Commencement is on Saturday, May 15 in two ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Steele Hall arena on the SUNY Fredonia campus; the ice rink in Steele Hall is the video venue.
Bachelor’s, master’s and advanced certificate recipients are combined in the two ceremonies, which individually recognize graduates from August and December 2009 and January 2010 (who did not participate in a previous ceremony) and candidates for graduation for May and August 2010.
- The person singing the National Anthem at both ceremonies is Claudia Ceaton Feeney, who is majoring in Music Education. The musical arrangement is by Dr. Jack Stamp.
- The Invocation and Benediction will be given at both ceremonies by the Reverend Matthew H. Stengel, First United Methodist Church, Fredonia.
- Fredonia College Council Chair Frank Pagano will give greetings at both ceremonies on behalf of the Fredonia College Council.
-Mary E. Holland of Manlius, N.Y., Senior Class President, will address both Commencement ceremonies and is receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude.
- John R. Gradel of Endicott, N.Y., and Julie M. Graham of Elmira, N.Y., are the recipients of the Lanford Presidential Prize from the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment of the Fredonia College Foundation to be awarded during Commencement. John, who will receive his prize during the morning ceremony, is receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies – Adolescence Education (has a second major in History), Summa Cum Laude. Julie, who will receive her prize during the afternoon ceremony, is receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Summa Cum Laude, during the afternoon ceremony.
- Our guest speaker for both Commencement ceremonies is SUNY Fredonia alumnus and cryobiologist Dr. John Baust, a professor of Biological Sciences and director of the Institute for Biomedical Technology at Binghamton University.
- Dr. Paula Holcomb, Director of Bands, will lead the Fredonia Wind Ensemble (morning) and the Fredonia Wind Symphony (afternoon) in the Prelude, Processional, Alma Mater and Recessional. Selected students graduating with degrees in music will serve as guest conductors of the Wind Ensemble during the Prelude to the morning ceremony.
- Dr. Gerald Gray of the School of Music will direct the Fredonia College Choir in a performance of “Make Our Garden Grow,” the finale from the operetta, “Candide,” with music by Leonard Bernstein. The pianist accompanying the group is James Welch.
- The Alma Mater during both ceremonies will be sung by the college choir, accompanied by brass players from the groups listed above. The arrangement of the Alma Mater is by Director of the School of Music Karl Boelter.
- Faculty/Staff Marshals for the morning Commencement ceremony are:
Professor Stephen E. Rees from the Department of Theatre and Dance and Dr. Peter Sinden from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice. Nan Bower, who recently retired as Registrar, and Dr. Subra Pendyala recently retired from the Department of Physics, are the afternoon marshals.
- Student Marshals selected for their academic performance and service to campus who will be recognized by President Hefner during the ceremonies are Jill Carere, Joseph V. Curatolo, Jared Gould, Teresa M. McCarthy, and Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recipients Susan E. Kornacki, and Ryan J. Taughrin for the morning ceremony and Lindsay Aromola, Malachi A. Blundon, Ashley N. DeJohn, Katelyn R. Miller, Rocco Oliverio and Jessica Wooten for the afternoon ceremony.
- The Mace Bearer for both Commencement ceremonies is Dr. John J. Stinson of the Department of English, who celebrated 45 years at Fredonia this year and is the most senior faculty member.
- The sign language interpreter for both ceremonies is Janelle Krueger.
- There are many volunteers from the university community for this special occasion, including students and members of the professional staff.
- With the assistance of campus staff and alumni, Commencement will be broadcast live beginning at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 on Time Warner Cable Channel 5 in Fredonia, Cassadaga, Brocton and Stockton, and Channel 19 in Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Forestville and Hanover. Volunteers on the broadcast team will include university staff as well as alumni Kevin Hartman, Robert Scott, Brad Markham and John Malcolm.
- Readers for the parade of degree candidates during the morning Commencement ceremony will be Dr. Jack Croxton of the Department of Psychology and Director of International Education Mary Sasso. Director of the Professional Development Center Lea Ann “Beez” Schell and Dr. Charles Stoddart of the College of Education will be readers for the afternoon ceremony.
- Master’s degree recipients will be hooded at Commencement by Associate Vice Presidents and Academic Deans.
- The first bachelor’s degree to be awarded during the morning ceremony will be to Class President Mary E. Holland, followed by Lanford Presidential Prize recipient John R. Gradel, followed by the Student Marshals. In the afternoon, the first bachelor’s degree will be awarded to Lanford Presidential Prize recipient Julie M. Graham, and then the Student Marshals.
- A special Commencement 2010 commemorative poster scroll given to graduates at both ceremonies as a gift of the Fredonia Alumni Association. This year’s poster was designed by SUNY Fredonia Communications Designer Patty Herkey. The gold honors cords given to students who graduate with Latin Honors are also a gift of the Fredonia Alumni Association.
- Those participating in the ceremonies will also receive DVDs of both ceremonies as a gift from the Commencement Committee, the Fredonia Alumni Association, and the Fredonia College Foundation. The DVDs will be engineered by Information Technology Services-Academic Information Technology staff directed by Colin Plaister, and mailed about 8 weeks after the ceremony.
- Leading the graduates to Steele Hall for Commencement will be Student Affairs professional staff members Interim Director of Judicial Affairs Lisa Myers, and Assistant Director of Campus Life Mark Suida.
