Robert Barker/University Photography

Staff graduates Lavanya Sayam, left, with Joyce Ward.

Robert Barker/University Photography

President David Skorton, right, congratulates staff graduate Vladimir Micic.

Robert Barker/University Photography

Karen Trask, staff graduate, celebrates with husband Kelly.

A custodian in Building Care working the early morning shift, the director of Cornell Silicon Valley in the Office of Alumni Affairs who works remotely in California, a patrol officer with Cornell University Police, and an intensive care veterinary technician at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals were among the graduating staff gathered with their family and friends at the 17th annual Staff Graduate Reception, May 20, at Friends Hall. They had all completed a degree this year through Cornell’s Employee Degree Program or Tuition Aid Program.

The reception was hosted by the Employee Assembly and the Division of Human Resources and Safety Services. Pianist Alexander Huth ’13 opened the program, and President David Skorton, Vice President Mary Opperman and employee-elected trustee Alan Mittman gave remarks.

Nineteen of the graduates received Cornell degrees (two bachelor’s, 16 master’s and one Ph.D.). Four graduated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the ILR School, with others from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, the Graduate School and the colleges of Engineering; Architecture, Art and Planning; and Veterinary Medicine. Others received degrees from Syracuse University, the Empire State College, Binghamton University, Tompkins Cortland Community College, the universities of Maryland and Phoenix, and Kaplan University.

In his remarks, Skorton noted that the Staff Graduate Reception customarily kicks off a week of graduations, culminating in Commencement. “Your own professional development and personal growth … is very, very important to all of us,” he said.

“Each of you has overcome your own unique set of challenges … in order to be able to pursue – and, most importantly, complete – your degree,” said Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources and safety services. “You have met your challenges because of your hard work, dedication and perseverance.”

For Connie Park, who earned her master’s at the ILR School, the challenge was taking her first class after being out of school for years. For Joyce Ward, it was juggling work and studies to receive her associate’s degree from the University of Phoenix; she often found herself studying until midnight, only to wake up at 2 a.m. in order to be at work by 4 a.m.

Lavanya Sayam, who received her MBA from the Johnson, had to coordinate her work schedule with the full-time student schedules of her teammates. And for Thomas Jordan, who works in facilities engineering received got his master’s in engineering from the University of Maryland, the challenge was balancing studying and spending time with his two teenage children and his wife.

Both Skorton and Opperman thanked the family and friends of the staff graduates for their support. To the graduating staff, Skorton quipped that for “at least one day, you see your kids in awe of you.”

Following Skorton’s remarks, Mittman called each graduate to the podium to receive congratulations from Skorton and Opperman, as well as a small gift presented by Employee Assembly Chair Tanya Grove on behalf of the university.