Hartwick College rings in commencement ceremonies

On the Bright Side

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HARTWICK COLLEGE GRADUATES, from left, Adia Ferris, Peter Cody Fiduccia and Marin Snowden Fingerle ring their college bells with classmates at the conclusion of the 81st Commencement on the Oneonta campus Saturday. DENISE RICHARDSON | THE DAILY STAR

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May 29, 2012

Hartwick College rings in commencement ceremonies

By Denise Richardson Staff Writer The Daily Star Tue May 29, 2012, 08:03 AM EDT

Applause, cheers and bell ringing punctuated commencement at Hartwick College in Oneonta, as about 310 seniors wrapped up their undergraduate education Saturday.

``It’s exciting _ it’s sad, because this is my home,’’ said Jessica Schwartz, 22, an English and history major originally from Andover, N.J. ``It’s bittersweet, definitely.’’

Andres Carpio, 22, a psychology major from Beacon, agreed. After transferring to play on Hartwick’s basketball team, he said that he found the college to be a ``perfect fit.’’

``It was the best decision I ever made,’’ Carpio said. ``Leaving really hurts.’’

Schwartz and Carpio were among about 310 seniors in the class of 2012, which included 12 students who were the first to graduate in the college’s three-year program, college officials said. Hartwick is a private liberal arts and science college enrolling 1,500 students.

Several parents expressed pride to see their children graduate from Hartwick, whether in three or more years.

Commencement speakers praised students’ academic and personal achievements and hinted about life journeys ahead.

Eric Rodgers Schultz, Student Senate president and a Fulbright Scholar from Gloversville, described Hartwick as a ship that has taken students to some of life’s many ports and been a formative vessel in which to learn and gain experiences. He reminded students to focus on the journeys rather than the destinations of life.

``The wind is building in our sails,’’ he told graduating classmates. ``May our voyages all be long.’’

Kathy Palmer Ordonez, a 1972 alumna who received an honorary doctoral degree from Hartwick in 2000, returned Saturday as commencement speaker. She referred to her undergraduate education and talked about her career in molecular biology, genetics, medical diagnostics and business.

Ordonez, who lives in Oakland, Ca., is senior vice president for discovery and development at Quest Diagnostics and president of Celera. She told graduates to be prepared for a world that will continue to change, and she encouraged them to find their ``own way’’ with curiosity, confidence and more.

``I urge you to leverage the knowledge and the art of learning that you have mastered during the last four years with initiative and your imagination, but most of all, to do this with integrity,’’ she said. ``Do it with passion and integrity as you continue to grow into that special person you will ultimately become.’’

Other awards were given Saturday, including the Margaret B. Bunn Award for Outstanding Teaching to Mark Davies, associate professor of education.

Hundreds of parents, relatives and friends gathered on Elmore Field, where a gala tent sheltered the crowd from direct sun. Some spectators gingerly held flowers until graduates recessed from the ceremony, while others jockeyed for positions to take pictures with cameras or cell phone .

Nicole Bell of Ellenville was among parental photographers recording the graduation event for her son, Antonio, 22, who earned a degree in sociology. ``He did it in four years, playing football,’’ she said. He will be attending the Police Academy for Ulster County, she said. ``I’m so proud _ I’m so proud.’’

Hartwick began offering a three year degree program for 25 of its majors in 2009. By graduating in three years, a student saved an estimated $48,945 for next year’s tuition, room, board, fees and expenses, college officials said.

The three-year program has 87 students, and another 43 students are expected to enroll in the fall, they said.

“As a pioneer in the three-year degree model, Hartwick College recognizes that students should have the option to pursue cost- and time-saving options, college President Margaret L. Drugovich said in a media release. “The growth and success of Hartwick’s three-year degree program clearly illustrates the viability of and demand for this innovative educational approach.’’

On Saturday, Dave McDonald of Ballston Lake said he wasn’t aware of the three-year program but wished he had been. He and 10 relatives were at graduation to see his son Brian graduate with a degree in business.

``We’re very proud of him,’’ Mc- Donald said. Two other sons took five and six years to finish college, he said, which made Brian’s graduation even more of a ``huge achievement.’’ ``We just hope he gets a job soon,’’ McDonald said.