Month: May 2026

Four Students Recognized by SUNY, Phi Theta Kappa, & EOP for Academic Achievements

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May 14, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster celebrates its students recognized for their academic achievements. Each of these individuals are pursuing careers in different fields and are on a successful path toward realizing their collegiate and personal goals.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recognizes students for outstanding academic achievements, leadership, campus involvement, community service, and the arts. This award is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the State University of New York. The 2026 Chancellor’s Awards go to Aidan Banbury and Tuwana Leonard.

Since enrolling at SUNY Ulster in Fall 2024, Aidan Banbury, a resident of Hurley, NY, has demonstrated strong leadership as a Student Admissions Ambassador and as Student Government President for the 2025–26 academic year. A member of Phi Theta Kappa and a President’s List recipient, this reflects his strong commitment to academic excellence. Aidan is completing an Associate in Science in Individual Studies and plans to transfer to Siena College to major in Political Science. Following his undergraduate studies, he plans to attend law school and pursue a career in multiple areas of civil law.

Tuwana Leonard, an Individual Studies major who earned her certificate in General Management, is graduating with an Associate in Science while simultaneously completing the Medical Office Assistant microcredential, as the first SUNY Ulster student to earn this microcredential. Additionally, she recently earned certification as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. Committed to academic excellence, Tuwana is a Dean’s List recipient, a member of Phi Theta Kappa and is proud to serve as President of SUNY Ulster’s Black Student Union. A Kingston-based community advocate, Tuwana inspires and uplifts those around her, including her family through leadership exemplifying resilience, purpose, service, and learning, demonstrated by completing six credentials in three years.

The Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.  Aidan Banbury and David Velasquez Sierra are the 2026 recipients of the Phi Theta Kappa – All New York Academic Team.

David Velasquez Sierra of Gardiner, NY, started his journey at SUNY Ulster as a Human Services major earning his Associate in Science in Fall 2025. He aspires to transfer to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a career goal of working in healthcare and/or education in the discipline of psychology or sociology.  A member of Phi Theta Kappa, David is committed to academic excellence, is an active volunteer in his community and is a passionate advocate for people with learning disabilities.

SUNY’s Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Excellence is awarded to Shantol Martin. Now celebrating its seventh class of honorees, the award recognizes outstanding EOP students for their academic merit and perseverance.

After arriving in New York from Jamaica at age 14, with Jamaican Creole as her primary language, Shantol worked diligently graduating in two years with her A.A. from SUNY Ulster in Fall 2025. Throughout her time at Ulster, Shantol demonstrated discipline and determination by consistently attending tutoring sessions, meeting with counselors and professors, and staying committed to her studies while also serving as a caregiver for her siblings at home. Beyond the classroom, Shantol has contributed generously to the campus community as a student ambassador, admissions event volunteer, tour guide, and EOP student mentor. Shantol is attending SUNY New Paltz where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

SUNY Ulster President Alison Buckley, Ed.D. said, “I am extremely proud of our students’ individual and collective commitment to academics, service, and excellence as they reach their educational goals by starting here at SUNY Ulster and Going Far!  Their hopes, ambitions, hard work, and needs remain at the heart of everything we do. As we educate the individual and elevate the community, our students’ achievements continue to give purpose and meaning to our work and inspire our unwavering commitment to their success.”

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SUNY Ulster to Celebrate 62nd Commencement on May 16

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2026 Graduates

87% of SUNY Ulster’s Class of 2026 Graduates Debt Free

May 14, 2026 – Stone Ridge, NY – As SUNY Ulster prepares to celebrate its 62nd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, preliminary data shows that 87% of the college’s Class of 2026 completed their education debt free, a powerful reflection of SUNY Ulster’s commitment to affordability, access, and student success.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the Senate Gymnasium on the Stone Ridge campus, where President Alison Buckley, Ed.D., will confer degrees and certificates upon 124 graduates participating in the event.

The Class of 2026 includes 326 graduates overall, with 270 students earning associate degrees and 60 receiving certificates. The graduating class spans generations, ranging in age from 16 to 72.

Among this year’s graduates:

  • 72 students earned Highest Honors
  • 69 students earned Honors
  • 9 students will receive the President’s Medal of Highest Honor for maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA
  • 49 graduates are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community colleges
  • 16 students will receive the Darlene L. Pfeiffer Medallion of Excellence as recipients of the President’s Challenge Scholarship
  • 6 students are recognized as College Scholars

In addition, 23 nursing students will participate in the annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony, and 18 Veterinary Technology students will take part in SUNY Ulster’s inaugural Vet Tech Pinning Ceremony on Friday, May 15.

“Our graduates have inspired us through their hard work, perseverance, and passion for learning,” said SUNY Ulster President Alison Buckley, Ed.D. “What makes this class especially remarkable is that 87% of our graduates completed their education debt free, demonstrating that a high-quality college education can remain affordable, accessible, and transformational for students and families across our region.”

“As both a SUNY Ulster alumnus and Chair of the Board of Trustees, I am especially proud to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2026,” said Robert R. Jacobsen, Esq. “Our graduates represent the strength and promise of this institution, and I look forward to the many ways they will contribute to our communities and beyond.”

The commencement keynote address will be delivered by Rodney Shealey, Advisor with HarbourView Equity and former Executive Vice President of Def Jam Recordings. Throughout his career, Shealey has worked with internationally recognized artists including Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Lopez. A strong advocate for higher education and economic mobility, he has spoken at Columbia University, New York University, and Syracuse University.

The alumni address will be delivered by Marcia Zwilling, entrepreneur, songwriter, and Managing Director of the Diane Warren Foundation. Zwilling is the founder of EquestrianSingles.com, a nationally recognized platform featured on Today, CNBC, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Representing the graduating class, student speaker Natalia Seager will address attendees. Seager is graduating with High Honors in Liberal Arts: Math and Science and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She serves as a math and psychology tutor at SUNY Ulster, volunteers with the Ulster County SPCA and the American Red Cross and founded the college’s Criminal Justice Club.

“Being part of the SUNY Ulster community has shown me how transformative an accessible and supportive education can be,” said Seager. “I’m honored to represent my classmates as we celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together.”

Student Trustee Gunnar Bednarz, graduating with High Honors in Environmental Studies, will serve as a student marshal. Bednarz will continue his studies at Binghamton University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree focused on botany and marine science.

Guests attending commencement should note that large bags and backpacks are prohibited. Large purses and diaper bags will be subject to inspection, and strollers must be left in designated areas.

Each participating graduate will receive six guest tickets. Doors to the Senate Gymnasium will open at 9 a.m. Family and friends unable to attend may watch the ceremony live at SUNYUlster.edu/graduation and on the SUNY Ulster YouTube channel.

SUNY Ulster looks forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 alongside family, friends, and the community.

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SUNY Ulster Celebrates 2026 GED Graduates

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GED students with diplomas

May 4, 2026 – Kingston, NY  – Fifteen students successfully earned their General Educational Development (GED) certificates in a ceremony at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster on April 24, marking a significant academic achievement and opening new doors for their futures. Twelve of these graduates took part in a ceremony honoring their dedication, perseverance, and hard work.

Of the fifteen students, four graduates completed their GED requirements as early as January and have already transitioned to SUNY Ulster, where they are currently enrolled and finishing six spring semester classes.

In addition, seven graduates are actively moving forward in the application process to attend SUNY Ulster in the Fall 2026 semester. Another four graduates are in the process of evaluating their next steps, considering both educational and career opportunities.

“This group of graduates has demonstrated remarkable determination and resilience,” said Curtis Turner, GED Coordinator at SUNY Ulster. “We are proud to see so many continuing their education and taking meaningful steps toward their future goals.”

The Spring 2026 GED cohort represents a diverse group of learners united by a shared commitment to personal growth and achievement. Their success highlights the importance of accessible educational pathways and the transformative impact of adult education programs.

For more information on SUNY Ulster’s GED program and to see when the next session starts, visit SUNY Ulster’s website or contact the Continuing Education Office at cereg@sunyulster.edu.

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Photo:

Back Row (left to right) Isaiah Cintron, Sophia Van Curen, Daniel Tobey, Amilian Dorsainville, Daneisha Robinson, Robert Sauers, Lilli Sanchez
Front Row (left to right) Scarlett Zubee, Jasmin Hernandez, Ileana Montalvo, Aaliyah Johnson, Paola Lopez
Not pictured: Kacie Boynes, Yeindhi Macias, Ansis Gengo Mergins

Call for Artists: Altered Landscapes

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Gloomy image of a wooded area

Altered Landscapes: At Risk – Forest, Field, Seed, and Stream
 Artist-in-Residence Series Show

Curatorial Statement

Altered Landscapes: At Risk- Forest, Field, Seed and Stream brings together artists whose work responds to the fragile and rapidly changing ecologies of our time.  Native trees, meadow plants, seed systems and the rivers and streams that sustain them are increasingly threatened by climate change, invasive species, and human-driven disruption. These changes are not abstract: they are visible now in our forests, our fields, our local watersheds and the changing rhythms of seasonal life.  

Through painting, sculpture, photography, prints, three dimensional, and video- based work, the artists in this exhibition bear witness to landscapes in transition. Some works mourn what is being lost; others explore resilience, adaptation, and the quiet persistence of living systems. Together they invite viewers to slow down, look closely, and reconsider their relationship to the natural world—not as something separate, but as a fragile web in which we are deeply entangled.

Call for Entry:

SUNY Ulster Community College Department of Fine and Visual Art and the Muroff-Kotler Gallery invites all Mid Hudson Valley Artists to submit work to be included in Altered Landscapes: At Risk- Forest, Field, Seed and Stream Fall 2026 Exhibition.  Each artist is requested to submit an Artist statement responding to the Curatorial Statement (not to exceed 300 words).  All artwork must be entirely original, authentic and created by a human artist. 

Artists working in all media are encouraged to apply, including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, three-dimensional and video -based work. Submissions may address themes of environmental change, loss, resilience, and the rapidly changing landscape that we are witnessing. Through diverse artistic perspectives Altered Landscapes seeks to create dialogue between artists, students, and the wider community about the urgent and evolving conditions of the Hudson Valley’s shared ecosystems.

Eligibility:

Open to all Mid Hudson Valley Artists. Works must be completed within the last three years. Artwork may be 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, video-based, or installation/site-specific.

Calendar:

Exhibition Dates – Thursday, September 24 – Friday, November 20, 2026
Submission Deadline – Friday, June 12, midnight
Notice of Accepted Artwork – Tuesday, June 30
Opening Reception – Thursday, September 24 from 4 – 6 p.m.

Media/Specifications:

All work accepted for the show must be ready to hang, be self-supporting on a pedestal or the floor, be prepared for viewing on a monitor, or be ready for display in another specified manner. 

Each artist may submit up to 5 works for consideration. Three-dimensional or installation work may include up to 2 additional detail images. Artists submitting video artwork must submit a 5 minute clip of the video for review. Potential final acceptance of video work will be determined after viewing the full video. 

Each artist is requested to submit an Artist statement responding to the Curatorial Statement (not to exceed 300 words)

Submission Format:

  • Submissions will be accepted online only; any submitted work that differs from the digital entry guidelines below may be disqualified.
  • All works must be submitted in .jpg format. 
  • All image files must be named exactly as follows: Lastname_Firstname_Titleofwork_Dimensions.jpg
  • IMPORTANT: The names of your image files must not contain spaces or special characters ( –  /  .  # etc). Underscores  _  and “ are fine.
  • Files must be 72 dpi and no more than 600 pixels on its largest side 
  • Artist Statement

Email files to: gallery@sunyulster.edu please include “Altered Landscapes ” in your subject line.

Presentation:Wall-mounted work: Not to exceed 5’ in height or width, and 60 lbs. 

Installations: May not alter the character of gallery walls, ceiling or floor. 

Pedestals will be provided for 3-D work. 

All works must be ready to install. 2-D work must be presentation ready.

Framed artwork must be wired with the necessary hanging device attached. 

Unframed works should include the appropriate hanging equipment and installation instructions. 

The Curator or Program Coordinator may withhold works that are misrepresented by digital submission or that are not adequately prepared for display.

Contact Information: 

Gallery@sunyulster.edu Please include “Altered States” in your subject line.