SUNY Old Westbury holds 52nd commencement
SUNY Old Westbury held its 52nd commencement Sunday at NYCB Live at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Number of graduates
1,178 undergraduate and 118 graduate degrees.
Commencement speaker
State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie told graduates that “the job that you should have is just to make the world a little better place than when you came in. And I hope that you do it . . . Think it, believe it, and then do it.”
— SCOTT EIDLER
Graduates
Oluwaseun Akanni, 21, history
“I can’t believe I finally made it,” said Akanni, of Elmont. “College is really what you make of it, and we really have to be resourceful with the opportunities around us.”
Elissa Wallen, 26, media and communications
“I feel really blessed,” said Wallen, of Medford. “Life can throw you anything, but if you’re prepared you should be OK.” She added, “Don’t ever doubt your skills.”
Sumit Shah, 22, biological sciences
“I’ve learned how to communicate with many people of different nationalities,” said Shah, of Amityville. “I’m more open to new ideas and accepting of others.”
Ishmael Moya, 22, biochemistry
“No one can take the steps for you,” said Moya, of the Bronx. “You’ve got to put in the work. What you put in is what you get out.”
Scott Eidler covers Nassau County government and politics for Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.
