MassBay Graduate, Ronan Keane of Needham, MA, to Deliver Student Commencement Address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
781-540-1231
ecooper@massbay.edu

MassBay Community College Liberal Arts, Communication graduate Ronan Keane poses on the Wellesley Hills campus, Wellesley Hills, MA, April 2024 (Photo/ MassBay Community College)

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (May 14, 2024) — MassBay Community College proudly announces that Ronan Keane of Needham, MA, has been selected to deliver the student commencement address at the College’s 62nd Commencement exercises on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Keane will be graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts: Communications.

“Being selected to address the graduates at MassBay’s commencement is an incredible honor,” said Keane. “My journey at MassBay has been transformative for me personally and academically. I love MassBay, and I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to share my reflections and gratitude with my fellow graduates from whom I have learned so much. This is a beautiful capstone to my time here at MassBay.”

Reflecting on his experience, Keane shared “I didn’t come to MassBay to graduate. I came here because I had left UMass Amherst and wanted to take some classes and transfer my credits. After the first semester, I knew I wanted to stay here. I discovered things about myself and found tremendous support from the faculty and staff.” 

Throughout his time at MassBay, Keane distinguished himself as a dedicated student leader and scholar. He immersed himself in extracurricular activities, serving as the vice president of academic affairs for the Student Government Association, contributing to the student literary magazine lumiere, and launching and participating in the student run podcast, The BayWatch. In addition, Keane has maintained a 4.0 GPA and has earned a spot on the Dean’s List every semester. He was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in 2023. 

In addition to his family, Keane attributes much of his success to the guidance and mentorship he received from MassBay Communication Chair, Professor Carolyn Guttilla, his advisor, who played a pivotal role in keeping him on track and “setting him on a successful course,” and Marketing Professor Tom Neimi and former English Professor David Medina, whose instruction and support shaped his academic journey. Outside of the classroom, Keane works part-time at Marathon Sports, has run the 2023 Boston Marathon and the 2022 Providence Marathon, and enjoys woodworking and surfing.

In his commencement address, Keane aims to highlight the strength and warmth of the MassBay community, emphasizing the importance of connection and support in achieving success.

After graduation, Keane intends to transfer to Boston College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications. His future goal is to become a journalist.

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020, 2021, and 2023 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.