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GTCC GRADUATES CHALLENGED

GREENSBORO - Guilford Technical Community College graduates were told Thursday night to remember all of the advice and good wishes they received from family, friends and faculty at the graduation.

Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System told the more than 700 students who chose to participate in the graduation ceremony that this should be remembered as "What A Day" in their lives. Students participating in the event at the Greensboro Coliseum were only a part of the record 1,150 students who earned degrees this semester.

The college has reached an enrollment of more than 15,500 students, also a record for the 53-year-old school.  This also marked GTCC president Donald W. Cameron's final graduation at the school that he has led for 20 years. He will retire July 1.
It also was a time for recognizing students who earned top honors in the class.
Ralls said, "Twenty-five years ago this month, I was sitting where you are today, a newly-minted college graduate (and) I can't remember my graduation speaker's name that day."
"What I do remember is that it was a glorious spring day." Ralls said, "I didn't know it that day, but sitting around me (at UNC-Chapel Hill) were future writers, scientists and television producers and a PGA golf champion, the current Chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill (Holden Thorp) and the greatest basketball player in the world (Michael Jordan)."

Recalling the glory of his own graduation is easy but "I also regret that I did not fully appreciate it," Ralls said. "Because on that day, what should have just been an exclamation of 'What a day,' was overshadowed by a question of 'What now.'
Since that time, Ralls said he has had regular encounters with "remarkable, inspirational people - community college students - who constantly remind me to never again let the clouds of doubt over 'what now' overshadow the beauty of 'what a day.' ''
He cited examples of both young and old students who have begun careers afresh or anew through the community college system.  Upon hearing each of these success stories, Ralls said he thought "what a day!"

He cited a story in which he quoted former First Lady, the late Eleanor Roosevelt: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."  Ralls said, "…we cannot control the challenges we face, but we do control the dreams we have and the effort we put forward to make them reality."  He said, "You will be defeated only when you let the clouds of doubt overwhelm the beauty of your dreams.
"Congratulations to the newest class of 2011.
"And…
"What a day!"

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