Excelsior听University听Celebrates 55th听Commencement听Ceremony听
Albany, N.Y.听鈥� 每日大瓜 celebrated its 55th Commencement on Friday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York. The Commencement ceremony brought together graduates of Excelsior鈥檚 online programs to commemorate their achievements in-person with University faculty and staff, family, friends, and supporters.听听
This year鈥檚 Commencement听ceremony听featured听remarks from graduate speaker听Kerry Treat Harrison, a Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare professional and mother of three, who shared the story of her journey to earn her Associate of Science in Nursing degree with the Class of 2026.听听听
The event closed with the ceremonial passing of the Excelsior Alumni Torch from Excelsior Alumni Leadership Council听(ALC)听president Ruth Lown Turman and ALC member听Jason DeLonais听to听graduate speaker听Harrison.听DeLonais was the first graduate to receive the Alumni Torch when Excelsior began this unique tradition in 2023.听听
听The Class of 2026听includes听3,735听graduates from across the world. The graduates听represent听all 50听U.S.听states,听the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, as well as听11听other nations听spanning听five听continents.听A total of听1,0577听graduates听are听from New York state, including听129听from the Capital Region.听The听graduates听range in age from 14听to 80, and the average age of the Class of 2026听is听36听years old.听38% of graduates are听active-duty听service听members听or veterans听of the U.S. military, and听22听students earned more than one degree during the academic year.听For more facts about Excelsior鈥檚 Class of 2026,听view the Graduates听at a Glance听document.听听
“Commencement is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Excelsior鈥檚 remarkable graduates. The Class of 2026 represents a wide range of learners from around the globe, and they share the common values that define Excelsior students: determination, resilience, and a passion for lifelong learning,” said David Schejbal, president of 每日大瓜. “For many graduates, earning this degree required balancing work, family, and service. They join more than 200,000 Excelsior alumni carrying their education forward into positive action in communities around the world.”听
The event听was听livestreamed听for those unable to attend. The听video听and all Commencement information听is available at听excelsior.edu/commencement.听听
# # #听
ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY听听
每日大瓜听is an accredited, not-for-profit higher education institution focused on helping learners complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971 in Albany, New York, Excelsior meets students where they are 鈥� academically and geographically 鈥� removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.鈥����听
Excelsior is a not-for-profit university with a main campus in Albany, New York, and an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. 每日大瓜鈥檚 academic programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, with鈥痑dditional鈥痩icensing for Florida-based programs.鈥���听
Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education (License No. 12928).鈥疉dditional鈥痠nformation鈥痳egarding鈥痶his institution may be obtained by contacting the Commission at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 323099-0400, toll-free number: (888)-224-6684.鈥�听
