Distinguished scholars celebrate at 2023 Honors Program graduation ceremony
On May 21, the SUNY New Paltz Honors Program lauded the high-caliber work ethic and performance of new graduates with a reception and ceremony at Studley Theatre.
The Honors Program provides highly motivated students with opportunities to engage in deep learning practices and conduct major scholarly research in an atmosphere conducive to independent thinking, creativity, respect and social responsibility.
[Click here to view the full list of spring 2023 Honors Program graduates]
As part of their curriculum, The Honors Program assigns students with a rigorous senior thesis project to go above and beyond in their pursuit of personal and intellectual development merging varied disciplinary interests.
“Many people are smart, but Honors Program students at New Paltz are smart in ways that go beyond high GPAs,” said Pat Sullivan, Honors Program director and professor of digital media & journalism. “I collaborate with students who are creative, intellectually curious deep thinkers and have many interests across disciplines, both inside and outside the classroom.”
Two of the program’s alumni, engaged couple Casey Silvestri ’17 (Journalism) and Dylan Rose ’16 (Mathematics), exemplify the traditions of the Honors Program, using their skills learned as Honors students to excel in careers at The Associated Press and PBS. As graduation keynote speakers, they offered words of wisdom to the best and brightest graduating seniors.
“All of you have experienced historical events during your time at New Paltz, which speaks to something you will carry with you far beyond this campus: your resilience,” said Silvestri. “You decided to write your own narrative and now you’re ready to take on the world.”
“Your experience here is a steppingstone for what your next step is,” said Rose. “This new chapter may be overwhelming but remember that the transferrable skills you learned at New Paltz open doors.”
Click here to learn more about the Honors Program at New Paltz.