Student Ben McDonald and alumnus Dominic Smith address new students

Convocation Speakers Ben McDonald and Dominic Smith

Cazenovia College’s 2008-09 Convocation Ceremony on Aug. 29, 2008, served to officially open the academic year with addresses by alumnus Dominic Smith, of Bronx, N.Y., and student speaker Ben McDonald, of Marathon, N.Y.

Smith received a bachelor of arts degree in 1994 and went on to Syracuse University College of Law. He is currently a litigation manager for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., overseeing litigation for owned and managed hotels. His talk centered on the advantages his education has given him. “I was just a kid from the Bronx,” he said, “not a great student.” With help from the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Smith excelled. “I found my voice at Cazenovia,” he said.

An avid traveler, Smith’s love of music has taken him to some of the most remote regions in the world, including China and the Tibetan Plateau, and most recently to the Sahara Desert where he slept under the stars with the Taureg, a nomadic Saharan tribe. Smith has an interest in holistic health and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in naturopathy. He urged students to take advantage of all the opportunities at Cazenovia.  “It’s not just about going on to get a job,” he said. “Use this opportunity to find your voice, to be the best person you can be.”

McDonald is a sophomore in the Sport Management Program, a student athlete, and president of the Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society that recognizes the academic achievements of first-year students. He told the new students, “To thrive during your college years does not mean maintaining a 4.0 GPA, being president of every organization, and playing every sport. Thriving requires a lot of selection and balance.”  

He advised new students to try a bit of everything. “When choosing sports, clubs and grades, you should factor in friends and social life, because enjoying college is a large part of your total experience.”