CUNY Baccalaureate Program 2007 Commencement

CUNY Baccalaureate Program's 2007 Commencement took place on Wednesday, June 6 at 10 am at The Great Hall at The Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue (the Foundation Building) in Manhattan .

The ceremony celebrated 260 graduates who received their BA and BS degrees in January, June and September 2007.

The guest speaker was Richard D. Parsons, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Time Warner Inc. (read or listen)

The guest faculty speaker was Professor Gertrude Lenzer, Professor of Sociology and Director, Children’s Studies Program and Center, Brooklyn College. (read)

The student speaker was Karalyn Shimmyo who will be graduating with her BA in September 2007 with area of concentration in Experimental Social Psychology. (read)

Noe Venable, a CUNY BA student with Religious Dimensions in Healing area of concentration, sang The National Anthem.

Administered by The Graduate Center, the CUNY Baccalaureate Program (CUNY BA/BS Program) is the university-wide individualized bachelor's degree. The small program is intended for self-directed, academically strong students who have well-formulated academic and career goals. Most are working adults, many of whom are raising families; 80% are over 25 years old (49% are over 35 years old); and a significant number are returning to school, often after a hiatus of anywhere from 5 to 30 years. The Program has an enrollment of 700 students and has over 6,000 alumni. The program generates many graduates with compelling life stories, a few of which will follow soon.