Ninety students received degrees at the College of St. Joseph’s 60th and final commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2019. CSJ President Jennifer Scott conferred degrees upon the graduates with Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. David Balfour and Board of Trustees Chair A. Jay Kenlan. Commencement speakers included journalist and author Yvonne Daley, Sister Shirley Campbell, and President Jennifer Scott. In her keynote address, Ms. Daley spoke to the importance of education and its affordability for all. “Education is the key to real and lasting freedom. To be informed, to fill your mind with knowledge, not just facts but important concepts and beautiful words, to be able to discern the truth, is a gift that will stay with you throughout life… We must ensure that education becomes affordable for all who are willing and able to do the work… Of all the places on the planet you could have landed, you could be huddled in a refugee camp or living on a spot of land ravaged by any form of mayhem. But you are here, safe, blessed, accomplished, graduated.” Sister Shirley Campbell called upon the graduates to live by the Mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph. “I ask you as you walk out these doors today, take an inventory of what your values are,” said Sister Shirley Campbell. “We have a world that is suffering right now. … You folks, young people, have the ability to turn things around.” President Scott, in her Farewell Address, spoke to endurance, perseverance, and hope as she shared the story of The Hill of 100,000 Crosses in Lithuania, a place of pilgrimage which has withstood devastation, destruction and desecration for 800 years, and still stands today. “The Hill of Crosses, while beautiful, is made even more exquisite by the sacrifice and perseverance of the faithful who refused to be defined by others’ hypocrisy and instead raised their voices and spoke their truth. “As you reflect on your time at CSJ, and as you take in the significance of this bittersweet commencement, my hope is that you will carry these memories forward with pride and gratitude. That, shaped by this education and your own values, and inspired by all those who have gone before you, that you will continue to be a force for good in the community, and in the world. This is the enduring mission of CSJ, and this is the charge that comes with your degree today. “Know that wherever you go, whatever you do, CSJ will always remain in your hearts, and will provide a permanent bond to each other.” Class of 2019 Associate of Arts Jason Albert (Chester, VT); Samantha Beaudreault (Rumson, NJ); Junior Bonhomme (Lynn, MA); Nichole Campton (Rutland, VT); William Leino (Queens, NY); Bethany Manfredi (Rutland, VT); Ajaylla Rotan (Miama, FL); Mathew Santiago (Bronx, NY). Associate of Science Madison Akins (Hudson Falls, NY); Alicia Brown (Poultney, VT); Leonard Charles-Titus (Jackson Heights, NY); Jayla Latham (Springfield, MA); Maleek Leslie (Boston, MA); Aubreanna-Rose Petit (Bennington, VT); Benjamin Reardon (Pittsford, VT); Leila Sakanova (Astana, Kazakhstan); Chrishanna Wright (Rutland, VT). Bachelor of Arts Alec Babyak (Tafton, PA); Kaitlin Jenkins (Georgia, VT); Brian Navarro (Boston, MA); Emily Patch (Brandon, VT); Jasmine Toppin (Middletown, CT); Andrea Tumielewicz (Rutland, VT); Elizabeth Turco (Windsor, VT). Bachelor of Science Megan Alcorn (Rutland, VT); Alex Andrade (Pawtucket, RI); Marie Betit (Rutland, VT); Lisa Blanchard (Middletown Springs, VT); Jonathan Brioso (Bronx, NY); Jared Brown (Dorchester, MA); Chyance Calloway (Boston, MA); Aiden Camara (Fair Haven, VT); Christopher Conway (Dorchester, MA); Brittany Davis (Rutland, VT); Beccalyn Dugan (Benson, VT); Junior FanFan (Boston, MA); Edson Ferrer (Pawtucket, RI); Sara Henderson (Bennington, VT); Kyle Houston (Brockton, MA); Sierra Jaeger (Weedsport, NY); Meghan Johnson (Clarendon, VT); Anthony LaPlaca (South Royalton, VT); Ann Manning (Ripton, VT); Theodore Mercado (Everett, MA); Morgan Messier (Rutland, VT); Hannie Nazon (Queens, NY); Kimberly Olden (Stoughton, MA); Benny Pena (Queens, NY); Sheena Pete (Beaumont, TX); Lincoln Pritchard (North Clarendon, VT); Doris Rodrigues (Pawtucket, RI); Petar Rumora (Northvale, NJ); Elizabeth Russell (Lincoln, VT); Robyn Schmitt (Rutland Town, VT); Cassandra Sourdiff (Brandon, VT); Melinda Thomas (Granville, NY); Molly Turgeon (Rutland, VT); Darrien White (Ravena, NY). Master of Business Administration Eva Clark (St. Albans, VT); Ryan Cummings (Saratoga Springs, NY); Warren Keough, Jr. (Rutland, VT); Heather LeBlanc (Sanford, ME); Christopher Merriam (Kennebunk, ME); Laurel Rice (Rutland, VT); Matthew Seager (Rutland, VT); Regina Steele (Ellenville, NY). Master of Education Jill Alderman (Rutland Town, VT); Lacey Bentley (Cambridge, NY); Makayla Byrne (Lake George, NY); Gregory Chamberland (Proctor, VT); Elizabeth Chiverton (Granville, NY); Courtney Collins (Gansevoort, NY); Jenifer Leary (Brandon, VT); Alan Madsen (Scottsdale, AZ); Linda McCuen (Hubbardton, VT); Abigail Peltier (Randolph, VT); Coral Ward-Torelli (Branford, CT). Master of Science Rosa Benetatos (Rutland, VT); Michael Fetter (Canajoharie, NY); Kelly Giancola (Rutland, VT); Amanda Gurney (Rutland, VT); Jenifer Haskins (Granville, NY); Andrea Hathaway-Miglorie (Rutland, VT); Elizabeth Mangan (Rutland, VT); Heather McIntyre (Hampton, VT); Andrew McPhillips (Warwick, RI); India Stein (Proctor, VT); Mackenzie Thurston (Brandon, VT); Jennifer Watson (Shaftsbury, VT).