Gateway Community College President Dorsey L. Kendrick conferred the Honorary Associate in Science Degree on Mr. Thomas Griggs, Jr., at the college's 25th Commencement, May 25.

Thomas Griggs, Jr., joined the Gateway Community College (GCC) Foundation Board in 2009. His remarkable and tireless dedication to the college and to the students is evident in his generosity of time, talent and resources.  Griggs served as the Chair of the Finance Committee from 2009 to 2011, he also Co-Chaired the Your College, Your Future capital campaign for the then new campus and served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Campaign’s public kickoff. He chaired the 2012 and 2013 Gateway Community College Hall of Fame Induction and Reception and was Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors from 2014 until December 2016.

Griggs has been instrumental in expanding fundraising and scholarship opportunities for hundreds of Gateway students. In 2014, he and partner, Edward Bottomley, established a Railroad Engineering Technology Scholarship in honor of his father’s lifelong love of trains and railroads and to celebrate the marriage of Thomas Griggs Sr. and new wife, Barbara.  Wedding guests were encouraged to make contributions to the scholarship in lieu of traditional gifts. Recipients of the Thomas and Barbara Griggs Scholarship are not only grateful for the financial support, but impressed by the personal interest that Griggs and his family take in their academic progress. 

Griggs is the Interim Co-Executive Director at the New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas. He served on the Festival Board for seven years before joining the staff. He is most proud of the community engagement activities he supports as part of his work with the Festival, highlighting the rich cultural assets of New Haven while bringing diverse communities together to experience visionary thought leaders and enjoy world class and local talent.

Prior to working with the Festival, Griggs oversaw Corporate and Foundation Giving in the Yale-New Haven Hospital Office of Development. For 20 years before that, Griggs enjoyed a highly successful banking career. He worked in various branch and management positions at People’s Bank, including director of Community Relations and Corporate Contributions, branch manager of several downtown New Haven branches, Manager of Telephone Banking and Vice President of People’s Corporate University. He earned his Real Estate license from Gateway Community College, and enjoyed a successful realty career built on his extensive knowledge of mortgage banking and the community.

Griggs also served on the Board of The Connecticut Alliance for Arts Education from 1996 through 2004 and as President from 1998 through 2003.  He was appointed to the National Governance Committee of The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network in Washington D.C. from 2001 through 2003.