Courtesy photo Nashua Community College on Saturday graduated 299 during the 2019 commencement ceremony.

NASHUA – This year, 299 graduates completed associate degrees or certificates across more than 50 academic programs at Nashua Community College. Of the graduates, 184 participated in the Saturday commencement ceremony.

“Every year, the graduates of this college move on to great four-year colleges, or fulfilling careers – and sometimes, both at the same time,” Community College System of New Hampshire Chief Operating Officer Charles Ansell said Saturday.

The Nashua college is one of seven CCSNH institutions.

“It is my belief that our college is a transformative place,” NCC President Lucille Jordan said during the ceremony. Jordan highlighted several student stories to illustrate who the class of 2019 is.

Examples she cited include Collision Repair graduate Alex, who had twin girls while a student and was able to complete his degree, and single mom Faith, who worked a full-time job and graduated from the aviation technology program and will now pursue a bachelor’s degree.

“You didn’t lose sight of your goal,” Jordan said to graduates.

Graduate and Student Senate President Alice Denyou gave the student address, and advised her peers to be resilient.

“There’s always going to be obstacles in life and sometimes it seems impossible to overcome them. But, there’s always a way,” Denyou said.

“Sitting before me are people from different generations, different economic classes, and different backgrounds. But, we all came together for one purpose; to better ourselves and accomplish our goals. At NCC, it is not about the opportunities you are given, but about the opportunities you make and the obstacles you overcome. It is not about where you started or where you should be. It is about where you are now,” Denyou added.

The Honorable Judge Jacalyn A. Colburn delivered the commencement address.

“Keep this basic tenent in mind and you will be successful: Do the next right thing,” Colburn said. “Our lives are a summary of the choices we’ve made.”

At commencement, Jordan awarded the President’s Service Award to Coburn, who presides over the Hillsborough County Adult Drug Court. Colburn was appointed to the New Hampshire Superior Court bench in 2009 and sits as the supervisory judge in Hillsborough County-South.

Jordan awarded the President’s Academic Excellence Award to class of 2019 graduate Sergei Bondarenko. After moving to the U.S. from Belarus at age 19, Bondarenko earned his associate degree in software development with honors. He is heading to Amherst College this fall as a junior-level student.

The Rev. Michael Kerper of Saint Patrick’s Church in Nashua did the invocation, and urged the audience toward solidarity, gratitude, and hope.

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