It has been such a point of pride for me to attend this year’s commencements as officer in charge. We know there is no more rewarding moment in a student’s college journey than crossing the commencement stage and receiving their degree. I am deeply humbled and honored to have been able to shake each student’s hand in this spectacular moment.

Speaking with the graduates and their families, both before and after the ceremony, is tremendously gratifying. They often speak about the individual faculty and staff who made a difference in their lives.

This year, 3,415 students receive an associate, bachelors, or master’s degree from SUNY Empire State College and join our more than 81,000 alumni worldwide. Our youngest graduate is a mere 19, and our oldest graduate will celebrate a 74th birthday this year (nearly 55 years between them). Approximately 650 graduates are over age 50 and nearly 450 are under 25, with every age represented in between. Collectively, the SUNY Empire Class of 2018 lives in every county in New York, in 39 states including Alaska and Hawaii, and in 19 countries around the world. They attended more than 750 previous colleges, transferred in more than 122,000 credits, and were awarded 57,000 credits for prior learning.

They worked hard to earn their degree and we – the staff and faculty who make up this great college – worked hard to help them. Thank you. Your devotion to our students and their success is really evident during commencement season.

I also want to thank some of the individual staff who ensured our commencement events in throughout New York were a huge success over the last several weeks.

Thank you first and foremost to the small but mighty events team of Janet Aiello-Cerio, Brandon Aldous, Sandra Barkevich and Anita Lindemann who think of every last detail and pull it all together. Thank you as well to the coordinators at each location: Jennifer Bent (Labor), Kylie Byrne (Albany), Kate Colberg (Syracuse), Timothy Cosgriff (Rochester, Long Island), Jane Cudmore (Buffalo), Malongze Foma (NYC), and Bill Robins (Purchase). And, of course, to my own right hands, Tanya Scime and Tiffany Williams, who also ensured our dignitaries and honored guests were where they needed to be.

Whether you were on the dais, in the audience, assisting these folks on site, or not present at all, each and every one of you contributed to the success of Commencement Season 2018 just by doing your day job. I hope this is a point of pride for all of you as well.

Highlights from commencement season can be viewed on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you again.

Mitchell Nesler, officer in charge