Nearly 400 Students Honored at SUNY Plattsburgh Winter Commencement

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Angel Acosta

PLATTSBURGH, NY (12/13/2008)(readMedia)-- Hugs and tears of joy were the order of the day today as nearly 400 students crossed the dais during SUNY Plattsburgh's Winter Commencement Exercises.

The event featured Student Association President Angel Acosta as the student speaker. The anthropology major who was graduating with high honors told students that their work is not over.

"Now just because we have attained our degrees, it does not mean that our education is over," said Acosta. "If our American democracy is to progress, our critical thinking has to be sharper than steel. The rest of the 21st century is in our hands to mold and any shape is possible."

The graduating anthropology major called on graduates to start an awaking.

"Let today send a message to you and yours; that this graduation is evidence of hard work and that this time in history is the beginning of a consciousness revolution," he said. "The beginning of the time the American people woke up from the slumber of apathy and the start of a more inclusive period in American politics."

SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling presided over the ceremony, with Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Higgins presenting the candidates for degrees. College Council Chair Arnold Amell, a 1953 graduate of SUNY Plattsburgh and Vice Chair M. Catherine Hollinshead awarded the diplomas along with council members Karen Edwards, who earned her masters from the college in 1984; Heidi H. Kelly; Martin D. Mannix Jr., a 1964 alumnus; Dr. Soham Patel; Roger Burke; and Acosta.

The event featured music by the Adirondack Bass and the Elgin and District Pipes and Drums.