'Floating down a river': FLCC grads set sail

HOPEWELL — A twist on the secret to success and a surprise guest greeted soon-to-be Finger Lakes Community College graduates at Saturday’s commencement.

Craig Alexander, chief product officer for Red Eagle Entertainment, a transmedia company, told the hundreds of students, family and friends gathered for the college’s 47th commencement ceremony that “life is like floating down a river.” Even with the best-laid plans, life is full of surprises and the ability to be flexible and make the most of the unexpected is a great asset, Alexander said.

Alexander, a guest lecturer for FLCC honors students, shared his journey from starting out as an aerospace engineer to switching gears and joining a new industry: the field of video gaming.

“Randomness and providence played a part,” said Alexander, who lives in California’s high-tech Silicon Valley and has close ties to Canandaigua through family and friends. Alexander’s company combines games, television and films based on the best-selling fantasy book series “Wheel of Time.” His work at Turbine Inc. involved translating J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy to video games.

Along with serendipity, Alexander talked about forbearance and the value of teamwork. “A diverse team, with multiple skills, will be most likely to succeed,” he said.

“Always look for someone not like you,” he said, adding that will make it possible to accomplish much more than one person can working alone.

Some 918 students earned degrees on Saturday, with a great many of them walking across the stage at the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center on the Hopewell campus to receive their degrees in hand at the 47th annual commencement. In all, the college awarded 941 degrees and certificates, as some students received more than one credential.

“Many of you have faced and overcame significant challenges,” said college President Barbara Risser during her address. She emphasized her commitment to the college and community and pride in the accomplishment of the graduating students. “You finished what you started and that is a key ability to success,” Risser said.

Rory Edmonds, president of the Student Corporation and a member of the class of 2015, in his remarks spoke about what he called the “intangibles” of being a FLCC student.

“You can immerse yourself in the rich student culture and not be lost in a sea of people,” he said. The education he received went far beyond academics, Edmonds said: “I am more confident, I have a broader perspective.”

“More importantly … it is truly like family,” he said. “We may not know everyone, but we all form a family.”

The day’s unexpected guest was U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, who said shortly after taking the podium that Finger Lakes Community College “is one of the best institutions of higher education in New York state.”

Schumer shared as well a bit about his own story on the path to becoming New York’s senior U.S. senator. After graduating from Harvard College and Harvard Law School in 1974, he threw his parents for a loop when he returned home and announced he was going into politics, he said. Schumer ran for Assembly and at age 23 became the youngest member of the Legislature since Theodore Roosevelt.

Schumer also put in a plug for the college tax credit he backed that is now law. It allows a full $2,500 tax credit for every year of college for families with an income below $200,000.

Last year, about one-third of those eligible did not take the credit, he said.

“What if your family income is above $200,000? he said. “Then God bless you.”