Thomas A. Oakley to speak at SCCC commencement May 18

Newton - Thomas A. Oakley, president and CEO of Quincy Newspapers, Inc., will be the keynote speaker as 346 graduates of Sussex County Community College celebrate their educational accomplishments at commencement ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. The commencement will take place in the Lakeland Bank Pavilion on the Connor Green at the college, located at One College Hill Rd. in Newton. Martha Hughes, assistant professor of environmental science, will lead the processional as the grand marshal. Kaitrin Branning and Mary Greenfeder will perform the national anthem. They will be followed by a welcome from Robert Vandenbergh, chair of the board of trustees. Susan Zellman, will also present a greeting on behalf of the Freeholders. Dr. Eleanor Carducci, an English professor, will speak for the faculty during the ceremony. Tara McGovern and Laura Meade have been selected to represent the students and will each give a speech. A committee of faculty and staff evaluated the speeches submitted by graduation candidates. Students were required to have a 3.5 or higher grade point average to have their speeches considered. Quincy Newspapers, Inc, is a privately held company that owns and operates two newspapers, The Quincy Herald-Whig and The New Jersey Herald, as well as two radio stations and 11 television stations serving markets in 14 states. Oakley is the fourth generation of his family to work for the company, joining the firm in 1957 after graduating from Duke University in 1954 and serving as a pilot with the Strategic Air Command. He and his wife, Anne, are the parents of two children who also work for Quincy. Oakley has served in his current position since 1969, overseeing the acquisition of 10 broadcast properties and another newspaper. QNI, which traces its roots to the Illinois Bounty Land Register, founded in 1835, is now a multi-media company employing more than 1,000 people. In addition to his presidential address, Dr. Bradley Gottfried will conduct the presentation and awarding of degrees and certificates, along with William Waite, dean of business, technology and law.