Durham, NH – On Friday, May 19, Granite State College honored more than 400 graduates receiving associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Faculty, staff, friends, and family celebrated the graduates’ achievements as they gathered to enjoy the ceremony which was co-celebrated with UNH Manchester and livestreamed from the University of New Hampshire Whittemore Center.
It marked a special moment in the College’s history as the final graduation ceremony before Granite State College merges with University of New Hampshire on July 1.
Captain of the Greenland Fire Department, Paul St. Cyr of Rochester, New Hampshire delivered remarks on behalf of the students. A graduate of the B.S. in Public Service Administration program, St. Cyr shared:
“Like many of you who have reached a certain age and place in your life, I can reflect back and it all seems miraculous that it came together. Some of us have been knocked down. We’ve been discounted. Or maybe we couldn’t see in ourselves the potential that others saw in us. But, somehow, we found ourselves with the right people to support our goals. And we found the joy in the journey. We found enough belief in ourselves to dig deep when it got hard and the courage to do the “next thing”.
For many graduates like St. Cyr, the flexibility of Granite State College was essential. More than half of Granite State College students are parents, 15% are serving in the military, and all students rely on online courses to achieve their degrees as they balance competing priorities.
Laura Knoy, esteemed journalist and founder of The Exchange, a beloved NHPR radio program for many years, received the 2023 Honorary Doctorate degree and delivered the keynote address.
CEO Deogratias Mwano, a nationally-recognized speaker, storyteller, and social impact innovator from Manchester, was recognized with the Granite State Award which honors outstanding contributions to the state.
Graduates and Student Honors
Each file is sorted alphabetically by City with New Hampshire communities listed first, followed by other states.
Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society Inductees, 2022-2023
The College was elated to virtually welcome students into its honor society, Alpha Sigma Lambda, during its annual Honors Convocation, held on May 10, 2023.
Albert Letourneau – Columbus, MS
Hope Bibeault – Merrimack, NH
Rona Boucher – Salisbury, NH
Heather Cassavaugh – Tilton, NH
Michael Cassell – Honoloulu, HI
Kara Chartier – Claremont, NH
Daniel Dempsey – Colorado Springs, CO
Isabella DeSimone – Merrimack, NH
Jennifer Fiorentino – Windham, NH
Sara Gates – Manchester, NH
David Kell – South Kingston, RI
Denise Morin – Ossipee, NH
Kimberly Pfister – Cambridge, MA
Joseph Tropea – Wilton, NH
Sara Weldon – Brandon, VT
Douglas Wilson – Epping, NH