Empire State University Honors Class of 2025 in Rochester Ceremony
(Rochester, NY – MAY 29, 2025) Empire State University celebrated the Class of 2025 in a ceremony on Thursday, May 29 at the Kodak Center, where over 155 graduates crossed the stage. Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf, Assembly Member Sarah Clark, and SUNY Trustee Robert Duffy were in attendance.
Members of the SUNY Empire class of 2025 collectively live in 61 of the 62 New York state counties, 25 U.S. states and territories, and nine countries around the world. They range from ages 18 to 75. 97 of the graduates are military-affiliated students, including active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserve, veterans, spouses, and other dependents.
The ceremony on Thursday, May 29 featured remarks from Empire State University President Lisa Vollendorf, faculty speaker and Assistant Director of the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports Lauren Allen, and student speaker Stephanie Weinman, as well as New York State Assembly Member Sarah Clark and member of the SUNY Board of Trustees Bob Duffy.
SUNY Empire President Lisa Vollendorf said, “Empire State University encourages you to look beyond what you even thought possible. We want you to feel valued and heard. We want you to triumph. And now, it is up to you to take advantage of the possibilities before you.”
Assembly Member Sarah Clark said, “Your path here wasn’t paved with ease, but it was forged with purpose. You embody what education should be: accessible, flexible, empowering, and rooted in community. You prove every day that it is never too late to pursue your goals, never too early to make an impact, and never out of reach to shape a better future.”
SUNY Board of Trustees Member Bob Duffy said, “I’m proud of the veterans, the parents, the moms, dads, grandparents — everyone who’s worked so hard to earn this degree while you’re working, raising a family, and dealing with life’s issues every single day. You hung in there, you worked hard, you persevered, and you are graduating tonight — which I think is the ultimate reflection of the character and work ethic of the class of 2025.”
SUNY Empire Faculty Speaker and Assistant Director of the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports Lauren Allen said, “As you take your hard-earned degree into your next chapter, never doubt that you are supposed to be in the room and in your role. Remember that all of us at Empire State University, and all the people cheering you on today, never doubted you for a moment.”
SUNY Empire Student Speaker Stephanie Weinman said, “Even if you fail, you are really just evolving into who you are meant to be. THAT is an accomplishment. I congratulate all of you here today for the accomplishment you have achieved by graduating from Empire State University in the Class of 2025!”
Read more about commencement at Empire State University.