Elmira College Celebrates 163rd Commencement
Elmira, NY (06/08/2021) — Elmira College celebrated the graduation of 192 students during its 163rd Commencement on Sunday, June 6 on Carnegie Lawn at the College. The exercises included 169 undergraduate and 23 graduate students.
Following a welcome and award recognitions by Elmira College President Charles Lindsay, Lindsay conferred Mr. Ron Verkleeren, senior vice president and general manager, Life Sciences at Corning, Inc., with the honorary Doctor of Letters. In his current position, Verkleeren oversees the Life Sciences divisions at Corning Incorporated that have been on the forefront of providing critical products in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the development and distribution of the glass vials used for the COVID-19 vaccine and other critical components for vaccine research and production and diagnostic testing.
Verkleeren began his career at Corning in 2001 in the Optical Communications segment and joined the Life Sciences segment in 2004. In 2010, he was named division vice president and director of Advanced Life Sciences. In 2012, he was named division vice president and program director for Corning Pharmaceutical Technologies. In 2015, Verkleeren became vice president and the first general manager of the newly created Pharmaceutical Technologies division.
During his 19 years with Corning, Verkleeren has led several businesses as well as numerous innovation and growth initiatives. In Optical Communications, he grew a new business in the midst of a severe market decline. During his tenure in Life Sciences, he led major innovations such as Corning HYPERFlask and Corning Valor Glass. He helped secure multi-year agreements with leading pharmaceutical customers and new regulatory approvals. Verkleeren also initiated and led the integration of several acquisitions.
Verkleeren earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State University as well as a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.
Following the conferring of the honorary degree, Dr. Corey Stilts, provost, introduced the 2020 and 2021 Salutatorians, Jacob Weber and John Mullan, as well as the 2020 and 2021 Valedictorians, Elizabeth Foster and Brenna Garrison. Stilts then presented the 2021 undergraduate and graduate candidates to Lindsay for conferral.
"To all the graduates and prizewinners whom we have honored today, let me say that we are proud of you and look forward to great things as you move ahead in your careers," said Lindsay. "What you have built during your time here - both the foundation within you and the community around you - is now a part of you. A foundation to be used as you continue to grow and move forward in life."
During ceremonies prior to Commencement, members of the graduating class were recognized with multiple honors and prizes, including induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest national honors organization, and officer commissioning with the United States military. The Class of 2021 also included 95 honor graduates receiving summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude honors.
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Elmira College celebrated the graduation of 192 students during its 163rd Commencement on Sunday, June 6 on Carnegie Lawn at the College. The exercises included 169 undergraduate and 23 graduate students.
Ron Verkleeren, senior vice president and general manager, Life Sciences at Corning, Inc., was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Letters and provided the Commencement address at Elmira College's 163rd Commencement.