Empire State College 2012 commencement

Number of graduates

64 associate degrees; 208 bachelor's degrees; 7 graduate degrees.

Student speaker

Dolores Bond, 59, of East Harlem, bachelor's in community and human services.

A recovered alcoholic and addict, and mother of five, Bond said she returned to school after awakening from a coma 10 years ago and developing a relationship with God.

"I have the deepest respect for humanity and for those who are vulnerable and can't even dream, for I, too, have walked in their shoes."

Student speaker

Andrew Calderaro, 28, of Huntington, bachelor's in American history and politics.

Calderaro graduated with a 3.89 grade-point average. He was a nominee for the 2012 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Academic Excellence, and is founder and director of Courage Long Island, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting mood disorders. He begins a master's program at Hunter's Silberman School of Social Work in the fall.

"Looking forward, know that you possess more than just a degree -- you possess an ability to craft your future and go toe-to-toe with life's challenges. Hold fast to this power and use it to do something good and useful in this world and in your future."

Keynote speaker

Melba Tolliver, the New York City television journalist, writer and journalism teacher, and a graduate of Empire State College. In 1967, she became the first black woman to anchor a network news program. Tolliver has worked at ABC News, News 12 Long Island and WNBC. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Association for Black Journalists.

"Chance events are invitations to pay attention. They are calls to be awake, be alive and not sleepwalk through life."

Graduates

Billy Jean-Pierre, 37, of Queens Village, bachelor's in human development.

"Most of us had never met each other but were comfortable with each other. That's a credit to the faculty and to Empire State College. They've created something special here."

Lisa Mindlin, 23, of Nesconset, bachelor's in biology.

"I feel accomplished. That's what was good about this school. I was able to work full-time and go to school full-time and get it done."

James Hines, 43, of Levittown, bachelor's in professional studies.

"I wanted a degree. It worked well with my job. I have two kids and I work a lot of overtime, so I was able to get a degree and still pay attention to my family."

Maureen O'Rourke, 50, of Bethpage, bachelor's in community and human services.

"I feel absolutely wonderful. For every older student out there: Know it can be done."