SUNY Delhi - 2025 Commencement

SUNY held its 108th annual commencement on Saturday, May 17, 2025. In a joyous outdoor celebration, approximately 800 graduates received their master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees and certificates. Congratulations, Broncos!

Pre-Ceremony Graduate Lineup

Before the ceremony, graduates lined up with their academic school and fellow graduates to get ready for the processional. It was a great time to share excitement and take selfies with friends!

The Processional

As Grand Marshal of the ceremony, Professor Stephen McKeegan led the processional while banner carriers from each academic school followed to guide graduates to the track field where the ceremony was held.

The Ceremony

One of this year's graduates, veterinary science technology major Annalee Parker, kicked off the ceremony with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

SUNY Delhi President Dr. Mary Bonderoff then addressed the graduates, faculty, staff, and friends and family:

"To the Classes of Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, I want to express my heartfelt congratulations. You are incredibly talented and possess the knowledge and skills needed to succeed far beyond SUNY Delhi. It has been a privilege to serve as your president. As I’ve gotten to know you, your stories, drive, and perseverance have been an endless inspiration to me. You are living examples of the tremendous personal growth students experience at SUNY Delhi. I am proud to recognize your achievements today. As you move on, I hope that SUNY Delhi has fueled a passion for life-long learning in you, that you become leaders in your professions and your communities, and that you will continue to make service a priority. Congratulations to all of you!

Honorary Degree and Keynote Speech

This year's commencement ceremony featured a special as we conferred an honorary doctorate degree upon James Palmiter, a 1981 SUNY Delhi hospitality graduate, who is a nationally recognized entrepreneur and financial industry innovator. From humble rural beginnings, Palmiter rose to senior leadership roles at major global firms. He is the co-founder of DragonGC, an AI-powered legal platform. Features in Fortune, Law360, and the Harvard Law School Forum, Palmiter exemplifies SUNY Delhi's mission of a transformative education. We were proud to recognize his outstanding achievements with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

"This moment means more to me than I can easily express. Because this isn’t just a professional recognition—this is deeply personal. This is SUNY Delhi. This is where it all began for me. I still remember arriving at SUNY Delhi—young, full of hope, and maybe a little uncertain. I didn’t have all the answers, but I had ambition and a willingness to learn. Delhi took a chance on me. And that made all the difference. This is a place that values practical, hands-on learning. A place where you don’t just study theories—you roll up your sleeves.

If there’s one message I want to leave with you today, it’s this: Success isn’t a straight line.

My career has taken me from hospitality to finance, from corporate governance to compliance, and eventually to entrepreneurship. There were pivots I never saw coming. But I leaned into them. And each step, planned or unplanned, helped me grow.

Where you start doesn’t limit where you can go.

As you face the real world, remember there are solutions for every challenge. No challenge is insurmountable. Hone your communication skills—they will carry you further than any algorithm. Create action plans and follow through on them. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve when you commit to each step with discipline and intention.

And remember this: you’re stepping into the world with a SUNY Delhi foundation beneath you. That’s a powerful place to begin."

Dr. James Palmiter '81

Speakers

We also heard from two student speakers who shared their inspiring Delhi journeys, as well as our Provost, Vice President for Student Life, and academic deans.

"I love SUNY Delhi. Truly. This school has been my home for the past four years and I mean that, I didn't even leave over the summer. I just stay here, that's how much I love this place. And I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do when I have to leave today. I think Dr. Bonderoff is going to have to drag me off of campus because I don’t want to leave. But I know it’s time, and I know I’m ready. This school has prepared me to move on to the next chapter, just like I know it has done the same for all of you. Carry the lessons you have learned here, both in and out of the classroom, with you as you carve your own path through this world. The skills you have learned here have built the foundation for the rest of your lives, but keep adding onto them wherever you go. Keep pushing for success, keep growing as individuals, and always keep learning from everything you do. I hope the world is ready for the incredible minds about to enter it because of all of you. Your skills, ideas, and passion are going to change the world for the better, I guarantee it. Wherever you end up, you are going to do amazing things. And when you look back and remember how you got there, don’t forget that there will always be people at SUNY Delhi rooting for you, because you will always be a Bronco. Congratulations graduates! I can’t wait to see what we all do next!"

Julia Rios
Student Senate President
Applied Communication (BS) '25

"My journey has been anything but traditional. I became a mother at 14, and by 18, I was raising two boys, and later expanded my family with two daughters. My ultimate dream was to become a nurse. My journey led me to SUNY Delhi, where I found an institution that not only challenged me academically but also provided unwavering support along the way. SUNY Delhi has been the bridge that helped me turn my dreams into reality. Through the challenges and triumphs, I have emerged stronger, more knowledgeable, and ready to make a difference as a nurse. I am forever grateful for the education, guidance, and support I’ve received here, and I look forward to carrying these lessons with me as I step into the next chapter of my life."

Juanita Rispoli
Nursing (AAS) '25

"Today marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Whether you studied in our classrooms, our labs, on job sites, in the field, or online — each of you found your way here through grit and determination. As provost, I have had the privilege of watching your journeys unfold — both behind the scenes, in the hard work of your studies and quiet moments of determination, and in the spotlight, through presentations, performances, and public achievements that have made us all proud. Take pride in this achievement. Celebrate it. Share it. And wherever life takes you, remember that you’ll always be part of the SUNY Delhi family — so stay in touch, and let us celebrate your future successes with you.

Dr. David Brower
SUNY Delhi Provost

"Community service is an integral part of the Delhi experience. We believe that students learn about civic engagement best by taking on the responsibility to make their communities better places in which to live.

With over 8400 hours of community service logged just this academic year, SUNY Delhi students have donated time equivalent to $130,000 in wages since August. From building projects and volunteering at the child care center and humane society to food distributions, philanthropy fundraisers, and educational outreach programs, SUNY Delhi volunteers make a difference. How students serve our community may vary, but the spirit of service is shared – and is alive and well across our student body."

John Padovani
Interim Vice President for Student Life

"As experts and professionals in your chosen fields, you will be looked at to help solve problems and build hope in your communities. To this end, what you have done during your time here as students has helped you to develop a special set of skills that will serve you well in these times. Chief among these skills is the ability to think critically about complex situations and to develop and implement meaningful solutions. Face challenges with humility and empathy for those around you. Ask for help, and don’t feel like you have to do everything alone. Engage in work that is good: fight the good fight, and take inspiration from those around you along the way."

Dr. Simon Purdy
Professor and Program Director
School of Nursing, Arts, and Sciences

"You are the next generation of great designers, mechanics, electricians, technicians, plumbers, builders, and welders—those who will go on to design, build, diagnose, repair, maintain and keep America moving forward. As you move forward in your careers, remember to be lifelong learners. Stay curious. Challenge yourselves. Never stop asking questions. Stay connected to your faculty. Come back to Delhi and share your stories from the field with future students."

Dan Davis
Dean
School of Applied Technologies and Architecture

"The extremely diverse programs within my school include vet tech students who have worked with lions in South Africa, culinary students who have rocked culinary competitions, golf and turf students who beat larger universities at the Turf Bowl competition, business students who prepared taxes for the community, and hospitality students who planned and hosted an excellent inauguration for President Bonderoff.

Collectively over the last 4 years, through your numerous preceptorships and internships at prestigious golf courses, vet hospitals and resorts around the state and country, you have gained over 35,000 hours of real work experience—that’s equivalent to one person working full time for almost 18 years. We know you will use that experience to grow into talented young professionals throughout our industries!"

Dr. Bret Meckel
Dean
School of Veterinary Science and Professional Studies

Conferral of Degrees

After all academic schools had addressed the students and presented their candidates, Dr. Bonderoff conferred the graduate degrees:

"I now confer upon you, who are found qualified, the degrees of Master of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology or Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Occupational Studies, and all Certificates. Graduates, please move your tassels from right to left. Congratulations!"