Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) congratulated the 2025 graduating class for their hard work and dedication, leaving Grant Campus proud as students say goodbye to their home campus and welcome a bright and promising future.

Both the morning and afternoon ceremony started off wonderfully with a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by Henry Hall and Elani Correa respectively, who later went on to sing Alma Mater: “Suffolk College, We Salute You.” Grant’s very own Mariajose Rivera and Nahum Benitez greeted the graduates with warm but powerful words of encouragement and hope. After an emotional but rewarding day, graduates rejoiced with their families and friends, knowing they were leaving SCCC with a little more knowledge and confidence in what their futures might turn out to be.

Although it was a joyful day, the Western Student Press (WSP) is sad to say goodbye to its former members, Christopher Maguire and Jonathan Pascuzzi. Mr. Maguire paved the way to making WSP an online source as the creator of our website, westernstudentpress.com. If it weren’t for his determination in wanting to make the newspaper more accessible to those on campus, WSP wouldn’t have won Third Place for Best College News Website at the Press Club of Long Island Media Awards. As for Mr. Pascuzzi, he will be missed as the News Editor of WSP; his dedication to making sure those on Grant Campus were fully aware to any news, big or small, is something admirable. Both Mr. Maguire and Mr. Pascuzzi left their mark on WSP and on Grant Campus. It was a pleasure to work with them and be able to build upon the work they’ve created.

Graduation is a bittersweet time filled with nostalgia and hope. Nevertheless, SCCC sends its graduates off with pride, acknowledging the effort it took to get this far and the courage it’ll take to go even farther.