SUNY Plattsburgh Readies for Annual Winter Commencement Exercises
More than 300 students from SUNY Plattsburgh and its campus in Queensbury are eligible to don caps and gowns to cross the dais on Dec. 13 as the university hosts its winter commencement at 10 a.m. at the Plattsburgh State Field House.
Students representing the university’s three schools — Education, Health and Human Services, School of Business and Economics, and Arts and Sciences, will process to Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance.” Faculty, administrators and platform guests will be led by members of the RCMP Pipes and Drums and the ceremony’s faculty marshal, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting Mohamed Gaber.
An honor given to SUNY Plattsburgh’s senior-most faculty, marshals carry the university’s mace, crafted by the late Dr. Edgar Barton, Distinguished Teaching Professor emeritus of art. The mace symbolizes a university’s authority, scholarship, and integrity. Its use signifies the importance of the event.
SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi will preside over the ceremony along with Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Marcus Tye, who will present candidates for their degrees.
Senior Ankita Mane, a computer science major from the Maharashtra Region, City of
Pune, India, was chosen to represent her classmates as student speaker.
Mane said that being chosen as student speaker is “an incredible honor, and I feel truly grateful for this opportunity.”
“I spent a week carefully writing my speech, wanting to make it meaningful for the Class of 2025. We’ve all faced challenges and celebrated triumphs together, even if we didn’t always know each other personally,” she said. “I read the speech to my friends for feedback, and when I was chosen as the student speaker, I couldn’t believe it. It’s such a humbling moment for me, and I’m thankful to everyone who made this decision.”
Mane said she chose to attend SUNY Plattsburgh because “it offered the perfect combination of strong academics, affordability, and a close-knit campus environment.”
Not Just a Number
“When I was looking at schools, I wanted a place where I wouldn’t just be a number in a huge crowd, and Plattsburgh stood out for its smaller class sizes and professors who actually take the time to support students,” she said. “The computer science program also felt hands-on and practical, which was important to me because I wanted real experience, not just lectures.”
She also appreciated what she called “a welcoming atmosphere that made me feel comfortable and motivated from the start. It felt like a place where I could focus, grow, and get involved without feeling overwhelmed.
“Overall, it just felt like the right fit for both my goals and the kind of college experience I wanted,” she said.
While she’ll be addressing fellow graduates on Saturday, Mane had some advice for students just beginning their academic journeys at SUNY Plattsburgh.
‘Use All Resources Available’
“Be open to new experiences and make the most of your time. Use all the resources available to you, like the Career Development Center, and take advantage of networking opportunities with professors and seniors in your field,” she said. “Also, make sure to strike a balance between hard work and having fun: College is about growth, both academically and personally.”
Maine said that although she’s a little nervous about what awaits after graduation, she’s excited as well. She’ll be working as a software engineer.
“I look forward to learning and growing in the role,” she said.
Tickets to Winter Commencement 2025 will not be needed, but seating is first-come, first-served. For more commencement information, including a livestream of Saturday’s ceremony, visit https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/commencement/index.html.
— Story, File Photos by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs
