SUNY Ulster Holds 53rd Commencement

STONE RIDGE – SUNY Ulster’s sixth President, Dr. Alan P. Roberts, presided over the college’s 53rd Commencement on May 24, on SUNY Ulster’s Soccer Field on the Stone Ridge campus. Over 500 students received degrees, certificates, or diplomas.

The 2017 graduating class is made up of 557 students. Roberts presented 438 associate degrees and 119 certificates. The graduates are on average 25 years old, with the youngest graduate at 15 and the oldest at nearly 62. Of the class, 62 are graduating with highest honors, 131 are graduating with honors, 10 students graduating with the Honors Studies program, and 74 are members of the national honors fraternity Phi Theta Kappa.

This year marks the first graduating class of the Fashion Design program. Eleven students received their Associate of Arts Degree in Fashion Design. To date; one student has accepted a position with Karina Dresses, three graduates have been accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology, one to Marist College, and one to Berkley College in their Fashion Merchandising and Management Program.

Sean Pica, founding Member and Executive Director of Hudson Link, gave the keynote address. Sean Pica is one of Hudson Link’s founding members and an alumnus. In 2007, Sean moved from a board position to Executive Director of the organization. During his tenure, he has grown the program from 60 students attending Nyack College at Sing Sing Correctional Facility to more than 510 students attending college preparatory and college programs annually in 6 New York State correctional facilities.

Other speakers included faculty Marshal Kevin R. Stoner, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty; Timothy J. Sweeney, Chair of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees; Ulster County Executive Michael Hein; Kenneth J. Ronk, Jr., Ulster County Legislature Chair; Anita Williams Peck, Ulster Community College Foundation Chair; and Steven H. Schimmrich, Professor of Earth Science & Geology. 2017 graduates Ariana M. Lawlor and Carol R. Ruffini served as Student Marshals, with both bringing greetings from the class of 2017. Maureen Nicholson, Associate Professor of Mathematics, served as Grand Marshal.

Pastor David Jolly, of The Saint James Methodist Church, delivered the invocation and benediction.  Music was performed by the College Choral Ensemble directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt, and the SUNY Ulster Brass Quintet directed by Victor Izzo.