More than 400 graduate candidates to participate Dec. 18 at Commencement

NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York at New Paltz will hold December Commencement exercises from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie on Saturday, Dec. 18.

There are 760 graduate candidates this December, and 400 have chosen to participate in the ceremony. This December’s ceremony includes students who have completed their studies in August or December.

The class valedictorian, Dany Assaf Curi, will address the graduates and guests with a speech that will focus on two messages: one of unity and one of inspiration.

“On Nov. 2, the Election Day just past, I found myself distressed. I wondered: ‘How could a nation so powerful, so unique, blessed with so much, be split in half?,'” said Curi. “We are one nation, one people. When one of us is hurt, we all hurt. Let us join hands in unity against those whom wish to separate us and harm our nation.”

Curi will also speak about the importance of using difficult experiences in life to make oneself a better person, through sharing how losing his older brother, Alee, to leukemia has positively directed his life.

“Witnessing Alee’s suffering, agony and, finally, death over the course of a year-and-a-half instilled within me a powerful urge to spend the rest of my life working to alleviate pain and suffering experienced by those who become affected by sickness and disease,” said Curi. “He is my inspiration, as well as my motivation, for wanting to become a physician.”

Curi, a resident of Sleepy Hollow, is graduating from New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in cellular/molecular biology. He has also completed all requirements for his Pre-Med program of study. His cumulative GPA is 3.99.

In addition to Curi’s speech, Steven G. Poskanzer, New Paltz’s seventh president, will offer brief remarks.

The salutatorian is Catherine Mulvihill, Highland Mills. She will receive her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with a concentration in Spanish. Her cumulative GPA is 3.97.

For more information about the 2004 SUNY New Paltz December Commencement ceremony, visit www.newpaltz.edu/commencement.

To view the interior of the Civic Center, for directions, and to become more familiar with the surrounding area, access the Web site at www.midhudsonciviccenter.com. The SUNY New Paltz University Police office may also be called (845-257-2222) for weather conditions in our area or, if necessary, commencement cancellation information.

Note to media: The commencement ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Media planning to cover the ceremony should arrive by 10:30 and proceed to the media registration table in the center of the lobby. Registered media will be issued a press pass that will provide access to the candidate and stage areas.