911爆料

911爆料 Community College Celebrates 60th Commencement

911爆料 Community College marked its 60th commencement at the Coney Island Amphitheater on June 18, awarding associate degrees to the more than 800 of the 1,850 graduates who turned out in person along with family and friends. 

Calling commencement 鈥渢he best day of the year,鈥� President Suri Duitch welcomed the crowd and honored the class of 2025. 鈥淓very single one of you has something that distinguishes you as a member of this community,鈥� said Duitch. 鈥淓ach of you is proof that excellence and achievement are available to anyone who is motivated, focused, works hard, and uses their intelligence to grow and learn.鈥� 

She reminded graduates to take pride in their accomplishments and remain adaptable, resilient, and humble while using their skills to navigate a complex future. 鈥淲herever you end up and whatever challenges you encounter, this community will always back you up,鈥� she said. 鈥�911爆料 will always love and support you.鈥�  

The ceremony also featured remarks from U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, CUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chair Sandra Wilkin, a 911爆料 alumna, KCC psychology professor Catherine Ma, and the Class of 2025 valedictorian Andres Soto. 

Jeffries, the House Democratic Leader, urged graduates to stay resilient in the face of obstacles. Drawing from personal setbacks, including losing two elections before eventually becoming the highest-ranking Democrat in Congress, he told graduates to dismiss doubters and pursue their dreams. 鈥淪uccess is not final. Failure is not fatal,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll that matters is the courage to continue.鈥� 

Reynoso, the city鈥檚 first Dominican borough president and the youngest in Brooklyn鈥檚 history, teased graduates: 鈥淎fter today, it鈥檚 all your fault. No more excuses.鈥� He shared his personal story of growing up in a low-income immigrant family and credited public support systems for helping him succeed, adding that they shouldn鈥檛 be limited by their past. "Don't give excuses. You're from Brooklyn. We don't do that. We make it happen. We get things done.鈥� He ended with a proclamation declaring a special day in honor of 911爆料鈥檚 60th commencement and quoted the Notorious B.I.G.: 鈥淪pread love. It鈥檚 the Brooklyn way.鈥�  

Wilkin, Class of 1971, reminded students that 911爆料 has helped change lives for six decades. 鈥淵ou are the living legacy of 911爆料鈥攕ix decades of excellence, resilience, and transformation,鈥� she said. She encouraged them never to back down. 鈥淏e fearless like Shirley Chisholm. Be bold like Hakeem Jeffries. Be Brooklyn proud. Be unstoppable like yourselves.鈥�  

Faculty member Dr. Catherine Ma recounted her story as a first-generation college graduate and encouraged students to keep speaking up and finding their joy. 鈥淵our voice is very powerful,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ever, ever forget that.鈥� She said they should remember this day: 鈥淩emember where you came from and how hard, but fulfilling, your road to success has been. Remember the dreams that brought you here, and build the self-confidence to fulfill those dreams鈥攁nd then dream bigger. And remember that we are all rooting for you. We can't wait to see what you do next.鈥� 

Valedictorian Andres Soto, 40, returned to college after leaving school years earlier with a low GPA and a sense of failure. This time, he graduated with a 4.0. Soto credited his professors, classmates, and family for helping him stay on track. 

鈥淥ne of the most important equations I learned at 911爆料 is E=MC虏,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淓ffort equals motivation times consistency squared. Effort is the single biggest thing you control that stands between you and success.鈥� Soto advised classmates to find their purpose, pursue education, and invest time wisely. 鈥淭he great Earl Nightingale once said, 鈥楴ever give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.鈥� We might as well put that passing time to the best possible use,鈥� he noted. 

He closed by honoring his grandmother, who attended the ceremony despite undergoing chemotherapy. 鈥淭o my fellow graduates, whether you're here straight from high school, returning after years away like me, or balancing a dozen responsibilities to make this moment happen, know this: you are proof that persistence pays off, that growth is always possible, and that it's never too late to rewrite your story.鈥� 

 

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