SUNY Cobleskill Spring Commencement Set for May 17
Saillant to receive honorary degree; Seward to deliver keynote

SUNY Cobleskill will hold its 90th spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. in the college’s Iorio Gymnasium in Bouck Hall. More than 550 students are expected to be eligible to participate, with nearly 170 expected to receive bachelor’s degrees.

SUNY Cobleskill will be presenting former Plug Power President and CEO Dr. Roger Saillant with an honorary degree during the spring commencement. Saillant has worked with SUNY Cobleskill and its administration to lay the groundwork for the sustainability initiative on campus and has served the advisory board for the college’s School of Business. Between giving lectures on campus and meeting with campus leaders, Saillant has helped continue the college’s efforts of going green and developing “green” course work, thus assisting in advancing the image of the college.

New York State Senator James Seward will deliver the keynote address during commencement. Seward has served the 51st senate district since 1986 and has been a longtime advocate for higher education. Seward currently serves on the Senate standing committees for higher education, agriculture, finance and transportation, and chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance. He also chairs the Senate’s State and Local Emergency Preparedness Task Force and Volunteer Emergency Services Task Force, and has served on task forces for catastrophe insurance, health and wellness, Hudson Valley fruit growers, small business, and world trade center recovery. In 2007 he was asked by state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to assume the role of majority whip.

For more information on SUNY Cobleskill’s commencement exercises, contact the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at 518-255-5638.