Editor’s NotE: BEllow is a spEEch By KElly GrENiEr which was to BE rEad at thE MaysvillE coMMuNity collEGE GraduatioN. duE to iNclEMENt wEathEr coNdi-tioNs thE spEEch was NEvEr rEad

By KElly GrENiEr, 2012 GraduatE froM Mctc

Many times in our lives, we find ourselves waiting on the shore for the dawn to come, waiting in the safety of a familiar harbor for that moment when the sun breaks the darkness. We can then marvel at its splendor, finding comfort in its light. Watching the spectacle of the sunrise, it seems easy to challenge the night; it appears to be simple to rise against the horizon.

You see, a wise person, whose name has been lost to the sands of time, once said:

A ship may be safe in the harbor, But that is not what ships were built for…

When looking at the KCTCS logo, the symbol seems to portray a new sunrise dawning over the commonwealth of Kentucky. Its rays are reaching into every cor-ner of the Bluegrass State, lighting everything from the western plains to the eastern foothills of the Appalachian mountains. A sunrise was indeed an interesting and fitting choice for KCTCS. For as

time has told, the sunrise is a symbol that to many cultures is synonymous with new life, and new life is exactly what KCTCS is bringing to Kentucky.

Many of us entered the KCTCS pro-gram feeling as though we were walking in the dark, perhaps lacking the courage or the faith in ourselves to continue and even needing encour-agement to change our futures. Through KCTCS, we have dared to venture forth and become part of the new dawn. The inter-esting thing about a sun-rise is that when you turn your face to the light, your shadow is cast behind you. Tonight, it can be said, that each of us here has turned our face to the sun. We have found a way to turn away from our shadows and have joined the light on the horizon. No one here tonight is still wait-ing in the harbor for the light; KCTCS was right, the dawn has come.

For me, Maysville Community and Technical College provided oppor-tunities that I would not have found elsewhere. My journey started here as a junior in high school when I began taking dual credit courses. I enjoyed the warm personal atmo-sphere the campuses offered and the small class-room size that invited dis-

cussion. I enjoyed the way the courses were designed; it was up to the student to get the most out of the course. I respected my pro-fessors and the knowledge I gained. I found my fellow students to be resilient, capable of balancing the burden of working their way through school and caring for their families. I enjoyed the variety of classes I took as it helped me recognize my interests and my future major.

After high school, I had planned to go to a state university. However, I did not. One could attri-bute this to hard economic times, to the impersonal atmosphere of a larger university, or to the fact that I grew to appreci-ate my community col-lege. Whatever the rea-son, I stayed and earned my Associates Degree. By receiving this two-year degree, I have a education-al stepping stone that no one can ever take away.

I had never been one to believe that college would change me, but, in a way it has changed all of us. The students leaving MCTC leave with a well-rounded education. I did not realize how true this was until this past term. It was during a class discus-sion that I realized that I too had become a better student. I was no longer arguing my own view-

point because it “felt” right. Instead, I was able to present a well thought-out argument because I had studied and learned the environmental, politi-cal, sociological, and psy-chological implications the idea could have. It was then that I was thankful for the instructors I had had at our community college.

In summary, may I say, sunrises are a power-ful symbol; however, they only bring the promise of a new day, a promise of new opportunities. It is up to us to decide how to use them. Many here tonight are already begin-ning a new life while oth-ers are preparing to go on to a four-year institution. Whatever you choose and wherever your path takes you, keep your face toward the sun, be will-ing to test the waters, don’t be afraid of shad-ows, and remember what you have learned through the KCTCS experience; I know I will.

Graduation speech by Kelly Grenier

www.cynthianademocrat.com The Cynthiana Democrat - Thursday, May 10, 2012 5

The 2012 Maysville Community and Technical College Licking Valley Campus held their gradua-tion celebration on Thursday, May 3, at the historic Prizing House. Dr. Ed Story and Bruce Florence spoke to the 450 attendants of the ceremony. This year a record 93 graduates were recognized at the ceremony. Of the 93 graduates a record 47 practical and registered nurses were among the graduating class. The following evening, the graduates were presented their diplomas at the Maysville Campus in Mason County. LVC Branch Campus director Bruce Florence noted that this is the largest gradu-ating class ever to go through Maysville Community and Technical College. “It is a delight to see a group of individuals who have taken the first step in their higher education,” said Florence. “Some will go onto other higher education and some to work but one thing is certain, the dedication these individu-als have shown so far is a testament to the success they will see during their lives.”

LVC Branch Campus Director Bruce Florence LVC graduate Barbara Frederick and State Representative Tom McKee

Kelly Grenier receives some of her awards for outstanding achievement at LVC

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