Empire State College to celebrate graduating class virtually

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » SUNY Empire State College will celebrate the graduating class of 2020 throughout the month of June with a series of online and social media festivities, culminating with a virtual commencement ceremony at noon on Saturday, June 27.

SUNY Empire will issue 782 associate degrees, 3,402 bachelor’s degrees, and 349 master’s degrees, five undergraduate certificates, and 51 graduate certificates to 4,589 students who will graduate this summer.

With more than 30 locations across New York state, SUNY Empire has traditionally held ceremonies from Long Island to Buffalo to ensure every student had the opportunity to attend.

While all standard commencement ceremonies have been canceled due to COVID-19-related public health precautions, the college remains committed to formally honoring the class of 2020 in person when it is safe to do so.

The month-long celebration and virtual ceremony in June is meant to unite every SUNY Empire graduate, regardless of location, in recognition of their achievements.

“Even in the face of a pandemic, the class of 2020 remained unwavering in their commitment to completing their studies—and they did,” SUNY Empire State College president Jim Malatras said in a press release. “That perseverance and focus is a testament to the resilient spirit of SUNY Empire students. Congratulations to each and every one of SUNY Empire’s graduates.”

SUNY Empire State College educates students at any stage of life with a personalized learning experience delivered online, in person, or a blend of both.

Class of 2020 graduate Derek Jefferson chief warrant officer in the United States Navy, currently stationed in the Kingdom of Bahrain congratulated all his fellow classmates. “This journey has taken me six years to complete, but now I can exhale and say I did it. I have earned my master’s degree in learning and emerging technologies,” he shared in the release.

“I started on this road because after graduating high school in 1985, I always wanted to get a college degree,” added Christine Garcia, also a member of the college’s graduating class. “Life led me on a different path, but this goal has always stayed in the back of my mind. The ride has been rough, but the satisfaction I feel right now has definitely been worth it.”

“I’ve had some true cheerleaders throughout this journey and for that I am humbly grateful,” Darlene Lewis, another Class of 2020 graduate, said in the release. “I would like to thank SUNY Empire for the learning experience, and my family and friends for not only believing in the work that I do, but my ability to soar and successfully land on my feet. I am extremely proud and honored to be a SUNY Empire MBA graduate.”

As part of the commencement celebration, SUNY Empire has received more than 200 submissions of videos, photographs and letters from students excited to share their accomplishments. They will be part of a month-long virtual campaign to celebrate SUNY Empire’s graduates.

SUNY Empire recently announced it has established the Latin Honors system for the first time in the institution’s 49-year history in response to overwhelming student support for the change.This honor will begin being conferred to SUNY Empire students graduating with a bachelor’s degree on June 27, as well as retroactively to students who graduated in August 2019 and December 2019.

Additional information about the June 27 ceremony and updates for future events can be found online at www.esc.edu/ commencement.