SUNY Delhi 93rd Commencement at a Glance

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Douglas Okun, honorary doctorate recipient

DELHI, NY (05/22/2010)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi held its 93rd Annual SUNY Delhi Commencement May 22 at 1 p.m. in Floyd L. Maines Arena, Clark Field House, awarding 451 associate degrees, 102 baccalaureate degrees and 27 certificates.

Graduates included students enrolled in SUNY Delhi baccalaureate programs offered on the campus of Schenectady County Community College and Delhi's RN to BSN online degree. Student speakers included:

  • Terri Brauer of Kingston, N.Y., Student of the Year – Associate Degree, Hotel and Resort Management
  • Kasey Carpentier, Student of the Year – Baccalaureate Degree, Culinary Arts

President Candace S. Vancko recognized graduates receiving Recognition of Community Service Honors, Three faculty and staff members as SUNY Chancellor's Award recipients who were in attendance:

  • Dr. Kathryn DeZur-Excellence in Teaching
  • Pamela Peters -Excellence in Professional Service
  • Cindy Haynes-Excellence in Classified Service

President Vancko and Provost John Nader awarded Douglas R. Okun with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from SUNY. Okun, a 1962 Delhi graduate, is principal of the award-winning architecture firm Douglas Okun Associates, Inc. of Cambridge, Mass.

SUNY Delhi College Council who were present: Chairman Ben Nesbitt, Pat DoPazo, Walter Gladstone, Myrna Resnick Jargowksy, Than Oo, and Jim Sands.

Quotable quotes from Delhi's commencement:

  • President Candace S. Vancko: "As you move forward, you can be very proud of your alma mater. SUNY Delhi's prestige continues to grow. Delhi was ranked among the Top 50 Baccalaureate Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report for the second consecutive year. SUNY Delhi has been featured in both The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Education.com, two of the nation's leading education publications."
  • President Candace S. Vancko to the Class of 2008: "I encourage you to stay connected and visit the campus often-you will definitely want to come back and see the Farrell Hall Student and Community Center when it opens in the Fall. And please remember, you will always be important members of the SUNY Delhi family."
  • Keynote speaker Senator Chuck Schumer: Reach for your dream. Now is the time even though it's difficult out there…Then reach deep down inside yourself and see what you're made of and work to get to that goal. My advice to the Class of 2010 is very simple: Go for it."
  • Douglas Okun, recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, on his Delhi experience: "It was the platform upon which my life was built, and the hands-on teaching and the accessibility of the teaching made it a family which I enjoyed and took great pride in."
  • Kasey Carpentier, Student of the Year – Baccalaureate Degree: "So with this it is now my turn, as well as all of the graduates, to move on to new and exciting opportunities. It's a chance for me to say thank you, thank you to all of my fellow students, faculty and administration and to friends and family. As soon as you get your diploma and are walking out the door to leave, I want you to give a big hug to someone who has helped you get through everything because, for me at least, without that support this would not be possible."
  • Terri Brauer, Student of the Year – Associate Degree: "I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life here at Delhi as I return to complete my Bachelor's degree next year. I am confident in saying that I can stand here today as a college graduate with many accomplishments and not the closed book that I once was."