Two prominent leaders in the Niagara region offered advice to new Niagara College graduates on day three of Niagara College’s Spring 2013 Convocation Ceremonies.
Niagara Regional Police Service’s chief of police Jeffrey McGuire spoke to more than 425 students graduating from the College’s School of Justice Studies during the morning ceremony.
“When I was sitting out there where you are today, at my convocation ceremonies, I never would have dreamed that I would be standing here today talking to you. What I would like to say to you is have that dream, set your goals, amaze yourself. Never stop planning, dreaming and achieving,” he said. “Thirty years from now, someone just like me or, more importantly, someone just like you will be standing up here on this stage.”
McGuire told graduates, particularly those entering careers in emergency medical services and the police service, to prepare themselves to make important and potentially life-altering decisions in a split second.
“The most important thing I want to say to all of you is that a non-decision can be far more detrimental than a decision that didn’t turn out perfectly,” he said. “You need to have the courage and the be confident in knowing that providing a decision based on the best information available to you at that split second at the moment … society will support you regardless of the outcome.”
McGuire received an honorary diploma in Policing and Security.
During the afternoon ceremony, executive director for the Niagara Community Foundation Liz Palmieri was presented with a Niagara Award. The Niagara Award is granted to individuals whose contribution to life in the Niagara region is exceptional and those who combine service, innovation, and ability to significantly improve the lives of people in the community. Palmieri addressed 350 graduates from the School of Community Services, asking them to consider whether they would describe themselves as philanthropists. She noted that the true meaning of philanthropy is “the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind.”
“As you start the next leg of your journey into your community – whatever that community is – please keep philanthropy as a core value, a key principle to guide you through life,” she said. “Your community helps to ground you, it surrounds you, can nourish you, can teach you and strengthen you.”
The morning’s convocation ceremony also celebrated the outstanding academic achievement of Social Service Worker graduate Amanda McIntyre who graduated with the highest average in the college – 96.81% – and was awarded the Governor General’s Academic Medal. McIntyre noted how the birth of her daughter, who is now three, inspired her to attend college and pursue her dreams of becoming a social worker. Her plans for the future involve furthering her education. She plans to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work at Niagara University, then pursue post-graduate studies. Her plans will be put on hold for a year however, as she and her husband prepare to welcome their second child into the world, due to be born just two weeks after her convocation date.
Convocation continues Friday June 21 with two successful Niagara College alumni returning as guest speakers: Jerry Howell, Founder and Owner, Howell Pumpkin Farm (June 21, 10 a.m.); and John Vatcher, Executive Producer/Director, TV show Republic of Doyle (June 21, 3 p.m.).
