(
c o n t i n u e d )
Record
Number
Comprise Centennial Class of 2004
During Commencement at Radio City Music Hall
Over 1600 students graduated from the School of Arts
& Sciences,
School of Nursing, School of New Resources, and Graduate
School.
Prior to the ceremony,
excitement filled the air, as the graduates
donned their caps and gowns in Radio City’s lower lounge, while in
backstage dressing rooms, administrators and honored guests posed for
photos in their academic regalia.
As the graduates took their seats to the strains of “Pomp and
Circumstances,” which filled the majestic and historic theater, the
College’s faculty, staff, and administrators marched onto stage. The
final member of the procession, CNR President Stephen Sweeny was heard
to remark “Isn’t this extraordinary!” as he left the wings of the stage
to move out before Radio City’s footlights.
Speaking to the graduates
later, Dr. Sweeny asked,
“Haven’t you
always wanted to be on stage at Radio City Music Hall?” He then went on
to offer his congratulations to the College’s newest alumnae/i for
their hard work, while urging them to not merely be content with
professional and career success but also to utilize their CNR
educations to be people of conscience and compassion working for the
betterment of others.
An alumna, Ursuline, and
long-time advocate of
women-centered
education as Principal of New Rochelle’s Ursuline School for the past
30 years, and former Chair of CNR’s Board of Trustees, Sr.
Jean-Baptiste Nicholson delivered the Centennial Commencement address.
Following her address, Sr.
Jean-Baptiste was
recognized for her
ardent support of women’s education and of The College of New Rochelle
for 28 years as a Trustee, including six years as Chair, with an
honorary doctorate from the College. Also chosen for accolades were
Earl G. Graves, Founder and Publisher of Black Enterprise magazine, and
Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU, Director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors
Support Coalition International.
And then it was the graduates
moment to shine, as they proudly
strode across Radio City’s magnificent stage to accept their degrees
from President Sweeny. As flashbulbs popped and congratulatory remarks
rang out from the audience, the graduates waved to their families and
friends, justifiably proud of their accomplishments -- accomplishments
they went on to celebrate long after the ceremony ended, the theater
emptied, the footlights were dimmed, and the sounds of traffic along
Sixth Avenue replaced that of applause for the College’s Centennial
class - the Class of 2004.
