IT'S GRADUATION WEEKEND ACROSS OUR REGION INCLUDING AT SUNY PLATTSBURGH. THE campus and community are gearing up for tomorrow's big day. which will be a FIRST for some grads. NBC 5'S BENNY NEZAJ JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR PLATTSBURGH STUDIO TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT. BENNY? BRIAN AND LIZ - THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF SUNY PLATTSBURGH'S SPRING CLASS OF 20-24 WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TOMORROW WITNESSING THE SOON TO BE COLLEGE GRADUATES ENTER THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES... (áááCENTER LOGO WIPEááá) IVONNE DIAZ IS A SUNY PLATTSBURGH COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT. After four years of studies - she's about to walk across the graduation stage for the first time. The senior from NEW YORK CITY got her last diploma at her high school's 'drive-thru' ceremony - at the height of the covid- 19 pandemic. She has mixed emotions this time around. SENIOR, SUNY PLATTSBURGH 18;36;35;00 - 18;36;46;21 <"THE EXCITEMENT KIND OF LIKE DIMINISHED AND THERE WAS JUST NO EXCITEMENT THERE. SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A REASON WHY I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY EMOTIONS. I'M NOT CRYING OR NOT SAD. AND I'M JUST LIKE, 'YEAH, I'M GRADUATING.'"> (áááVOááá) FOR NURSING STUDENT ISRAEL MUAMBA WHO'S ORIGINALLY from CENTRAL AFRICA - ------, IT'S SET TO BE AN SPECIAL DAY AS HE GETS SET TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE IN FRONT OF HIS KIDS (áááSOTááá) ISRAEL MUAMBA/ GRADUATING NURSING STUDENT, SUNY PLATTSBURGH 18;34;57;12 - 18;35;09;03 <"AS A MALE IN THE NURSING IS VERY MONUMENTAL. ALSO, VERY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT WILL ALSO WANT TO BE A NURSE.'> (áááVOááá) THREE DIFFERENT CEREMONIES TAKING PLACE TOMORROW AT THE SUNY PLATTSBURGH FIELD HOUSE - including STUDENTS IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES PROGRAM, THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS, AND THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES... MANY visiting FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WILL BE STAYING AT LOCAL HOTELS AND EATING AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS. AND ONE RESTAURANT IN PLATTSBURGH SAYS THEY ALWAYS SEE A HIGH TURNOUT FOR GRADUATION WEEKEND. (áááSOTááá) JENILEE GILLESPIE/ WAITRESS, MICHIGAN'S PLUS 18;21;00;22 - 18;21;14;00 <"WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO GRADUATION WEEKEND HERE AT MICHIGAN STATE PLUS BECAUSE WE GET SO CLOSE TO ALL THE FAMILIES. WE SEE THE KIDS COME AND GO THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND WE GET TO WATCH THEM GRADUATE. IT REALLY HELPS THE BUSINESS OUT."> (áááVOááá) campus LEADERS ARE CELEBRATING the end of the semester - and THE SUCCESS OF MOVING THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICE TO A MORE CENTRALIZED LOCATION ON CAMPUS (áááSOTááá) ALLISON HEARD/ VP, SUNY PLATTSBURGH DEI 18;26;56;24 - 18;27;03;26 <"WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW OUR STAFF, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW OF SUPPORT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER TO ALL ISRAEL MUAMBA GRADUATING NURSING YEARS AGO I TOOK MY DAUGHTER. WE CAME FOR ADMISSION. WE WALK THROUGH AND THEN NOW SHE'S GOING TO SEE IS A VERY, VERY GOOD EXAMPLE AND THEN A GOOD FEELING."> (áááSOTááá) IVONNE DIAZ GRADUATING COMMUNICATIONS SENIOR, SUNY PLATTSBURGH <"IF WE STILL NEEDED HELP EVEN AFTER COLLEGE, THEY'LL BE THERE. SO I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE HERE THAT I CAN REACH OUT TO."> EACH OF THE CEREMONIES WILL HAVE THEIR OWN TIME SLOT
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SUNY Plattsburgh prepares for spring 2024 graduation ceremonies
The graduation ceremonies will take place at the SUNY Plattsburgh Field House
Reporter
Thousands of families and friends are set to attend SUNY Plattsburgh’s graduation ceremonies this Saturday, celebrating the spring class of 2024 as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Among the graduates is Ivonne Diaz, a communications student from New York City, who is preparing to walk across the stage for the first time after experiencing her high school graduation during a "drive-thru" ceremony at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.Reflecting on her upcoming graduation, Diaz expressed mixed emotions."The excitement kind of diminished, and there was just no excitement there. So, I don't know if that's a reason why I just don't have any emotions. I'm not crying or not sad. And I'm just like, 'Yeah, I'm graduating,'" Diaz said.For Israel Muamba, a nursing student originally from Central Africa, the day holds special significance. "As a male in nursing, it is very monumental. Also, very significant because I have a daughter that will also want to be a nurse," Muamba said. The graduation ceremonies will take place at the SUNY Plattsburgh Field House, with separate events for students in the Arts and Sciences program, the School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education, Health and Human Services. Many families and friends visiting for the occasion will be staying at local hotels and dining at local restaurants, providing a boost to the local economy.Jenilee Gillespie, a waitress at Michigan’s Plus, noted the positive impact of graduation weekend on local businesses."We always look forward to graduation weekend here at Michigan's Plus because we get so close to all the families. We see the kids come and go throughout the years, and we get to watch them graduate. It really helps the business out," Gillespie said. Campus leaders are also celebrating the end of the semester and the successful relocation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office to a more centralized location on campus.Allison Heard, vice president of SUNY Plattsburgh DEI, said, "We've been able to grow our staff, we've been able to grow our resources and the support that we're able to offer to all of our students."Graduates like Muamba and Diaz cherish their time at SUNY Plattsburgh and know they will always be considered Plattsburgh Cardinals. "I remember six years ago, I took my daughter. We came for admission. We walked through, and now she's going to see me graduating, which is a very, very good example and then a good feeling," Muamba said.Diaz echoed similar sentiments, appreciating the ongoing support from the college. "If we still needed help even after college, they'll be there. So I know that there will be people here that I can reach out to," Diaz said.The graduation ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m.
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. —
Thousands of families and friends are set to attend SUNY Plattsburgh’s graduation ceremonies this Saturday, celebrating the spring class of 2024 as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.
Among the graduates is Ivonne Diaz, a communications student from New York City, who is preparing to walk across the stage for the first time after experiencing her high school graduation during a "drive-thru" ceremony at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Reflecting on her upcoming graduation, Diaz expressed mixed emotions.
"The excitement kind of diminished, and there was just no excitement there. So, I don't know if that's a reason why I just don't have any emotions. I'm not crying or not sad. And I'm just like, 'Yeah, I'm graduating,'" Diaz said.
For Israel Muamba, a nursing student originally from Central Africa, the day holds special significance.
"As a male in nursing, it is very monumental. Also, very significant because I have a daughter that will also want to be a nurse," Muamba said.
The graduation ceremonies will take place at the SUNY Plattsburgh Field House, with separate events for students in the Arts and Sciences program, the School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education, Health and Human Services.
Many families and friends visiting for the occasion will be staying at local hotels and dining at local restaurants, providing a boost to the local economy.
Jenilee Gillespie, a waitress at Michigan’s Plus, noted the positive impact of graduation weekend on local businesses.
"We always look forward to graduation weekend here at Michigan's Plus because we get so close to all the families. We see the kids come and go throughout the years, and we get to watch them graduate. It really helps the business out," Gillespie said.
Campus leaders are also celebrating the end of the semester and the successful relocation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office to a more centralized location on campus.
Allison Heard, vice president of SUNY Plattsburgh DEI, said, "We've been able to grow our staff, we've been able to grow our resources and the support that we're able to offer to all of our students."
Graduates like Muamba and Diaz cherish their time at SUNY Plattsburgh and know they will always be considered Plattsburgh Cardinals.
"I remember six years ago, I took my daughter. We came for admission. We walked through, and now she's going to see me graduating, which is a very, very good example and then a good feeling," Muamba said.
Diaz echoed similar sentiments, appreciating the ongoing support from the college.
"If we still needed help even after college, they'll be there. So I know that there will be people here that I can reach out to," Diaz said.
The graduation ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m.
Graduation do over: College graduates prepare to walk the stage for the first time after COVID-19 disrupted high school ceremonies
