Bio-Med Science Academy celebrated the accomplishments of its second graduating class at the Academy’s commencement ceremony, held June 8, 2017 in the NEW Center Ballroom. More than 600 people were present in the standing room only crowd to witness the rite of passage for 73 Bio-Med graduates.
The 2017 class was brave. It took a major leap of faith for them to enter a high school in just its second year of existence—a school that didn’t even have a permanent home yet. After watching a slideshow of photos of the students throughout their four years at Bio-Med and listening to speeches by four graduates selected for the honor by the staff and their peers, it became obvious how much they appreciated having become part of something truly innovative.
In his keynote address, Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED, shared relatable stories about the first time he left home to attend SUNY-Buffalo and the adversity he faced as an undergraduate. Deciding that he could control his situation and succeed through hard work and determination allowed Dr. Gershen to achieve his goal of earning a dentistry degree, he said.
“At some point in the future you may again need to be outside your comfort zone.,” Dr. Gershen told the graduates. “It might be in a massive lecture hall or cafeteria without a single familiar face in sight. It could be your first night in a new apartment after landing your dream job far from home. Maybe it will be in another country halfway across the globe where you want to remain and help those less fortunate, but you can’t quite shake the feeling of how badly you might miss everyone you left behind. In those moments of uncertainty, reflect on your experiences at Bio-Med. Those times when you took a courageous leap will serve as a reminder that you’ve been there before and there’s nothing that can get in your way of achieving your goals.”