Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan said, “Commencement
is a major milestone in the academic careers of our students. It represents the
culmination of years of hard work and dedication to their chosen fields of
study. We wanted to be able to recognize these students and their success,
especially given the trying circumstances under which they were able to finish
up their degrees. We are delighted, after receiving the commencement survey
results, to move ahead with the virtual ceremony and look forward to honoring
our graduates in this way.”
The ceremony will be presented as a Microsoft Teams Live
Event, in which students, their families, and friends will be able to
participate in the virtual celebration by going to
www.AlfredState.edu/Commencement and joining the event.
While it may be online, the 2020 commencement will still
feature all the usual elements of an in-person ceremony, including student
speakers, conferment of degrees, and even the car giveaway drawing typically
held at the end of the event. Alfred State will also recognize alumnus Burt
Zweigenhaft with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He is a key
industry thought leader and an accomplished executive in the specialty-biotech
pharmaceutical and oncology care ecosystems.
Alfred State will provide all graduates with some additional
keepsakes to commemorate their monumental achievements. In June, the college
will ship a celebratory package to students’ homes that will include a 2020
tassel, graduation cap, and diploma cover. Diplomas will be mailed in August
after all degree requirements are confirmed.
Additionally, as rules regarding mass gatherings change,
Alfred State will look for an opportunity in the future to invite all of the
2020 Pioneer graduates back to campus for photos and fellowship.
“We’d love to provide students, their families, and friends
with the opportunity to come together, take photos, and celebrate with us and
one another in person,” Sullivan said. “In the meantime, I would like to
congratulate all our Pioneer graduates on their success, and I look forward to
celebrating with them virtually on June 20.”
