Degrees Conferred on 300-Plus Graduates at SUNY Plattsburgh Winter Commencement

The Plattsburgh State Field House was the scene 10 a.m. Saturday for SUNY Plattsburgh’s annual winter commencement, where bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as certificates of advanced study were conferred on more than 300 students.

President Alexander Enyedi welcomed graduates, their families, friends, faculty, and staff following a processional that included the RCMP Pipes and Drums leading the way.

Honoring Indigenous Peoples

“Good morning, Cardinals. And welcome to the special day of celebration. As an institution that takes pride in conscious efforts toward building a more inclusive community, we must take time to acknowledge that our campus is situated on land that belongs to the Iroquois, Western Abenaki, Mohican and Mohawk peoples,” he said. “We honor the original caretakers of this and surrounding land and offer respect to the Haudenosaunee who are still here.

“This land and body of water, now known as Lake Champlain, was inhabited and nurtured by these peoples for thousands of years. We must do the same to nurture and protect this sacred land. This statement is a mere fraction of the steps needed to fight against systemic indigenous erasure.

“We are settlers on their land, and we strive to be accountable by remembering this history and cultivating respect in our relationships with our Indigenous neighbors and the land.”

Enyedi recognized students graduating with honors and those serving in the military with a round of applause as well as students’ families as well as the faculty and staff “who have supported all of our graduates throughout their educational journey. Graduates, please join me in expressing your gratitude to those who have been with you every step of the way.”

‘Celebrating Our Graduates’

The president then turned his attention “to our purpose today: Celebrating our graduates,” he said. “Today, we gather for one of the most significant and joyous moments in your lives — celebrating your achievements as graduates of SUNY Plattsburgh. Graduates, this day belongs to you, the culmination of your perseverance, curiosity, and growth.

“We are deeply honored that you chose SUNY Plattsburgh as the place to learn, explore, and pursue your goals. Your presence has enriched this campus in countless ways, leaving a legacy that will inspire those who follow.”

Dr. Marcus Tye, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, then presented the candidates.

“I am pleased to recommend these candidates be granted the master’s, combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees. or certificate which they have earned,” he said.

“On the recommendation of the outstanding faculty and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the trustees of the State University of New York, I hereby confer upon you the degree you have earned, with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges pertaining thereunto,” Enyedi said. “Congratulations, graduations; congratulations Cardinals.”

Student Speaker Ankita Mane

Enyedi then introduced Ankita Mane, a senior computer science major from Maharashtra Region, City of Pune, India, as student commencement speaker.

“Ankita chose SUNY Plattsburgh because it offered the right blend of strong academics, affordability, and a welcoming, close-knit campus,” he said in his introduction. “She was drawn to the smaller class sizes, the supportive faculty, and a Computer Science program that provided practical, hands-on experience.”

Mane greeted her classmates, saying, “We stand here together, having earned this moment together.”

“When I arrived at SUNY Plattsburgh in 2022, I thought only the big achievements mattered — the final grades, the diplomas, the milestones.

She related how her grandfather would record songs onto cassettes, preserving “a moment I’m saving. If I don’t take care to preserve it properly, it’s like that moment never happened,” he told her. Mane then said how her journey at Plattsburgh reminded her of a Winston Churchill quote: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

“Like my grandfather perfecting each recording, we needed courage — not the courage to be flawless, but the courage to continue moving forward even when we stumbled,” she said. She said early on, her singular focus on her academics made her “afraid to make mistakes, afraid to step outside my comfort zone.”

‘Biggest Risk’

“But college showed me that sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any risks at all. I realized that the person I want to be is less afraid of failure and more afraid of regret — of never trying, of playing it safe, of letting fear make my decisions,” she said. “I don’t see graduation as a reset or a fresh start, as if we’re erasing everything that came before. I see it as a continuation of our journey — a chance to build on everything we’ve learned here.”

Mane spoke of how coming from India to Plattsburgh brought her to a place of resilience and growth in ways she never expected.

“For all of us, whether we came from across the world or across the state, Plattsburgh challenged us to discover strengths we didn’t know we had,” she said, encouraging her classmates “to embrace uncertainty with open hearts and curious minds.

“Take those leaps of faith, make mistakes, and learn from them. Remember what my grandfather understood — that every moment, even the imperfect ones, is worth preserving,” Mane said. “Each experience we’ve had here, each person we’ve met, each challenge we’ve overcome — are the recordings we’ll carry with us. They tell the story of whom we’ve become and hint at who we’ll be.”

Tassel Change

Jack Sweet, Student Association vice president, then led the graduates in the traditional tassel move.

“Together as Cardinals, it is time for us to leave this nest, spread our wings and soar onward,” Sweet said. “Today, I am honored to have been conferred the rights by virtue of the Office of the Student Association to help mark this passage for the Class of 2025. On the count of three, please join me in moving your tassel from the right side of your mortar boards to the left over your heart — the true home — your alma mater, SUNY Plattsburgh.”

Afterward, Colleen Lemza, a 1990 graduate in speech communication and 2001 master’s grad in college and agency counseling as well as being professor of public relations in the Department of Journalism and Public Relations, welcomed the Class of 2025 into the SUNY Plattsburgh Alumni Association as its director.

‘Vibrant and Proud Community’

“You are now part of a vibrant and proud community of more than 75,000 SUNY Plattsburgh alumni around the world,” Lemza said. “The Plattsburgh Alumni Association’s mission is to strengthen connections between alumni and the university—and to support the student experience in every way we can, especially when it comes to career and life preparation.”

Speaking on behalf of the association, she told the newly minted alumni “we are so proud of you. And, we’d like to remind you that your connection to SUNY Plattsburgh, your alma mater, doesn’t end today — it just takes a new form.”

Lemza relayed that alma mater — “nourishing mother” — is “exactly what SUNY Plattsburgh has been to you. During your time here, you were nourished — by professors who challenged you, staff who supported you, administrators who guided you, and, of course, by your peers who walked alongside you during these important years.

Help Future Cardinals Thrive

“Generations of alumni who preceded you were similarly nourished—and in return, they’ve helped sustain this institution by giving their time, offering career support, and funding scholarships that many of you have benefited from,” she said. “Class of 2025, you now join that tradition. You have an important role to play in helping future Cardinals thrive and in keeping the ‘Plattsburgh Experience.’ alive.”

She then invited them to stay in touch and return to their alma mater.

“We look forward to seeing you at your first Homecoming Weekend, Sept. 25–27, 2026,” Lemza said. “Congratulations again, and welcome to the Plattsburgh Alumni Association.”

The president ended the ceremony by wishing graduates “much success in your careers and lives. You entered today as students. You leave as graduates. And you remain Cardinals forever,” Enyedi said.

The livestream recording of Winter Commencement 2025, as well as those of past years, can be found at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/commencement/livestream.html. A listing of graduates can be found at https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/commencement/graduates.html.

— Story, Photos by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs