Richards speaks at graduation

TROY, N.Y. » The Sage Colleges conferred 869 degrees and certificates at its 101st commencement May 12.

The ceremony, held at the Houston Field House on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus, was Sage’s first commencement under Christopher Ames, who was installed as 10th president of The Sage Colleges in 2017.

Cecile Richards, a national leader for women’s rights and social and economic justice, and the author of New York Times best-seller “Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead,” was the commencement speaker.

Richards recently stepped down as president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

“It is the privilege of a lifetime to get to choose work that makes a difference,” Richards said to the class of 2018. “If you are lucky enough to get to decide, choose work that brings you joy. Don’t settle for anything less. I have just one more piece of advice for you before you go out into the world: live the story you want to tell. Or in other words: don’t talk about it, be about it.”

Sage awarded an honorary doctorate of public service to Richards.

Saturday’s ceremony recognized graduates who completed the requirements for bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, advanced certificates or doctoral degrees in August 2017, December 2017 or May. They are from 29 states, India, Cayman Islands, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia and Canada.

PHOTO PROVIDED Former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards was Saturday’s keynote speaker for The Sage Colleges commencement.

PHOTO PROVIDED This year’s graduating class of 2018from The Sage Colleges featured students from 29states and more than a half dozen countries.

PHOTO PROVIDED The Sage Colleges conferred 869degrees Saturday.

PHOTO PROVIDED Saturday’s Sage graduation ceremony took place at the Houston Field House on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus in Troy.