Around the SUNY Oswego campus

Three May Commencement 2025 ceremonies on May 17 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall provided many opportunities for students to take pride in their achievements.

Summa cum laude honors graduates enter the hall for the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, led by marshals Mamta Saxena, associate professor of human development, and Jordan Dalton, assistant professor of anthropology.

Payton Cady sings the National Anthem for the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony, and later for the 12:30 p.m. School of Business ceremony. Cady also led the singing of the Alma Mater at the conclusion of these two ceremonies.

President Peter O. Nwosu welcomes the graduates and guests at the beginning of the 9 a.m. ceremony.

Ambassador Erastus Ekitela Lokaale, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations, provided the Commencement keynote address for the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony.

Aiden Wilson, Student Association president and recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award by the Oswego Alumni Association, gave the student address for each of the three ceremonies, here at the 9 a.m. Commencement ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Commencement ceremonies feature the recognition of veterans and those engaged in military service, invited to stand to receive applause, with words from the podium by Provost Scott Furlong.

Retiring faculty and professional staff in attendance are honored during Commencement. Magdalena (Maggie) Rivera, assistant dean, student outreach and support, Office of the Dean of Students; and Kamal Mohamed, professor of biological sciences and director of Rice Creek Field Station, take a bow at the 9 a.m. commencement ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Graduates shake hands with their deans and President Peter O. Nwosu as each is recognized as they walk across the platform.

Enthusiastic graduates at the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony and subsequent graduations on May 17 celebrated their achievements.

Messages of accomplishment, optimism and gratitude decorated caps during the May 17 Commencement ceremonies, including this one noting "The Rest is Still Unwritten, Class of 2025."

Graduates at all three ceremonies, including Keyon Smith during the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Commencement, showed joy for all they accomplished.

Graduates at the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony proudly show their diploma covers.

President Peter O. Nwosu gave the Charge to Graduates during the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Commencement, as well as the two subsequent ceremonies on May 17.

Graduates Austin Davis and Manali Shivapurkar present the Class of 2025 Alumni Banner to President Peter O. Nwosu during the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony.

Graduates and guests gather after the 9 a.m. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony.

Graduates reconnected with family and friends after the 9 a.m. ceremony.

Graduates in the School of Business enter the hall prior to the 12:30 p.m. ceremony to the applause of faculty on the floor and guests in the arena.

Constance Schwartz-Morini of the Class of 1990, co-founder and CEO of highly successful SMAC Entertainment, receives the honorary doctorate in humane letters degree during the School of Business ceremony from President Peter O. Nwosu and Scott Furlong, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Constance Schwartz-Morini of the Class of 1990, co-founder and CEO of highly successful SMAC Entertainment, provided the Commencement keynote for the School of Business ceremony.

Aiden Wilson –- Student Association president 2024-25 and the Oswego Alumni Association’s Outstanding Senior –- walks across the platform to cheers from the audience, receiving degrees in finance and marketing. Pictured in the background is Prabakar Kothandaraman, dean of the School of Business.

Heath Wood, vice president for university advancement, introduced the student presenters of the Class of 2025 Alumni Banner for each of the three ceremonies, here for the School of Business ceremony.

Jaylen Cameron and Rachel Corbett present the Class of 2025 Alumni Banner to President Peter O. Nwosu at the 12:30 p.m. School of Business ceremony.

Summa cum laude honors graduates line the front of the platform as graduates enter the hall for the beginning of the 4 p.m. ceremony for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education.

Linda Cohn of the Class of 1981, a pioneering ESPN SportsCenter anchor and Hall of Fame broadcaster, received an honorary doctorate in humane letters degree during the ceremony for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education. Presenting are President Peter O. Nwosu and Scott Furlong, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Pioneering ESPN SportsCenter anchor and Hall of Fame broadcaster Linda Cohn, a graduate of Oswego’s Class of 1981, provided inspiring words as Commencement keynote speaker for the 4 p.m. ceremonies for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education.

The 4 p.m. ceremony featured an emotional moment honoring Ziyah J. Myers with a posthumous master of arts degree, accepted by her family, during the ceremony for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education. As an undergraduate, Myers was a passionate student leader for several on-campus organizations, including Two and a Half, Bold Black Beauties, the Black Student Union, IMAGE Step Team and CSTEP. She played a founding role in the Asiwaju Ceremony — a celebration of graduating students of color. Myers, who was pursuing a master’s in strategic communication, passed away over the winter. A scholarship in her name will support continuing her legacy.

Retiring faculty member Bruce Peng of curriculum and instruction is recognized during the 4 p.m. ceremony.

Master's in education graduates are hooded on the platform by Laura Spenceley, dean for the School of Education, and Scott Furlong, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Master's in education graduates take a moment to celebrate their accomplishments during the 4 p.m. ceremony.

Olivia Braia smiles after walking the stage during the School of Communication, Media and the Arts session of the 4 p.m. ceremony.

Jocelyn Decker is all smiles among the School of Communication, Media and the Arts graduates during the 4 p.m. ceremony.

Two friends share a moment walking the stage during the 4 p.m. ceremony.

New graduates show their pride during the 4 p.m. ceremony for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education.

Melinda Brancato and Bryleigh Beauchat present the Class of 2025 Alumni Banner to President Peter O. Nwosu at the ceremony for the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education.

Timothy Altbacker sings the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the 4 p.m. ceremony.

Trumpeters sound the conclusion of the 4 p.m. Commencement, wrapping up a full day of three graduation ceremonies.

Melinda Brancato waves as she and fellow graduates exit the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall after the School of Communication, Media and the Arts and the School of Education ceremony.

Members of the Class of 2025, families and friends pass the flame of learning during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony on May 16.

President Peter O. Nwosu speaks during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony on May 16.

Torchbearer Shaun Lin ’25 and President Peter O. Nwosu light the torch at the platform before passing the ceremonial flame to the candles held by graduating seniors, their families, friends and other audience members during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony.

Denise J. Grillo ‘84 speaks during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony on May 16. Also on the platform offering remarks are, pictured, President Peter O. Nwosu; Laura Pavlus Kelly ’09, senior director of alumni engagement and executive director of the alumni association; student speaker Clarissa Karki ’25; and student emcee Eason Lee ’23 M’25.

Clarissa Karki ’25, student speaker for the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony on May 16, offers remarks before the candles are lit.

Eason Lee ’23 M’25, student emcee for the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony May 16, offers remarks from the platform.

The Senior Sing is a melodic tradition during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony.

Student musicians in the university's Jazz Ensemble play during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony on May 16.

Torchbearer Shaun Lin ’25 passes the ceremonial flame to candles held by graduating students, their families, friends and other audience members during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony on May 16.

Members of the Class of 2025, families and friends pass the flame of learning during the Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony.

The Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony passes the symbolic flame of knowledge to celebrate the Class of 2025 with family, friends and supporters.

Elaine Rivera (left, foreground), a biological sciences major, and Andrew Bixler (at left in dark shirt), a broadcasting and mass communication major, enjoy the ceremonial Toast to the Graduates with their families during the Commencement Eve Celebratory Reception in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall on May 16.

Student Association President Aiden Wilson was the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Senior Award. Wilson, the son of Samantha Burrows and Daniel Wilson of Nassau in the Bahamas, graduates with a 3.92 GPA, double majors in finance and marketing, and a list of experiences that are as substantive as they are numerous. Officially presenting the honor at the Commencement Eve Reception is Laura Pavlus Kelly ’09, senior director of alumni engagement and executive director of the alumni association.