Having the ability to “bounce back when life throws you a curve ball will help you to survive challenging situations that you may face” were the words of advice given to graduates by Lee Woodruff, Niagara County Community College Keynote Speaker at the 53rd annual commencement ceremony on Saturday at the Seneca Niagara Events Center in Niagara Falls, NY. Woodruff, the best-selling co-author of In an Instant, the inspirational story of her family’s emotional recovery following her husband’s bomb injury in Iraq. Woodruff is a contributing editor to CBS This Morning and has written numerous articles on family and parenting for Real Simple, Parade, Ladies’ Home Journal, Redbook, Country Living, and Family Fun. Her best-selling book “Perfectly Imperfect – A Life in Progress”, was followed by her first novel “Those We Love Most,” which became a New York Times best-seller.
Three hundred and sixty eight graduates walked the stage and received diplomas from NCCC Officer in Charge and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Luba Chliwniak, Trustee Bonnie R. Sloma, Trustee Jason J. Cafarella and Trustee Sheila Smith. The master of ceremonies was Board Chairperson Vincent Ginestre and participating in the program were Board of Trustee members Bradley W. Rowles, Gina I. Virtuoso, William L. Ross, and Student Trustee Katelynn DeLac. Also speaking were Professor Amanda Pollard on behalf of the NCCC faculty and graduate Derek Pew, recipient of the President’s Medallion.
NCCC is one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York, the largest public university system in the country. The College provides more than 70 certificate and degree programs to over 7,000 students and is funded by the Niagara County Legislature, the State University of New York, and student tuition.
