Southern Maine Community College awarded hundreds of diplomas at its 68th commencement Sunday afternoon at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
More than 500 graduates participated in the ceremony. The Class of 2015 included students from Maine, 14 other states and eight foreign countries.
The South Portland-based college awarded a total of 1,057 degrees and certificates to 1,042 students this spring. Fourteen percent of the graduates, or 149 students, are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
SMCC President Ron Cantor presided over the graduation. “The Class of 2015 has distinguished itself and our graduates are destined for success,” Cantor said.
Former Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons – who saw system enrollment increase from 3,300 to more than 18,000 students during his 25-year tenure, which ended in February – gave the keynote address.
Fitzsimmons wished awareness, confidence and happiness on the graduates.
“When they write your final chapter, let them say that as successful as you were in your career, you were an even better person. Let that be your legacy,” Fitzsimmons said.
More than 94 percent of SMCC graduates enter the workforce or transfer to another school within nine months of graduation. Among them in the Class of 2015 will be Faiz Rahman-Sabean of Singapore, who is deciding among four schools he has been accepted at to continue toward his bachelor’s degree. He earned associate degrees in math and business administration at SMCC.
The Maine Community College System trustees honored Leon and Lisa Gorman, longtime supporters of Maine’s community colleges, at the commencement ceremony. He is the former president and chairman of the board of L.L. Bean Inc. and she is a community activist and a founder and vice chairwoman of The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges.
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