SUNY Potsdam 2015 Commencement Ceremonies Announced

Stephanie Blythe '92 and Marie Regan '77 to Speak at Bachelor's and Master's Commencement Ceremonies on May 16 and 17 at SUNY Potsdam

POTSDAM, NY (05/07/2015)(readMedia)-- The State University of New York at Potsdam will honor the Class of 2015, as hundreds of students earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees and walk the stage next weekend, during the College's 181st Commencement ceremonies.

During Commencement weekend, SUNY Potsdam will recognize the more than 1,100 students have who either completed their degree or were eligible to graduate between December 2014 and December 2015. Of those, about 800 students are scheduled to walk during the ceremonies.

The 2015 Master's Commencement Ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. 120 graduate students are expected to cross the stage and receive their hood at the ceremony.

Potsdam Town Supervisor Marie C. Regan '77, who is a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emerita and a celebrated educator and community leader, will serve as the keynote speaker for the SUNY Potsdam Master's Commencement Ceremony.

The 2015 Bachelor's Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 17 at 10:15 a.m. in the Academic Quad. Nearly 700 undergraduates are expected to turn their tassels and earn their bachelor's degrees at the ceremony.

Stephanie Blythe '92, an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano and opera star, will address the bachelor's graduates. The co-founder and artistic director of the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar, which is in residence at The Crane School of Music, Blythe is also the honorary chair of SUNY Potsdam's Take the Lead Campaign for her alma mater. She is a previous recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Music degree, which was presented to her in recognition of her many artistic achievements in 2006.

Allan P. Newell, a community philanthropist and founder of the Sweetgrass Foundation, will be honored with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the bachelor's ceremony.

The College will hold its Bachelor's Commencement Ceremony outside in the Academic Quad, rain or shine. Guests are asked to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring umbrellas, blankets or sunscreen if needed. There will be an option for guests who are uncomfortable with weather conditions to watch the ceremony live on a large screen inside, in the Barrington Student Union Multi-Purpose Room.

There is an emergency weather plan for the bachelor's ceremony, in the case of extremely dangerous conditions like lightning or freezing temperatures. Under the emergency plan, there would be two bachelor's ceremonies. At 10 a.m., one ceremony would be held for graduating visual arts, music, theatre and dance majors in Hosmer Hall at Crane. Immediately following, all other graduating students will attend a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in the Jerry Welsh Gymnasium in Maxcy Hall. Each graduate has five tickets for the emergency plan; all other guests are welcome to view the ceremonies via live video in the Barrington MPR.

During the Commencement celebrations, the College will also recognize the recipient of its most prestigious award. Donald L. Tompkins '68, a longtime trustee and volunteer for the College's Alumni Association, will be honored with the 2015 Roger B. Linden Distinguished Service Award.

To learn more about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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