Watch Adelphi’s president, provost, board of trustees chair, and faculty and student leaders share words of encouragement, new perspectives and compelling life stories. Their messages highlighted a day to remember.
For the Class of 2024, May 21 was a day of celebration, a day of gratitude for the support received from family and faculty members, and a day of encouragement and wisdom from speakers at Adelphi’s Commencement ceremonies.
As virtually all of the graduating students had some part of their education disrupted by the pandemic, it is no wonder that perseverance was a focus of many of the addresses. So was a mention of the uncertain times in which we live. But so was the call to stay true to dreams and to your purpose in life.
Be inspired by these Commencement addresses from leaders of our University, our faculty and our student body.
“Stay curious, keep learning.”
President Christine Riordan congratulates the Class of 2024, encouraging the graduates to expect extraordinary from themselves and follow in the footsteps of six recent and present graduates who have already gone on to make an impact on the world.
“This is your time. We need you.”
Marc S. Strachan ’81, chair of the Adelphi University Board of Trustees, recalls the impact his Adelphi education has had on his life and inspires the Class of 2024 to take the values they learned at the University to make a difference in the world and “live life extraordinary.”
“‘I am always learning.’”
Quoting Michelangelo, Provost and Executive Vice President Christopher K. Storm, PhD, encourages the graduates to continue seeking knowledge, noting that the artist never considered himself an expert.
“If you have a goal, nothing will stand in your way.”
Carl Mirra, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Faculty Senate, talks about resilience and the importance of having a meaning and a purpose in life.
“If there’s perseverance, there will be stew.”
Recognizing the unique challenges overcome by members of this year’s graduating class, Kennie Dionisio, president of the Class of 2024 and a first-generation college student, quotes a Filipino proverb passed along to him by his father. Before doing that, though, he explained he was still on deadline for his social media job and needed to take a moment to pose with the class for a quick selfie.
“‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’”
Alexa Amato ’23, MA ’24, president of the Graduate Student Council, asks her classmates to carry these words with them and to chase their dreams with conviction.