Carl Gage tries on his gown and mortarboard this week in the College Store. He'll graduate on Thursday with an associate's degree in Human Services and a certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling. Chris Henry, College Store Manager, is shown on right.

Meet some other members of the Class of 2013.

Schenectady County Community College Faculty and Administration To Applaud Graduates During 43rd Commencement

Schenectady County Community College will hold its 43rd Commencement on Thursday, May 23, 2013, at 4 p.m. at Proctors. There are more than 600 candidates for SCCC's A.A.S., A.S., A.A., and A.O.S. degrees and certificates this year.

Family and friends of members of the SCCC Class of 2013, along with SCCC faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, leaders in Schenectady County and SUNY, and members of the community, will cheer on the graduates as they cross the stage at Proctors to earn their degrees and certificates in majors from among the College's 46 academic programs.

During the ceremony, B.B.A. degrees will also be awarded to students graduating from SUNY Delhi through the SCCC – SUNY Delhi partnership (where students take all classes for Delhi bachelor's degrees on the SCCC campus). Students will graduate with degrees in Business and Information Technology Management, Criminal Justice and Hospitality Management.

Keynote speaker George Goldhoff '83, a member of the SCCC Class of 1983, will address the graduates and audience members. Goldhoff has built an outstanding career as a leader in the hospitality industry at famous establishments including the Rainbow Room in New York City, the Bellagio – MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, Nev., and now as President and CEO of Pure Canadian Gaming, the largest casino operator in Alberta, Canada. After graduating from SCCC with an associate's degree in Hotel Technology, he earned his bachelor's degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration from the University of Massachusetts, followed by an M.B.A. in Finance and Management from Columbia University.

This year's featured student speaker is Jacob Davis '13, an Accounting major, who plans to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology at the University at Albany beginning in the fall. Jacob, who was home schooled, has been attending SCCC since Summer 2011.

A reception in Key Hall at Proctors will follow the Commencement ceremony.