Salem State Student Commencement Speakers Reflect On COVID-19's Impact

SALEM, MA — Michael Corley, of Salem, will reflect on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Salem State University graduates' college experiences, and the resilience that brought this year's graduates to commencement, as one of three student speakers set to address classmates at this week's ceremonies.

Dany Acosta, of Lynn, and Eunice Tabea, of Lowell, will also speak this week.

Corley's address will come at the 3 p.m. ceremony Friday that will feature a commencement address from former Salem Mayor and current Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.

Corley will receive a Bachelor of Science in media and communication with a concentration in journalism and minors in English and history.

He is a board member of the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics, served as president of the Student Government Association, was recognized on the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Student Voting Honor Role, received a civic engagement scholarship from the Berry IOP, and served as a Viking Votes ambassador.

"I hope that my fellow graduates take away from my address that Salem State is more than just a place where we got our degrees, it's a place where we found a community," Corley said of his planned remarks.

Corley will also discuss how COVID-19 had an impact on graduates' college experiences, and the resilience that brought them to commencement.

All ceremonies will be held in the O'Keefe Complex’s Rockett Arena at 225 Canal Street in Salem.

Acosta will speak at the Friday morning Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services ceremony.

Tabea will speak at the Saturday morning McKeown School of Education and select College of Arts and Sciences ceremony.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)