Robert Barker/University Photography

President David Skorton and Vice President Mary Opperman congratulate Bernard Amponsah for receiving a bachelor's degree from Elmira College.

When Pamela Andersen began working toward her associate's degree in business administration, her sons were ages 9 and 6. This year she is completing her AAS degree from Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). Her sons are 18 and 15.

Due to have a baby this July, Katelyn Godoy finished her master's in information design and technology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute with a 4.0 GPA while working full-time and doing freelance assignments.

Commenting on the 12 staff members attending the 19th annual Staff Graduate Reception May 19, who this year completed degrees while being employed at Cornell, President David Skorton said, "You have done something that I find endlessly impressive … Whatever your field, I am so glad that you found your interest and completed your degree program."

"I know what it took for all of you to get here, I know the sacrifices you had to make, and I just want you to know how proud we all are of all of you," said Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources and safety services.

Opperman and Skorton commented on the sacrifices made not only by the employees but by the families and friends who supported them.

Of staff graduates attending the reception, six earned degrees at Cornell: Jennifer Benson, M.P.A., College of Human Ecology; Edward Evans, M.S., College of Engineering; David Hartino, M.Eng., College of Engineering; Peter Marchetto, Ph.D., College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Kyle Kubick, M.B.A., Cornell and Queen's University; and Denise Schulze, B.A., from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Also attending were six Cornell staff members graduating from other colleges or universities: Bernard Amponsah, B.S., Elmira College; Pamela Andersen, A.S., TC3; Anthony Bellamy, M.P.A., Marist College; Katelyn Godoy, M.S., SUNY Polytechnic Institute; Leora Snowberger, B.A., Ashford University; and Jessica Withers, B.A., SUNY Empire State College.

Biographies of the staff graduates were read by Alan Mittman, employee-elected trustee, and Brigid Shipman, a volunteer from the College of Veterinary Medicine, as the graduates received gifts and shook hands with Skorton, Opperman and Greg Mezey, Employee Assembly chair.

Also receiving degrees this year but unable to attend the ceremony were Jennie Babcock, M.S., University of Scranton; Angela Downing, A.S., TC3; Joy Liu, M.P.S., Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Rhoda Maurer, Master of Science in a Changing World, University of Massachusetts; and Dan Olmstead, M.S., Cornell College of Arts and Sciences.

The reception was hosted by the Employee Assembly and the Division of Human Resources and Safety Services, with music provided by Fred Callaway '16 on keyboard and Zac Manchester '09 on bass.