Long Island

Education

Graduations

2015 college graduations across LI

<p>The Webb Institute held its 121st commencement Saturday at the college on Glen Cove’s waterfront.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p><b>19</b> bachelor’s degrees in naval architecture and marine engineering</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p><b>Bruce S. Rosenblatt</b>, chairman of Webb Institute’s board of trustees, spoke of the importance of family — both true loved ones, colleagues at Webb and future associates in the marine industry. Rosenblatt told the students to value their parents and siblings: “They will sustain you throughout your lifetime. Without them, your life would have not been the same, and they were a very important part of what you are today.”</p>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p><b>James Morrissey</b>, 22, of Hingham, Massachusetts, said: “Today is the day that we move on from Webb and live the rest of our lives. But we’ll always be tied back to Webb. . . . We’ve really come together, not only as a class but as a family.” </p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Hannah Wistort</b>, 21, upstate Niskayuna</p>
<p>Wistort said the path to graduation was hard. “It’s been a difficult four years. The work here is rigorous,” she said. “I’ll probably be doing engineering for the Navy in some form.”</p>
<p><b>Brianna Louie</b>, 21, Hamilton, New Jersey</p>
<p>“I’m going to miss Webb. I’m going to miss the people,” said Louie. </p>
<p><b>Joseph Gargiulo</b>, 22, Kings Park</p>
<p>Gargiulo said he will be taking a job designing submarines in New London, Connecticut. “It’s rewarding,” he said of his studies. “It’s been a lot of hard work.”</p>
<p><b>Ian Cho</b>, 22, Hicksville</p>
<p>Cho, a native of Taiwan, completed his degree despite facing a language barrier. “I’m thankful for my friends. This was definitely a college experience like none other,” he said. </p>

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Webb Institute holds 121st commencement in Glen Cove

Webb Institute holds 121st commencement

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<p>The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy held its 81st commencement Saturday at the Kings Point campus.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p><b>174:</b> 169 bachelor of science degrees; 5 master of science degrees</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>U.S. Transportation Secretary <b>Elaine Chao</b> told graduates: “You may not always have smooth sailing. But the way forward will always be clear, like a beacon shining from shore to guide you safely home.”</p>
<h3>Guest speaker</h3>
<p>Sen. <b>Roger Wicker</b> (R-Miss.) told the students: “Today marks a profound personal accomplishment for each of you . . . but today is also about all the people, past and present, who helped you get here.”</p>
<h3>Class president</h3>
<p>“You can travel the U.S. or the world and you wouldn’t find a group of men [and] women, like the ones sitting before me today,” said class president <b>Alexander Hughes</b>, an engineering and shipyard management major from upstate Ballston Lake. “This place breeds great people and produces lifelong friends.” </p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Connor Sexton</b>, 22, marine transportation</p>
<p>“I grew up on Lake Erie and I love sailing. I said might as well make it a profession,” said valedictorian Sexton, of Vermilion, Ohio. “I’m glad I accepted my appointment, and I’m looking forward to going out.”</p>
<p><b>Chris Svatik</b>, 22, logistics and intermodal transportation</p>
<p>“I’ve wanted to go into the military since 9/11 and I didn’t know which service. I want to keep my options open coming here and now I’m going into the Navy,” Svatik, of Dallas, Texas, said.</p>
<p><b>Stacee Glass</b>, 21, logistics and intermodal transportation</p>
<p>“Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and I’m really glad I came here,” said Glass, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”</p>
<p><b>Bridget Quinn</b>, 22, logistics and intermodal transportation</p>
<p>“My whole childhood, I wanted to be a military officer like my father,” Quinn, of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, said. “I went out to sea here and I fell in love with it. It was a roller coaster, but it was worthwhile.”</p>

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U.S. Merchant Marine Academy holds commencement

Transportation Sec’y addresses USMMA grads

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U.S. Merchant Marine Academy holds 2017 graduation ceremony

Newsday

<p>SUNY Empire State College held its 45th commencement Saturday at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of LIU Post in Brookville.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p><b>373: </b>49 associate degrees, 223 bachelor’s degrees, 78 nursing degrees, 23 master’s degrees</p>
<h3>College president</h3>
<p>Empire State College president <b>Merodie A. Hancock</b> saluted graduates for pursuing their studies while working full time, caring for family and, in some cases, overcoming tragedy. She said education drives social equality. “So, your job now is go out and take that skills set” learned in college, “and as you see others fail, help them set their dreams, help them move forward.”</p>
<h3>Student speakers</h3>
<p><b>Michael W. Contario</b>, 32, of Moriches, who graduated with a bachelor’s in public affairs, spoke about his career in the military — first the Marines and now as a staff sergeant in the New York Air National Guard. “With my degree in hand, I not only have the opportunity to become a military officer but the chance of completing a small boy’s dream: becoming a flyer,” he said.</p>
<p><b>Christina R. Gugliero</b>, 27, of Massapequa, a future social worker who earned a bachelor’s in community and human services, said: “Every struggle that we encounter provides us with the ability to learn more about ourselves and to become a stronger individual than we were before.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Debra A. Erario</b>, 53, nursing</p>
<p>“I’ve been going to school part time for nine years to become a nurse,” said Erario, of Middle Island, who recently became a full-time nurse at John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson. “When you are helping people, there is no better feeling in the world.”</p>
<p><b>Abdul Afolami Olabomi</b>, 56, community and human service</p>
<p>“This is a dream for me . . . I wasn’t able to finish school as a young person in Nigeria,” said Olabomi, who came to the United States in 2011 and works for Catholic Charities and is a Pentecostal minister.</p>
<p><b>Carol Hartmann</b>, 55, business administration</p>
<p>“I want to use what I’ve learned to move up” at her employer, said Hartmann, of Sayville, who earned a master’s degree. She works in managed long-term care for the elderly.</p>
<p><b>Andres A. Gutierrez</b>, 39, technology</p>
<p>“I wanted to change my life around . . . this is just the beginning for me,” said Gutierrez, of Deer Park, who hopes to land a job in computer network security after years of working in pharmaceutical manufacturing.</p>

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Empire State College holds 45th commencement

373 graduate from SUNY Empire State College

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Candice Ferrette

<p>Nassau Community College held its 57th commencement Tuesday in the renovated Nassau Coliseum.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>2,041 associate of arts degrees, 679 associate of applied science degrees, 1,101 associate in science degrees and 131 certificates</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>Nassau Community College President W. Hubert Keen, delivering his first speech as head of the school, told graduates they must be ready to adapt, change with technology and be lifelong learners. “Work like hell to succeed in the next phase of your life. Own your future. You are not going back. Enjoy and celebrate today the success you so justly deserve. Our hopes and hearts go with you.”</p>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p>Valedictorian Christian Bossio talked about being motivated by adversity, telling his personal story of his mother’s murder in Honduras when he was 16. “Only because of a promise I made to my mother and myself — I promised I would work as hard as I could to become a high-achiever — I would live and breathe to make that amazing woman who brought me life prouder than ever.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p>Marly Delatour Gabriel, 35, nursing</p>
<p>Delatour Gabriel, of Elmont, who has already started the nursing bachelor’s program at Stony Brook University, emigrated from Haiti 10 years ago. “I was born in a place with no electricity. I’m the first person in my family to graduate college and live in America. I knew two English words and I became an honor student.”</p>
<p>Julio Espinoza, 24, criminal justice </p>
<p>“I’m planning on becoming a cop. I want to fight crime. It’s a childhood dream for me,” said Espinoza, of Farmingdale.</p>
<p>Kelly Kennedy, 39, liberal arts</p>
<p>“My children will be here. They are thrilled. I guess I’m showing them you can endure,” said the Port Washington firefighter and mother of two teens.</p>
<p>James Borzumato, 35, commercial arts/digital technology </p>
<p>“Out of high school I went straight to work, and at 30 I decided to go back to college part-time. It just opens more doors. It was hard, but I really believed in myself,” said Borzumato, of Valley Stream. </p>

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Nassau Community College holds 2017 commencement at Coliseum

NCC holds commencement at Nassau Coliseum

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Scott Eidler

<p>Former second lady Jill Biden, speaking at Hofstra’s commencement on Sunday, evoked the death of her stepson Beau Biden from brain cancer in 2015 in a speech about overcoming adversity.</p>
<p>“Eventually, everyone has to walk through the fire, but at times in our life we are called on to do more,” Biden told graduates at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. “To bring people through the flames, to help them find the other side.”</p>
<p>Her voice catching, she recalled watching her stepson struggle with cancer. Beau Biden, the eldest son of former Vice President Joseph Biden, died May 30, 2015.</p>
<p>“For over a year I watched my brave, strong, funny, bright young son fight brain cancer. Chemotherapy, operation after operation, weight loss, but I never gave up. As a mother, you can’t,” Biden said. “And once again, I had to live a double life. I taught my classes each week, and I continued my duties as second lady. I had to be strong for my children, my husband, but most of all for my son Beau. I had to be strong for him, because in the middle of it all, he was stronger than all of us.”</p>
<p>Biden, who received an honorary degree from Hofstra on Sunday, spoke of her career as a professor and the decision to continue teaching after her husband became vice president.</p>
<p>She recalled that after the 2008 election in which Barack Obama was elected president with her husband joining him on the ticket, she realized she would not “be able to just walk away from teaching.”</p>
<p>“I was honored to become the second lady, but I knew I couldn’t live Joe’s life,” she said. “I couldn’t give up all that I had worked so hard to achieve.”</p>
<p>She told graduates to brace for the unexpected. “So often, when we talk about careers, we assume everyone’s path should look the same. But sometimes the roads we take just aren’t so straight. Sometime we find a detour. Try new things. Fall on our face a bit,” she told the graduates.</p>
<p>Biden, four months removed from her life as second lady, drew parallels between herself and the new graduates. “I was especially happy to be asked to join this celebration today because, like all of you, I’m in a transitional point in my life,” she said.</p>
<p>She made no references to the Trump administration.</p>
<p>When Hofstra’s president Stuart Rabinowitz announced that she had received a doctor of humane letters degree, Biden appeared wistful about her former role.</p>
<p>“Thank you, Mr. President,” she told Rabinowitz, adding: “I don’t get to say that too much anymore.”</p>

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Former 2nd lady Jill Biden speaks to Hofstra grads

Former 2nd lady Biden speaks to Hofstra grads

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<p>Touro Law Center held its 35th commencement Sunday in the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the LIU Post campus in Brookville.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates </h3>
<p>162 juris doctor degrees, 5 master of laws degrees</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker </h3>
<p>Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Queens), chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus, urged graduates to serve the public with their new skills of advocacy. “In higher education it is called commencement . . . because it isn’t seen as the end of your education,” he said. “Rather it is seen as the beginning of putting your education to use.”</p>
<h3>Student speakers</h3>
<p>Jessica Vogele, valedictorian, full-time division, said the welcoming student body at Touro is what makes the school special, recalling the support her classmates showed her when her grandfather died during school year. “My classmates and my friends at Touro ... despite their own busy and stressful schedules, despite their lack of money, they took the time to be with me and my family. And I will never forget their compassion . . . If we take that same kind of level of kindness and that compassion and that earnestness to our places of practice — this raising each-other-up attitude — there’s really nothing that we can’t do.”</p>
<p>Erin Dunn, valedictorian, part-time division, said the degree the graduates just earned should be used to help others, much as classmates helped each other through difficult classes at Touro. “We must use our new law degree to make a difference – — stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, be a voice for those who are speechless, fight for those that are in need.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Alexsis Gordon</b>, 25</p>
<p>Gordon, of East Moriches, said she was “drawn to the hands-on approach at Touro” in its clinics and court observation programs, but found corporate and contract law her calling, so she will pursue a career in corporate law. “I really found myself drawn to those topics ... And it just clicked right away so I knew that was the area that I was going to be interested in.”</p>
<p><b>Ruben Izgelov</b>, 29</p>
<p>Izgelov, of Forest Hills, attended Touro to “set a standard” of education for his 19-month-old son, Noah, and family, and will be practicing real estate and personal injury law. “What you do for yourself is you set a standard, not only for yourself but for those that you love.” </p>
<p><b>Tatiana Medina</b>, 25</p>
<p>Medina, of Central Islip, will be a clerk for justices in the appellate division, Third Department of New York State courts, based in Albany. “I came to this school because they care so much about inclusion. Faculty really cared about the students and making sure that we always progressed. It definitely helped increase my passion in the law.”</p>
<p><b>Jose Rojas</b>, 25</p>
<p>Rojas, of Bay Shore, will be working as prosecutor in Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. “What lured me to the career is making a change for the better, especially in the Hispanic community ... As a prosecutor, I think I will be able to present justice not from the defense side but start it from the prosecution side.”</p>

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Touro Law Center holds 2017 commencement

House rep addresses Touro Law Center grads

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<p>Suffolk County Community College held its 55th commencement Sunday in the Health, Sports and Education Center on the Michael J. Grant campus in Brentwood.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>4,174 total degrees awarded.</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>Space Shuttle Commander Robert “Hoot” Gibson spoke about his career as a fighter pilot and astronaut, attributing his success to the teachings of his father and the associate degree in engineering science he received from SCCC in 1966. “You are all going to find, just as I did, that the education that you received was excellent preparation,” he said. “I never would have dared to dream that I would get to go to space...Follow your dreams, follow your passion.” </p>
<h3>Student speakers</h3>
<p>Samantha Reeves, 26, of Bay Shore, who earned an associate degree in communications, could not hold back tears as she spoke of her mother, who died from cancer before she could see her daughter graduate. “A few days before she passed, she made me promise her that I would finish school regardless of how many limits life had to offer,” she said. “This moment, to me, means that I kept my promise to my momma.”</p>
<p>Lucia Mallozzi, of Ronkonkoma, who earned an associate degree in geological and earth sciences, spoke of the challenges she faced early in her studies. “Midsemester, tried to take my own life. Some of you may be thinking ‘Why would she admit to over 4,000 people that she attempted suicide?’ I did because the truth is that ... 1 in 50 college students ages 18-24 will attempt to take their own lives,” she said. “It was a hard decision to return to Suffolk, but in hindsight it was the best decision I ever made. Because of Suffolk County Community College, I did not become a statistic.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Joan Bolanos-Martinez</b>, 32, business administration</p>
<p>“Venezuela, right now, is having hard times. I want to help to rebuild my country. All the opportunities that I’m getting here in Suffolk, I owe this to my country.”</p>
<p><b>Victor Piccini-Ventura</b>, 23, liberal arts</p>
<p>“It feels like I’ve made an impact for myself. And I hope to make an impact on others.”</p>
<p><b>Anthony Valcourt</b>, 22, business administration</p>
<p>“I want to go back to my country in Haiti. My goal is to create a better opportunity for kids in need, to be able to have a better future just like I did.”</p>
<p><b>Sumayyah Uddin</b>, 22, liberal arts</p>
<p>“I didn’t really want to leave Suffolk. This really became my second home. I was really shy before I came here, and now I have a bunch of friends. It kind of feels weird to uproot myself all over again.”</p>

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Suffolk County Community College holds its 55th commencement

Astronaut gives advice to SCCC graduates

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<p>New York Institute of Technology held its 56th commencement Sunday on the campus in Old Westbury.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>994 bachelor’s degrees, 1,730 master’s degrees, 312 doctorates</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>NYIT’s interim president Rahmat Shoureshi spoke of the challenges graduates will face after leaving the college and how their degrees have uniquely equipped them to succeed in a “world fueled by technology,” and to adapt and prepare for the “twists and turns” ahead. “Commencement marks a new beginning, a new life that is about to unfold before you,” Shoureshi said. “Beginning today, take everything you have learned at NYIT not just to advance your professional and personal standing, but also, and far more importantly, to improve the lives of others.”</p>
<p>Hank Foley, the university’s incoming president, looked ahead to the school’s future, telling students, “This feels like a very special place, a place that is as diverse as it is innovative. And I can see that by working together as partners, we can achieve even greater levels of success and distinction for NYIT across the globe and into the future.”</p>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p>Alvaro Olmeda talked about the difficulties of leaving his hometown of Porto Alegre, Brazil, to study in the United States. He celebrated the diversity of this year’s graduating class, which has students from more than 60 countries. “If I can stand here as a proud, gay Latino man, it is because I found in you, my peers, a community of support, of true friends — of young leaders who believe in a modern world, in advancing through technology, in changing the future,” said Olmeda, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts. “We all leave NYIT with our own set of superpowers.” </p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Gary Baxter</b>, 70, master’s of communication arts</p>
<p>“It was a unique struggle to acclimate to all this new technology, but I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Baxter, 70, a Vietnam veteran from Brooklyn. </p>
<p><b>Matt Busch</b>, 22, bachelor’s in architecture</p>
<p>“I’ll be starting a job as a junior architect at a firm in Old Westbury,” said Busch, 22, of Islip. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.” </p>
<p><b>Christine Lorenzo</b>, 40, advanced diploma in school leadership and technology</p>
<p>“I currently work as a teacher in the Herricks School District and now feel prepared for the next step in my career as an educator,” said Lorenzo, 40, of Oceanside.</p>
<p><b>Greg Desrosiers</b>, 29, master’s in electrical and computer engineering</p>
<p>“I started a job about two months ago as a systems engineer. Before that I was a support engineer,” said Desrosiers, 29, of Huntington, adding that he decided to earn his master’s degree after the birth of his daughter, Gianna. </p>

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New York Institute of Technology holds 2017 commencement

NYIT graduates class from 60-plus countries

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<p>New York College of Health Professions held its 22nd commencement Sunday at the Melville Marriott hotel.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>117 associate degrees, 34 bachelor’s/master’s joint degrees</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>King V. Cheek Jr., new chairman of the college’s board of trustees, a participant in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and a veteran university administrator, spoke about his improved health because of massage therapy and acupuncture. He advised graduates “to practice your craft like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music, like Michelangelo painted pictures — do it so well that no one can do it better. . . . The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”</p>
<h3>Student speakers</h3>
<p>Walter Nowicki, 38, of Glen Cove, received a bachelor’s of professional studies/master’s of science degree in acupuncture and said, “The times we are living in cry out for something different, something wholistic, something sustainable. Live the medicine as best you can and do something magnificent with it.”</p>
<p>Deanna Basuino, 24, of Staten Island graduated with an associate degree in massage therapy. She told fellow graduates, “We have reached the light at the end of the tunnel . . . we have accomplished a great goal.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Winter</b><b> Marie</b>, 49, oriental medicine</p>
<p>“I’ve always been interested in plants and the medicine that plants can create. . . . People need to know about organic medicine,” said Marie, of Lindenhurst. She said she hopes to pursue a doctorate in organic medicine at a hospital being built in Spain.</p>
<p><b>Justin Choi</b>, 26, acupuncture</p>
<p>“I hope to eventually open my own practice, to help people have a better life,” said Choi, of Queens.</p>
<p><b>Michelle Damiano,</b> 25, massage therapy</p>
<p>“I want to help people like my mom who are always hurting, to take away their pain,” said Damiano, of Middle Island.</p>
<p><b>Jamelah</b><b> A. Clarke</b>, 27, massage therapy</p>
<p>“I’d like to open a spa for adults and children,” said Clarke, of Brooklyn. “I want to help people.”</p>

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NY College of Health Professions holds 22nd commencement

College of Health Professions 22nd commencement

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<p>Hofstra University held its commencement Sunday in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Center on the Hempstead campus.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>1,350 undergraduate degrees and 575 graduate degrees. </p>
<h3>Commencement speakers</h3>
<p>Mariko Silver, president of Bennington College in Vermont, who during the Obama administration served as acting assistant secretary for international affairs and deputy assistant secretary for international policy for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, told graduates, “Remember that you are ready ... because you have Hofstra degrees. You are ready to make the world as you want it to be.”</p>
<p>Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and chief executive of Henry Schein, a health care products distributor based in Melville, said: “Think big. Look, if you don’t think big you’ll be safe. If you think big, there’s a big chance you’ll be successful. You have nothing to lose in life, but to dream big.”</p>
<h3>President’s remarks</h3>
<p>University President Stuart Rabinowitz told graduates that “commencement is a celebration. We are here to celebrate the accomplishments of the hardworking graduates and the sacrifices that they made on behalf of their family and friends.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Brett Wargo</b>, 21, community health</p>
<p>“It’s been a long journey,” said Wargo, of West Islip, who will work with Planned Parenthood on HIV prevention. “I’m going to feel sad to leave Hofstra, but I’m also excited to see what the future’s going to be ... My heart’s always going to be at Hofstra.”</p>
<p><b>Maya Williams</b>, 21, mechanical engineering</p>
<p>Williams, of South Huntington, is headed for work in Manhattan as a mechanical engineer. “I’m excited to enter the work field. I feel confident. I feel prepared. I’m pretty confident in my skill set leaving Hofstra.”</p>
<p><b>Tal Weiss</b>, 23, computer science</p>
<p>Weiss, of Westbury, said “I’m happy and sad at the same time.” He said he is eager to begin a career. “I can finally move on, look for a job, and look to be successful. At the end of the day, if you put a lot of hard work into what you study, you can be successful and you can make a big difference.”</p>
<p><b>Margaret Vogelgesang</b>, 22, community health </p>
<p>Vogelgesang, of Middle Village, will head to graduate school for a master’s degree in health administration in the fall. “Do what you love, and if it’s scary ... give it a try and pursue it. Pursue your passion.”</p>

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Hofstra University holds its commencement

Hofstra celebrates newest crop of grads

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<p>Adelphi University held its 121st commencement Sunday at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>1,316 undergraduate degrees, 820 graduate degrees and 39 doctoral degrees.</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>Al Trautwig, a pre- and post-game host for the New York Knicks and Rangers on MSG Network and a 1978 Adelphi graduate, told students that “for most of you this day marks the end of your pregame show. Now the real game begins. This is what you must do as soon as possible: tell yourself what standard you want to set...Then every time you succeed or fail you can honestly see if you did everything that you could. You have to be brutally honest with yourself because that is what life will be with you.”</p>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p>Georgia Linaris, president of Adelphi’s Class of 2017, urged students to look at their education as a long-sought treasure. “Going to college is like discovering a treasure map: enticing, appealing, charming, even if it can be a bit risky,” said Linaris, 21, of Queens. “The treasure at the end of the map is different for everyone ... today at commencement, we finally reached that mysterious “X” that marked the spot.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Olivia Autry</b>, 23, biology</p>
<p>Autry, of Baldwin, said she was excited to be receiving her master’s degree from Adelphi’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, but the achievement was even sweeter because her mother, Karen Autry, also of Baldwin, was receiving her master’s degree in psychology Sunday. “It was really inspiring that I wasn’t doing it alone,” she said. “And it really gave me a new respect for my mom.”</p>
<p><b>Emil Bordzynski</b>, 21, biology</p>
<p>Bordynski, of Queens, received his bachelor’s degree Sunday, but said it was just the beginning of his education — he wants to go on to medical school. “I’m excited and determined still,” he said. “My education is very important to me. I plan to work as an EMT during my year off and I’m willing to work and take out loans because I believe in education.”</p>
<p><b>Denise Rapp</b>, 50, social work</p>
<p>Rapp, of West Islip, said “the journey to get here was very tough, tedious, but I was completely motivated to do so...It took me eight years as a returning student to get my associate degree, my bachelor’s and now master’s.” She plans to work with former military personnel.</p>
<p><b>Laianna Wright</b>, 22, music with a minor in African-American studies</p>
<p>“I’m looking to go into higher ed,” said Wright, of the Bronx. “I want to help students find their way in life and find the career path that works best for them. I know it was tough for me ... Adelphi opened me up to so many opportunities.”</p>

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Adelphi University holds 121st commencement

Al Trautwig to Adelphi grads: ‘Real game begins’

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<p>SUNY Old Westbury held its 51st commencement Sunday on the campus.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>1,051 bachelor’s degrees and 72 graduate degrees.</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>New York City Public Advocate Letitia James urged graduates to “rise and resist” against those who have “resorted to exploiting our collective fear and economic anxiety to turn Americans against the most marginalized and vulnerable....Be bold enough to use your voices to drown out the surge of divisive rhetoric; be brave enough to listen to your hearts and lift those fleeing oppression and poverty and seeking freedom and opportunity.”</p>
<p>Student speaker</p>
<p>Student Government Association president Jeannette Adelson, 21, a sociology major from Queens, told graduates that in a time of “fake news, alternative facts and divisiveness...we will not be tricked or deceived because our faculty have taught us how to analyze and see different perspectives. You are part of the generation that must bridge the gap and make the change that represents what we stand for — diversity, social justice and leadership.”</p>
<p>President’s remarks</p>
<p>The Rev. Calvin O. Butts III told graduates “it is up to each of you from this moment forward to go out and put your talents and learning into practice, improving life for yourselves, your families, your friends and your communities as you do.”</p>
<p>Graduates</p>
<p><b>Adelyn Martinez</b>, 21, accounting</p>
<p>“The biggest thing I like [about SUNY Old Westbury] is the diversity,” said Martinez, of Islip. “We have a whole bunch of different ethnicities. Everybody identifies differently, but we all come together and do what we have to do to achieve our goals.”</p>
<p><b>Ginger Garcia-Torres</b>, 30, special education</p>
<p>“I have struggled through school, and I had teachers who made it easier for me,” said Garcia-Torres, of Westbury, who plans to teach bilingual special education. “I want to be one of those teachers to make it easier for my students.”</p>
<p><b>Sara Bey</b>, 21, mathematics and chemistry</p>
<p>“I would love to get a PhD in actuarial sciences so I can become an actuary or teach a college class in anything math,” said Bey, of Merrick. “I’ve always been a numbers person. I love math.”</p>
<p><b>Strawberry Flowers</b>, 28, media and communications </p>
<p>“I’ve met wonderful professors that I plan to keep in touch with, said Flowers, of Brooklyn. “A lot of them saw the potential in me and pushed me. They pulled the A’s out of me, instead of the B’s I was producing at first.”</p>

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SUNY Old Westbury holds 51st commencement ceremony

SUNY Old Westbury hands out 1,123 degrees

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<p>Farmingdale State College held its 98th commencement Saturday in the Nold Athletic Complex on the Farmingdale campus.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>950 — 880 bachelor’s degrees, 70 associate degrees</p>
<h3>Commencement speakers</h3>
<p>Stanley Bergman, chairman and chief executive of Melville-based Henry Schein Inc., told graduates: “You have an important role — your job is to mentor the older generation. We need to understand how to work in an exciting world.”</p>
<p>Leland Melvin, former NASA astronaut and STEM education advocate, said: “Mark Twain said the two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why. It’s your job now to figure out exactly why you were born.”</p>
<p>Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said: “Garner up the courage and strength to put aside your doubts and take a chance. If you do, it is my hope, my prayer and my confidence you will find true joy and success.” </p>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p><b>Valedictorian Brian Muff</b>, 22, of Port Jefferson Station, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine, encouraged his classmates to continue learning and embrace their education. “While others have recognized your talent, it is much more important for you to confidently recognize it,” he said. </p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Oluwaseyi Joseph</b>, 23, professional communication</p>
<p>“It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I feel accomplished and proud,” said Joseph, of Far Rockaway, Queens. “I always say Farmingdale picked me. . . . I feel it’s been a really good decision.”</p>
<p><b>Shaquille Saillant-Givraj</b>, 23, visual communication</p>
<p>“I’m feeling awake, alive. Everything was serendipitous; it fell into place and here I am, now graduating,” said Saillant-Givraj, of Levittown. </p>
<p><b>Deidra Kearns</b>, 24, visual communication</p>
<p>“I got accepted into the EOP [Educational Opportunity Program] and it’s been a smooth ride to graduation,” said Kearns, of Smithtown. “I’m really taking what Farmingdale has taught and I’m going to merge it into my career.”</p>
<p><b>Marissa Sarro</b>, 21, science, technology and society</p>
<p>“I’m excited and a little nervous and mostly proud,” said Sarro, of Massapequa. “I didn’t really want to go away and it was the best choice.”</p>
<p>— Laura Blasey</p>

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Farmingdale State College holds 98th commencement 

Farmingdale State College commencement

<p>Five Towns College held its 43rd commencement ceremony Saturday at Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>133 — 7 associate degrees, 119 bachelor’s degrees, 6 master’s degrees and 1 doctorate</p>
<h3>Commencement speakers</h3>
<p>Diana J. Cherryholmes, film and cultural affairs director for Suffolk County, recalled the advice her professor father gave her after high school graduation: “Just get yourself organized and do it.” Those words led her to take leadership roles at arts organizations on Long Island and in New York State. “When I say, ‘do it,’ it doesn’t mean waiting for your turn,” she said. “It means you have control when that turn will happen because you are in charge.”</p>
<p>Guitarist Joe Carbone, who has accompanied singers such as Ben Vereen, Fabian and Sammy Davis Jr. and played for U.S. presidents, performed the jazz standard “There Never Will Be Another Year” with professor Peter Rogine. Carbone taught at the college for years.</p>
<h3>Student speakers</h3>
<p><b>Valedictorian Nicole R. Gregory</b>, 24, of Cranford, New Jersey, graduated with a bachelor’s in professional studies/audio recording technology. She spoke about being homeless during college after becoming estranged from her mother: “Because of Five Towns and the experiences that I had, I was able to advance my life.”</p>
<p>Salutatorian David G. Taylor, 24, of Hampton Bays, who earned a bachelor’s in mass communication, said the college’s diversity and sense of community helped him come out as gay. “Before Five Towns, I thought ‘gay’ was a dirty word,” he said. “But now I wear that title with pride. I’ll never go back to hiding who I am to fit in and neither should any of you . . . Be proud of your identity.”</p>
<p>— James T. Madore</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Brendon</b><b> Diaz</b>, 21, audio recording technology</p>
<p>“I’ve always loved music and I plan to move to Nashville and become a studio engineer,” said Diaz, of East Meadow.</p>
<p><b>Ashley Marie Ferraro</b>, 21, theatre</p>
<p>“I love theater so much because it can have an impact on people’s lives,” said Ferraro, of Commack, who co-founded the performing group Characters With A Cause to entertain sick children. She’s interning at Walt Disney World and hopes to become a character actor there.</p>
<p><b>Shailah</b><b> E. Phillips</b>, 20, audio recording technology</p>
<p>“I want to start off at a big record label and then start my own label,” said Phillips, of Brooklyn.</p>
<p><b>James D. Frasca</b>, 21, film/video</p>
<p>“I was in theater in high school but found it difficult to memorize my lines,” said Frasca, of upstate Schoharie. “So, I decided that I wanted to be behind the camera instead of in front of it.” </p>

LIFIVE0521

Five Towns College holds 43rd commencement in Dix Hills

Five Towns College holds commencement

IMGFIW7_WEB

Jean-Paul Salamanca

<p>St. Joseph’s College held its 98th commencement Saturday at the NYCB Theater at Westbury.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>1,174: 799 bachelor’s degrees; 375 master’s degrees</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker </h3>
<p>St. Joseph’s College President Jack Calareso encouraged graduates to take the education they received during their time at school and use it to push for changing their world in whatever career paths they take. “Be the fire for peace in the world,” he said. “Live the life you were educated to live. Be the person you were educated to be.”</p>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p>Amanda Rose Butera, a psychology major and president of the school’s Psychology Club, spoke to students about the importance of service and giving back to the community, encouraging fellow graduates to become “a positive force” in the lives of others. “In a time where the country is divided more than ever, we can turn all this negativity into kinetic energy to accomplish our goals and to bring about real, positive change.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Yudith Escobar,</b> 28, psychology</p>
<p>“I never thought I was going to graduate college because I came here not knowing any English and then I had to learn and go to school, so it was a long journey for me,” said Escobar, of Brentwood. “It was very special, and I treasure every single experience.” </p>
<p><b>Samantha Laine,</b> 22, communications</p>
<p>“The whole experience was great. I loved all my professors here; they were amazing,” said Laine, of Islandia. “This last semester was definitely the most challenging. I was taking 18 credits and I was working, too.”</p>
<p><b>Ashley Bruno,</b> 21, child study and speech communications</p>
<p>“After graduation, I’ll be a full-time universal pre-kindergarten teacher and I’m getting married,” said Bruno, of Lake Ronkonkoma. “I’m excited.” </p>
<p><b>Joseph Marinelli,</b> 24, child study</p>
<p>“Student teaching was the most challenging part. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about teaching,” said Marinelli, of Sayville. “I’m teaching special ed and I absolutely love it.”</p>

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LIJOSE0521

St. Joseph’s College holds 98th commencement in Westbury

St. Joseph’s College holds 98th commencement

 LIJOSE052117_WEB

<p>Molloy College held its 59th commencement Saturday at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>1,210 degrees: 768 bachelor’s degrees, 432 graduate degrees, 10 doctorates.</p>
<h3>Commencement speaker</h3>
<p>Robert C. Houlihan, the college’s vice president for student affairs, told graduates to seize opportunities and not fear failure. “A lot of people think they have one shot at success,” said Houlihan, who is retiring after more than 36 years at the college. “That’s not true. They have many, many shots. . . . Look at your failures as preparation for success. I believe that every problem is an opportunity in disguise. Without the obstacles, you’re not going to grow.” </p>
<p>Houlihan also urged graduates not to “fixate on what you can’t control. Concentrate on what you can control. It is up to you to fix what you can in your life, and that starts with fixing your attitude.”</p>
<h3>Student speakers</h3>
<p>The valedictorian, Joanna Verde of New Hyde Park, and salutatorian, Eve Kaczmarczyk, also of New Hyde Park, spoke at a pregraduation event Thursday.</p>
<p>Verde, who received a bachelor’s in early childhood education, heralded Molloy’s Catholic heritage. “Through the school’s dedication to the Dominican tradition of study, community, service, and spirituality, we have grown tremendously as individuals,” she said. Kaczmarczyk, who earned a bachelor’s in psychology, told classmates to always look forward. “It is easy to look back and think ‘what if,’ ” she said. “But we must live in the present. We cannot change the past. We can only create the future.”</p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Sarah Losner</b>, 21, accounting</p>
<p>“My long-term dream is to be a CFO [chief financial officer] one day, and I think my experience at Molloy has prepared me to start thinking in the way that a CFO would think,” said Losner, of Merrick. </p>
<p><b>Jamelee </b><b>James</b>, 25, nursing</p>
<p>“You have great professors who are there for you . . .,” said James, of Central Islip. “They notice a difference in you, although you don’t see it. That’s what I love about going to such a small school.”</p>
<p><b>Ronnie </b><b>Amato</b>, 22, communications, media and new media</p>
<p>“I really wasn’t the same person four years ago that I am today,” said Amato, of Long Beach. “Molloy really helped build the foundation and opened a lot of doors for me. It showed me anything is possible as long as you put in the hard work.”</p>
<p><b>Melissa Guida</b>, 21, business management and marketing</p>
<p>“Molloy is really where I found my passion for marketing,” said Guida, of Old Bethpage. “The best thing Molloy did is encourage me to get a lot of intern experience early on. Once I started interning, I got my feet in the water and realized what I liked and what I didn’t like.”</p>

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Molloy College holds 59th commencement at Jones Beach

Molloy College holds 59th commencement

grad_14/mk -- cropped

<p>Stony Brook University held its 57th commencement Friday in Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on the campus.</p>
<h3>Number of graduates</h3>
<p>4,292 bachelor’s, 1,999 master’s, 449 doctoral, 226 certificates, 129 doctor of medicine and 40 doctor of dental surgery</p>
<h3>Commencement speakers</h3>
<ul>
 <li>Michael J. Fox, actor, author, producer and Parkinson’s Disease advocate, told graduates that each of them has the power to impact the world. “When I look out on this sea of red, I’m filled with hope,” Fox said. “For you represent endless possibility. Among you may be the first human to walk on Mars, the engineer who revolutionizes the world’s energy technology, the next great investigative journalist to expose political corruption, or the scientist who discovers the cure for Parkinson’s.” He went on to give one piece of advice: “Don’t overthink it.”</li>
 <li>Jon Oringer, an alumnus from the Class of 1996 who founded the billion-dollar company Shutterstock, talked about his years as a student at Stony Brook and the influential professors and experiences he encountered. He told graduates, “Stay curious, take calculated risks and embrace diversity.”</li>
</ul>
<h3>Student speaker</h3>
<p>Danielle Jean, a biology major, told fellow graduates: “Whatever it is that the future has in store for us, no matter where we end up — whether it’s finding a job, landing an internship or figuring out how to tackle our student loans — there is one thing that I know for sure. We’re ready.” </p>
<h3>Graduates</h3>
<p><b>Savannah Rose</b>, 20, environmental studies</p>
<p>Rose, of El Segundo, California, said she will apply for a fellowship that will allow her to work on the environmental sustainability policies of local governments. “Witnessing the droughts and other environmental problems, I just think we need to do something and we need to do it now.”</p>
<p><b>Xingyuan Jiang</b>, 24, applied mathematics</p>
<p>“New York is the center of the finance world and there are so many opportunities here,” said Jiang, an international student from China who will work at a hedge fund.</p>
<p><b>David Karp</b>, 25, social welfare</p>
<p>“I plan to work with adolescents in the clinical mental health setting,” said Karp, of Miller Place. “Hopefully go into private practice eventually, and on the macro level do some policy and advocacy work — something where I might make transformational change.”</p>
<p><b>Yvette Adams</b>, 45, business management</p>
<p>Adams, a Holbrook mother of three who went back to college, said she’s going on to graduate school. “My ultimate goal is to go on to get my Ph.D. and teach on the college level.”</p>

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