Dowling College awards 840 undergrad, grad degrees

Number of undergraduates: 397

Number of graduates: 443

Keynote speaker: Bill McDermott, co-chief executive of the business software company SAP, told the students, "Remember this day, slow it down in your mind, so you capture this moment and forever use it as a source of inspiration." He urged to the students to focus on their strengths and to make them better, not obsess over your weaknesses. "Never let the circumstances of the times supersede the dimensions of your dreams; you control that, nobody else does."

Valedictorian: Richard J. Smail received his bachelor's degree in aeronautics and aviation management. "Getting to this point was certainly not easy, and required much perseverance, for the road was long and the climb was steep, yet here we stand

today. We've reached the summit, we've crossed the finish line."

-- JENNIFER GUNDERSEN