Empire State University Celebrates Class of 2026 in Albany Ceremony
Empire State University celebrated the Class of 2026 on Friday, May 29 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, where 275 graduates crossed the stage. The university adds these recent graduates to its growing network of over 105,000 alumni worldwide. Melba Tolliver ’98, an acclaimed African American journalist whose career reshaped representation in American media, was recognized with an honorary Doctor of Humane letters degree.
Members of the SUNY Empire class of 2026 collectively live in 61 different New York state counties, 24 U.S. states and territories, and 17 countries around the world. They span five generations, from ages 19 to 83. Over 80 graduates are military-affiliated students including active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserve, veterans, spouses, and other dependents.
SUNY Empire President Lisa Vollendorf said, “Long after tonight, when the celebrations are over and the next challenge is in front of you, your experiences at SUNY Empire, including your ability to keep going, to adapt, and to finish what you started, will serve you well. Your future is only limited by the limits you place on yourself.”
Faculty Speaker and Assistant Professor Thomas Wiese said, “Every commencement is a milestone, but at Empire State University, we celebrate something deeper than a finished checklist of credits. We are celebrating the sheer willpower it took for each of you to get to this seat.”
Student Speaker Kevin DiPalma said, “Online learning asked something different of us. It required discipline when no one was watching. It required perseverance when the only voice reminding us to keep going was our own.”
Alumna and Honorary Degree Recipient Melba Tolliver said, “What I believe we all should understand is that being human, we have all the tools that we need to be our own unique power centers. Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love.”
Read more about commencement at Empire State University.