Movin' on up; MWCC grads told `secret to prosperity is generosity'.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: George Barnes

GARDNER - Joyce Landry has traveled to 89 countries, boarded ships in some of the most exotic ports in the world, met corporate and world leaders and shaken hands with two U.S. presidents. But in 30 years since she left Gardner to found a multimillion dollar travel business, the moments she has found most rewarding were spent making a difference in the lives of others.

"If you remember nothing else, remember this," she told the 714 graduates receiving 914 associate degrees and certificates at the 45th Mount Wachusett Community College commencement last night, "the secret to prosperity is generosity. The more you give, the more you'll get."

Mrs. Landry, co-owner and chief executive officer of Landry & Kling Inc., a $30 million Miami-based company specializing in cruise event services, delivered the commencement address, offering those receiving degrees advice on how to approach life, their careers and the world in general.

"There are enormous opportunities in our country, in our world," she said. "You might not see it yet in your community, but they are on the horizon."

Mrs. Landry said there are problems in the economy, the environment and many other things, but she urged graduates to look beyond the negativity.

"Visionaries see the opportunities in adversity and embrace it and I invite you all to be visionaries," she said.

Mrs. Landry offered the graduates eight points as her recipe for creating magic in their lives: Find delight in everyday things; take chances and don't let fear stop you; don't stop when the going gets rough; live healthy; be ready for adventure; be grateful every day; make money for the things you can do with it rather than buy with it; and give generously.

At the graduation the college also honored two people posthumously.

The late James D. Murphy, a former trustee for the college and longtime advertising director for The Gardner News, was awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy.

The college also honored the late Harold E. Brown Jr. - a Bolton native and 1992 graduate of the college who was killed Dec. 30 while serving with the CIA in Afghanistan - as the college's alumnus of the year. In accepting the honor for his son, Harold E. Brown Sr. read an essay his son wrote in 1992 while at MWCC. In the essay, he wrote of how his two years at the college were important in shaping his life.

Area students who received degrees are:

Ashburnham

Associate degrees: Carlo J. Barbieri, Brianna K. Bodley-Gomes, Adam D. Brackett, Carrie-Anne H. Case, Jacqueline A. Connolly, Catiana C. Dupuis, Deborah A. Duteau, Dawn-Marie Gould, Aaron M. Henderson, Andrew J. Henderson, Amy B. Hildreth, Zachary T. Krupski, Martha E. Larson, Kileen E. Lashua, Lawrence L. Loughrey, Travis M. Perrett, Andrew P. Richard, Sarah J. Stiles, Christopher P. Streeks, Kelsey J. Sullivan, Angela K. Whalen.

Certificates: Brittany A. Aker, Adam D. Brackett, Catherine A. Desgroseilliers, Deborah A. Duteau, Matthew R. Faler, Tiara V. Kaiser, Kileen E. Lashua, Andrew P. Richard.

Ashby

Associate degrees: Margaret C. Bigwood, Richard P. Caron, Dawn L. DelleChiaie, Erin G. Heyes, Kenneth J. LeBlanc Jr., Tayla M. Salter, Peter D. Violette.

Certificates: Margaret C. Bigwood, Richard P. Caron, Kenneth J. LeBlanc Jr., Tayla M. Salter, Peter D. Violette.

Athol

Associate degrees: Jessie J. Burnett, Jessica L. Carcieri, Charles A. Chandler, Marcus P. Collins, Christina M. Cooper, Sarah M. Franchi, Chelsea J. Frost, Katie E. Gelinas, Michael R. Harvey, Jessica L. Hickey, Kalin D. Hutchinson, Deidre L. Johnson, Joi P. Keddy, Trysha D. LaBarge, Bonnie K. Mahoney, Rebecca H. Mahoney, Dawn M. Maroni, Kelsey A. Matthews, Tina T. McIntosh, Gennilla Millan, Shawn M. Morandi, Clayton J. Morse, Faheem Y. Muhammad, Meghan L. Nichols, Kathryn R. Pistorino, Kira J. Prest, Susan E. Roraback, Heather J. Smith, Jennifer L. St. Hilaire, Nicole M. Stoddard, Kimberly A. Warrington.

Certificates: Karla M. Boll, Jessie J. Burnett, Katrina T. Burton, Pamela M. Caranfa, Jean A. Cullen, Chelsea J. Frost, Michael R. Harvey, Jessica L. Hickey, Virginia F. Hinchey, Scott R. Howland, Brenda J. Keough, Keith Kingsley, Rebecca H. Mahoney, Tina T. McIntosh, Cynthia M. Mitchell, Nancy L. Mullet, Jamie M. Pearson, Shelley B. Rice, Rebecca L. Stimson, Kimberly A. Warrington, Victoria S. Welcome.

Auburn

Certificate: Cheryl A. Hayes.

Ayer

Associate degrees: Hamilton Barthelemy, Timothy J. Coelho, Robert R. DaCosta, Cassandra L. Dalida, Peter M. Surette.

Certificates: Patrick A...