Nearly 40 students gathered Thursday evening, May 31, at SUNY Empire State College’s Manhattan location, for the fourth annual “Bling Your Cap” commencement event.

Hosted by the SUNY Empire State College STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Student/Alumni Club, students produced creative, unique caps, which reflect the sentiments of each student.

The event was organized by students Beverly Gordon, president of the club, Serkan Kaya, who graduates this spring and is vice president of the club, and Tanya Rice Thompson ’14, ’17, the club’s treasurer.

Members of student/alumni clubs Education for All, Human Services Collaborative, Art Club, Sports Industry Club and the Entrepreneur Club participated in the event.

Student Yolanda Allison, a 2018 recipient of the college’s Student Service award who graduates this spring with a Bachelor of Professional Studies, baked a cake for the occasion.

Several alumni, including Marie Bellanton ’15, Natasha Sullivan ‘07, Patricia Williams ’16 and Margaret Blair ’17, as well as staff from the college’s Manhattan location and Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies, also participated.

“The vibe was the best in four years,” said Thompson. “Singing and dancing accompanied the ‘blinging’ of the caps. The number of students was astounding.”

The graduates and their caps will be seen at upcoming commencement events, including Manhattan, labor, Purchase and Long Island.

Bellanton, an at-large member of the Human Services Collaborative club, posted digital images of the event to the club’s Facebook page.