York, PA – the 387 students who graduated from York College could not escape one last class. This time, the class — about an hour — was one on life lessons.

Family, friends and others were there, too, Wednesday in the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center’s M&T Field House. with about 1,000 people in attendance, those who spoke imparted their knowledge of the importance of keeping in contact with fellow classmates and York College, loving what you do, maintaining a positive attitude and tips on being successful.

York College President George Waldner said this time of year is one of celebration and graduation day should be no different.

“We have high hopes for our graduates here today,” Waldner said.

Before introducing the faculty speaker, graduate Daniel Werbeck spoke of his years at the college. Wednesday was a perfect time to say thank you to those that changed their lives, he said.

“We all have that special professor in mind that impacted us. I challenge all of you today to seek out that special person who influenced you and simply say ‘thank you’,” Werbeck said.

Finally, he urged students to “love what you do and get good at it. Nothing in life worth anything is easy.”

The faculty speaker, Robert Lindsay, extolled the benefits of a positive attitude.

“You are constantly making choices and responses in life that affect your attitude,” he said. Events are sometimes beyond our control, and how we respond to them matters to our overall well-being, he said.

Diagnosed this year with Parkinson’s Disease, Lindsay said a doctor reminded him to stay positive. He admits it was hard at first.

In closing, he urged graduates to “become the most positive, enthusiastic person you know,” citing “Life’s Little Instruction Book.”

Prior to the awarding of degrees, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters was bestowed to Cyril C. Dunmire Jr., a 1986 graduate of the college and former trustee of the board. Dunmire spoke of his time at York College and of life experiences.

He offered tips for success. among other things, a strong work ethic is essential, he said. A handshake, listening when others speak and a neat appearance are also important.

“Honesty is always the best policy,” he said.

After degrees were awarded, graduates met with family and friends.

“Thank you. I thought you weren’t going to come,” Marci Weil, 22, told her fiancé, Christopher Carter, as he presented her with white and pink roses.

Rebekah Ostrom, 23, a nursing major, said she is going to work at York Hospital.

“I’m excited. It’s been a long road,” Ostrom said.

Local graduates

York College graduates from area are:

Associate degrees:

Red Lion — J. Scott Chancey, respiratory therapy; Ashley Kuhn, respiratory therapy; Jennifer Lehr, health care coding; and Regina Kahler, health care coding.

Spring Grove — Rachel Corney, biology.

York — Lori Rawlinson, business administration; Megan Lefever, health care coding; Melinda Montenegro, general studies; Adrienne Bukovsky, respiratory therapy; and Kelci Howard, health care coding.

York Haven — Bianca De La Cruz, criminal justice.

Bachelor’s degrees:

Abbottstown — Brett Dillman, criminal justice; and Melissa Smith, business administration.

Airville — Kathleen Smith, public relations.

Dallastown — Brittani Morrison, elementary education/special education with honors; Jennifer Mrozinski, business administration; Angel Newsom, secondary education- general science with high honors; Kathi Orwig, business administration; Jessica Sprenkle, psychology; and Nicole Rollman, nursing.

Dillsburg — Ryan Beard, nursing; and Sara Calhoun, behavioral science.

Dover — Jessica Baltzell, nursing with honors; Matthew Delp, nursing; Ethan Gallardo, graphic design; Melody Parshall, elementary education with high honors; and Roberta Rishel, history with high honors.

East Berlin — Caitlyn Coleman, elementary education with high honors.

Etters — Amanda Gibson, nursing with honors.

Fairfield — Susan Cordell, nursing with honors; and Emily Morris, elementary education with honors.

Felton — Justin Icenroad, biology.

Gettysburg — Julie Williams, nursing; and Amanda Pottorff, respiratory care.

Glen Rock — Ashley Giordano, nursing with high honors; Justin Jones, mass communications; Katelin Blevins, elementary education with high honors; and Katie Augustyniak, nursing with high honors.

Glenville — Ashley Woodward, accounting with high honors; and Melissa Hall, biology.

Hanover — Charles Berry IV, criminal justice; Anna McMaster, elementary education with high honors; Ashley Arnold, nursing; Caitlin Tharp, nursing; Johnny Raynor, nursing; Judith Stewart, secondary education-social studies; Justin Seibert, criminal justice; Katie Sweigart, elementary education with highest honors; Laura Adornato, elementary education with honors; Megan Schwartz, nursing; Nathan Sterner, sport management; Nicholas Easton, computer science; Richard Laskowich, business administration; and Vincent Sparacino, graphic design.

Manchester — Clark Arnold, mechanical engineering; and Michael Spangler, accounting with honors.

Mount Wolf — Tessa Sverduk, business administration with honors; and Timothy Vinson, accounting.

New Freedom — Brittany Anderson, clinical lab science; Christian Siemasko, information systems/development; Douglas Carmichael, theatre with high honors; Elena Nazarova, public relations with high honors; Kelsey Engle, criminal justice; and Matthew Hupp, history with honors.

New Oxford — Benjamin Smith, elementary education with honors.

Railroad — Andrew Bailey, mechanical engineering with high honors.

Red Lion — Adam Becker, marketing; Amanda Urey, economics/finance; Frank Clark, criminal justice; Heather McDonald, criminal justice; and Tiffany Arnold, elementary education with high honors.

Seven Valleys — Bridgett Palmer, graphic design; Christopher White, criminal justice; and Tami Shaffer, nursing with high honors.

Shrewsbury — Courtney Fitzsimmons, finance.

Spring Grove — Kelly Wildasin, respiratory care; Lindsay Leppo, elementary education with high honors; Marissa Foody, English literary studies; Nancy Polashuk, respiratory care with highest honors; and Shonna Smyser, secondary education-general science.

Stewartstown — Elizabeth Murter, nursing; Kacy Hopkins, elementary education; Katelyn Parker, elementary education with high honors; and Marci Weil, nursing.

Windsor — Dylan Barto, business administration with honors; Kyle Dunlap, secondary education-social studies with high honors.

Wrightsville — Erica Wise, elementary education.

York — Amanda Ream, management with honors; Angelia Lee, criminal justice; Anna Calix, elementary education with highest honors; Arlena Drumm, behavioral science with honors; Ashley Bievenour, psychology; Ashley Diehl, criminal justice; Ashley Knouse, marketing with honors; Avery Tillou, professional writing with high honors; Benjamin Jones, criminal justice; Brian Long, secondary education-social studies with honors; Cara Foss, philosophy; Carla Grothe-Pickard, nursing; Carol Ankrum, information systems/development; Christina Woodall, marketing; Christopher Mendez, secondary education-social studies with high honors; Cindia Alies, marketing; Clayson Samuelsen, theatre with honors; Daniel Dellinger, secondary education-general science with honors; Danielle Ramage, nursing; Debbra Bartman, nursing; Debbra Kanya, nursing; Derek Cartwright, elementary education; Geoffrey Scott, mass communications; Georgette Brown, marketing; Heidi Patschke, nursing with honors; James Rohrbaugh, elementary education with high honors; James Sawor, political science; Jamie Polan, nursing with honors; Janet Miller, secondary education-English with highest honors; Jennifer Lehigh, secondary education-English with high honors; Jessica Diaczun, sport management; Jessica Ebbert, nursing; Joel Battersby, nursing with honors; John Hopkins, philosophy; Jordan Reynolds, mass communications; Justin Davis, philosophy with honors; Kayla Smith, elementary education; Kimcuong Lu, nursing with honors; Kyle Waite, nursing with honors; Laura Barshinger, marketing; Lisa Hull, elementary education; Lisa Workman, finance; Lloyd West, information systems/development with high honors; Melissa Bates, nursing; Michael Mountz, secondary education-social studies with highest honors; Mindy Becker, public relations; Moukdahanh Southivong, general music education with honors; Nicholas Verrastro, business administration; Nicole Schmidt, secondary education-English; Rebekah Ostrom, nursing; Robert Lyman, public relations; Ryan King, business administration; Sandra Loeffelholz, elementary education with high honors; Sarah Slonaker, nursing with high honors; Sonja Miller, criminal justice; Susan Renoll, business administration; Tyler Brode, mass communications with honors; Virgil McGrady III, criminal justice; Wendy Blair, history; Zachary St. John, business administration; Wendy Blair, history with high honors; Jennifer Brady, nursing with honors; Matthew Cancilla, criminal justice; Gregory Williams of York, history; and James Sawor, political science.

York Haven — Cheryl Fishel, sociology.

York Springs — Kayla Helm, elementary education/special education with highest honors.

Master’s degrees:

Dallastown — Charity Eyler, adult nurse practitioner; Elizabeth Goheen, education; and Jennifer McCann, business administration.

Dover — Amanda Euculano, education.

East Berlin — Jeffrey Erdman, business administration.

Felton — Richard Meinl, education.

Hanover — Casi Brough, business administration.

Hellam — Jeremy Klunk, business administration.

Manchester — Jennifer Sarbaugh, education; and Katie Hartman, education.

Mount Wolf — Lori Riddle, education.

Red Lion — Anita Deller, business administration; Emily Kuehne, education; and Lynn Robertson, nursing.

Stewartstown — Shannon Wolf, education.

York — Julie Miller, education; Kelly Harper, education; Siddhartha Bhatia, business administration; Susan Baxter, education; Shelley Drahusz, education; Jessica Heller, education; Jennifer Heltzel, education; Erin Irving, education; Jeremy Klunk, business administration; Jodie Lauber, education; Christine Linden, education; Kelly Livingston, education; Holly Wagner, education; Jodie Wimer, education; and Stephanie Winemiller, education.