Thomas Hipwell, Class of 2017 Valedictorian addressed over 500 guests and 125 graduates at the 66th Annual Commencement Ceremony

On Thursday, May 18, 2017, at 1:00pm on a very warm yet exciting day, the graduating class of 2017 gathered in Mother of Perpetual Help Hall Auditorium on the Manor College campus, surrounded by family, friends, faculty, staff and alumni to watch their loved ones walk down the aisle, anxiously awaiting their moment to receive their diploma.  These student have shown their efforts through hard work and dedication, received their long-awaited diplomas conferring Associate degrees in Science and Arts.

Cheltenham High School graduate, Thomas Hipwell took the stage to speak to his fellow classmates, professors, coaches, family and friends as the 2017 Valedictorian and opened his remarks by saying, “It’s easy, just a lot of work.” Hipwell shared his thanks and gratitude to many whom have “enriched and improved” his life but gave a heartfelt thank you to one person in particular saying, “John Dempster – soccer coach and athletic director, open doors for me that changed my life and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for bringing me to Manor.”

The continuing theme to Hipwell’s remarks was a quote that an older soccer teammate said to Hipwell when he was a Freshman – “It’s easy, just a lot of work.” Hipwell used this theme to imply that you can do anything you set your mind to if you put in the work.  It is obvious that Hipwell lives by this mantra of “work” considering he maintained a 4.0 GPA, worked a part-time job and was the goalkeeper for the Men’s Soccer team for the last two years.

Hipwell is also the first-ever student-athlete to be named valedictorian at Manor College.
Hipwell concluded his remarks by saying this line of inspiration – “Regardless of what you do, regardless of where you go – when faced with adversity – just remember one thing, it’s easy, just a lot of work.”