05/08/2009
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 16, in the Bessie L. Park Class of 1901 Physical Education and Recreation Center Alumni Arena.
An estimated 1,429 seniors will receive baccalaureate degrees during Commencement exercises, which will be presided over by SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum.
Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody '75, the first female four-star general in U.S. history, will address the graduates during the morning ceremony. Bert R. Mandelbaum '75, M.D., a well-known orthopedic surgeon and U.S. Soccer Men's National Team Physician since 1991, will address the graduates during the afternoon ceremony. The State University of New York will bestow upon both Dunwoody and Mandelbaum 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.
During the morning ceremony, Timothy J. Baroni, distinguished professor of biological sciences, 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 Paula Warnken, associate provost of information resources; Luo Xu, associate professor of history; Andrea LaChance, associate professor and chair of childhood/early childhood education; and Michael Pitcher, lecturer II of speech pathology and audiology.
Senior musical theater major Helaina Goldstein of Hewlett, N.Y., will sing the national anthem and senior musical theater major Nicole Alvarez of Apalachin, N.Y., will sing the Alma Mater for the morning ceremony.
Sanford Gutman, professor of history, will carry the mace during the afternoon Commencement. The gonfaloniers will be: Christopher McRoberts, professor of geology; Thomas Pasquarello, professor of political science; Susana Davidenko, associate professor of childhood/early childhood education; and JoEllen Bailey, associate professor of physical education.
Senior musical theater major Jeffrey Van Damme of Canandaigua, N.Y., will sing the national anthem and senior musical theater major Mary Papageorgiou of Astoria, N.Y., will sing the Alma Mater 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 Spring 2009 Student Government Association (SGA) President Margaret Rainsford, a senior geographic information systems major from Brooklyn, N.Y., will deliver remarks in the morning and the Fall 2008 SGA President Casey Hahl, a senior history and social studies: adolescence education major from Lynbrook, N.Y., will deliver remarks in the afternoon. Joining President Bitterbaum in conferring the degrees will be R. Bruce Mattingly, interim dean of arts and sciences; Gerald Porter, dean of education; and John Cottone, interim dean of professional studies.
A total of 106 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: 219 physical education majors in the School of Professional Studies, 134 childhood education majors in the School of Education, and 79 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: Seth Asumah, professor of political science; Darci Bacigalupi, special events coordinator; Laurie Barton, assistant to the president; Laura Beilman, junior class representative and Commencement intern; Mary Kate Boland, assistant director of leadership and community development, campus activities; Terence Cahill, College Store director; a student representative; Angela Calvano, senior class representative and special event intern; Mark DePaull, University Police assistant chief; Ralph Dudgeon, professor of performing arts; David Horrocks, assistant director of buildings and grounds services; Ji-Ryun Kim, assistant professor of foundations and social advocacy; 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, director of publications and electronic media; Susan Rayl, associate professor of exercise science and sport studies; Hailey Ruoff '98, instructional materials design specialist; Timothy Slack, director of physical plant; and George VerDow, 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.
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 15, 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.