Excelsior University Celebrates 54th Commencement Ceremony
View photos from the ceremony here.
View b-roll video footage here.
ALBANY, N.Y. — Excelsior University celebrated its 54th Commencement and its 200,000th graduate on Friday, July 11 at 11 a.m. at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York. The Commencement ceremony brought together graduates of Excelsior’s online programs to commemorate their achievements in-person with University faculty and staff, family, friends, and supporters.
This year’s Commencement ceremony featured remarks from graduate speaker Natasha Arnold, a married mother of four and 20-year U.S. Army veteran who shared the story of her journey to earn her Bachelor of Psychology degree with the Class of 2025.
The event closed with the ceremonial passing of the Excelsior Alumni Torch from Excelsior Alumni Leadership Council members John Baldino and Sena Amegbletor to Class of 2025 graduate Jatik Gibbs-Judd. A poet, U.S. Navy veteran, and radiological control technician at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Gibbs-Judd rose from a childhood marked by homelessness and foster care to graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology. He shared a short original poem to conclude Commencement.
The Excelsior Alumni Service Award was presented to Emmy-nominated broadcaster, writer, and public servant Benjamin Bryant. A 2006 Excelsior graduate, Bryant’s distinguished career in media, communications, and government service includes senior roles on high-profile task forces and commissions for the Department of Defense and the President of the United States. Bryant is a 2024 recipient of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, the Department’s third highest non-career civilian award. He delivered the Commencement address to the Class of 2025.
Excelsior celebrates its diversity and global representation. The Class of 2025 includes 3,783 graduates from across the world. The graduates represent 49 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, as well as 17 other nations spanning six continents. A total of 1,058 graduates are from New York state, including 94 from the Capital Region. The graduates range in age from 16 to 84, and the average age of the Class of 2025 is 35 years old. 35% of graduates are active-duty service members or veterans of the U.S. military, and 22 students earned more than one degree during the academic year. For more facts about Excelsior’s Class of 2025, view the Graduates at a Glance document.
“As our alumni community welcomes its milestone 200,000th graduate with the Class of 2025, we reflect on the determination, resilience, and passion for lifelong learning that these extraordinary individuals share,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “Most Excelsior graduates are working adults balancing careers, families, and service with their education. They are putting their Excelsior degrees into practice immediately, making a positive impact on communities and workplaces around the world. We are proud to join their families and friends in celebrating the accomplishments of Excelsior University’s Class of 2025 today.”
The event was livestreamed for those unable to attend. The video and all Commencement information is available at excelsior.edu/commencement.
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Media Contact Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, jbonafide@excelsior.edu
ABOUT EXCELSIOR UNIVERSITY
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults 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, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
