BCCC Alum to Address Graduating Class

James Bennett, an award-winning illustrator and graduate graduate of Bucks County Community College, will address the 2013 graduating class at its 6 p.m. commencement on Thursday. 

Bennett, who still lives in Bucks County, earned an associates degree in fine arts from BCCC, continued his education at the School of Visual Arts in New York after his 1983 graduation. 

Bennett's work has appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, Time, Sports Illustrated, Mad, Business Week, Reader’s Digest, and Philadelphia magazines. He has also illustrated books including "Tell Me a Scary Story...But Not Too Scary" by Carl Reiner, and "Halloween" by Jerry Seinfeld.

The college will recognize Bennett’s achievements by granting him an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree, to be presented by College President Stephanie Shanblatt and Board of Trustees Chair Blake Eisenhart. 

Additionally, Theodore Prime, one of the almost 900 members of the 2013 graduating class, was chosen to speak to to fellow graduates, and the BCCC Madrigal Singers as well as the BCCC Graduation Ensemble will perform. 

Nursing graduates will be recognized at a pinning ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the gymnasium. Keynote speaker will be James Matejik, a 1988 graduate of the college’s associate degree nursing program.

Matejik earned his BSN from Thomas Jefferson University in 1991 and his Master’s Degree from Gwyned MercyCollege in 2000. He is currently a PhD candidate at Widener University and an adjunct faculty member at Bucks. The student speaker will be Lisa Musso of Newtown, a former journalist who turned to nursing as a career change.