Commencement 2019: May 18

Buffalo State College will confer degrees on more than 1,830 undergraduate and 580 graduate students during its 147th commencement celebration, Saturday, May 18, in the Sports Arena.

Degree candidates will be honored at morning (9:00 a.m.) and afternoon (1:00 p.m.) baccalaureate ceremonies and an evening (5:00 p.m.) master’s hooding and certificate of advanced study (C.A.S.) ceremony.

The 9:00 a.m. ceremony is for degree candidates from the School of Education and School of the Professions. The 1:00 p.m. ceremony is for degree candidates from the School of Arts and Humanities and School of Natural and Social Sciences and Individualized Studies. 

The following graduates of the Class of 2019 will be honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in recognition of their academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership, and service: I’Jaz J. Eberhardt, Nicholas W. Gray, Hibbah Mojawalla, Zhanna E. Reed, and Allison R. Torsey.

Torsey will address the audiences at the morning and afternoon ceremonies as the recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Win Min Thant will deliver an address at the evening ceremony as the recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student.

Jesse L. Martin, actor and singer, will receive a SUNY honorary doctor of fine arts degree and deliver the commencement address at all three ceremonies. Sophia Veffer, ’71, Holocaust survivor and retired special education teacher, will receive a SUNY honorary doctor of humane letters degree at the afternoon ceremony.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be granted to Michele Fairchild Marko, ’72, nutrition professional and community leader, at the morning ceremony.

Morgan Williams Bryant, ’03, senior vice president for community engagement and member services of the Girl Scouts of Western New York, will receive the Young Alumnus Achievement Award at the afternoon ceremony. Mo Sumbundu, ’13, ’17, assistant director of the Regional Economic Development Council of Western New York, will receive the Young Alumnus Achievement Award at the evening ceremony.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and join them in this special day by marching in the academic procession or by serving as a volunteer. Marchers and volunteer ushers are still welcome to register for the 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. ceremonies if they have not already done so. 

Commencement 2019 Details

Saturday, May 18, 2019
Sports Arena

Celebrating
December 2018 graduates, January 2019 graduates, May 2019 degree candidates, August 2019 degree candidates

Times
9:00 a.m. morning baccalaureate ceremony

1:00 p.m. afternoon baccalaureate ceremony

5:00 p.m. master’s/C.A.S. ceremony

Commencement Address
9:00 a.m. Jesse L. Martin, actor and singer

1:00 p.m. Jesse L. Martin, actor and singer

5:00 p.m. Jesse L. Martin, actor and singer

Getting Here 
Directions, maps, and parking for commencement visitors.

Live Video Stream
Live video streaming of the ceremonies will be posted on the Commencement website.