May 20, 2019

Our Lady of the Elms College graduates largest class in school history

REGIONAL
Story and photos by David Martin

 

SPRINGFIELD – Surrounded by family and friends, more than 500 graduates of the College of Our Lady of the Elms College Class of 2019 walked across the stage at the MassMutual Center in Springfield for the 88th Commencement Exercises, Saturday, May 18. This is the largest class in school history with 536 graduates.  

In addition, 116 master’s degrees, 20 doctoral degrees and six certificates of advanced graduate study were awarded. The class of 2019 included a notable five valedictorians, including Jennifer Roy, a communication sciences and disorders major who attends Church of the Living God, a Christian Church in Manchester Conn. Roy will be attending the University of Connecticut in the fall to earn her doctorate degree in audiology.

“Elms College really has this longstanding sense of community and it takes a community to raise a child and it takes a community to raise graduates. Everyone knows that people who get a degree from Elms College know what they are doing and they have good moral standing behind it,” said Roy.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno addressed the graduates during the ceremony. His oldest daughter, Cassandra Jude Sarno, graduated with honors. She also is a Cathedral High School alumna. Mayor Sarno had high praise for the faculty, staff and administration at Elms College. He said he is discouraged with the age of reality television because it often highlights the negative aspects of society and does not encourage good behavior.

“You must never forget that not only are you going to be a mirror, but you are going to be a window to the individuals that you aid and inspire. Mother Teresa had said at one time, ‘There are plenty of good people in the world and if you can’t find one, be one.’ God bless you all, continued success,” said Mayor Sarno.

Our Lady of the Elms conferred an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters to commencement speaker William Lyons III because of his commitment to manufacturing innovation, education, and philanthropy. The degree was presented by Elms College President Harry E. Dumay.  

Lyons, the founder of Blackstone Medical Inc., told graduates his speech would be more of a story than a lesson. Lyons related his family history, including how both sets of grandparents immigrated to America and began their own businesses. His father, William Lyons II created Brimfield Precision Inc., and relocated his family to western Massachusetts. Lyons said he and his siblings grew up working there, where they learned the traits of being good employees. He said this led to his strong discipline as an engineering student in college.

Lyons entered graduate school at the University of San Diego and was able to find full-time work there. It was then that he met his wife, Cynthia, who is now the chair of the board of trustees at Elms College. They worked together as a team and moved back to Massachusetts, where he went back to work in the family business in Brimfield while Cynthia taught school.  

After Lyons’ father passed away in 1987, Brimfield Precision Inc. began focusing on manufacturing medical devices, which inspired Lyons to establish Blackstone Medical Inc., with his brothers Matt and Mike in 1996; the company focused on developing biological solutions for problems with the spine and later became a full service spinal solutions company that introduced the first commercially available adult stem cell treatment for spinal fusion. Lyons retired in 2007. 

Although neither they nor their children attended Elms College, Lyons said donating to the Elms allows them to give back to their Catholic faith help the community where they raised their family and assist those who cannot afford to attend.

“Class of 2019 congratulations,  If you work hard, be the best, take the chances and give back any way you can, you will get there and then take the time to turn around, look back and give a helping hand to the folks coming up behind you, anyone can do it. Why not you?” said Lyons.

Honorary degrees were also awarded to Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, executive director of Catholic Charities Agency for the Springfield Diocese, and Savina J. Martin, co-chair of the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign.

“I was able to reflect on my years growing up as a Catholic in Roxbury during the tumultuous 1960s, attending catechism classes and classes with the Franciscan Sisters of Atonement,” said Martin. “Fifty years after the assignation of Dr. (Martin Luther) King (Jr.), this was really important in my life to come full circle and to be able to stand here today giving back to social justice and dedicating my life to the work for the poor.”

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.