web1_nanticokeredeemervball02.jpg

Holy Redeemer wins 6th straight District 2 boys volleyball title

web1_SWB-logo.jpg

Rehabbing Jon Moscot makes RailRiders bats go dead

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; To more than 700 graduates at Luzerne County Community College&#8217;s 48th annual commencement, Thursday night&#8217;s ceremony did much more than simply mark an academic achievement.</p><p>It celebrated life&#8217;s journey.</p><p>The event&#8217;s principal speaker was Bryan Anderson, who lost both his legs and his left hand in an explosion in Iraq while serving in the Army in 2005.</p><p>He received a standing ovation as he made his way to the podium and talked of the day that changed his life, surprisingly, with humor.</p><p>&#8220;Right after the accident, my first thought was that my mother was going be really mad,&#8221; he said, laughing.</p><p>After losing consciousness, he woke up to his mother&#8217;s face, and realized that, whatever happened, he would have the support of his family.</p><p>Anderson encouraged the graduates to value the support they receive from family and friends in the midst of challenges. He also advised them not to fear failure.</p><p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t see failure as a bad thing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Just keep trying until you succeed.&#8221;</p><p>He told graduates to anticipate great things in their life.</p><p>&#8220;I know you can do it because you&#8217;re here,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Susan Unvarsky, chairman of the school&#8217;s Board of Trustees, said the graduates had succeeded because of their commitment to education and willingness to work.</p><p>Unvarsky credited the college&#8217;s open admissions policy with providing the opportunity for excellence and success for those who were willing to work for it.</p><p>She lauded both traditional students and non-traditional learners, including single parents, those who were preparing for a second career and those who were financially challenged as they worked toward their degree.</p><p>&#8220;Semester after semester some of you scraped up the money to continue your education,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And now here you are.&#8221;</p><p>Bernadette Gurnari, looking on as her daughter Deena Gurnari graduated, said she understood the value of perseverance in education and all areas of life.</p><p>&#8220;My daughter has an auditory processing problem,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And sometimes it was really hard, but she never gave up.&#8221;</p><p>Having finished her studies at LCCC last year, Deena Gurnari has already completed one semester at York College, working toward a degree in finance.</p><p>Throughout the evening, many graduates took time to hug an instructor, thanking them for the work they had done.</p><p>Graduate Kady Luchetti addressed those gathered, encouraging them to form their own beliefs and to be willing to face their fears.</p><p>&#8220;Build a life that you don&#8217;t need a vacation from,&#8221; Luchetti said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL052716LCCCgrad_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Respiratory therapy majors Amanda Simonson, left, of Huntington Mills, has her mortarboard adjusted by Janet Brucher, of Hunlock Creek, before the 48th annual commencement of Luzerne County Community College at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township on Thursday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_TTL052716LCCCgrad_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Respiratory therapy majors Amanda Simonson, left, of Huntington Mills, has her mortarboard adjusted by Janet Brucher, of Hunlock Creek, before the 48th annual commencement of Luzerne County Community College at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township on Thursday night. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County Community College graduates encouraged to face life with courage