Monroe College Confers Degrees on 2,600 Students Representing 84 Countries at 86th Annual Commencement
New York State Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo and New York City Council Member Ritchie J. Torres Deliver Commencement Addresses at Radio City Music Hall
Monroe College, a national leader in educating urban and international students, held its 86th Annual Commencement today at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. Degrees were conferred on more than 2,600 students representing 84 countries.
Two separate ceremonies were held to accommodate the families and friends of the students earning Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees and professional certificates.
The 1,375 graduates participating in the morning ceremony completed programs of study in the Allied Health Professions, School of Business and Accounting, and School of Nursing. Nivia Camara, a valued member of the College’s staff who held a number of operations positions during her 49-year tenure at the College, served as Grand Marshal of the processional. New York State Assembly Member Victor M. Pichardo gave the keynote address. He represents the 86th Assembly District.
The afternoon ceremony conferred degrees on 1,253 graduates from Monroe’s School of Criminal Justice, School of Education, School of Hospitality Management, and School of Information Technology. Sandi Feliciano, a senior member of the College’s IT department and director of its Help Desk, led the processional as Grand Marshal, an honor reflecting her three decades of service to the College. New York City Council Member Ritchie J. Torres gave the keynote address. He represents the 15th Council District in the Central Bronx.
The College’s three-semester academic calendar enables Monroe students to earn 45 or more college credits per year (compared to the 30 credits college students typically earn per year at other institutions). That means that many of the graduates today earned their Bachelor’s degree in three years or their Associate degree in less than two years.
Graduates in the Class of 2019 represented 84 countries. In addition to students from the U.S. and its territories, there were sizable contingents from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, China, Dominica, Dominican Republic, India, Jamaica, Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Nepal participating in today’s ceremonies.
The College conferred 372 Master’s degrees; 1,019 Bachelor’s degrees; and 1,202 Associate degrees this year, as well as awarded 35 professional certificates.
ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE
Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in urban and international education. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, especially among first-generation students.
Monroe educates close to 7,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs from New York campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle, as well as in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia. Students may also take courses online.
Programs are offered through Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business & Accounting, Criminal Justice, Education, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through its King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.