Adelphi University Class of 2012 graduates

Commencement address

Carmen Ortiz, U.S. attorney for Massachusetts and Adelphi alum, Class of 1974, told the graduates, "It is your turn to seize the day. Realize that dreams can change with time . . . There's no magic solution. No one way to accomplish your goals."

Student speaker

Mirirai Sithole, president of the Class of 2012, received a bachelor's in theater. She told students: "As you keep traveling on this journey called life, just like the Long Island Rail Road, there will be missed connections, delays, transfers, and sometimes you might even get off at the wrong stop . . . Most people know the saying 'If you see something, say something,' but my version is that 'If you imagine something -- or better yet, if you want to create something that shatters the world -- then do something.' You are the conductor of your life and only you can define your future success."

Students' voices

"Once you have that drive to do something, it's about time-management skills and having a good support system," Di Santo, of Malverne, said of graduating at the top of the class. "Those were all things I had over the last four years." He is going to Columbia Law School in the fall.

"It's about staying positive and putting yourself out there," Covallo, of Deer Park, said as she looked ahead to seeking a teaching job on Long Island. "I've put 100 percent of myself into the last four years, and that's what I'm going to do to get a job. I just need the opportunity to show them what I got."

"I eventually want to work for a pharmaceutical company. I think with health care that the action lies in the laboratory," said Raymond, of Westbury, who will begin work this fall on his master's in medicinal chemistry at St. John's University

"Going back to school at this point in my life was quite an experience, but worth every bit," Reynolds, who yesterday received his master's degree, said of the 33-year-span between this degree and his last one. He works as a physician's assistant.

"I want to be ahead of cutting-edge research. And I just enjoy college in general," said Dove, of Baldwin, who plans to move to Boston and spend the next seven years at Massachusetts Institute of Technology working on his PhD. "I have no problem staying in college."