50th RVCC class has 181 graduates

CLAREMONT — There was something special about Friday’s Commencement at River Valley Community College.

It marked the 50th time degrees were handed out and the ceremony was held in the Claremont Opera House, packed with students, family members and friends.

The college was scheduled to award 196 degrees earned by 181 graduates with about 140 graduates expected to attend the Commencement.

It was also special for Roland Stoodley, the founding president of the college 50 years earlier. At the time, Stoodley resided in North Newport. Today he is a Charlestown resident.

Stoodley marched in with the administration and had a seat on the stage. He was recognized during the ceremony.

Shannon Soucy, an adjunct instructor who teaches introductory biology, genetics, and microbiology, received the Phi Theta Kappa Teacher of the Year Award.

Phi Theta Kappa is the student honor society and its president, Benjamin Drye of Plainfield, presented the award to Soucy.

Drye was also honored as the recipient of the President’s Award, presented by Dr. Deborah “Sunny” Schmitt, Interim President and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. Drye was a Business Management and Accounting major.

The Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence went to associate professor Denise Ruby, chair of the Nursing and Respiratory Therapy Department.

Diane Cammarata, a major in Mathematics and Science Program with a concentration in Biological Science received the 2018 Activities Award presented by Schmitt. Cammarata was not a member of the graduating class,

Sharon Gilbert was presented the Chancellor’s Award for Service Excellence. Gilbert is the school Registrar and is retiring June 1 after 36 years servicing RVCC students.

Shawn Lessard, a 2008 graduate of River Valley Community College and an alumnus from the college’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, was the Commencement speaker.

Following his graduation, Lessard accepted a position at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Concord, where he continues to work today, as a full time staff physical therapist assistant. He has gone on to specialize in working with and treating individuals with limb loss.

Lessard continues to be a student. He just recently completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science from Southern New Hampshire University and this fall he begins work on his graduate degree.

Lessard said he had gotten ahead in life by always believing that if he applied himself he would move forward.

“You have to learn to always add ‘yet’ to a sentence as in ‘I can’t achieve this…yet,’” he told the Class of 2018.

“Accept feedback and always welcome new ideas, regardless of their source.”