Despite the pandemic, college students have been collecting their degrees. Here are some of the recent local graduates.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrated the Class of 2020 with a socially distanced commencement season in place of its traditional 152nd Commencement exercises.
Huntington area graduates include:
Hannan Liang of Huntington, bachelor of science degree in computer science with high distinction.
Jacquelyn Valsamis of Commack, bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering with distinction.
Alexander Johnson of Northport, bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
Andrew Gulotta of Huntington, bachelor of science degree in robotics engineering with distinction.
Since the Class of 2020 was unable to receive diplomas in person this year, they instead received personal commencement packages, mailed to their home, that that included their diplomas, commencement regalia, and other items to celebrate their successes, as well as a congratulatory video message from President Laurie Leshin. In total, WPI awarded 1,043 bachelor’s degrees, 674 master’s degrees, and 54 doctoral degrees.
Springfield College
Lydia Reder of Lloyd Harbor has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science/Pre-physician assistant.
Andrew Smith of Northport has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education .
Buffalo State
Buffalo State recently graduated students who completed their baccalaureate degrees. Among them is Micah Schwartz of Commack.
The 90-minute event, “Honoring U: A Tribute to the Class of 2020,” premiered on YouTube and Facebook. It featured the conferral of degrees on the 477 members of the class by President David R. Harris.
Union College
Several local students graduated recently from Union College. Among them are:
Thomas Clement of Huntington graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Physics.
Fiona Fitzgerald of Northport graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude majoring in Biochemistry.
Max Sherman of Dix Hills graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Neuroscience.
Maegan Teets of Dix Hills graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Biology.
Hamilton College
Eliza Glaser-Kshensky, of Commack received a bachelor of arts degree from Hamilton College on Sunday, May 24, in a virtual Commencement ceremony concluding the college’s 208th year.
In his remarks, Hamilton College President Wippman said, “For over two centuries, the College has flourished and grown, finding its way past wars and conflicts, depressions and recessions, epidemics and pandemics. In every generation there have been defining moments.
“We may not get to choose our defining moments, but we do get to choose how we respond. Adversity brings with it disappointment, anxiety, and loss. But it also brings opportunity, to learn, to grow, to find one’s own inner strength. We don’t get to choose these defining moments. They choose us.”
A Russian studies major at Hamilton, Glaser-Kshensky graduated magna cum laude with departmental honors in Russian studies and was recently elected to the Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at Hamilton College.
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston awarded over 1,500 undergraduate and graduate degrees in May 2020. The graduates will be recognized by the College during a special ceremony tentatively planned for October 11, 2020.
The following local students earned degrees:
Christopher Neary of South Huntington graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics .
Katherine Ryan of Commack graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication .
Kyriaki Carmi of Cold Spring Harbor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Shenandoah University
Diana Jacob is among 1,088 students who recently graduated from Shenandoah University.
Diana, of Huntington, graduated with a degree in Non Traditional Pharmacy.
Shenandoah celebrated its first-ever virtual 2020 University Commencement on Saturday, May 16.
There were 216 August 2019 graduates, 320 December 2019 graduates, and 552 May graduates.