Clinton Community College Celebrates 2026 Graduates in Historic Year

View photos and videos from this year's ceremonies.

Clinton Community College honored its Class of 2026 over the weekend, celebrating student achievement during one of the most consequential years in the college’s 60-year history.

A total of 106 graduates earned the opportunity to walk across the stage during a commencement ceremony held Friday evening at the historic Strand Theatre in Plattsburgh.

The event marked a memorable milestone for both the graduates and the institution.

The ceremony featured remarks from Acting President Ken Knelly, Board of Trustees Chair Devi Momot, Faculty Greeter and Professor Emeritus Catherine Eloranto and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Steven Frederick. Student speakers included Valedictorian Brett Herrick and Salutatorian David MacAlpine, who reflected on their academic journeys and the significance of the moment.

This year marked the first time Clinton held its commencement ceremony at the Strand Theatre, following a historic transition for the college. In August 2025, Clinton Community College officially relocated and began co-location on the campus of SUNY Plattsburgh, ushering in a new chapter focused on accessibility, collaboration and sustainability.

“We are incredibly proud of this graduating class and all they have accomplished, particularly during a year of significant change for the college,” said Knelly. “Their resilience and determination embody the spirit of Clinton Community College. We are confident they will make meaningful contributions to their communities and professions.”

During the ceremony, Herrick encouraged his fellow graduates to celebrate their achievements and carry that confidence with them into the future.

“We've all made it this far, pushing through life and school and jobs, and each and every one of us should be incredibly proud of what we've accomplished,” said Herrick.

In addition to commencement, the Clinton Community College Nursing Club hosted its traditional Nursing Capping and Pinning Ceremony on Saturday, recognizing the 26 graduates of the Nursing program as well as students who successfully completed their first year of coursework.

Photos and video from the commencement and Nursing Capping and Pinning ceremonies are available online.

A full list of graduates is included below.

• Edward V. Ackey — Associate of Applied Science Human Services; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate
• Emily N. Arriaga — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Nathan J. Banker — Associate of Applied Science Human Services; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate
• Ty Jacob Evan Belcher — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Systems
• Rayane Benazouz — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Barrington Bennett — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Systems
• Brittany Bennett — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Sarah Benway — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Danielle Beshaw — Associate of Applied Science Human Services
• Cory Bonville — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Viany Borel Tenezeu Tazanou — Associate of Occupational Studies Industrial/Commercial Electrician
• Jayden Bowen — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Jillian L. Bowen — Associate of Applied Science Human Services
• Declan Breen — Associate of Occupational Studies Industrial/Commercial Electrician
• Brayden Brennan — Associate of Science Business Administration
• Heidi A. Breyette — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Sophia A. Brown — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Mya Bushey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Ty Calkins — Associate of Applied Science Criminal Justice
• Samantha J. Caple — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Rylee E. Carter — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Paige M. Chilton — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Mercadia V. Clark — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Danika G. Clowney — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• James Q. Cone — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Anita Grace Conner — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Jaymison Conrad — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport Management
• Jesse Cote — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Wilhelmina Dakorah-Bedah — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Shauna Rae Depo — Associate of Arts Criminal Justice
• Aiden L. Dominic — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration
• Nathan J. Donton — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Aiden Dragon-Nagel — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Velauriea Dubay — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Brynn M. Dupee — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration
• Ryder Estes — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• Alexandra Findlay — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Mary E. Fowler-Besaw — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Nolan Francis — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Isiah Fritz Francois — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport Management
• Emily Girard — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• David P. Griffin — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Nicholas Hall — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Hayden J. Harvey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Fionn O. Hattier — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Systems
• Matthew Hebert — Associate of Applied Science Mechanical Technology
• Brett Herrick — Associate of Science Individual Studies
• Jillian Rose Husk — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Kady Karaboue — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Patrick Owen King — Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Technology and Cybersecurity
• Peter Labarge — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• Tristin Lagree — Associate of Arts Criminal Justice
• Austin J. Lalonde — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Austin Elijah Lambert — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Macey J. LaMora — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Megan C. LaPorte — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration
• Serah Leech — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Tayla Lewis — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Deliah F. Lorey — Associate of Applied Science Accounting
• David G. MacAlpine — Associate of Applied Science Human Services; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate
• Julienne Makamte — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Xavier T. Manalang — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Sarah L. Martineau — Associate of Applied Science Health Services Management
• Harvey Merrill III — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport Management
• Cooper Metcalf — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Isaac Mitchell — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Allyssa Moody — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Lailah Nadirah Muhammad — Associate of Arts Criminal Justice
• Kelly M. Neenan — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Judy Norelus — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration
• Connor Patrick O’Neil — Associate of Applied Science Business Administration: Sport Management
• Evan Patrie — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Franklyn Payano — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Lisa Pecor — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• Emmalena Pelerin — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Autumn L. Pelkey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Jordyn A. Pelkey — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Charles Peterson — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Lauryn Ruth Petrelli — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Sarah J. Place — Associate of Applied Science Accounting
• Mason Polhemus — Associate of Occupational Studies Industrial/Commercial Electrician
• Kyle Reif — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Grace M. Reynolds — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Avery E. Roberts — Associate of Applied Science Mechanical Technology
• Avelyn S. Rocque — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Alexa L. Sampica — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Alyssa A. Sass — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Abbigael Elizabeth-Anne Sears — Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate
• Joshua M. Sharp — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Jarrod D. Shusda — Associate of Applied Science Computer and Electronics Technology
• Allyzza L. Smith — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Ailyn M. Staley — Associate of Science Applied Psychology
• Kaleigh Thomas — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Rachel Thompson — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Sadie Thume — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Leeanna N. Trombley — Associate of Arts English
• Caitlin Turgeon — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Ashton Turner — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• Bailey James Vanarman — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Jason T. Waldron — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• Michael Waldron — Associate of Applied Science Nursing
• Travis C. Weeden — Associate of Science Liberal Arts: Math & Science
• Jeffrey C. Weeks III — Associate of Applied Science Individual Studies
• Owen Yelle — Associate of Arts Criminal Justice; Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science
• Toinenaejah Young — Associate of Applied Science Human Services
• Ava R. Zurlo — Associate of Arts Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Science