MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – In recognition of SUNY Orange’s upcoming 75th anniversary on June 9, City of Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano on Tuesday (May 6) presented College President Dr. Kristine Young with a commemorative plaque, a key to the city and a proclamation declaring June as SUNY Orange 75th Anniversary Month in the city.

“We appreciate all that you are doing and recognize the role the college, you, your staff and students play in the community,” DeStefano said during the presentation held in the Music Room of Morrison Hall on the Middletown campus. Morrison Hall is the architectural centerpiece of the former estate donated by Christine Morrison in 1949 for the establishment in 1950 of Orange County Community College, the first county-sponsored community college in the State University of New York.

DeStefano was joined by City Aldermen Andrew Green, Jerry Kleiner and Joseph Masi, as well as Director of Economic and Community Development Maria Bruni, who also serves as vice chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. Elinor Hart, recently appointed as a SUNY Orange Trustee, was on hand, along with members of Young’s administrative leadership team and representatives from the College’s 75th Anniversary Planning Committee.

Part of the proclamation reads … “WHEREAS, for 75 years, SUNY Orange has remained steadfast in its mission to provide high-quality, accessible education, becoming a pillar of opportunity and excellence in Orange County, and exemplifying how a community’s spirit, vision and determination can transform lives. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Joseph M. DeStefano, Mayor of the City of Middletown, do hereby proclaim June 2025 as SUNY Orange 75th Anniversary Month in the City of Middletown, and I encourage all residents to join in honoring SUNY Orange’s remarkable legacy, its contributions to the fabric of our community, and its continued commitment to transforming lives for generations to come.”

“I want to thank Mayor DeStefano for his longtime support of SUNY Orange, and in particular for sharing this special anniversary celebration with us,” Young added. “This city has been our primary home for almost 75 years. We know that we have a friend in Mayor DeStefano, and the unwavering support of city leadership and administration. As we celebrate our past, we are also excitedly looking ahead together so we can continue to serve area residents.”

SUNY Orange and the SUNY Orange Foundation will commemorate the College’s 75^th anniversary with a weekend of events in May, featuring the “SUNY Orange 75th Anniversary - Past Present Future Gala: A Celebration of Transforming Lives for 75 Years” from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 17 at the West Hills Country Club.

The weekend also includes a “Return to the Mansion” reunion at Morrison Hall on the Middletown campus from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 16, and a “Cheers to 75 Years” breakfast from 10 a.m. to Noon on Sunday, May 18. All events are open to the public. Tickets are $225 for the Saturday gala, $30 for the Friday reunion and $25 for the Sunday breakfast. A combination weekend ticket, offering access to all three events, can be purchased for $250.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Foundation’s 75^th anniversary website at https://www.sunyorangefoundation.org/75th-anniversary-celebration-weekend.