秘色传媒

For Immediate Release
September 3, 2014

Convocation 2014: A Legacy Transforms and Empowers Individuals.

A legacy transforms and empowers individuals, 秘色传媒 President Dr. Shaun L. McKay told more than 300 students, faculty, staff and distinguished retirees on Tuesday afternoon at the College鈥檚 annual Convocation marking the start of the new college semester.

President McKay told the group, gathered in the Ammerman Campus鈥� Brookhaven Gymnasium, that 秘色传媒 is the single most important entity that affects the lives of Suffolk County residents and serves as a vibrant economic engine. 

鈥淲hat we do collectively and individually changes people's lives,鈥� President McKay said. 鈥淓ducation transforms lives by empowering people; this empowerment allows people to achieve, to create, to thrive 鈥� thereby creating a legacy of progress. This legacy, in turn, transforms individuals and our local communities and continuing an economic cycle indefinitely,鈥�

President McKay added that,  鈥淓ach one of us here today, each faculty member, retiree, administrator, staff member 鈥� every student 鈥� will be called upon to establish a legacy that will transform lives moving forward. And together, we 鈥� you and I 鈥� have the responsibility to create the legacy of 秘色传媒.鈥�

Richard 鈥淏ud鈥� Macy, a 秘色传媒 Class of 1968 graduate, retired Professor of Mechanical Technology, and president of the Retirees Association of Suffolk Community College led the Convocation鈥檚 processional and recessional. Three new professors emeriti were also honored.

 Dafny J. Irizarry, chairwoman of the College鈥檚 Board of Trustees, welcomed new students and pledged, 鈥淎s we begin this new academic year, and on behalf of all the members of our College鈥檚 Board of Trustees, I pledge our continued commitment to govern the College in a manner that ensures confidence in the institution鈥檚 leadership, and in its academic, financial and strategic priorities,鈥� she said.  

Keynote remarks were delivered by Suffolk graduate Eric Martinez, an attorney and certified public accountant. 鈥淪uffolk was a place that changed my life,鈥� said Martinez. 鈥淭o this day, when my brothers and sisters and I get together, we talk about how important Suffolk was to our development as individuals and how the teachers really cared about our growth,鈥� he said.

 The event鈥檚 welcome and introductions were handled by Dr. Filiz Turhan-Swenson, Professor of English.

This past spring, President McKay said, 14 Suffolk students received State University of New York Chancellor鈥檚 Awards for Student Excellence, the highest number of student honorees in the state.  Five members of the College鈥檚 faculty, staff and administration recently received 2013-2014 SUNY Chancellor鈥檚 Awards for Excellence:

鈥�           Dr. Amy Czura, Associate Professor of Biology - Eastern Campus

鈥�           Mr. Drew Fawcett, College Associate Dean of Institutional Advancement

鈥�           Christopher Gherardi, Associate Dean for Faculty and Professional Advancement


鈥�           Dr. Dan Gilhooley, Professor of Visual Arts - Ammerman Campus

鈥�           Junius Atkins, Jr., Plant Operations Custodial Worker III - Eastern Campus