SUNY Empire
Commencement
2025

Apply to be the Student Speaker at your Commencement Ceremony!

Interested in sharing your inspiring story and message with your fellow graduates? Here is your chance!

We are excited to announce that student speaker applications are open for ALL Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies! This is a unique opportunity to represent your graduating class and share your insights at one of the most important moments in your academic journey.

Spring Commencement Ceremony Dates

Note that Manhattan will have two ceremonies.

• Albany: May 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. (Empire State Plaza)
• Manhattan Ceremony 1: May 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. (New York City Center): Schools of Labor; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Nursing and Allied Health; and Graduate Programs
• Manhattan Ceremony 2: May 22, 2025, at 6 p.m. (New York City Center): Schools of Arts and Humanities; Business; Science, Mathematics and Technology; and Human Services
• Rochester: May 29, 2025, at 6 p.m. (Kodak Center)

Additional ceremony details are posted to the Ceremony Information page.

Ready to take the stage?

Complete the speaker application form by Sunday, March 30, 2025. A committee of faculty, staff, and administrators will make final selections, and the chosen speaker will be notified by April 9, 2025. You will need to use your @SUNYEmpire credentials to log into the application.

If selected, you will be asked to prepare a 2-minute speech and work with a member of the academic support team to refine it before submitting it to the commencement team. Final speeches must be submitted to the Office of Student Engagement by April 18, 2025.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to studentlife@sunyempire.edu.

We look forward to hearing your voice!

Nominate a SUNY Empire student for commencement speaker.

Do you know a student that would make an amazing commencement speaker? Let us know! Complete the student commencement speaker nomination form by Thursday, March 20, 2025.