SUNY Cobleskill marked its 104th Commencement Saturday, officially conferring degrees upon more than five-hundred graduates of the Class of 2022. The ceremony was held in-person, and with family and friends in attendance, for the first time since 2019. Graduates represented more than fifty baccalaureate and associate degree programs in the College’s School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the School of Business and Liberal Arts and Sciences.
“Our graduating students have renewed the joy of learning on this campus. Living and learning through these moments has afforded them a unique view of our collective humanity, opened new ways of thinking, and let them show the world what they are truly capable of through resilience, fortitude, and empathy,” said President Marion Terenzio, Ph.D.. “Their embracing of this worldview prepares them to enter a new reality, one that did not exist at the beginning of their college careers, but one that is now theirs to grow and sustain with the knowledge and experiences they’ve taken from SUNY Cobleskill.”
In addition to celebrating the academic achievements of students and their perseverance through the disruption of the pandemic, the College also awarded a SUNY Doctorate of Humane Letters to Kathleen King. A 1979 graduate of SUNY Cobleskill, King is the founder of Tate’s Bake Shop, an internationally recognized brand, loved for Kathleen’s signature, irresistibly crisp and buttery chocolate chip cookies, and an ever-expanding line of desserts and gluten-free offerings.
King’s keynote address to graduates focused on overcoming and learning from failures in life, based on her experience of rebuilding her business from scratch following an ill-fated business partnership.
“People don’t like to talk about failure, especially on a day like today where it’s just supposed to be rainbows and sunshine. Fear of failure is what holds us back. But failure means you are taking risks and living outside of your boundaries. It creates character and a richer soul,” said King. “The lessons I learned from my epic failure and success are where the gold is. I learned that failure is a gift. So, ask yourself, ‘What would I do if I were not afraid of failure?’ This is living.”
The event was livestreamed through the College’s website for supporters who could not attend in person. The event recording can be viewed here: www.cobleskill.edu/academics/commencement.
