SUNY Delhi 95th Commencement at a Glance

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From left to right: Katherine McGeary, Student of the Year-Baccalaureate Degree, and Teresa Bryant, Student of the Year-Associate Degree. Photo by Gerry Raymonda.

DELHI, NY (05/19/2012)(readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi held its 95th Annual SUNY Delhi Commencement May 19, 1 p.m. in Floyd L. Maines Arena, Clark Field House, awarding 453 associate degrees, 155 baccalaureate degrees and 77 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:

• Teresa Bryant of Newburgh, Student of the Year-Associate Degree, Nursing

• Katherine McGeary of Valley Stream, Student of the Year-Baccalaureate Degree, Culinary Arts

President Candace S. Vancko recognized graduates receiving Recognition of Community Service Honors as well as students receiving honors from the State University:

• Teresa Bryant, a Nursing major from Newburgh-SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence

• Ian Kowalchuk, a Culinary Arts major from Deer Park-SUNY Scholar Athlete Award

Theresa Molloy, Class of 1980, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

Errol Samuels, an accounting major who was seriously injured in an accident last weekend, was scheduled to graduate and was unable to attend the ceremony. Graduate Arelis Rodriguez accepted Samuels' diploma on his behalf.

Two faculty and staff members were recognized as SUNY Chancellor's Award recipients:

• Joe Batchelder-Excellence in Professional Service

• Dr. Amber Tatnall-Excellence in Faculty Service

SUNY Delhi College Council who were present: Patricia Dopazo, Jhilmil Ghaleb, Walter Gladstone, Myrna Resnick Jarkowsky, Katherine Mario, Carol O'Beirne, and David Vazquez.

Quotable Quotes:

• President Candace S. Vancko to the Class of 2012: "Students completed over 24,000 hours of volunteer service this past year under the leadership of the O'Connor Center for Community Engagement. That's incredible! I am particularly proud of your impressive response when Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused historic flooding throughout our region."

• Theresa Molloy '80, Honorary Doctorate Recipient: "When you try to achieve a goal that is out of reach, if you have confidence in yourself, anything is possible."

• Keynote speaker SUNY Chairman H. Carl McCall: "Be a force of ethical practice...Be a model of self-respect...and make it your calling to be an engaged citizen."

• Teresa Bryant, Student of the Year – Associate Degree: "I look forward to the challenges of entering the real world. I know I'll keep fighting through any troubles that come my way..."

• Katherine McGeary, Student of the Year – Baccalaureate Degree: "Delhi is a beautiful place. You might not realize or believe this now, especially when we've been under four feet of snow, but someday in the future you're going to look back on your time here and think, 'wow, I actually did learn a lot in college.'"