Class of 2015 Celebrates Commencement Ceremonies

The College community, faculty, family and friends gathered from May 14-17 to celebrate the accomplishments of more than 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.

The College community, faculty, family and friends gathered from May 14-17 to celebrate the accomplishments of more than 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.

The festivities began at the Spring Honors Convocation on Thursday, May 14, when the College community celebrated the academic achievements of Manhattan's undergraduate students. For the first time ever, the Joseph J. Gunn Medal, the College's highest undergraduate honor was awarded to two outstanding seniors - Kelly Douglas '15 and Grace Hoffman '15. Read more.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 200 students received master’s and bachelor’s degrees at the Spring Commencement. The ceremony featured remarks from keynote speaker Eileen Murray ’80, co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates, LP, the world’s largest hedge fund. Read more.

Valedictorian Eugene Bender, a graduate of the College's chemical engineering program and a 2014 bachelor’s degree recipient, also addressed the class. Read more.

On Sunday, faculty, family members and friends gathered once again in Draddy Gymnasium. The baccalaureate mass served as the final day of worship as a community. Nelson da Luz '15 offered the student reflection, telling his fellow graduates, "embrace a life of service in whatever it is that you choose to do. Take on opportunities for adventure. Live with a sense of passion and learn to love even more passionately. I believe that if we do these things that success will come our way."

The undergraduate commencement followed on Sunday afternoon, celebrating the achievements of more than 750 graduating seniors earning degrees in some 40 major fields of study.

David J. O’Brien, one of the nation’s leading scholars in American Catholicism and professor emeritus of history at the College of the Holy Cross, received an honorary degree and served as the commencement speaker. Read more.

The ceremony also featured remarks from undergraduate valedictorian and Carty medalist recipient Kimsy Tor, a Cambodian native who immigrated to the U.S. to attend Manhattan College in 2011. Read more.

President Brennan O’Donnell concluded the 173rd Commencement Ceremonies with a benediction for the class of 2015.

“Keep alive throughout your life your love of learning, your passion for justice, and your imaginative engagement with the world. Wherever you go and whatever you do, that the love you’ve known here at Manhattan College will forever make this place your heart’s home,” O’Donnell said.

Watch a highlight reel of Commencement weekend:

 

Download photos and watch full recordings:

Read a Pre-Commencement Journal By One of Our Graduates:

John Tudisco '15 takes readers through his final days leading up to Commencement. Read more here.

By MC Staff