Empire State University Holds 2024 Commencement

Empire State University held its 2024 commencement last week in Albany. Photo provided by Cherie Haughney.

ALBANY — Empire State University held its 2024 commencement on Friday, May 3 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

Members of the class of 2024 collectively live in 57 different New York State counties, 22 U.S. states and territories, and 67 countries around the world. They ranged from age 18 to 77. 67 of the graduates were military-affiliated students, including active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Reserve, veterans, spouses, and other dependents.

The ceremony featured student speaker Em Wasserman, who received a bachelor’s degree in social science with a concentration in human rights advocacy. Wasserman is the university’s Student Government Association president and recipient of the 2024 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be here with you to celebrate and honor our hard work and dedication as students, often with so many compounding responsibilities,” Wasserman said. “We stand on the brink of a new chapter ready to embark on journeys that will continue to shape our futures and our narratives. Each of us has a story to tell, and my story of perseverance is only one of the many powerful stories in this room.”