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Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hartwick College celebrates commencement
More than 220 Hartwick College students walked across the stage during the college's 93rd commencement ceremony Saturday, May 17 in a tent on Elmore Field on the college campus. According to a news release from the college, Chelsea Kotey, a 2025 graduate, a biochemistry major and president of the Student Government Association, "offered a powerful reminder that life's unexpected turns often lead to the most meaningful destinations." "Let's embrace uncertainty; after all, uncertainty defines the human experience," Kotey said. "Remember that the path forward rarely unfolds exactly as planned, and that's okay. ... some of life's most gratifying opportunities arise from what we discover while taking unexpected detours. We newly face the unknown; we've learned at Hartwick to lean into what's unfamiliar with curiosity rather than with fear." Several recognitions were presented along with degrees. Roselyn DuMerville was awarded the Abraham L. Kellogg Oratorical Prize for her speech, "Guided by Henry," which she originally delivered during the college's honors convocation April 30. Laurel Bongiorno, vice president for academic affairs and provost, presented the Margaret B. Bunn Award for Outstanding Teaching to Associate Professor of Psychology and Department Chair William Kowalczyk, who was also named the 2025 Teacher-Scholar during the honors convocation. Elizabeth "Betty" Powell, a 1982 Hartwick graduate, received the President's Medal for Extraordinary and Exemplary Loyalty to the College. Powell has served in Hartwick's Department of Athletics since 1969 and was recently honored for 55 years of service at the Quinquennial Awards Celebration, the release stated. Patricia Spears Jones, an award-winning poet, educator and cultural activist; and Richard Ekman, a nationally recognized leader in higher education, received honorary degrees and served as commencement speakers. Jones encouraged graduates to honor their accomplishments and shape their future with intention. "Your degree is a testament to your discipline, passion, interests and determination," Jones said. "You are now at that moment where your future and how you make your life become a testament to your character, your values, your desires." Ekman encouraged graduates to move forward with confidence. "No matter what field you majored in, you have acquired skills, and knowledge and values that go well beyond your major," he said. "You can and should be bold as you make choices over the next few years about your next steps in life. Steps about where you will work, where you will live, what sort of spouse or parent you will be and what leadership roles as citizen and community member you're willing to take on. You're very likely to succeed in life's many dimensions because you've already obtained during the past few years the excellent foundation that Hartwick has given to you." Public health major Amanda Wilbur reflected on the friendships she formed during her time at Hartwick. "When I came here, I never thought I would make such lifelong friends — but when I go to the Rockefeller School of Public Affairs and Policy, I'll be rooming with someone I met here." For some, Hartwick's natural spaces also "played a central role in life balance," the release stated. Economics and global studies major Robert Noury spoke of one of the college's assets. "I got the opportunity to live at Pine Lake, and every student should take the opportunity to get out there," he said. "Sitting around the fire or playing board games, it was just so inspiring being in the woods with my friends." As the ceremony drew to a close, President Jim Mullen delivered a farewell to the Class of 2025. "You are remarkable young people. I know the world will be better because of you," he said. "So, my final thank you is deeply personal — it is for what you have meant to this place and what you have meant to me. I am forever grateful to each of you and I love you very much." Among the Class of 2025 were 40 summa cum laude, 41 magna cum laude, and 52 cum laude graduates. The class also included 111 departmental distinctions, 22 college honors students, 21 who completed their degrees in three years, and 27 legacy students, according to the release.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SUNY Potsdam graduates dodge the rain
May 17—POTSDAM — As thunderstorms rumbled across St. Lawrence County, staff and volunteers scrambled to keep SUNY Potsdam's graduation ceremony on time and as dry as possible. The rain stopped just before graduates gathered behind the Lougheed Learning Commons to prepare for the procession. Aside from a little sprinkle early in the ceremony, everything was dry except for a few parents' eyes. This year, SUNY Potsdam honored 1,280 candidates for graduation, including all students who earned their degree or were eligible to graduate in 2024-25. Student Government Association President Eve Borrelli said her speech was a thank-you to Potsdam. "Not just for the degree we're receiving today, but for everything in between. This isn't just a goodbye. It's a letter of gratitude to the place that challenged us, shaped us, and, whether we expected it or not, became a part of who we are." Borrelli said she learned how to advocate for herself and she learned about community. Community at Potsdam is real, she said. "It's not just about shared space; it's about shared care. Bear care even," she said. She said Potsdam doesn't just educate a student; it shapes and molds a student in ways that might not be immediately apparent. "There are a thousand more things I could say about my time here at Potsdam and everything that I have learned, yet the most important things are not what led to the degree, though of course they matter too," she said. "Instead, it's how SUNY Potsdam gave me more than a degree. It taught me about advocacy, community and leadership. It gave me the courage to speak up, the support to keep going and the people who remind me I don't have to do it alone." SUNY Potsdam President Suzanne Smith said Potsdam is proud of the diversity of its students, who come from 18 states and as far away as Alaska. The Class of '25 includes 174 students from Canada and two from Ukraine. Graduates range from as young as 20 to as old as 65. "It is another point of pride for SUNY Potsdam that we welcome so many first-generation students to our institution and we have 283 of them graduating today. We know what an extraordinary achievement this is for you and your families." Rondald Fishbeck, a computer science major from the Class of 1980, gave the keynote address. Fishbeck, who met his wife Teresa at Potsdam, built a successful career in technology, starting in Northern Virginia before relocating to Syracuse in 1986. In 1990, he co-founded Systems Made Simple in McLean, Virginia, which grew into a $350 million company recognized for its work primarily serving veterans. Under Fishbeck's leadership, Systems Made Simple earned multiple accolades before being acquired by Lockheed Martin in 2014. Now retired in Aroda, Virginia, with Teresa, he remains a dedicated supporter of his alma mater. The Fishbeck Foundation has given more than $700,000 to SUNY Potsdam, notably supporting scholarships and programs. Now is your time, he told graduates. "It really wasn't until many years after I graduated that I could truly appreciate the value of the education I received from SUNY Potsdam," he said. Fishbeck said it is normal to reflect on the college journey just completed, but now is the time to use that experience. "As much as today is a celebration of your past accomplishments, it's even more important to recognize that now, right at this very moment, it's your time," he said. "It's your time to step forward, to make a difference, to shape your own future and make a positive impact on the world. I can't express enough the importance of being in the present moment, living in the present moment and taking advantage of opportunities in the present moment. Clarity comes in the moment, clarity drives your decisions and ultimately your ability to capitalize on your opportunities." Fishbeck said early in his career he found inspiration in a quote from Maya Angelou: "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome." Fishbeck said the graduates will fail, but they must not give up. "If you have passion, show resolve and don't let anything stand in your way of doing what's right, you will succeed."
Business Journals
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Florida Poly students invest $250,000 in planned $85M Student Achievement Center
Taki Tsetsekas (center), president of Florida Polytechnic University's Student Government Association, signs a resolution approving the investment of $250,000 in the construction of the Student Achievement Center. From left are SGA officers Jonathan Gauthier, treasurer, Hannah Friday, chief of staff, and Lang Towl, vice president.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Albany State grad Aliyah Johnson to serve as spring commencement speaker
ALBANY – Albany State University will celebrate the achievements of more than 700 graduates during its spring 2025 commencement ceremony on May 10, at 9 a.m. at the Albany Civic Center. Doors open at 8 a.m., and the academic processional will begin promptly at 9 a.m. Former Student Government Association President Aliyah Johnson will serve as the keynote speaker for commencement. A 2021 graduate of Albany State, Johnson made history as the youngest senior advisor for public engagement at the White House, where she served in the Biden administration. In her role, she managed events and programming for the President of the United States, making her a rising star in public service and a powerful example of Ram excellence. In addition to the main commencement ceremony, the university will host several special events to honor graduates from specific academic programs: Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony — May 8 at 2 p.m. Student Center, Building C, Room 266 – West Campus Nursing Pinning Ceremony — May 8 at 4 p.m. Student Center, Building C, Room 266 – West Campus Social Work Hooding and Penning Ceremony — May 9 at 2 p.m. C.W. Grant Student Union Ballroom – East Campus Professional Embracing Novice (PENning) Ceremony — May 9 at 5 p.m. Billy C. Black Auditorium – East Campus These ceremonies mark important milestones for students transitioning into the work force as educators, health professionals, and social workers. They also reflect ASU's continued commitment to preparing leaders who will serve communities across Georgia and beyond. The Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony also will include a U.S. Army ROTC commissioning ceremony, recognizing graduates who will begin their service as commissioned officers.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jacob Spurlock is the Lobo of the Year
Apr. 15—Jacob Spurlock, a senior Communication Studies major from Dallas, was named the 2024-25 Lobo of the Year for Sul Ross State University at the Honors Convocation on April 14. Spurlock will graduate from SRSU at the commencement ceremony on Friday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pete P. Gallego Center. Spurlock was the Texas State University System Student Scholar Award recipient in 2024 and served as the president of the Student Government Association for the 2023-24 academic year. He has served as the president of the Xi Epsilon chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association Honor Society, since 2022, and as the president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, since 2024. Spurlock is the recipient of multiple scholarship awards, including the McNair Scholar Program, the Paul and Teeby Forchheimer Communication Scholarship, the Henry Bertrand Jr., Memorial Scholarship, the Dr. D.J. Sibley Jr. Scholarship and the Charles B. David Scholarship. He has been named to the Dean's List following each of his semesters at Sul Ross and was a participant in the Student Research Symposium in 2023. Spurlock was the Outstanding Communication Student of the Year in 2022 and 2023. According to one of those who nominated him, he "is a man of integrity and strong moral beliefs. He is also a committed learner. When he starts talking about what he has learned about communication and personal interactions among individuals, he lights up. As he moves on to graduate school, Jake will represent Sul Ross State University well ... He truly has a servant's heart." Another wrote, "In his role as the president of the Student Government Association, I saw Jake embody what servant leadership is all about. He used his position to help others and to improve the campus and community for all. His public speaking and general communications skills greatly assisted him in these endeavors. I have also observed him graciously and professionally manage difficult situations, always seeking understanding and the common good." SRSU faculty and staff nominate students for Lobo of the Year each year in the spring. Nominees must be graduating in May or have done so in the fall or summer of the previous year, have an overall 3.0 GPA, display qualities of good citizenship and leadership, be active in student and/or community activities and may not have been a previous recipient of the award.
