The State University of New York at Potsdam Honors Graduates at College’s 206th Commencement Ceremony
Graduates lineup behind the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning before taking their seats for SUNY Potsdam’s 206th commencement ceremony.
Hundreds of graduates crossed the stage in the Academic Quad during SUNY Potsdam’s 206th Commencement ceremony today. With the Satterlee Hall clocktower as a backdrop, they gripped the tassels on their mortarboards and moved them to the other side—officially marking their shift from students to alumni.
The ceremony opened with a solemn moment to mark a tragedy. In the early morning hours before Commencement, a student was struck and killed by a car near campus. At the event, President Dr. Suzanne R. Smith shared the identity of the victim, speaking through tears.
“We have been in touch with the student’s family since the incident took place, and we have now just received permission to officially share their name with all of you for the first time—SUNY Potsdam student Emily Smith, a sophomore and member of the Potsdam Bears women’s basketball team. Emily was with teammates and friends at the time of the incident, and her many of her friends, classmates and coaches have been together at the hospital this morning. Emily was deeply loved, and she shared that joy with others,” Smith said.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Susan Perkins ’93 welcomed graduates and asked them to remember Emily’s legacy through their care for each other.
“Today, we are being asked to carry two truths together: the profound grief of a tragic loss, and the joy of celebrating real accomplishment. They are both true and deep emotions, and one of the most human struggles is to experience both simultaneously. While it may feel impossible in any given moment today and in the days ahead, let’s allow these strong feelings of grief and joy coexist, and honor Emily not by refusing joy, but by carrying her memory and legacy forward in all we do,” Perkins said.
The SUNY Potsdam Class of 2026 was in good company, with hundreds of family members, friends, faculty and staff members to cheer them on. Graduates hailed from 20 states and countries around the globe—including from Ukraine, Brazil, Tanzania and Turkey—as well as 231 students from Canada.
Tesha Sunday-Rourke ’26 continued the ceremony with the Ohen:ton Karikwatekhwen (“The words before all else”). As the elected Tsi Snaihne District Chief for the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, she was graduating with distinction, with her master’s degree in management.
TaeJean LaCroix ’26 sang a moving rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” followed by fellow Crane School of Music graduates Catherine Boyd ’26 and Kameron Karim ’26, who led the national anthems of Canada and the United States, respectively.
SUNY Potsdam honored distinguished alumna Eileen Goss Whelley ’76 with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the ceremony, recognizing her accomplished career and longstanding record of service. In her keynote address, Whelley encouraged graduates to embrace uncertainty, continue learning and prioritize relationships.
“Some of the most important decisions you’ll make in life will come at moments when you feel completely unsure and not ready. What’s important is having the courage to move forward, despite not having perfect clarity or confidence—to trust yourself and understand that confidence often comes after you take action, not before, and those feelings of self-doubt will fuel your resilience and growth throughout life.”
Keynote Speaker
Eileen Goss Whelley ’76 delivers the keynote address. (photo by Melody Sample '27)
Whelley went from her studies at SUNY Potsdam to an executive career in human resources, progressing through leadership roles, including 17 years at GE, including five as the executive vice president for HR for NBCUniversal, and finally as chief HR officer at The Hartford and XL Group. She went on to found EGW Advisors, and continues to serves on the board of Expro Group. A dedicated volunteer and donor, Whelley has also established internship funds at her alma mater, and is vice chair of the SUNY Research Foundation Board of Directors, as well as being president of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s action council.
“Your career success will matter. And your achievements will matter. But the people you share your life with—that’s what will matter most,” she said. “I hope that you leave Potsdam with the confidence that you’ve received an excellent education that has prepared you for what’s ahead, no matter what it is. I also hope that you will have courage in the face of self-doubt, remain curious enough to keep learning, are blessed enough to find what you love to do, and wise enough to remember that in the end, it’s family, community and people that matter most.”
Student Government Association President Kadi Palmer ’26 reflected on the many possibilities ahead and encouraged her peers to embrace change with courage.
“What a wonderful thing it is to have so many choices. What a beautiful thing it is to be able to look in front of you and be able to dream about what lies ahead. This ability to be able to have such choices is because of you. With courage, strength and tenacity, you worked to be sitting where you sit now. You have given yourself a wonderful gift: knowledge,” Palmer said.
As graduates began to process across the stage to receive their baccalaureate and master’s degrees, Jeffrey Yette ’26 stood out in the crowd. He was finally achieving a long-held goal—completing his bachelor’s degree, decades after he first dropped out of SUNY Potsdam to pursue his career. Now the IT site manager for the Corning plant in Canton, N.Y., Yette took advantage of the College’s interdisciplinary studies program to wrap up his studies, with a focus on his career interests.
Jeff Yette ’26 walks across the stage after receiving his diploma during SUNY Potsdam’s 206th commencement ceremony.
“When I first took the opportunity to enter the workforce some 110-ish credit hours into a 120-hour degree, I thought it would be easy to go back and finish. But as the life milestones of getting married, buying a home and starting a family took priority, college took a back seat. As my career advanced, I started to realize the luxuries of flexible work schedules, employer tuition assistance and online classes (something that wasn't even possible in '90s)… and I thought maybe I could finally pull this off,” Yette said. “At the age of 56, I am proud to say that I am now a first-generation college graduate and an alumnus of SUNY Potsdam—a journey that began in 1987.”
As she led the turning of the tassels, Alumni Association President Sarah Mack ’04 warmly welcomed the graduates into the SUNY Potsdam alumni community. “You are not leaving SUNY Potsdam today. You are taking SUNY Potsdam with you,” she said.
“Whatever you have to offer — your time, your talent, your story — it matters. You matter. The students who will sit in these seats after you will be better because of how you choose to give back. Because that’s what this community has always been: People lifting people,” Mack said. “You are ready. You leave here not just educated, but genuinely changed — shaped by this place, these people, and everything you pushed through to get to this day. The world needs what you have — your compassion for each other, your energy, your creativity, and your Potsdam-forged grit.”
To close the ceremony, Kristen Sita ’26 led the crowd in singing the “Alma Mater,” accompanied by the Crane Commencement Band.
Following the final procession, graduates and guests embraced, posed for photos and said their goodbyes to faculty, staff and classmates—marking the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
During Commencement, SUNY Potsdam honors students who have either earned their degree or are eligible to graduate during that calendar year. To learn more, view the ceremony video and read the program, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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