SUNY New Paltz Graduates Nearly 2,500 Students

NEW PALTZ – SUNY New Paltz welcomed thousands of guests to campus across a joyful, three-day Commencement weekend on May 15, 16 and 17, 2026, for an enthusiastic celebration of nearly 2,500 new graduates who have earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

More than 1,800 undergraduate degrees were conferred at Saturday and Sunday Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies, and more than 650 advanced degrees and certificates were conferred at the Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Friday evening.

All ceremonies were held on the Old Main Quad, with ideal spring weather making this a picture-perfect Commencement weekend.

On Saturday, award-winning journalist Deborah Amos and Class of 2026 Salutatorian Katelyn Dawson ’26 (Political Science; Environmental Studies) addressed new graduates of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the largest academic school at SUNY New Paltz.

Sunday’s ceremony honored graduates of the Schools of Business, Education, Fine & Performing Arts and Science & Engineering. Guest speakers included distinguished alumnus Ira Schreck ’74 (Philosophy) and Class of 2026 Valedictorian Lucia Daher ’25 (Painting & Drawing; Psychology).

Both Amos and Schreck were awarded honorary doctorate of humane letters degrees, the highest form of recognition offered by the State University of New York.

Valedictorian Lucia Daher ‘25 said, “Thank you, professors, faculty, and staff, for facilitating an environment that enabled us to achieve both personal and educational growth. Thank you to the many friends and peers who have created memories to cherish for life. Thank you to every family who has provided their love and support. Thank you also to every individual who came to celebrate, and to everyone who was not able to make it. And congratulations to the Class of 2026!”

Salutatorian Katelyn Dawson ‘26 said, “Instead of striving for perfection and greatness in this competitive, individualistic world, we must strive for goodness; we may achieve greatness on the way, but even if we do not, we will leave the world better than we found it, which is better than any greatness could ever be.”

Saturday Commencement Speaker Deborah Amos said, “Learning, it turns out, is a lifelong project. The degree you get today is the first page, not the last. Which brings me to the only real piece of advice I have for you: Pick a path that allows you to keep learning. Pick the path where you will still be curious at thirty, at fifty, at seventy. Pick the path where the world keeps handing you new assignments you don’t yet know how to do.”

Sunday Commencement Speaker Ira Schreck ‘74 said, “Think of life as a river. You are about to get in your canoe and take off. You can paddle and you can steer, but you cannot control the river. It will have twists and turns. There will be surprises, some wonderful, some not. Be open to the journey. Value it, even the hard parts. Congratulations, Class of 2026: The river is waiting, the canoe is yours. You are ready for this!”

Commencement 2026 was a celebration for all New Paltz Hawks who completed, or will complete, their degrees in the August 2025, December 2025, January 2026, May 2026 and August 2026 terms.

We caught up with a few graduates-to-be in the moments before they crossed the stage and officially joined the ranks of New Paltz alumni.

“I grew up in a first-generation household from the Bronx, New York, so representing all the people within my community who felt like they might have gone to college but couldn’t, I’m showing them that they can.” – Gabriel Blanco ’26 (Sociology) of Middletown, New York

“I came here as a transfer student and went on to become a student-athlete here. Getting the family feeling from both my classes and my team has been the best part about being at New Paltz” – Aidan Duran ’25 (Management; Accounting) ’26g (Business Administration) of East Rockaway, New York.

“I’m excited! I feel like this is a huge milestone in my life. New Paltz is amazing and taught me so much about becoming an educator. I had a formative fieldwork experience teaching elementary school at my home district that was beneficial for me.” – Miya Jones ’26 (Early Childhood & Childhood Education) of Cortlandt, New York.

“Knowing that I have support was genuinely beneficial, especially in a field that is so convoluted and complicated…” – Sinem Dide Essiz ’26 (Computer Science) of New Paltz, New York.