SUNY Potsdam

Leanne Merrill - SGA President
Saturday, May 21, 2011

Hello, and thank you all for attending this ceremony. I want to congratulate my fellow students on the tremendous achievement of completing a graduate degree. Your future is now brighter because of the high level of coursework you’ve done. Be proud of your accomplishments.

Whether you’ve been at Potsdam for just a year, have returned after a hiatus, or have been here for five years in a row (like me), know that you are a part of the Potsdam family. When we leave Potsdam, we're going to go in many different directions. No matter what your plans, I encourage you to keep in mind the valuable lessons from your time at Potsdam. Recognize, be proud of, and use the skills and abilities you developed while you were here. Keep in touch with the people who made the difference for you, especially faculty and staff, to whom we owe the unpayable debt of mentorship. Remember and take pride in our alma mater. We are all responsible for demonstrating the value of a Potsdam education to the world. We will always have the privilege of being a part of the Potsdam family. Do your future work with pride and happiness.

Congratulations and best wishes to all of you.