The festivities began on Friday, May 19, with the
Graduate Commencement Ceremony at the Athletic and Wellness Center, where nearly 600 students received their graduate degrees and certificates of advanced study in the arts, sciences, humanities, education, engineering and business.
On Saturday, May 20, the College celebrated graduates of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the largest of New Paltz’s five academic schools. The participants at the
Saturday Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony spent their time at New Paltz developing expertise in a wide array of fields and subjects, including psychology, English, digital media and journalism, Black Studies, communication disorders and economics.
Among the students honored at Saturday’s Ceremony was Arianna Marika Williams, of Round Top, N.Y., who died in a car accident in March 2017. Her parents accepted on her behalf the degree in sociology that she was due to earn at this weekend’s celebration.
Saturday’s Commencement speaker was New Paltz alumna and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Latin America and the Caribbean Jessica Faieta ’85 (Economics/Business Administration).
“Some 30 years ago, I was standing in your shoes, on this same lawn, wearing the same cap and gown,” Faieta said. “When I look back, my life and career feels so unexpected – so full of turns and twists, victories, but also many mistakes. So, how can you find your way? Stand for something. Find out what your essence as a human being is, and what you are willing to fight for. By doing that you will embark on the amazing journey of finding yourself; the one and only journey that is worth taking.”
Saturday’s Student Speaker Jonathan Baez ’17 (Communication Disorders) of Monroe, N.Y., was the class Salutatorian.
Said Baez, “In all of your future endeavors, I wish you all the best of luck, but above all things, don’t forget to enjoy the ride.”