Graduates honored at May 9 commencement

Faculty and staff joined families and friends in honoring hundreds of graduates at SUNY Poly’s 41^st annual commencement May 9 in the Wildcat Field House. The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Dr. Ioannis Miaoulis, president and director of the Museum of Science, Boston, who received an honorary degree during the event.

Chancellor’s Award winners Stam, Doyna and Raab.

Miaoulis became the head of the Museum of Science in 2003 after a long and distinguished career at Tufts University where he served as dean of the School of Engineering, associate provost, interim dean of the University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and professor of mechanical engineering. Among other Commencement highlights was the honoring of three SUNY Poly employees: Debra Doyna received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service; Maryrose Raab received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service; and Kathryn Stam received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.

Commencement was the last and largest of several end-of-semester events, including the May 8 academic awards banquet, as the 2014-15 academic year drew to a close. With oversight by an organizing committee, chaired by Provost William Durgin, the event involves scores of faculty and staff and dozens of student and employee volunteers. Much of the physical work, including the transformation of the Wildcat Field House from a banquet hall on Friday night to Saturday’s Commencement setup, is undertaken by facilities staff—and many other offices play a role in the event as well.

While hundreds of family members and friends of graduates were on hand for the ceremony, the event was also webcast live for those unable to attend. (You can view the ceremony by following the link at sunyit.edu/commencement.) The ceremony was followed by a reception on the lawn outside the Student Center.