SUNY Oneonta Celebrates Spring Commencement 2026

SUNY Oneonta celebrated the Class of 2026 with a milestone Commencement weekend filled with pomp and circumstance, including the university’s first-ever dedicated ceremony for master’s students.

Held across four ceremonies inside the Alumni Field House, spring commencement honored approximately 1,150 graduate and undergraduate students from across the university’s three academic schools while celebrating the families, mentors, faculty and communities who helped them reach the stage. 

To kick things off on Friday, graduates participated in senior Pass Through the Pillars, a tradition where students follow in the footsteps of their predecessors by walking between the historic pillars of Old Main, signifying the end of their Oneonta journey. The inaugural graduate commencement ceremony followed at 5 p.m. 

Throughout the weekend, speakers reflected on resilience, purpose, belonging and the responsibility graduates carry into the future. President Alberto Cardelle encouraged graduates to think beyond personal achievement and consider the legacy they will leave behind.

“This university has prepared you to leave here not only career, ready, but conscience ready, prepared to contribute thoughtfully, lead courageously, and shape communities in ways that outlast your time in them,” Cardelle said. “But remember, the most important question before you is not simply what kind of student you have been. It is what kind of ancestor you will become.”

Student speakers reflected on growth, perseverance and community.

“During our time here, we didn’t just attend classes—we grew,” said Melissa Reyes, recruitment chair for the Senior Class Council. “We stepped into leadership roles, embraced new responsibilities, and challenged ourselves in ways we never imagined. We learned not only from textbooks, but from each other—through conversations, collaboration, and shared experiences. This campus gave us the space to spread our wings, to explore opportunities, and to discover strengths we didn’t know we had.”

Other speakers included Student Association President Ashley Romero, Senior Class President Andy Ramos and Vice President Erleen Rosso-Badia; Gina Solano, Temporary Presiding Officer of the University Senate; Greg Floyd ’80, president of the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association, and Dr. Brandon Lee ’16, who was voted upon by graduating master’s students to speak at their Friday night ceremony. 

The university awarded honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees to two distinguished leaders recognized for their service and impact: Springbrook CEO Patricia Kennedy and Patrick McCann ’75, former president and CEO of Weston Solutions. Both delivered addresses, encouraging students to pursue lives rooted in “passion, proficiency and purpose,” while reminding them that life paths rarely unfold exactly as planned. 

Throughout the ceremonies, SUNY Oneonta also recognized faculty and staff receiving SUNY Chancellor’s Awards and distinguished honors. Catskill Brass provided musical selections for the event, the Leatherstocking District Pipe Band performed the processional, and student vocalists Alexandria Lincoln ’25, Malika Wolfe Saphy Perret ’26 and Laura Salway ’26 took turns singing the National Anthem and alma mater. 

The weekend concluded with graduates turning their tassels, snapping photos with friends and celebrating with loved ones during receptions on the Quad.