President Clinton Accepts Honorary Doctorate from WCC

This article was written by Barbara Moroch and posted by Sarah Studley.

On Saturday, May 18, Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY played host to the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, who appeared in support of the College’s Scholarship and Program Fund. 

The packed auditorium of almost 600 people included community residents; WCC Foundation and Board members, administration, and students; and local politicians New York State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and Democratic politician Andy Spano.

Welcoming remarks by WCC President Dr. Joseph Hankin were followed by the conferring of the SUNY Honorary Degree on the President by Hon. Timothy S. Carey, the school’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

“As a two-term President of the United States, Bill Clinton has been dedicated to improving the state, the nation and the world at large,” said Mr. Carey in his opening remarks. He cited the President’s ongoing efforts toward education reform, his programs to increase jobs and efforts to create partnerships between businesses and governments. 

“This degree represents the highest form of recognition by SUNY. With this citation (the President) is being recognized for his commitment to excellence, his compassion for the understanding of the global community and his resolve to improve the lives of others through education,” said Mr. Carey.

In accepting his honorary degree, President Clinton noted, “I am particularly glad to have it from this institution because I was the first president to deliver a commencement address from a community college.” He spoke about the role of community colleges and their relevance in 21st century education—where curricula constantly changes to meet changing needs, where the community is heavily involved in school programs and services, and where diversity truly thrives. 

He sees the collaborative nature of the community college model as one the world should emulate. “For a long time, I’ve thought community colleges are a good metaphor, a good symbol, for the way we should organize society,” he said. We need cooperation. It works better than constant conflict,” he concluded, to the audience’s applause.

Afterwards, the President sat down for a conversation with Les Crystal, former executive producer of the PBS News Hour, where they touched upon a variety of timely topics for the audience.

Joseph Carlucci, a member of the Foundation for 16 years, felt having President Clinton at the College was a real victory. “Having him here is an honor. He’s committed to our mission. The last time Clinton spoke here, I was impressed by his depth of knowledge of foreign relations and complex political issues. It’s amazing.”

Lisa Thomas of Yorktown has been involved with the college in a number of capacities and she says it’s occasions like this that really resonate with her. “What an honor…who would have ever thought that in my life, I would be at a relatively intimate event like this and listening—in person—to the President. It’s truly inspiring.”

The Westchester Community College Foundation gives an average of $1.2 million a year to college scholarships and academic support programs. This event raised over  $50,000.