Four years ago, when Pam Alexander enrolled at York College, she had two goals. The first was to earn a history degree.

The second goal was a little more subjective.

"I didn't want to disgrace myself in the process," said Alexander, 57.

Not only did she not disgrace herself, but she also earned her bachelor's degree with a 3.87 grade-point average.

Alexander, of North Codorus Township, was one of 718 graduates who received diplomas during the school's commencement program Saturday morning.

Though rain had been forecast as a possibility, Saturday was a comfortable, dry day.

Alexander appreciated the weather. In addition to the academic challenges she's faced, she also has dealt with health problems.

Because of two

Pam Alexander, 57, of North Codorus Township wipes a tear from her eye during Saturday's commencement at York College. Alexander enrolled four years ago and graduated with a 3.87 grade-point average. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Jason Plotkin)
back and neck surgeries, and an increasing problem with arthritis, Alexander uses a walker to get around.

"I'm doing well," she said. "But I will have to go for my master's degree taking online classes."

In the fall, Alexander will be attending Union Institute and University in Vermont. In time, she hopes to apply her new knowledge of history to write mystery novels.

"I also hope to do some part-time teaching," she said.

After graduating from Conestoga High School near Philadelphia in 1969, Alexander wanted to become a professional singer or ballerina. But even then, health problems trumped her dreams.

When she was 19, she married Ron Alexander. Because he already had two children from a previous marriage, Alexander felt she needed to build a home and a relationship with her stepchildren.

The couple has raised five children, three of whom attended Saturday's event, along with some of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her husband said he is very proud.

"For the past few years, she has built her whole life around going to school," said Ron Alexander, who works in the quality department at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. "The whole family was there to review her homework and help her where we could."

During commencement, guest speaker U.S. Rep. G.A. Dutch Ruppersberger talked about overcoming adversities and taking life's negatives and turning them into positives.

"Sometimes, our lives are planned out, sometimes they're not," the Democratic representative from Maryland's 2nd District said. "Sometimes, life is planned out, and changes happen anyway. We still have to do our best with it no matter what."

Alexander agreed.

"My life is nothing like what I planned out of high school," she said. "But I wouldn't change a thing."

YORK COLLEGE GRADS FROM YORK COUNTY AREA

Associate's degree recipients

Dallastown -- Mark Yingling

Dover -- Donna Yingling

Felton -- Samuel Miles and Carla Jones

Hanover -- Jason Kessler

Red Lion -- Linda Moore

Seven Valleys -- Emily Hare

Shrewsbury -- Denise Eberly

Windsor -- Jaclyn Zimmerer

York -- Richard Ridinger, Amanda Grove and Danielle Dufek
 
Bachelor's degree recipients

Abbottstown -- Megan Eline and Allison Geesey

Airville -- Jessica Wivell

Dallastown -- Katie Kerchner, Kerry Myers, Maria Almanza and Theresa Staley

Delta -- Amber Halsted and Samantha Blizzard

Dillsburg -- Amanda Cosgrave, David Krall, Erin Deputy and Shelbe Minns

Dover -- Aimee Miller, Amanda Brown, Christina Workman, Jami Potts, Joshua Bentzel, Margaret Goforth, Seth Weber, Shelly Wesner, Stacey Baker and Stephanie Lauer

East Berlin -- Brock Anderson, Emily Layendecker, Erin Hutchison, Jenna Handy, Jennifer Hoffman, Lauren Mitchell, Morgan Drake and Philip Noel

East Prospect -- Katie Winter

Etters -- Christopher Doemland and Lauren Parsons

Felton -- Ashley Henise, Brandon Cretu, Melissa Grove and Zachary Zeigler

Glen Rock -- Abby Walls, Melissa Wagner and Nathaniel Bucklew

Glenville -- Alice Zafiris and Katie Hertz

Hanover -- Abby Marchio, Abigail Brigham, Amy Livelsberger, Ashad Syed, Ashley Clousher, Brandy Wantz, Brian Alwine, Brian Wildasin, Brittany Sneeringer, Charissa Bowman, Chelsey Topper, David Bell, Deidra LaHatte, Erica Wildasin, Hillary Spangler, Jacqueline Roche, Jennifer Martin, Jennifer Twyman, Justin Crites, Laura Price, Lauren Rausch, Lindsay Brillhart, Lindsay Robinson, Loni Reynolds, Martin Bone, Peter Shovlin, Samad Syed, Tyler Clabaugh and William Perkins

Lewisberry -- Mary Mortimer and Sara Braun

Loganville -- Jordan Grove

Manchester -- Andrew Hake, Ashley Clemens, Michael Gross and Roger Miller

Mount Wolf -- Stephen Doria and Kristina Schraudner

New Freedom -- Diana Carr, Joseph Jasinski, Lauren Adams, Melissa Shelley and Shannon Ohl

Red Lion -- Adam May, Ashley Eveler, Caitlyn MacDonald, Daniel Loss, Eric Strickhouser, Janelle Foltz, Katharine Miceli, Lauren Rooney, Luke Miller, Michelle Griffith, Mindi Kunkel, Ryan Smith, Sarah Becker and Stephanie Zeigler

Seven Valleys -- Christopher Pope, Erin Lentz, Jessica Brown, Jessica Thorpe, Renee Sefton and Wendy Shearer

Shrewsbury -- Beth Harris, Danielle Scalise, James Hiteshew, Jocelyn Grigsby, Johnathan Peterson, Lisa Williams and Thomas Taylor

Spring Grove -- Adam Lehigh, Guy Copenheaver, Lance Wetzel, Lauren Maher, Megan Shepard and Pamela Alexander

Stewartstown -- Amanda Snyder, Amanda Stevens, Bradley Dembo, Brian Humphries, Kaitlyn Tucci and Sandra Grove

Thomasville -- Donna Myers and Rosina Calderone

West York -- Sheena Lighty

Windsor -- Erica Covert and Sara Barshinger

Wrightsville -- Cassandra Heller, Elizabeth Harrison, Minh Do, Nathan Krotzer and Scott Enedy

Yoe -- Jeremy Christenberry

York -- Alisha Norris, Allison Yinger, Amy Hansen, Andrea Latham, Andrew Hess, Andrew Snyder, Andy Ngo, Antonette Fort, Ashley Gross, Ashley Ruth, Ashley White, Ashley Zimmerman, Aubrey Holler, Benjamin Kotzman, Bethany Rhoads, Brittany Romer, Bryan McGuinness, Catherine Sacarellos, Chad Vigna, Christopher Walker, Corey Sell, Cynthia Kepler, Daniel Paschke, Devin Carre, Douglas Heltzel, Emily Routson, Emily Seitz, Erin Baker, Erin Hinkle, Francisco Kuljevan, Frank Stanko, George Banks, George Miller, Gregory Tate, Jacob Kent, James Tully, James Zaccariello, Jelee Kemper, Jennifer Forsythe, Jennifer Wilt, John Rau, Jonathan Chu, Jordan Billet, Joseph Hill, Joseph Smith, Justin Smith, Kahla Markey, Kara Bryant, Karen Lauffer, Kasey Taormino, Kate Jacobson, Katherine Fallon, Katherine Hendel, Kathy Shaub, Katie Messina, Kelly Lau, Kelly Leahy, Kenneth Zepernick, Kimberly Brandstedter, Kristen Wertz, Kristin McCorkle, Lan Nguyen, Laura Fry, Laura Miller, Lauren Knatz, Leigh Heist, Lindsey Coy, Lindsey Taylor, Logan Reed, Lucy Tang, Marc LePera, Marcella Holmes, Mary Gurnavage, Matthew Jones, Megan Nichols, Michael Helsel, Mindy Donnan, Monica Mountz, Nakesha Edwards, Natasha Trodden, Nathan Fry, Nathaniel Myers, Nichole Shue, Nicole Kennedy, Nicole Musser, Nikhil Chhibber, Omar King, Phineas Krupnick, Rachel Rinker, Rasharria Emery, Rebecca Alvey, Rebecca Jones, Rebecca Tafoya, Ryan Anthony, Ryan Smith, Samantha Krigbaum, Sandra Coleman, Sarah Dise, Sarah Gaenzle, Scott Koehler, Scott Woods, Sean Smith, Shanna Lentz, Shaun Calcara, Shirah Layton, Stephanie Cucina, Susan Feldmann, Susan VanWyk, Suzanne Propst, Teresa Hoover, Tiffany Walters, Travis Lenz, Whitney Michael, William Gausmann and Zachary Wiest

York Haven -- Seth Dupler

Yorkana -- Matthew Bish
 
Master's degree recipients

Dover -- William Sibley

Etters -- Nancy Hagerty

Glen Rock -- Lois Kemple

Hanover -- Cynthia Swartz and Jeremy Fuhrman

Lewisberry -- Debra Sheffer

Mount Wolf -- Karen Bumbaugh

Red Lion -- Jay Zortman, Lynn Robertson and Matthew Coleman

Seven Valleys -- Joseph Braun

Stewartstown -- Stephen Spannare

York -- Abigail Strouse, Andrew Keim, Candace Meckley, Cassie Childers, Heather Taylor, Jamie Lilie, Jazmin Byers, Joan Goss, John Burns, John Robison, Karen Smith, Kimberly Hess, Kristi Petri, Lindsey Prowell, M. Kathleen Weaver, Mallory Larson, Sean Warner, Stacy Bichler, Trevor Hoffman and Vickie Fazio

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