Undergraduate Commencement Set for May 22

04/27/2010

SUNY Cortland will conduct two undergraduate Commencement ceremonies — one at 9:30 a.m. and the other at 2:30 p.m. — on Saturday, May 22, in the Bessie L. Park Class of 1901 Physical Education and Recreation Center Alumni Arena.

An estimated 1,299 seniors will receive baccalaureate degrees during Commencement exercises, which will be presided over by SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum.

Wells College President Lisa Marsh Ryerson M.S. ’91 will address the graduates during the morning ceremony. University of Wyoming President Thomas Buchanan ’74 will address the graduates during the afternoon ceremony. The State University of New York will bestow upon both Ryerson and Buchanan the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters during Commencement. Each ceremony begins with an academic procession. A prelude, processional and recessional music will be provided by the Cortland Brass Ensemble.

Bitterbaum will deliver the charge to graduates.

Morning Ceremony

During the morning ceremony, Richard Peagler, director of counseling and student development, will carry the mace, a ceremonial staff used as a symbol of institutional authority at the College’s Commencement and academic convocations. Four multi-colored gonfalons, representing the All College, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and the School of Professional Studies, will be carried, respectively, by Kathleen Howarth, professor of physical education; Sharon Steadman, associate professor of sociology/anthropology and coordinator of the International Studies Program; Thomas Lickona, professor of childhood and early childhood education and director of the Center for the 4th and 5th Rs; and Anderson Young, a distinguished teaching professor of recreation, parks and leisure studies.

Kara Howard of Fulton, N.Y., and Ryan McDonald of Clay, N.Y., both senior musical theater majors, will sing the national anthem and the Alma Mater, respectively, for the morning ceremony.

Afternoon Ceremony

Jamie Dangler, associate professor of sociology/anthropology, will carry the mace during the afternoon Commencement. The gonfaloniers will be: Sheila Dai, assistant director of the Counseling Center; Steven Broyles, professor of biological sciences; Heather Bridge, assistant professor of childhood/early childhood education; and Eric Malmberg, professor of physical education.

Rebecca Rozzoni of Dryden, N.Y., and Anthony Festa of Ballston Spa, N.Y., both senior musical theater majors, will sing the national anthem and the Alma Mater, respectively, for the afternoon ceremony.

President Bitterbaum will welcome the graduates at both ceremonies. Mark Prus, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will recognize the honor graduates. The 2009-10 and 2010-11 Student Government Association (SGA) President Elect Jesse Campanaro, a junior business economics major from Monticello, N.Y., will deliver remarks. Joining President Bitterbaum in conferring the degrees will be R. Bruce Mattingly, dean of arts and sciences; and John Cottone, interim dean of education and professional studies.

A total of 113 students are scheduled to graduate summa cum laude — the highest academic honor — with grade point averages of 3.75 and above on a scale of 4.00.

The largest number of majors set to graduate in each of the three schools are: 199 physical education majors in the School of Professional Studies, 178 childhood education majors in the School of Education, and 80 communication studies majors in the School of Arts and Sciences.

Ronnie Sternin Silver ’67, SUNY Cortland Alumni Association president, will officially welcome the graduates into the ranks of the College’s more than 59,000 alumni.

The Undergraduate Commencement Committee is co-chaired by Virginia B. Levine, executive assistant to the president, and Marley Sweet Barduhn ’76, associate dean of the School of Education.

Other committee members include: Sila Argyle, supervising janitor of Park Center; Seth Asumah, professor of political science; Darci Bacigalupi, special events coordinator; Laurie Barton, assistant to the president; Mary Kate Boland, assistant director of leadership and community development, campus activities; Terence Cahill, College Store director; Mark DePaull, University Police assistant chief; Ralph Dudgeon, professor of performing arts; David Horrocks, assistant director of buildings and grounds services; Cheryl Jewell, assistant manager of sports facilities and manger of the Alumni Arena; Emilie Kudela, associate professor of childhood/early childhood education; Kathleen Lawrence, associate professor of communication studies; Michael MacLean, maintenance supervisor; Eric Malmberg, professor of physical education; William McNamara, director of dining; Megan Munson, catering manager; Mary Murphy, university police lieutenant; Charlotte Plunkett, supervising janitor; Tracy Rammacher, publications and electronic media director; Susan Rayl, associate professor of exercise science and sport studies; Hailey Ruoff ’98, instructional materials design specialist; Timothy Slack, director of physical plant; and Brad Snyder, associate director of classroom media services.

This year, both undergraduate Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on the Time Warner Cable access Channel 17 to viewers in the City of Cortland vicinity. The ceremonies can also be viewed on campus in any classroom equipped with a television on channels 2 and 17.

Under a tradition inaugurated at the 2004 ceremony by President Bitterbaum, undergraduates may honor a special person who has helped achieve their academic pursuit or goals. The respective name of the honoree will be read along with each graduate.

Graduating seniors wishing to acknowledge their multicultural heritage will also participate in a Kente Graduation Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 21, in the Corey Union Function Room. The traditional, woven multicolored kente cloth of Ghana, originally worn by royalty, has become an important symbol for African Americans to highlight their connection to the African continent.