‘Persevering is a choice you make on your own,’ top grad tells Class of 2024
Nearly 1,000 graduates from programs within the School of Business and Management were the latest to join Niagara College’s alumni community during the fourth day of Spring Convocation ceremonies inside the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre at the Welland Campus, Thursday, June 13.
Among them was Becky Sciliberto, the recipient of the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal, whose 94% average was the highest of all students studying in a degree program at Niagara College.
This is only the second year that an NC student was awarded a Governor General’s Academic Medal at the Silver level. Governor General’s Academic Medals are presented annually to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs.
Earlier in the week, Recreation Therapy graduate Julianna Pennings was presented with a Governor General’s Collegiate Bronze Medal in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement (98% average) in a diploma program.
Already a Niagara College alumna (Business Administration-Accounting, 2007), Sciliberto graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration in International Commerce and Global Development program. As she was writing her speech to her fellow graduates, she said she was inspired by an art piece by street artist and political activist Banksy that reads, ‘Be someone who makes you happy.’
“I realized that over my lifetime, that has always been my goal,” she said, and she offered three insights that have guided her.
“One, you will not always receive the validation and support you need from others. To succeed, persevering is a choice you make on your own every day. Two, we all have a unique path ahead; make sure you’re proud of the one you’re on. And three is simple: Be kind. Be kind to yourself, others and the planet. Generosity through kindness goes a long way and is proven to have a multiplying effect.”
It was a sentiment Niagara College President Sean Kennedy also shared in his address to the Class of 2024.
“I hope that you’ll always remember the power and importance of kindness,” Kennedy said. “Be kind to your family, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbours and to total strangers. Small acts of kindness can be a strong antidote to life’s struggles and challenges, to all of the bad news that we are so often surrounded by.
“Strive every day to make a difference in the lives of others through being kind. And, perhaps most importantly, remember to always be kind to yourself.”
NC’s Spring Convocation will continue on June 14 with two more ceremonies for the Schools of Nursing and Personal Support Worker, Academic and Liberal Studies, Business and Management, and English Language Studies.
On June 15, the week will conclude with two final Convocation ceremonies for the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker.
This year’s graduating class marks Niagara College’s largest ever – 5,500 – warranting an extra day of Convocation ceremonies.
A full schedule and list of programs graduating within each School is available in the ‘Ceremony Schedule’ section of Niagara College’s Convocation website. All ceremonies will be livestreamed and available for later viewing.
For more information, visit niagaracollege.ca/convocation.
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 11,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
(Attribution: Niagara College media release)
fromareportersnotebook 