Buffalo State College will confer degrees on more than 1,800 undergraduate and 800 graduate students during its 148th Commencement celebration, which will be presented virtually on Saturday, September 26.
Degree candidates will be honored during baccalaureate ceremonies at noon and a graduate ceremony at 2:00 p.m.
The baccalaureate ceremonies will recognize graduates and degree candidates from the School of Arts and Humanities, the School of Education, the School of Natural and Social Sciences, and the School of the Professions who are earning bachelor’s degrees. The graduate ceremony will honor graduates and degree candidates from the Graduate School who are earning master's degrees, certificates of advanced study, and graduate certificates.
The following graduates of the Class of 2020 will be honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in recognition of their academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership, and service: Rakia Akter, Jennifer Briones, Bryanna S. Marshall, and Esmeralda Sierra.
Vanessa C. Schieble will deliver the baccalaureate student address as the recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Christine J. Garas will deliver the graduate student address as the recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student. The President’s Medal is the highest student award bestowed by Buffalo State College, recognizing academic achievement, community service, leadership, and creativity.
Eva M. Doyle, ’75, ’82, columnist, educator, and community activist, will receive a SUNY honorary doctor of humane letters. Say Yes Buffalo, a nonprofit organization that promotes higher education, will receive the President’s Distinguished Service Award.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award will be granted to Kenneth L. Huff, ’92, ’97, educator in the Williamsville Central School District, and Rick W. Kennedy, ’77, managing partner of Hodgson Russ.
Aitina Fareed-Cooke, ’12, ’16, owner of Get Fokus’d Productions, will receive the Young Alumnus Achievement Award.
Everyone is encouraged to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and honorees by viewing the ceremonies online on the Commencement website.
You may share your photos, congratulatory messages, and words of encouragement with our graduates by using the hashtag #BuffStateGrads on Instagram and Twitter. All submissions are organized and collected through an online Grad Wall.
Commencement 2020 Details
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Celebrating
Bachelor’s Class of 2020: August 2019 graduates, December 2019 graduates, January 2020 graduates, May 2020 graduates, and August 2020 degree candidates. Includes bachelor’s degrees. Does not include undergraduate certificates.
Graduate School Class of 2020: August 2019 graduates, December 2019 graduates, January 2020 graduates, May 2020 graduates, and August 2020 degree candidates. Includes master’s degrees, certificates of advanced study, and graduate certificates. Does not include postbaccalaureate programs.
Times
Noon: Baccalaureate ceremonies
2:00 p.m.: Graduate ceremony
Link to Ceremonies
All ceremonies will be posted on the Commencement website at https://suny.buffalostate.edu/commencement.
Photos by Bruce Fox, Campus Photographer
