates know how lucky they were.
“As graduates of BMCC, you have a clear advantage as you consider and prepare for your professional life,” he told the crowd. “You are graduating from a community college, the very best place both to learn specific skills in practical areas and to gain new perspectives and new ways of thinking.”
He compared an education at BMCC to the building blocks of lifelong success.
“Do not underestimate the foundation that BMCC has provided you. The certification you will receive today is far more than a job application or a transfer transcript. It is the strategic architecture for your life. How you build upon this foundation is both your challenge and your opportunity,” he said.
Then, Berry closed with a request:
“From one BMCC alumnus to another, I ask you: please do not sit on the sidelines. Do what the college has taught you so well: Keep learning. Set high goals. Work harder than you thought possible. Take on the most challenging tasks you can. And apply all of that to making the world a place that truly reflects the very best of the human spirit.”
