Assemblyman Parment is commencement speaker

Elected 12 times to the New York State Assembly, William L. Parment of North Harmony will give the commencement address at SUNY Fredonia Saturday, May 13.

Fredonia’s 1,350 graduating students will be honored in two ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in Steele Hall.

Mr. Parment was first elected to the New York State Assembly in November of 1982 and since that time has been instrumental in securing support for SUNY Fredonia from the State Legislature, including major building projects such as the Reed Library addition, the Natatorium, and the High Tech Incubator, which is going to be built in Dunkirk.

Key funding was obtained by Mr. Parment to upgrade outdoor athletics facilities as well as the Sound Recording Technology studios.

In state government, Mr. Parment has standing committee assignments in education, environmental conservation, mental health, ways and means, and veterans’ affairs.

A sixth generation Chautauqua County native, Mr. Parment was raised on a dairy farm in Ellington, N.Y. and attended and holds degrees from several SUNY schools, including Jamestown Community College, the Agricultural and Technical College at Farmingdale, and SUNY New Paltz. He also did graduate work at SUNY Fredonia.

Prior to being elected to state government, Mr. Parment served Chautauqua County as director of public works, deputy director of planning and development, and as a county planner. He has also worked as a civil technician in the construction industry and as a facilities planner for the State University.

A SUNY campus with growing enrollment, Fredonia has held two commencement ceremonies to accommodate its graduates since 2004.