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SUNY Corning Community College recognized recent graduate, Sam McCune ’23, at the College’s 65^th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18. McCune is the College’s oldest graduate, completing his two-year degree at the age of 75.

Things were a lot different when McCune began his academic career when he first enrolled at SUNY CCC in 1966. The federal minimum wage was $1.25, gasoline was 32 cents per gallon, and the internet was not in existence – no social media, no online learning.

Between 1966 and 1969, McCune was an active member in the campus community. He was a member of the College’s newspaper The Crier, the yearbook club, and was the scorekeeper for the basketball team. He even interviewed Grammy winner John Denver – who at the time was performing at the College as part of the vocal group, the Mitchell Trio – for an article in The Crier.

“Corning was a great out-of-the-box learning experience,” said McCune, who reflected on his time on Spencer Hill.

McCune was enrolled in the Associate of Arts and Sciences program at the time, but after failing math, he decided to leave the College in 1969 without a degree. His education did not technically stop there, as he took a variety of courses between 1969 and 2022, but never got around to taking that pesky math class that derailed his academic career.

Upon leaving the College, McCune was drafted and joined the United States Air Force, where he served his country for four years and received the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

After his military career, McCune moved back to his hometown of Orchard Park, New York and began a career in law enforcement. He began working for the Orchard Park Police Department in 1974 and worked his way through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant and then the Chief of Police, a title he held for 10 years until retirement.

Although McCune had achieved so much throughout his life, one thing was missing – that associate degree he left unfinished back in the 60s on Spencer Hill. But then, while on a beach with family and friends, a healthy challenge was wagered by his niece – “if you finish your college degree, then I will too.”

So, in 2023, McCune took the initiative to call SUNY CCC to see what he needed to do to finally earn his associate degree. The College’s Registrar’s Office tracked down his transcript from the archives, determined what credit for prior learning would still counted, double-checked the College’s new degree requirements, and determined that all that was left was one math class.

However, one hurdle still existed – McCune was missing a prerequisite class to enroll in that final math course. Thankfully, the College waived the prerequisite, allowing McCune to enroll in an online condensed summer math course, which he passed with an A to earn his degree.

“Knowledge is grand, experience is useful,” said McCune. “You need both, that’s how I’ve always looked at things.”

Over 20,000 days – 57 years – passed between the start of McCune’s academic journey and its conclusion, serving as a reminder that, regardless of age or prior shortcomings, pursuing higher education is never out of reach.

“I have grandnieces and nephews who are going to college,” McCune added. “I have family members that have master’s degrees, some are doctors, so now I can finally say that I have a college degree too.”