{"id":93611,"date":"2018-05-12T13:31:35","date_gmt":"2018-05-12T17:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=93611"},"modified":"2018-05-12T22:37:03","modified_gmt":"2018-05-13T02:37:03","slug":"suny-cantons-110th-commencement-honors-class-of-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=93611","title":{"rendered":"SUNY Canton’s 110th Commencement Honors Class of 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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John G. Maines III receives a hood denoting his honorary doctorate from SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran at the college’s 110th Commencement ceremony. Maines is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who got his start with the SUNY Canton student newspaper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SUNY Canton’s 110th Commencement Honors Class of 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

SUNY Canton celebrated the accomplishments of nearly 900 graduates during the college’s 110th Commencement ceremony held Saturday, May 12, at the Roos House Convocation Athletic and Recreation Center.<\/p>\n

President Zvi Szafran and SUNY Canton College Council Chair Ronald M. O’Neill, class of 1963, welcomed family and friends and congratulated the class of 2018 on their accomplishments.<\/p>\n

Both also took the opportunity to acknowledge a special milestone in college history. It was five decades ago that SUNY Canton moved from a small cluster of buildings adjacent to the St. Lawrence University campus to its current location, marking a new era.<\/p>\n

“All graduations are special, but you have the added distinction of being the class who graduates during our ’50 Years on the Hill’ commemoration,” O’Neill said.<\/p>\n

Szafran read a congratulatory message from alumna Rosella M. Todd Valentine, who was among the first cohort to graduate from the new campus in 1968.<\/p>\n

“The year 1968 was a tumultuous and pivotal year, and so is 2018,” she wrote. “You have much to look forward to, but also much to do. Go out, do good things, and always remember the wonderful start this college has given you.”<\/p>\n

Szafran noted this year’s class comprises graduates who range in age from 18 to 62 years old and represent 17 different states and 7 foreign countries, including Angola, Australia, The Bahamas, Cameroon, Finland, Sweden and Canada.<\/p>\n

He then introduced Student Government Association President and David R. Maynard Student Activities Award winner Rachel “Nikki” Zeitzmann, who delivered the senior class address. She encouraged her fellow graduates to build upon the lessons they learned while completing their degrees.<\/p>\n

“My hope is that we continue to expand what we have built as groundwork here into our future careers,” she said. “We may be separated, but we will never be divided from our SUNY Canton foundation.”<\/p>\n

Several outstanding students received special recognition, including:<\/p>\n