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Virginia "Ginny" Donohue, a 1969 graduate of Le Moyne and founder of On Point for College, has been selected to give the commencement address at the College's 2016 graduate commencement ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Henninger Athletic Center.

In 1999, following a successful financial career at several Syracuse-area companies, Donohue left the corporate world to found On Point for College, whose mission is "to open the door to higher education for the inner city youth; to break down the barriers that hinder potential students from entering college; and to provide support that empowers them to succeed."

Seventeen years later, On Point for College has an annual budget of $2.2 million, a staff of 22 people in Syracuse and four in Utica, and more than 160 volunteers. The non-profit has helped nearly 5,000 young adults from Syracuse enroll in 216 colleges and universities, and has expanded to Utica and two community centers in New York City. The vast majority of people it helps are the first in their families to attend college.

"Ginny exemplifies in her work and life the Jesuit mission and ideals that Le Moyne was founded upon, and we are so pleased that she will speak to our graduate students at the ceremony," said Dennis DePerro, Ed.D., dean of the Purcell School of Professional Studies at Le Moyne. "I'm confident that our graduates will be inspired by her words."

On Point for College has been recognized for best practices in the nation by the National College Access Network and the Lumina Foundation for Education. In 2008, the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce named On Point for College Non-Profit of the Year. For her work Ginny the 2004 Post Standard Achievement Award; the 2003 Martin Luther King "Unsung Hero" Award from Syracuse University; and the Caring and Sharing Award from the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Syracuse. In 2004, she was one of five finalists for the national Ben & Jerry's "Citizen Cool" award and featured in their movie, The Difference. She received an honorary degree from Le Moyne in 2014.