College Celebrates the 171st Commencement Ceremonies

Nearly 1,000 bachelor's and master's students awarded degrees.


The College community, faculty, family and friends gathered on May 18 and 19 to celebrate the accomplishments of nearly 1,000 students receiving master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Schools of Arts, Business, Education and Health, Engineering, Science, and Continuing and Professional Studies.

Commencement weekend kicked off on Saturday afternoon, nearly 200 students receiving master’s and bachelor’s degrees processed into Draddy Gymnasium at the Spring Commencement. The ceremony featured remarks from keynote speaker Bernard P. Pierorazio, superintendent of the Yonkers Public Schools, who was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Pedagogy. Read more.

Valedictorian Jennifer Player, a 2013 graduate of the MBA program and a 2012 bachelor’s recipient, also addressed the class. Read more.

On Sunday afternoon, more than 2,500 students, faculty, family members and friends gathered in Manhattan College’s Draddy Gymnasium to celebrate the achievements of 676 graduating seniors.

Charles H. Thornton ’61, Ph.D., P.E., chairman of Charles H. Thornton & Company, LLC, a management, marketing, engineering consulting firm, received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree and delivered the keynote address. Read more.

The ceremony also featured remarks from Perry Rizopolous, the 2013 recipient of the Donald J. Carty Valedictory Medal. Read more.

“Congratulations to all of our graduates,” Brennan O’Donnell, president of the College, said in his closing remarks. “For 160 years, the College has prided itself on educating people who will make a difference in the world — people with the intelligence, imagination, and know-how to do hard work well; people with the desire, dedication, compassion, and strength of character to use their God-given talents for the benefit of their fellow human beings. People, that is, like you!”