President Scott E. Evenbeck
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College, The City University of New York’s first new community college in more than 40 years, celebrated its third commencement on June 23. The commencement ceremony was held on Thursday, June 23, 2016, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, New York, N.Y.
Associate degrees were conferred for 24 students who completed their degree requirements after the Fall 2015 semester and Spring I 2016 session. The associate degrees for the remaining 119 students will be conferred after the Spring II 2016 session this summer.
President Scott E. Evenbeck served as Master of Ceremonies and conferred the degrees. Dr. Stuart Suss, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented the College’s candidates for graduation. Dr. Nicola Blake, Assistant Professor, served as the Grand Marshall. Angel Rodriguez, a first-year student, performed the Star Spangled Banner and graduating students Kadiatou Diallo and Maria Isabel Parada gave the Invocation.
Karla Smith Fuller, Assistant Professor of Biology
Speeches were given by Dr. Lisette Nieves, President of the Guttman Community College Foundation, Gale A. Brewer, Manhattan Borough President, CUNY Trustee Katherine M. Conway, and Andrea Davis Shapiro, CUNY Associate Vice Chancellor for Corporate, Foundation and Major Gift Development. Gabby Rosario, Class of 2014, made comments on behalf of Guttman alumni, Miguelissa Martinez, Class of 2016, on behalf of the Peer Mentoring program, and Guadalupe Muller, SGA President 2015-2016, gave the welcome address on behalf of the students. The SGA Executive Committee 2015-2016 presented President Evenbeck the Class of 2016 gift: a pool table for the Student Lounge. First-year student Nicole Gutierrez gave a spoken word presentation in celebration of the ceremony.
The President’s Medal for outstanding contributions to the College was awarded to Carol Geary Schneider, President of the American Association of Colleges & Universities, for her continued support and advocacy about the important work being done at Guttman and for promoting national discussions about the College’s innovative model.
Tuya Yang, Class of 2016 Valedictorian
Dr. Karla Smith Fuller, Assistant Professor of Biology, gave the faculty keynote speech. Tuya Yang gave the valedictory address. Merit scholarships were awarded to the Class of 2016 Valedictorian, Tuya Yang, and Salutatorian, Karen David.
A posthumous diploma was presented to Shawn Depusoir. The Shawn Dupusoir Urban Studies Scholarship was also announced and will be given annually to an urban studies major in Shawn’s memory. The first recipient of this scholarship is graduating student Chanill Solano.
View photos of Guttman’s third commencement.
