SUNY New Paltz welcomed thousands of guests to campus across a three-day commencement weekend on May 16, 17 and 18 for a high-energy celebration of more than 2,400 new graduates who have earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
The festivities kicked off with a Friday evening ceremony for graduate students inside the Athletic & Wellness Center. Saturday and Sunday ceremonies for undergraduates were held on the Old Main Quad. President Darrell P. Wheeler presided over all commencement exercises.
“Our graduates have come to this moment through diverse paths, achieving outstanding outcomes while overcoming significant challenges to cross the stage today,” said SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler. “Today, as you become alumni of our institution, we hope you will wear this distinction with pride and honor.”
On Saturday, Professor Emeritus James Halpern and Class of 2025 salutatorian Brinda Bhalla addressed new graduates of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the largest academic school at SUNY New Paltz.
Sunday’s ceremony honored graduates of the Schools of Business, Education, Fine & Performing Arts and Science & Engineering. Guest speakers included distinguished alumna Christine DeBiase and Class of 2025 valedictorian Angelina Somma.
Both Halpern, who served as founding director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz until his 2016 retirement, and DeBiase, the Allstate Corporation’s executive vice president, chief legal officer and general counsel, were awarded honorary doctorate of humane letters degrees, the highest form of recognition offered by the State University of New York.
“There are few better feelings than watching a student achieve milestones they once doubted they would reach,” said Somma. “Just like our bachelor’s degrees, nothing worth having ever comes easy. So, take those feelings as opportunities for reflection and growth and hold onto the moments of intense gratification.”
“I have truly loved my time at New Paltz, and as I stand here today, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude — for this moment, for the last three years I have spent here, and for the people who have made this journey unforgettable,” said Bhalla. “Many of us came to college with one worldview, and we’re leaving here today with many. And that, I believe, is success: evolving into someone who is even a little bit closer to the person you want to be tomorrow.”
Join the family! 
