Skidmore College prepares to celebrate 108th Commencement
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Skidmore College will celebrate its 108th Commencement at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sat. May 18. SPAC gates open at 8 a.m. and the commencement exercises are expected to begin at 10:40 a.m.
In total, the class of 2019 will graduate 622 students.
A breakdown of Skidmore’s 2019 graduating class by the numbers is listed below: • B.A. candidates: 409 • B.S. candidates: 213 • 43 countries represented • 35 U.S. states represented • 39 dual citizens • 85 first-generation college students • 16% international students • 175 memberships in national honor societies • 22 Phi Beta Kappa members • 77 student-athletes • 6 President’s Award recipients
• 3 Fulbright scholars and semi-finalists
In addition, Skidmore has announced its commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients.
Skidmore College will bestow honorary degrees upon baseball great Joe Torre and “Einstein’s Dreams” author Alan Lightman during the College’s 108th Commencement Exercises. Both will address the graduates.
Skidmore will honor Torre for an extraordinary baseball career, during which he was a nine-time All-Star, the 1971 National League MVP, a celebrated manager winning four World Series titles with the New York Yankees and a respected MLB executive. In addition to his impressive baseball career, Torre overcame personal adversity and childhood trauma and has used his experience to help others by establishing the Safe at Home Foundation and Margaret’s Place, organizations that help children affected by domestic violence.
Skidmore will recognize Lightman’s distinguished ca
reer as a writer, educator, physicist and social entrepreneur. Lightman is professor of the practice of the humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the author of multiple books, including “Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine,” “In Praise of Wasting Time,” “The Accidental Universe” and “Einstein’s Dreams.” “Einstein’s Dreams” was selected as the Class of 2019’s First-Year Experience reading assignment and informed engaging discussions regarding the relationships between people and time. Lightman also visited Skidmore’s campus in fall 2015.
Skidmore College is excited to welcome Joe Torre and Alan Lightman to our 108th Commencement Exercises,” said Skidmore College President Philip A. Glotzbach. “Mr. Torre’s lifelong pursuit of his passion and service to others is an example for Skidmore students as they contemplate their paths after graduation. Dr. Lightman’s efforts to bridge the sciences and humanities also inspire our Skidmore community. Both embody the meaning of Creative Thought Matters, and we are honored to bestow upon them honorary degrees.”
Kristie A. Ford, professor of sociology and director of Skidmore’s Center for Leadership, Teaching and Learning, has been selected as the 2019 Skidmore faculty Commencement speaker. Ford’s academic research focuses on race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and social justice education. She is also the founder of the Intergroup Relations Program at Skidmore.
Skidmore College Board of Trustees Chair W. Scott McGraw and Class of 2019 President Nigel Smith will join President Glotzbach and Professor Ford in offering their congratulations to the 2019 graduating class.