Commencement 2010: Five Towns College

NUMBER OF GRADUATES: 202

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Leslie Uggams, Tony and Emmy award-winning actress and singer, told the graduating class at Saturday's ceremony in Dix Hills to "go out into the world and say: 'Here I am, world.' " At her own graduation, Uggams recalled thinking to herself, "What am I going to do now that I'm out of school?" She said of her early years in the workforce, "I did a lot of schlepping," and then went on to describe how that schlepping led her to meet and learn from musicians including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones. "In this business you get to work with all kinds of people and you just never know what's going to happen." She advised graduates that one of the most important things they can do is observe and appreciate their surroundings. "Every time you do something - watch - because that feeds you."

CLASS SPEAKER:

Valedictorian Erik Salomon, 24, of Dix Hills, reminded the class that they are all graduating "because of an inherent desire to create" and that "today is a . . . time to reflect on the path that led us here." He added "now that we are graduating, the search must begin for all of us once again" to find new homes where they can continue building and using their creativity. After graduation, Salomon will continue composing, giving music lessons and studying the guitar.

THE LATEST GRADUATES' OUTLOOK

Troy McCullen, 27, bachelor's in jazz/commercial music: "I have an alternative soul band that we started here. We're trying to bring something new to the industry. Right now the economy's a little rough. I guess it just means you have to work a little harder."

Christine Patti, 22, bachelor's in music education: "I'm going to look for work, hopefully in an elementary school, and do that for a year. Then I'll probably apply to grad school. If I spend too much time worrying that I'm not going to get a job, it's wasted energy. Instead, I'm going to keep looking until I find something."

Dawoon Jung, 30, bachelor's in audio recording technology: "My wife is going to study nursing - she was a nurse in Korea before we came here and got married - and I'm going to work. Maybe after five or 10 years we will go back to Korea. But for now, I'm going to work from home doing recording and then maybe apply to graduate school in two years."

Jasmine Anderson, 21, bachelor's in acting: "I'm traveling a lot this summer. I'm going on three vacations - two to Canada and one to Miami. And then I'm starting grad school at NYU for theater education. I'm really going just so I have a backup plan in case things don't work out as an actor. I don't want to be homeless."

Tim Chimenti, 22, bachelor's in audio recording technology: "I'm starting an internship at CBS Radio in July and am going to try and turn that into a job. It's not easy out there. A lot of businesses aren't hiring and the ones that are, are looking for people who have more experience than someone like me."