Thomas College Announces In-Person 127th Commencement Ceremonies and Speakers MacKenzie Riley Young | April 6, 2021

WATERVILLE, MAINE, April 2021 — Thomas College announces it will host an in-person traditional 127th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 1 p.m. Both 2021 and 2020 graduates are invited to participate. All graduates may be accompanied by a maximum of two guests to the on-campus ceremony. Thomas College will also hold its Honors Convocation ceremony on Friday evening, May 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. – also with a two-guest maximum.

For both ceremonies, each graduate/guest unit will be assigned their own space to watch the ceremony, safely distanced from other guests. Everyone will be required to follow safety protocols.

Provost Thomas Edwards is pleased to announce the speakers, marshals, and honorary degree recipients for the 127th annual commencement ceremonies.

Representing undergraduate students this year will be Kyle Greene. Kyle is from Claremont, New Hampshire, and will be graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. He plans to further his education in the one-year Master’s in Educational Leadership, Principal/Superintendent program at Thomas College.
 

Representing graduate students this year will be Tiffany White. White is from Barnstead, New Hampshire, and will be graduating with her Master of Business Administration– Accounting degree. She recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Accounting – Forensic Accounting Concentration degree with summa cum laude honors in August 2020. After graduation, Tiffany will work in the Audit Department of Baker Newman Noyes in New Hampshire, while she works to become a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Public Accountant.

Assisting the graduating class this year as marshals will be Jen Snedeker from Richmond, Maine, and Jose Afonso Luis from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.

Snedeker is scheduled to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology – Forensic Concentration. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to obtain a master’s in social work. Jose is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology – Forensic Concentration. His plans after graduation include furthering his education in the field of cybersecurity while also attempting to begin a professional career in the United States.

Thomas College is honored to announce Meredith Strang Burgess, President & CEO of Burgess Advertising & Marketingas this year’s Commencement Speaker.  

Strang Burgess of Cumberland, ME, is President and CEO of Burgess Advertising & Marketing, a 33-year-old communications company located in Falmouth.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, Strang Burgess is an active and outspoken advocate for cancer awareness and prevention. She is the past President of the Maine Cancer Foundation and helped create the successful Maine pink ribbon specialty license plate program in 2008. She has completed 14 triathlons and has the great honor of being the last finisher at the annual Maine Tri for a Cure triathlon every July, the largest single-day fundraiser in Maine.

In addition, Strang Burgess has served in the Maine State House of Representatives and is a dedicated leader and volunteer for numerous organizations, including the Maine Development Foundation, the University of Maine, Hebron Academy, and the Maine Historical Society. She has also served on the boards of the Maine Cancer Consortium, the Maine Public Health Association, and the Portland Ronald McDonald House.

This year’s Honors Convocation speaker will be Danielle Marquis. Marquis graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Thomas College in 1999 and co-owns and operates Higgins & Bolduc Insurance in Oakland, Maine, with her husband and fellow Thomas graduate Matthew Marquis. Danielle began working in the insurance industry in 1997 at The Boothby & Bartlett Agency in Waterville. In addition to heading Higgins & Bolduc, an agency with family roots, she is a member of the Maine Independent Agents Association (MIAA) Board of Directors. She joined the Thomas College Board of Trustees in 2018 and has been an active volunteer on committees of the Board as well as the College’s Guarantee the Future Campaign Committee and the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice. Danielle lives in Sidney on Messalonskee Lake with Matt and their son Mitchell.  

Thomas College will award five additional honorary degrees at this year’s ceremony: H. Allen Ryan H’08, Charlie and Nancy Shuman, John Fallona, and Peter Prescott.

The recipient of the Thomas Scholar Award for the undergraduate student graduating with the highest cumulative G.P.A. is Tiffany White with a 4.0. White, from Barnstead, NH, completed her Bachelor of Science in Accounting – Forensic Accounting Concentration degree with summa cum laude honors in August 2020. She is graduating in May 2021 with her Master’s in Business Administration – Accounting degree. After graduation, White will work in the Audit Department of Baker Newman Noyes in New Hampshire, while she works to become a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Public Accountant.

For more information on these individuals and on the 127th commencement ceremonies, please visit our website at  https://wwwold.thomas.edu/commencement.

About Thomas College: Thomas College has been preparing students for success in their personal and professional lives for over 125 years. Thomas College nurtures the unique potential within each student. Our Guaranteed Job Program, 3-year accelerated offerings in all undergraduate degrees, individualized advising, career counseling, and our Innovation Centers in Business and Education meet a student’s determination to succeed with the direction, confidence, and tools to realize the highest version of themselves. Our graduate degree offerings fit your lifestyle ranging from in-person accelerated programs to evening online courses. From the classroom to community activities, or on the athletics field with our 19 varsity sports, Thomas College provides a personalized experience that prepares you for the workplace of tomorrow. Data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas in the top 13 percent of all higher education institutions in the U.S. for upward mobility of its graduates, and U.S. News & World Report ranks us #7 among colleges in the Northeast. For more information, visit wwwold.thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.