BC3 grads look to future
BUTLER TWP — The ABC's of life were stressed at Butler County Community College commencement Wednesday night: To achieve, believe and conceive.
More than 500 students graduated from BC3 this school year, with about 225 of them donning royal blue caps and gowns at the 47th annual graduation ceremony held at the Field House on campus.
Former BC3 President Thomas Ten Hoeve, who held the presidency from 1970 to 1984, delivered the keynote address. He had advice to impart not just on students, but for college employees and loved ones, too.
“Your task is to conceive now the best possible future plan for your life,” he said to freshly minted grads. “You are to be commended, but you're also to be challenged.”
With the college's golden anniversary in mind — the 50th anniversary of BC3's charter was in March — perhaps it was only a matter of time before a gold analogy was spoken.
“Perhaps you learned in science class that a golden alloy is a substance in which small dispersed particles interface throughout another substance. You are those precious, golden particles,” Ten Hoeve said. “You have the role of interacting like alloyed particles being effective forces in the world.”
He and his wife, Sue, are visiting the area this week before going back to their home in Michigan.Ten Hoeve's visit meant a lot to BC3 professor Chris Calhoun in particular, who spoke as the college's distinguished alumnus this year.He told graduates there will be at least one person in their lives professionally that will give them a chance to succeed.“Will you ever have that opportunity to thank that one individual years later? For me, this evening, I actually had the opportunity to do that. You see, in 1984, Dr. Thomas Ten Hoeve hired me here at Butler County Community College,” Calhoun said, who works in the Park and Recreation Management Department.“His hiring has given me the opportunity to speak all over the country at both national and international conferences. It's not too often that you have the opportunity to thank that person who really made a difference in your life.”Turning around to him on stage, his voice cracking, Calhoun said, “Sir, thank you.”He stressed five points to graduates, including the importance of being a positive role model and establishing long term goals.“Work hard, make good decisions, be responsible for your words and actions, understand the ripple effect and leave a legacy,” Calhoun said.Among the graduates this year, 24 received two degrees, three received three degrees, 16 veterans graduated, and graduates ranged in age from 20 to 63.The symbolic close of the year ended with a more tangible one — a tassel was placed into a 50th anniversary time capsule at the end of commencement and buried on campus immediately after the ceremony.
