SUNY Plattsburgh to Confer More than 300 Degrees at Winter Commencement

More than 300 SUNY Plattsburgh undergrads and graduate students are eligible to cross the dais Saturday, Dec. 14 during the university’s annual winter commencement ceremony being held at 10 a.m. in the Plattsburgh State Field House, Rugar Street.

Students, faculty, administrators and invited guests will take their places in the gymnasium, with members of the RCMP C-Division Pipes and Drums leading faculty to their seats. Marshal and SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, Dr. Mohamed Gaber, will carry the mace as a senior-most faculty member. The mace, crafted by the late Dr. Edgar Barton, Distinguished Teaching Professor emeritus of art, symbolizes a university's authority, scholarship, and integrity. Its use signifies the importance of the event.

President Alexander Enyedi will preside over the ceremony with Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Marcus Tye presenting candidates for their degrees for the first time since joining the SUNY Plattsburgh administration in August of this year.

SUNY Honorary Degree

A SUNY honorary degree of doctor of fine arts will be presented to award-winning author and 1974 alumna, Xu Xi “Sussy” Komala. The Chinese-Indonesian native of Hong Kong is internationally recognized as an author and editor, whose books and essays have been published in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

Komala has taught writing and literature at universities around the world, including China, Australia, Thailand, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore and Sweden.

She was featured on The Voice of America’s Chinese-language TV series, “Cultural Odyssey,” and her novels and short stories have been nominated and selected for the O’Henry Prize Stories collection, the South China Morning Post, the Ploughshares’ Cohen Award and the Man Asian Literary Prize.

An English major who said she attended SUNY Plattsburgh because it was the only college to offer a scholarship for international students, Komala has specified in her will that the college will receive the proceeds from the sale of her North Country home after she and her husband pass away, funds that will be used for scholarships and the university’s other top priorities, including applied-learning and emergency grants.

Student Speaker

In keeping with the tradition of having a student address fellow graduates during commencement, biomedical sciences major Sukhpreet Kaur of Karnal, India, will represent her classmates and give the student address.

Kaur came to SUNY Plattsburgh in part because of its strong support for international students in addition to its reputation for academic excellence and its beautiful campus, she said.

“The biomedical sciences program particularly caught my attention as it aligned perfectly with my interest in healthcare and research.

“What truly sealed the deal for me was the welcoming environment I saw in the stories and testimonials of other students; it felt like a place where I could grow both personally and academically, and I knew it was where I belonged,” Kaur said.

Campus Community Warm, Supportive

Citing the campus community, Kaur said the university “has far exceeded what I had hoped for. The community here is so warm and supportive — I’ve felt a sense of belonging from the very beginning.

“The faculty, staff and my peers have all contributed to making my journey here special. The resources on campus, from the library to the academic support centers, have played an integral role in my success. Most importantly, the challenges I faced here, from adjusting to a new culture to navigating rigorous coursework, have helped me grow immensely,” she said. “SUNY Plattsburgh didn’t just meet my expectations; it became my second home.”

Dreams of Improving Peoples’ Lives

The soft-spoken Kaur said she envisions herself running her own pharmaceutical or cosmetic company, having “long dreamed off using my education and entrepreneurial spirit to develop products that improve people’s lives.”

“Whether it’s a groundbreaking skincare line or innovative medications, I want to focus on quality, accessibility and making a positive impact,” she said. “This goal is deeply personal to me, and I’m committed to working hard to make it a reality.”

And she would share that sense of commitment to hard work with potential future SUNY Plattsburgh students, she said.

‘More than just a College’

“SUNY Plattsburgh is more than just a college — it’s a place where I found myself,” she said. “It’s a community that nurtures your potential, challenges you to grow, and celebrates your victories.

“I’ll remember it as a transformative time in my life where I discovered not only my academic and professional passions but also the strength and resilience within me,” she said.

The RCMP C-Division Pipes and Drums will perform “Battle of Waterloo,” “Lord Lovat’s Lament” and “Caber Feidh” during the processional as well as “Pipe Major Angus MacDonald” and “Castle Dangerous.” During the recessional, the group will perform “Glendaruel Highlanders,” among other selections. They plan to perform the university’s alma mater as well.

— Story by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs

— Photos: Xu Xi “Sussy” Komala by Leslie Lausch; Sukhpreet Kaur by Hunter Mossey; Commencement Photos by Gerianne Downs