SUNY Plattsburgh Spring Commencement Ceremonies May 14

The first ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. for students majoring in programs within the Division of Education, Health and Human Services and the School of Business and Economics.  The second ceremony will commence at 2 p.m. for students in the Division of Arts and Science.

The student speaker for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be Marvelle Roberts. A recently honored Chancellor's Award winner, Roberts is a senior mathematics major and business minor from Dominica. She is the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, the Semmler Math Endowment Scholarship, the Mathematics Scholar Award and the Mathematics Distinguished Academic Service Award. She was also a finalist in the New York State Forensics Championship for oral interpretation of poetry. She has served as a resident assistant and an orientation leader.

The second ceremony at 2 p.m. will feature Victoria Lu and Baier Rakowski speaking in a duet format.

Lu, a mathematic major and studio art minor from Taipei, Taiwan, has been an active member of the Plattsburgh State community. She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma (freshman honor society), Omicron Delta Kappa (national leadership honor society), and has served as co-president of the Honors Student Association. She was awarded the Redcay Honors Scholarship and the Semmler Math Endowment Scholarship.

Joining Lu at the podium will be Rakowski, a biochemistry major from West Hampton Beach, N.Y. He is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (national leadership honor society) and Phi Kappa Phi (national academic honor society). Rakowski is a member of the Chemistry Club and has participated in undergraduate research in synthetic organic chemistry since his freshman year. He has also served as a teacher's assistant for honors seminars and chemistry courses.

During the ceremonies, C. Thomas "Chip" Cummings, a 1956 alumnus, will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award, which is presented by the College Council.

Inducted into the Cardinal Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, Cummings has supported the athletic program at SUNY Plattsburgh through his generous philanthropy to the Plattsburgh College Foundation. Since 1977, he has served as an active member of the Board of Directors of the Plattsburgh Alumni Association and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Cardinal Booster Club.

Also honored during the ceremonies will be Robert and Jane (Serencsics) Stagno, 1981 alumni. The couple will be presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Rob is currently the general manager for relationship marketing at Microsoft in Redmond, Wash.

David Levy will receive the honorary Doctor of Science degree during commencement. Levy is one of the most successful comet discoverers in history. He is currently involved with the Jarnac Comet Survey, which is based at the Jarnac Observatory in Vail, Ariz.

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