STONY BROOK, NEW YORK, December 20, 2019 — Today Stony Brook University conferred more than 1,700 degrees at the 22nd annual December Commencement ceremony in Island Federal Arena. The graduates will join more than 190,000 alumni whose knowledge and skills are currently shaping our future. In total, 1,740 degrees were granted, including 1040 bachelor’s degrees, 540 master’s, 120 doctoral and professional, and 60 certificates.
“One of the most profound elements that connects us is the extraordinary diversity of our community,” said Interim President Michael A. Bernstein as he addressed the assembled students. “Many of today’s graduates are part of our robust international student population. Despite our current political challenges, I am proud that we remain the living embodiment of a global institution. The diversity of our community helps all of us to thrive.”
The graduates ranged in age from 19-year-old Quoc Trung Tran, who earned a BA in Economics, to Miriam Steinberg, 65, who earned an MFA in Creative Writing & Literature.
The student speaker was Isabella Bouklas, a Psychology and Sociology major. Among many roles on campus, Isabella dedicated much of her time to educating the campus community on the effects of toxic drinking through her involvement in the Red Watch Band Care team, and as an intern for the Center for Prevention and Outreach.
“College teaches that we must revisit everything we think we know,” said Bouklas.
Remarks were also delivered by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), who congratulated the Class of 2019, described his own path to success and hailed Stony Brook as “one of the best universities, not only in New York, not only in our country, but in the whole world.”
“Behind each of your degrees is a story of hard work, passion, determination, and perseverance,” Bernstein said. “Whether you bonded over your academic endeavors or campus events, you are now linked inextricably through your time at Stony Brook.”
About Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University, widely regarded as a SUNY flagship, is going beyond the expectations of what today’s public universities can accomplish. Since its founding in 1957, this young university has grown to become one of only four University Center campuses in the State University of New York (SUNY) system with over 26,000 students, more than 2,700 faculty members and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs. Our faculty have earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the inaugural Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. The University offers students an elite education with an outstanding return on investment: U.S. News & World Report ranks Stony Brook among the top 40 public universities in the nation. Its membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places Stony Brook among the top 65 research institutions in North America. As part of the management team of Brookhaven National Laboratory, the University joins a prestigious group of universities that have a role in running federal R&D labs. Stony Brook University fuels Long island’s economic growth. Its impact on the Long Island economy amounts to $7.38 billion in increased output. Our state, country and world demand ambitious ideas, imaginative solutions and exceptional leadership to forge a better future for all. The students, alumni, researchers and faculty of Stony Brook University are prepared to meet this challenge.
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