CCC celebrates 2026 grads in historic year

PLATTSBURGH | Clinton Community College honored its Class of 2026 over the weekend, celebrating student achievement during one of the most consequential years in the college's 60-year history. A total of 106 graduates earned the opportunity to walk across the stage during a commencement ceremony held Friday evening at the historic Strand Theatre in Plattsburgh. The event marked a memorable milestone for both the graduates and the institution. The ceremony featured remarks from Acting President Ken Knelly, Board of Trustees Chair Devi Momot, Faculty Greeter and Professor Emeritus Catherine Eloranto and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steven Frederick. Student speakers included Valedictorian Brett Herrick and Salutatorian David MacAlpine, who reflected on their academic journeys and the significance of the moment. This year marked the first time Clinton held its commencement ceremony at the Strand Theatre, following a historic transition for the college. In August 2025, Clinton Community College officially relocated and began co-location on the campus of SUNY Plattsburgh, ushering in a new chapter focused on accessibility, collaboration and sustainability. "We are incredibly proud of this graduating class and all they have accomplished, particularly during a year of significant change for the college," said Knelly. "Their resilience and determination embody the spirit of Clinton Community College. We are confident they will make meaningful contributions to their communities and professions." During the ceremony, Herrick encouraged his fellow graduates to celebrate their achievements and carry that confidence with them into the future. "We've all made it this far, pushing through life and school and jobs, and each and every one of us should be incredibly proud of what we've accomplished," said Herrick. In addition to commencement, the Clinton Community College Nursing Club hosted its traditional Nursing Capping and Pinning Ceremony on Saturday, recognizing the 26 graduates of the Nursing program as well as students who successfully completed their first year of coursework. Photos and video from the commencement and Nursing Capping and Pinning ceremonies are available at clinton.edu/college-relations. A full list of graduates is below: Edward V. Ackey — Associate of Applied Science Human Services; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling CertificateEmily N. Arriaga — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceNathan J. Banker — Associate of Applied Science Human Services; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling CertificateTy Jacob Evan Belcher — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information SystemsRayane Benazouz — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceBarrington Bennett — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information SystemsBrittany Bennett — Associate of Applied Science NursingSarah Benway — Associate of Applied Science NursingDanielle Beshaw — Associate of Applied Science Human ServicesCory Bonville — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyViany Borel Tenezeu Tazanou — Associate of Occupational Studies Industrial/Commercial ElectricianJayden Bowen — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceJillian L. Bowen — Associate of Applied Science Human ServicesDeclan Breen — Associate of Occupational Studies Industrial/Commercial ElectricianBrayden Brennan — Associate of Science Business AdministrationHeidi A. Breyette — Associate of Applied Science NursingSophia A. Brown — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceMya Bushey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceTy Calkins — Associate of Applied Science Criminal JusticeSamantha J. Caple — Associate of Applied Science NursingRylee E. Carter — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyPaige M. Chilton — Associate of Applied Science NursingMercadia V. Clark — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceDanika G. Clowney — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesJames Q. Cone — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceAnita Grace Conner — Associate of Applied Science NursingJaymison Conrad — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport ManagementJesse Cote — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceWilhelmina Dakorah-Bedah — Associate of Applied Science NursingShauna Rae Depo — Associate of Arts Criminal JusticeAiden L. Dominic — Associate of Applied Science Business AdministrationNathan J. Donton — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyAiden Dragon-Nagel — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceVelauriea Dubay — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceBrynn M. Dupee — Associate of Applied Science Business AdministrationRyder Estes — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesAlexandra Findlay — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceMary E. Fowler-Besaw — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceNolan Francis — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceIsiah Fritz Francois — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport ManagementEmily Girard — Associate of Applied Science NursingDavid P. Griffin — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceNicholas Hall — Associate of Applied Science NursingHayden J. Harvey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceFionn O. Hattier — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information SystemsMatthew Hebert — Associate of Applied Science Mechanical TechnologyBrett Herrick — Associate of Science Individual StudiesJillian Rose Husk — Associate of Applied Science NursingKady Karaboue — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyPatrick Owen King — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Technology and CybersecurityPeter Labarge — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesTristin Lagree — Associate of Arts Criminal JusticeAustin J. Lalonde — Associate of Applied Science NursingAustin Elijah Lambert — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceMacey J. LaMora — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceMegan C. LaPorte — Associate of Applied Science Business AdministrationSerah Leech — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyTayla Lewis — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyDeliah F. Lorey — Associate of Applied Science AccountingDavid G. MacAlpine — Associate of Applied Science Human Services; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling CertificateJulienne Makamte — Associate of Applied Science NursingXavier T. Manalang — Associate of Applied Science NursingSarah L. Martineau — Associate of Applied Science Health Services ManagementHarvey Merrill III — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport ManagementCooper Metcalf — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceIsaac Mitchell — Associate of Applied Science NursingAllyssa Moody — Associate of Applied Science NursingLailah Nadirah Muhammad — Associate of Arts Criminal JusticeKelly M. Neenan — Associate of Applied Science NursingJudy Norelus — Associate of Applied Science Business AdministrationConnor Patrick O'Neil — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport ManagementEvan Patrie — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceFranklyn Payano — Associate of Applied Science NursingLisa Pecor — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesEmmalena Pelerin — Associate of Applied Science NursingAutumn L. Pelkey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceJordyn A. Pelkey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceCharles Peterson — Associate of Applied Science NursingLauryn Ruth Petrelli — Associate of Applied Science NursingSarah J. Place — Associate of Applied Science AccountingMason Polhemus — Associate of Occupational Studies Industrial/Commercial ElectricianKyle Reif — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceGrace M. Reynolds — Associate of Applied Science NursingAvery E. Roberts — Associate of Applied Science Mechanical TechnologyAvelyn S. Rocque — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyAlexa L. Sampica — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceAlyssa A. Sass — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyAbbigael Elizabeth-Anne Sears — Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling CertificateJoshua M. Sharp — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceJarrod D. Shusda — Associate of Applied Science Computer and Electronics TechnologyAllyzza L. Smith — Associate of Applied Science NursingAilyn M. Staley — Associate of Science Applied PsychologyKaleigh Thomas — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceRachel Thompson — Associate of Applied Science NursingSadie Thume — Associate of Applied Science NursingLeeanna N. Trombley — Associate of Arts EnglishCaitlin Turgeon — Associate of Applied Science NursingAshton Turner — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesBailey James Vanarman — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceJason T. Waldron — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesMichael Waldron — Associate of Applied Science NursingTravis C. Weeden — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & ScienceJeffrey C. Weeks III — Associate of Applied Science Individual StudiesOwen Yelle — Associate of Arts Criminal Justice; Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social ScienceToinenaejah Young — Associate of Applied Science Human ServicesAva R. Zurlo — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science

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CCC celebrates 2026 grads in historic year

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