Thomas J. DeBernardis Speaks on First Year of College

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Thomas J. DeBernardis, of Utica, N.Y., is a member of the Freshman Class at Cazenovia College. Photo by Tasha Johnson.

CAZENOVIA, NY (02/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Thomas J. DeBernardis, of Utica, N.Y., who is majoring in communication studies at Cazenovia College, recently addressed his fellow students, professors, friends and parents, at the recent Annual First Year Banquet. The event celebrates first-year students' completion of the first semester of their college careers and gives them a look ahead to their second semester.

DeBernardis said his talk was motivated by good memories of his first semester, "Everything from playing baseball to getting started in the communication studies program." He noted in particular the encouragement he received from his adviser, Maureen Louis, JD, associate professor of communication studies.

He is a member of the Cazenovia College Baseball Team; the All College Honors Program; Alpha Lambda Delta, the national first year honor society; in addition to working with the student newspaper and radio station at the college. While still in high school, he completed an internship at WKTV News Channel 2, a television station in Utica, which set him on the path to a degree in communication studies.

DeBernardis said, "These past few months have been a time of uncertainty, a time of excitement, and most of all, a time of transition [for the freshman class]. We all have different backgrounds, but one thing is for certain - on August 25, 2011, we all obtained something in common. We are now all Cazenovia College students. We are Wildcats. We are a group of nearly 400 people who have chosen Caz to build their future.

"I had no doubt in my mind that Cazenovia College was the place for me the moment I stepped foot on campus," DeBernardis said. After visiting, and being accepted to six schools, I determined Caz was it. Why Caz? It's simple. It has everything I want and beyond to get a superior undergraduate education."

DeBernardis said that his first semester included everything from experiencing Division III college baseball, "to standing right in the middle of 20,000 Occupy Wall Street protesters during a class trip to New York City. As a communication studies major, I can truly say I felt like a real news reporter right at the scene of the event."

Cazenovia College's Communication Studies Program has given DeBernardis the opportunity to begin his career as professional broadcaster. He chose Cazenovia over a communications and journalism program at a major Syracuse institution, and said it was no accident. "After just one semester at this college, I have already made a name for myself as someone who is serious about what he wants to do for the rest of his life. I host a weekly radio talk show here from the WITC 88.9 FM studio called PT POLITICS (Thursdays at 6 p.m.), and I write regularly for our student newspaper, The Quad. Wherever my paths in life may lead, I can now say I will always look back to my immediate involvement in these organizations here at Caz as the first steps I took in my career field."

"After just one semester," he said, "I have learned to challenge myself as a member of the All College Honors Program, taking difficult courses both within, and outside of my major."

DeBernardis concluded his talk by saying that in his first semester at Cazenovia College he has begun the transformation into the person he aspires to be. "I am among the students at this college who are your future business leaders, lawyers, doctors, broadcasters, and politicians. We anticipate that this next semester will be just as exciting as our first."

Photo: Thomas J. DeBernardis, of Utica, N.Y., is a member of the Freshman Class at Cazenovia College. Photo by Tasha Johnson.

Cazenovia College, founded in 1824, is an independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college near Syracuse, N.Y., offering a comprehensive liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. Cazenovia, named one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, is also a national College of Distinction. For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu.

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