SUNY Ulster’s sixth President, Dr. Alan P. Roberts, will preside over the College’s 55th Commencement on Saturday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. on the SUNY Ulster Soccer Field on the Stone Ridge campus. President Roberts will present 197 students a degree or certificate at the Commencement ceremony.
Graduates marching in academic regalia will receive four tickets each for guests to attend the commencement. The Soccer Field will open for guest seating at 9:00 a.m., and the ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony is rain or shine.
The event will be video streamed live for guests without tickets and can be viewed from any remote location as the ceremony occurs at http://www.sunyulster.edu/campus_and_culture/graduation/graduation_2019.
The graduating class consists of 265 students. Two hundred and forty-six will receive associate degrees and 19 will receive certificates. The youngest graduate is 17, and the oldest is 63. Of the class, 89 are graduating with highest honors, 129 are graduating with honors, 9 students are graduating with the Honors Studies program distinction, 11 students are being recognized for earning a 4.0 GPA while at SUNY Ulster, the President’s Medal of Highest Honor, and 43 are members of the national honors society Phi Theta Kappa. There are also six students graduating as College Scholars. Two sets of sibling students will be graduating.
Michael Hein, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and former Ulster County Executive, will give the keynote address. Hein was appointed Acting Commissioner of the New York State OTDA in February 2019 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Prior to joining OTDA, Acting Commissioner Hein served as Ulster County’s first County Executive, initially taking office in 2009. He developed a strong record of leadership and innovation while building a reputation as a statewide leader in government reform, resulting in his being named one of the top elected officials in the country by Governing Magazine. Acting Commissioner Hein graduated with a B.A. from Eckerd College with a concentration in management. He lives in Hurley with his wife and son.
Other speakers include Faculty Marshal Kevin R. Stoner, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty; Alan Lomita, Chair of the SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees; the Honorable Tracey A. Bartels, Ulster County Legislature Chair; and Steven H. Schimmrich, Professor of Geology & Earth Sciences and Chair of SUNY Ulster’s Academic Senate. Alumnus Marco A. Soriano, Managing Partner of the Soriano Group, will give the alumni address. Witcliffe Cunningham and Margarette Jorge of the graduating class of 2019 will serve as Student Marshals, with Margarette Jorge bringing greetings from the class of 2019. Mary Tarcza, Professor of Communications, will serve as Grand Marshal.
The Reverend Robin L. James, of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New Paltz, will deliver the invocation and benediction. Music will be performed by the College Choral Ensemble directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt, and the SUNY Ulster Brass Quintet directed by Victor Izzo, Jr.
The security policy does not permit large bags and backpacks. Large purses and diaper bags will be checked. Guests will be asked to leave their strollers in a designated area on the soccer field.
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