Celebrating Local Achievements: GBCC’s 78th Commencement Honors 332 Graduates

Great Bay Community College (GBCC) held its 78th commencement ceremony at the Portsmouth campus. This event celebrated the graduation of 332 students from a variety of programs. The ceremony took place on a Saturday, with 160 students walking in front of their families and friends.

Students graduated from diverse programs including Accounting, Cyber Security, Nursing, and Engineering. GBCC, established in 1945 as the State Trade School at Portsmouth, has grown into a significant two-year college in northern New England, offering more than 50 degree and certificate programs.

The ceremony featured several distinguished guests, including GBCC President Cheryl Lesser, trustees from the Community College System of New Hampshire, and student speakers Abigail Wagner and Melissa Shortt. President Lesser spoke about the graduates' resilience and urged them to use their knowledge positively.

The event also included the presentation of the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Service Excellence, recognizing significant contributions to the college. The President’s Awards were given for outstanding adjunct faculty performance and student achievements, highlighting Volodymyr Lysianskyi, an engineering science graduate who excelled academically and plans to study further at the University of New Hampshire.

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