Great Bay Community College celebrated its 79th Commencement May 17 at its Portsmouth campus, conferring 300 degrees and certificates. More than 156 graduates participated in the ceremony, as they walked across the
Associate degree and certificates were awarded to graduates of the Accounting, Automotive Technology, Biological Science, Biotechnology, Business Administration, Leadership & Management, Sales and Digital Marketing, Event and Meeting Planning, Computer Numeric Control, Computer Technologies, Programming, Criminal Justice, Cyber Security Infrastructure, Digital Media Communications, Early Childhood Education, Educator Preparation, Engineering, English, Environmental Science, History, Information Systems Technology, Liberal Arts, Massage Therapy, Motorcycle Maintenance & Repair Technology, Nondestructive Testing, Nursing, Psychology, Surgical Technology, Technical Studies, Veterinary Technology and Welding Technologies programs.
Established in 1945, Great Bay Community College has become one of northern New England’s leading two-year institutions of higher learning, with more than 50 degree and certificate programs in the sciences, technical studies, and liberal arts, and serves as an educational and career hub for students, businesses, and the community.
Distinguished members of the College community and honored guests represented on the platform included Great Bay President Dr. Cheryl Lesser, President of Great Bay Community College (GBCC) and Student Speaker Ella Adams, Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) Board Trustee, Christopher Dodge, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Altobello, CCSNH Vice Chancellor, Dr. Charles Lloyd, GBCC Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management, Robert McGann, GBCC Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lisa McCurley, GBCC Advisory Board Past Chair, Christine Klatt, GBCC Advisory Board Chair, Casey Snyder, GBCC Advisory Board Member, Sean Clancy, GBCC Advisory Board Member, Benjamin Van Camp, GBCC Advisory Board Member Michelle Halligan-Foley and CCSNH Board Trustee, Nick Toumpas.
At the start of the ceremonies, Dr. Lesser welcomed the graduates, families, and friends. She congratulated the students for their accomplishments and thanked their families and friends for encouraging and supporting the students. She then offered insight and advice on what she hoped graduates had learned during their time at GBCC.
“As you move into the next chapter of your life, I encourage you to use your voice with confidence” Said Lesser. “Stay true to your values, discover your purpose, and let it guide you throughout your life….take what you’ve learned here and bring it with you into your communities.”
She also reflected on her time at the college and asked the graduates to do the same. “As I reflect on my time here at Great Bay Community College, I’m struck by one thing above all else, the extraordinary sense of community that we’ve built together. It’s easy to think of college as simply a place to complete classes…or earn a degree. But here at GBCC, we’ve always strived to be more than that. We are a place where all students are welcomed, supported, and encouraged to fulfill their goals.”
Then, reminding graduates of the long-term connection they will always have with the College, Lesser continued, “You will always have the Great Bay community to support you, the friendships you’ve made here, and the faculty and staff, who have nurtured your growth. These connections will last far beyond your time at Great Bay.”
CCSNH Vice Chancellor Charles Lloyd, recognized the 2025 Chancellor’s Award recipients. Steve Gorman, Director of Admissions, received the Chancellor’s Award for Service Excellence, and Linda Richelson, Professor and Program Coordinator for Business Administration, received the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Lesser recognized recipients of the 2025 President’s Awards. Adjunct Faculty member in the math and engineering department, Zachary Fansler received the President’s Award for Outstanding Adjunct Faculty. Stephanie Riotto, former Running Start Coordinator received the President’s Award for Special Contributions.
This year’s President’s Award for Outstanding Student Award was presented to nursing program graduate Cassaundra DePierre, outgoing president of the Great Bay Student Nurses Association, who looks forward to exploring “the endless opportunities” a nursing career allows. She said she was humbled and surprised to win the award, and credited her professors, peers, and family for her academic success. A wife, mother of three, and guardian and caregiver to an adult sibling, DePierre has distinguished herself with her commitment to academic excellence, helping others succeed, and community service. She will begin her career in a cardiac surgical stepdown unit at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Lisa McCurley, Vice President of Academic Affairs, announced recipients of the 2025 academic department awards.
Class of 2025 Student Speaker and nursing program graduate Ella Adams addressed the gathering with an emotional, hopeful, and heartfelt speech about her academic and personal journey, her perseverance through setbacks, and her commitment to improving her own life and the lives of others through a career in nursing. She enrolled at Great Bay in 2014, and her education was interrupted by series of personal crises that delayed her graduation.
“I knew I wanted to be a nurse but having to take each class one at a time to support myself on my own, and dealing with unfortunate health issues, made this journey take longer than expected. Great Bay supported that need. They made it possible for me to succeed on my own terms, ensuring that I could balance my education with my personnel circumstances. For that, I am forever grateful.”
She called Great Bay “more than just a place of learning for me—it became home. … From the moment I stepped through these doors, I never felt judged or out of place.”
Gabe Casanave-Cohen graduated with an associate degree in psychology and wants to improve society by using his skills in the public policy or nonprofit sectors. He enrolled at Great Bay after leaving a traditional four-year college that left him uncertain about his future in higher education.
“For a good while a few years ago, I felt I had fallen off the traditional path and was not achieving my full potential,” said Casanave-Cohen, who lives in Dover. “But this is a huge personal achievement for me. I am proud of the strides I have taken in embracing my own journey and being proud of it. Being able to graduate and walk across that stage and see my family in the audience feels really good.”
