MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Undaunted by a move indoors due to morning rains in Middletown, members of SUNY Orange’s graduating Class of 2026 rejoiced in their celebration Thursday morning (May 21), accepting accolades for their perseverance, commitment and resilience on their way to earning a SUNY Orange degree that they were told will open doors and create opportunities for a bright and successful future.

Scheduled to be held outdoors on the Alumni Green, Commencement was moved indoors to the Physical Education Center because of the inclement weather. Despite the move, an estimated 2,200 friends and family members crowded into the gymnasium, while more than 250 filled nearby on-campus viewing locations and hundreds more watched online via the College’s livestream.

“The world you are entering does not simply need people with credentials. It needs people who know how to keep going once they have the credential,” SUNY Orange President Dr. Kristine Young told the graduates. “And that is exactly what community colleges help build. Your degree does not represent perfection or certainty. It represents proof. Proof that you kept going. And proof that you will keep going.”

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Pending certification of their transcripts, a total of 767 students are in line to complete degree requirements over the current academic year, and nearly 450 of them participated in Thursday’s ceremony.

The event included featured remarks from newly minted graduate Devshi Saxena (above) and math Professor Michelle Tubbs. Saxena, of Goshen, was a winner of this year’s SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence while Tubbs received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.

The College also hosted SUNY Trustee Stanley Litow, who offered comments along with County Executive Steve Neuhaus, SUNY Orange Board of Trustees Chair Tom Weddell (who graduated from the College 50 years ago in 1976) and SUNY Orange Foundation Board member Adam McCarey.

Sarah Lanzano-Slevin (left) completed the requirements for her liberal arts degree in December 2025 but participated in Thursday’s ceremony wearing a personalized mortarboard that read, “Finally! Be proud of how far you have come.” Lanzano-Slevin, of Goshen, is hearing impaired and utilized interpreters throughout the ceremony. Even so, her enthusiasm and excitement about reaching this milestone were unmistakable. “I am still thinking about my future and may attend another college,” she said.

Saxena noted how her fellow graduates adapted to their surroundings. “These past few years have been more than a stepping stone to bolster our dreams; they are a milestone, highlighting our willingness to adapt to changing times and chapters. It has meant taking a proactive approach towards our education and trying our best to meet deadlines and expectations, striking a balance between work and play, all in the hopes of aligning our goals with our passions.”

“My ultimate wish for each of you is that you find your true happiness, both personally and professionally,” Tubbs told the graduates. “No matter what you end up doing, my hope is that when you get to your point in life where I am now, you feel the same way I do, which is: I have no regrets and if I had to do it all over again, I would choose the journey I have had. It wasn’t perfect, but it was rewarding and worthwhile. I feel like I have and continue to make a difference. Your journey is just beginning and no matter how long or short it ends up being, I wish this final destination for each and every one of you.”

Each year, SUNY Orange awards diplomas to students who earn Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, while presenting graduation certificates to those who complete the College’s various certificate programs.

Seen and Heard at SUNY Orange Commencement 2025

• There were four SUNY Orange graduates on the speaker’s list Thursday. In addition to SUNY Orange Board Chair Tom Weddell celebrating the 50^th anniversary of his graduation in 1976, math Professor Michelle Tubbs was marking the 31^st anniversary of her graduation in 1995 while SUNY Orange Foundation Board member Adam McCarey reached his 30^th anniversary after having graduated in 1996. Student speaker Devshi Saxena had turned her tassel as a new grad less than 30 minutes before addressing the Class of 2026 from the podium.
• Long-time former Center for Student Involvement employee Karen Reid, who works part-time for the College’s TRiO program now, handed her son Matthew his diploma Thursday in keeping with a SUNY Orange tradition of allowing parents who are employed by the College to hand their graduating children their diploma.
• Angela Elia, SUNY Orange Information Technology Services support manager, enjoyed a banner day. She opened the ceremony with a stunning rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sung a capella, before having the opportunity to present a diploma to her daughter Vincenza.
• Kevin Appiah-Kubi of Washingtonville already holds a degree in health and human services from the University at Buffalo but crossed the stage at SUNY Orange’s 76th Commencement to receive his nursing degree. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he shared, “that will pay dividends, and I would choose this all over again.”
• While graduates lined up in the Physical Education Building, family and friends filled the auditorium with excitement and anticipation. John and Judy Miller of Warwick sat in the front row alongside Judy’s mother, Susan Reinke, to watch Erin Miller receive her occupational therapy assistant degree. Judy is a graduate of SUNY Orange’s nursing program, and Reinke — affectionately known as “Oma” — also worked as a nurse for many years. “We are so proud of her hard work,” John said of Erin. “She is such a nurturing person, and she loves occupational therapy. Her heart is as big as the world, and this is perfect for her.” Erin added, “The people, the faculty — everyone here has been so nice. I’ve made lifelong friends here, and I’m so glad I switched majors. I love this field, and my favorite experience was working at Middletown Park Manor during fieldwork. I hope to work there someday.”
• Cybersecurity graduate Eduardo Espinal of Bloomingburg said he is proud to have completed his degree at age 42. “I am looking to move into my field with my current employer,” he said. “I am thankful for the support of my professors and so happy to have reached this moment.”
• One of the ceremony’s most emotional moments came when Provost Dr. Erika Hackman directed graduates to move their tassels from right to left, symbolizing their transition to alumni status. More than a few teary eyes could be seen throughout the crowd.
• Among this year’s graduate candidates was Krista Bucci, an accounting major and graduate of Chester Academy, who received the 2026 Outstanding Accounting Graduate Award from the New York State Society of CPAs Mid-Hudson Chapter. The award recognizes exceptional academic achievement and service contributions by undergraduate accounting students.

Commencement tidbits

• Graduates and graduate candidates for 2025-26 academic year: 767 [December 2025 graduates (195), May 2026 pending graduates (438), and August 2026 pending graduates (134)]
• Eleven graduates and graduate candidates had perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point averages
• There were 83 graduate candidates listed as graduating summa cum laude (gpa of 3.75 to 4.00), 123 were magna cum laude (3.50 to 3.74) and 150 who were cum laude (3.20 to 3.49)
• Thirteen graduates were members of the Honors Program
• There were 11 veterans among the graduates
• 33 graduates were products of the Excelsior Academy [the collaborative P-TECH program at Newburgh North High School in partnership by SUNY Orange and IBM]
• The youngest graduate was 17 years, 125 days old (Jan. 16, 2009 / cyber security degree) while the oldest was 62 years and 309 days old (July 15, 1963 / JRTEP B-6 degree).