Cross Country Captain Lance Bennette Inspires All At 2025 Graduation

"Hi everyone! My name is Lance Bennette, and I'm from Point Pleasant Boro, NJ. When I first stepped onto the campus of Brookdale Community College in the Fall of 2023, to study Homeland Security & Emergency Management, I was filled with nerves. I didn't know what to expect. I had originally given up academics and athletics to serve in the Army after High School. I had a passion for doing academics and athletics, but I didn't want to live with the burden of any college debt. In addition, I wanted to follow in my family's military heritage footsteps. After serving honorably in the Army and holding different municipal and county government jobs, I decided to pursue college with my GI Bill. Most career paths in government want you having a degree in certain roles. College life seemed overwhelming, something distant and unfamiliar at first. I worried whether I'd fit in, whether I'd find my place, and if I could balance everything I hoped to take on.

 

But two years later, as I prepare to graduate in Spring 2025, I look back and realize how quickly time passed and how deeply meaningful every moment became. The friendships I formed and the connections I made with faculty and staff shaped my experience in ways I never could have imagined. People believed in me, encouraged me, and helped me grow both inside and outside the classroom. One of the most transformative parts of my time here was being a student-athlete. Competing in Cross Country for two seasons taught me discipline, resilience, and teamwork. I was given the opportunity to have a second bite of the apple for athletics, like I was never forgotten. We got the opportunity and support to attend Nationals in 2023-2024, something many dream of doing as an athlete with 4-years of eligibility on the NJCAA and NCAA level. In my final year, I had the honor of serving as Team Captain,a role that allowed me to support my teammates and help our coaches reach their goals. Leading by example, I learned that success isn't just about personal achievement, but about lifting others up along the way.

 

Beyond athletics, I immersed myself in campus life. I proudly served as Vice President of Scholarship for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, President of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and President of the Student Veterans Association. I also volunteered as a Student Conduct Board Hearing Officer under the guidance of Dr. Katie Lynch. Each of these roles pushed me to become a better leader, listener, and advocate not just for myself, but for my peers and community. Balancing all of that with academics, athletics, and community service wasn't easy. At times, it felt like juggling fire. But somehow, I made it work and I'm forever grateful for every challenge and triumph.

 

As I stand on the edge of this chapter's end, I do so with excitement for what's ahead. Brookdale was and is an entry point for anyone in life looking for guidance on how to proceed forward in life. Because Brookdale gave me the tools, leadership, and networking needed for higher competitive education, I've been accepted to Dartmouth College and Boston College, Short Waitlisted by Bowdoin College, and I'm awaiting decisions from Johns Hopkins, Cornell University, and Harvard College. Each of these opportunities represents not just my future, but the culmination of all the hard work, support, and growth I've experienced at Brookdale. If wasn't for the support from Dr. David Stoud, Dr. Katie Lynch, Director Katie, Ryan Marlowe, Coach Mike and Dennis, and many other staff, this wouldn't be possible. In addition, this spring, I have the incredible honor of delivering the Class Leader Speech at our graduation ceremony, a truly rewarding final moment to reflect, celebrate, and thank everyone who's been part of this journey.

 

Brookdale wasn't just a college. It was a launching pad, a proving ground, and a home. Thank you again to everyone who helped me get here. The last two years went by fast, but they changed my life forever."