Dear GCC Graduates,

Congratulations! You made it!

Your hard work, hundreds of dollars spent on coffee, and thousands of hours spent taking tests, doing homework and studying all paid off when you walked across the stage to receive your diploma. Even when your courses got hard or times got rough and you weren’t sure if you could do it—you persevered and you did it!

As you congratulate yourself, it is important to thank your family, friends and professors who supported you throughout your journey here at GCC. Reminisce about your many memories, the people you’ve met, the new life-long friends you might have made, and all the opportunities and experiences you gained while learning, studying and growing here. Go to GCC’s Facebook page to see the 2017 commencement photos. Or maybe you missed some of Bill Kauffman’s great keynote address. You can read it online. Never forget where you started.

Now that you’ve graduated, good luck! Whether you are going into the working world or continuing your education, whatever your next adventure is—embrace it with hard work and determination to be the best you can be. Never doubt yourself, remembering all of the hard work you’ve gone through to get to where you are now.

Thank you for choosing GCC! Whether you chose it to get your associate degree and begin working, or if you did it to save money before transferring to a four year college or university, you made a great decision to make GCC your home for these past few years. GCC’s faculty and students will miss you, but know that your greatness will shine on.

You are now alumni and a member of the GCC Class of 2017. We can’t wait to hear your stories. Send updates of your achievements and successes to be published in the bi-annually produced Forum Alumni Newsletter via Jennifer Zambito, assistant director of Alumni Affairs, jmzambito@genesee.edu

Wishing you the all the best of luck graduates,

Danielle Lauricella & Genesee Community College

“What feels like the end is often the beginning.”