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Flushing, NY, May 28, 2026\u2014ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ President Frank H. Wu officiated at the school\u2019s 102nd commencement exercises on Thursday, May 28, which recognized over 4,000 degree candidates. In total, the college awarded approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate degrees this year to candidates from summer and fall 2025, and winter, spring, and summer 2026.\u200b An estimated audience of 7,000 ticketholders was in attendance on the college quadrangle. The ceremony was live streamed and is available to watch HERE<\/a>. Watch our commencement highlights video HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr.<\/strong><\/a> received the ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ presidential medal, the school\u2019s highest administrative honor, and delivered the keynote address. The degree of doctor of humane letters,\u00a0honoris causa<\/em>, was awarded to Marie Maynard Daly<\/a> \u201942 (posthumously),<\/strong> the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a PhD in chemistry<\/strong> and to Lucy Freeman Sandler<\/a> \u201951, a distinguished art historian specializing in medieval European manuscript illumination<\/strong>. The honorary degree for Daly was accepted by her granddaughter Carly Reid.\u00a0Student David Davydov,\u00a0<\/strong>who graduated summa cum laude<\/em>\u00a0with a combined bachelor\u2019s\/master\u2019s degree, with a major in philosophy and a minor in the Honors in the Humanities track, addressed the graduates.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Download <\/strong>honoree and graduate photos HERE<\/a>. Read <\/strong>about college-wide 2026 student awardees HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n Invited speakers included<\/strong> New York State Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson \u201919; New York City Council Member James Gennaro; City University of New York Trustee Rossana Rosado, who serves as commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services; and Student Association President Shawn Rajkumar, who graduated with a BBA in corporate finance and a BA in economics.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a privilege to serve this great college and to preside over this joyous occasion,\u201d said Wu. \u201cEarning a college degree is filled with challenges that test your resolve: Late-night study sessions, juggling school and personal responsibilities. Be proud of what you have achieved and remember the sense of accomplishment you feel today. Carry that feeling with you and let it motivate you as you pursue your future goals. And while commencement marks the end of your time at ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ, it also signifies a new and exciting chapter. As you move on to the next stage of life, I encourage you to keep learning, stay curious, and never stop striving for excellence. Wherever you go next, I hope you carry with you the lessons you learned here, both inside and outside the classroom. And remember that success is not only about personal achievement, but about making a difference in the lives of others. Stay true to the ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ motto:\u00a0Discimus Ut Serviamus<\/em>\u2014We Learn So That We May Serve.\u201d<\/p>\n Donovan Richards, Jr.<\/strong> is a lifelong resident of Southeast Queens. He attended Jamaica High School and later received a degree in aviation management from Vaughn College in East Elmhurst. Deeply affected by the impact of gun violence in his youth, he turned personal tragedy\u2014the murder of a close friend as a teenager\u2014into a lifelong passion for public service. He was elected to the City Council in 2013 and as borough president in 2020. As Queens Borough president, he has been a tireless advocate for The World\u2019s Borough, allocating millions in capital funding across Queens\u2019 schools, cultural institutions, hospitals, libraries, parks and more. He has worked to support immigrant communities, to promote sustainability, to strengthen the economy of the borough, and to empower disadvantaged communities. ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ, his sister\u2019s alma mater, has received $4 million in funding from the borough president, which has supported essential facilities upgrades and important renovations. Borough President Richards has provided vital support to our sister CUNY schools located in Queens County.<\/p>\n “It is an immense honor to be awarded the ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ presidential medal, but it is an even higher honor to have the opportunity to address the incredible ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ Class of 2026 and celebrate their incredible educational achievement with them,” said Richards. “ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ is not just a pillar of higher education in New York City; its student body is the personification of Queens’ diversity, with this year’s graduates hailing from all over the world. It is a privilege to serve in an elected office where I am able to support their education through millions of dollars in investment, all in an effort to keep ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ strong. To the Class of 2026, I wish you nothing but prosperity down whichever path your life will lead you.”<\/p>\n Marie Maynard Daly <\/strong>was a renowned biochemist and the first Black woman in the United States to earn a PhD in chemistry, which she received from Columbia University in 1947. A native of Queens, she earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in chemistry from ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ in 1942. Daly made important research contributions in the chemistry of histones, protein synthesis, the relationships between cholesterol and hypertension, and creatine’s uptake by muscle cells. In addition to her research, she was committed to developing programs to increase the participation of minority students in medical schools and graduate science programs. In 1988, she established the Ivan C. and Helen H. Daly Scholarship at ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ to support students of merit in the physical sciences with \u201cdemonstrated interest in issues related to minorities in science or African American studies or history.\u201d<\/p>\n “While she lived in Corona balancing the weight of her groundbreaking lab work, she never forgot where her journey began,” said Reid. “She earned the ‘Ivy League’ accolades later, but it was the education she received HERE THAT provided the spark. <\/span>Nana [Daly] knew that science and math are more than academic subjects\u2026 they are the ultimate tools for mobility. They are the keys that unlock doors that, for a long time, were bolted shut for people who looked like her. <\/span>Receiving this honorary degree today isn’t just a tribute\u2026 it\u2019s a recognition of the soil that nurtured her genius before the rest of the world even knew her name.”<\/span><\/p>\n Lucy Freeman Sandler<\/strong> is the Helen Gould Sheppard Professor of Art History, emerita, at New York University, the institution from which she received her PhD in 1964. She earned her BA from ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ and graduated cum laude<\/em> in 1951. Sandler had a long teaching career at New York University in the Department of Fine Arts of the College of Arts and Science and the Institute of Fine Arts, from 1964 to her retirement in 2003; from 1975 to 1988, she was chair of the Department of Fine Arts. She is a distinguished art historian specializing in medieval European manuscript illumination. Throughout her prolific career, she has held significant editorial roles for prestigious publications, including the College Art Association Monograph Series<\/em>, Gesta<\/em>, and Studies in Iconography<\/em>. Her scholarship is anchored by several major works, such as Gothic Manuscripts, 1285-1385<\/em> and the recent Penned & Painted<\/em> (2022), alongside seven other monographs and numerous articles exploring manuscript illumination in medieval Europe. She has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation.<\/p>\n “I know that it\u2019s customary to offer a message of hope to graduates on this occasion,” said Sandler. “In our present troubled world, it is very difficult to phrase this message in terms of a specific hope for your professional success. What I do hope is that you will use everything you have learned at ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ for your own intellectual pleasure and profit, and that you will pass on the benefits of your experience to society at large, as I have tried to do.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n David Davydov “Hope may orient you towards the future, but it only does this by gripping you today,” said Davydov. “We<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>know this\u2013you know this, because this mentality brought you here. <\/span>You have your degree and are positioned to be successful; to be of service now that you have learned\u2013not because it was guaranteed, not because you knew it was coming, it was because you demanded it. Every day, you got out of your beds because you actively decided to be better. You did not quit until you achieved your goals. And today you stand here\u2013we stand here\u2013because we continue to decide that we will not be comforted until the better future we envisioned is made real. <\/span>I will remind you. Never forget to be proud. Never forget to be thankful. Today is an achievement. But also, never forget, that today is the foundation upon which tomorrow is built.”<\/span><\/p>\n The student commencement speaker is one of two recipients of the Paul Klapper Scholarship, the college\u2019s highest honor for graduating seniors. It is provided annually by the staff of ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ and other friends in memory of the school\u2019s first president and intended to encourage scholarly accomplishment, moral and intellectual integrity, and good citizenship. The College Committee on Honors and Awards selects the student speaker based on criteria\u00a0that include high grades and other forms of academic achievement, leadership, community service, breadth of courses taken, as well as evidence of originality, creativity, and promise of future contributions to society.<\/p>\n About ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ<\/strong> -30-<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow icon_color=”#A9A9A9″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”22px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” text_orientation=”left” width=”100%” min_height=”97px” custom_margin=”4px||-1px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/press_release_template\/” icon_color=”#FFFFFF” use_icon_font_size=”on” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#C0C0C0″ background_enable_color=”on” border_radii=”on|25px|25px|25px|25px” border_color_all=”#A9A9A9″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/press_releases\/” icon_color=”#FFFFFF” use_icon_font_size=”on” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#C0C0C0″ background_enable_color=”on” border_radii=”on|25px|25px|25px|25px” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/cws\/share?url=https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/press_releases” icon_color=”#FFFFFF” use_icon_font_size=”on” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#C0C0C0″ background_enable_color=”on” border_radii=”on|25px|25px|25px|25px” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjI1NzUiLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@” button_text=”Press Release Archive” _builder_version=”4.17.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_border_color=”#C0C0C0″ button_font=”||||||||” button_on_hover=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Maria Matteo” image_icon_background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” image_icon_width=”48px” _builder_version=”4.16.1″ header_font=”Open Sans||||||||” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”|||0px||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Media and College Relations <\/span><\/strong>718-997-5593 maria.matteo@qc.cuny.edu<\/a> [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ 102nd Commencement Recognized Over 4,000 Degree Candidates May 28, with Honors for Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. \u2014Honorary degrees were awarded to Marie Maynard Daly \u201942, posthumously, the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a PhD in chemistry; and to Lucy Freeman Sandler \u201951, distinguished art historian\u2014Flushing, NY, May 28, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"page_category":[],"wf_page_folders":[],"class_list":["post-6729","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6729"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6729\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"page_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page_category?post=6729"},{"taxonomy":"wf_page_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qc.cuny.edu\/communications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_page_folders?post=6729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/strong>David Davydov, one of two Paul Klapper Scholarship recipients, is a Macaulay Honors College<\/a> graduate who earned a 4.0 GPA. He completed a combined bachelors\/master\u2019s degree, with a major in philosophy and a minor in the Honors in the Humanities track. Davydov served as president of the Hillel Student Association and helped organize Jewish learning events as a member of Nachalah, an organization dedicated to enhancing Jewish Modern Orthodox student life at the college. He will attend Columbia Law School in fall 2026.<\/p>\n
ºì¶¹ÊÓƵ enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional programs. With nearly 70 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate degree and certificate and honors programs, and research and internship opportunities, the college helps its students realize their potential in countless ways, assisted by an accessible, award-winning faculty. Located on a beautiful, 80-acre campus in Flushing, New York, the college has been cited by Princeton Review<\/em> as one of America\u2019s Best Value Colleges, as well as being ranked eighth as a Forbes<\/em> College with the Highest Return on Investment for Graduates Nationwide, and sixth as a Wall Street Journal<\/em> Best Value College Nationwide, thanks to its outstanding academics, generous financial aid packages, and relatively low costs. Princeton Review<\/em> has designated QC a Best College for 34 consecutive years\u2014since the guide\u2019s inception. Forbes<\/em> Magazine, Money<\/em> Magazine, Princeton Review<\/em>, and U.S. News and World Report <\/em>recognize it as an overall top northeastern public college. Visit our homepage<\/a> to learn more.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n