Hartwick College Readies for May 17 Commencement, Celebrating Class of 2025

ONEONTA, NY (05/06/2025) During its 93rd Commencement ceremony, Hartwick College will confer degrees to roughly 225 students at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, on Elmore Field.

Honorary degrees will be conferred on Patricia Spears Jones, an award-winning poet, educator and cultural activist; and Richard Ekman, a nationally recognized leader in higher education. Jones and Ekman will also serve as commencement speakers.

Presentations for the President’s Medal and Bunn Award

The President’s Medal for Extraordinary and Exemplary Loyalty to the College will be awarded to Elizabeth “Betty” Powell, associate director of athletics, senior woman administrator and compliance director. Powell ’82 has been an integral part of Hartwick’s Department of Athletics since 1969.

During the ceremony, the College will announce the Margaret B. Bunn Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award is presented to an outstanding faculty member as determined by alumni who have graduated within the last five years.

This year’s Abraham L. Kellogg Oratorical Prize winner will also be announced.

The award is given to a graduating senior who delivered the best oratorical presentation during the College’s Honors Convocation, as determined by faculty.

This year’s finalists include:

• Roselyn DuMerville ’25 – “Guided by Henry.”
• Kelechi Springer ’25 – “Another Bronx Tale.”
• Jae Stuchel ’25 – “The Art of Learning, A Voice of Change.”

The commencement ceremony will be webcast live on the Commencement webpage beginning at 10 a.m. on May 17. The ceremony will also be webcast on the College’s YouTube Channel.

Milestone Events

Leading up to commencement, Hartwick will also celebrate the graduates on Friday, May 16, through a selection of milestone events, including:

• 1 p.m. Nurses Pinning, Binder Gymnasium.
• 4 p.m. Senior Art Show Reception, Foreman Art Gallery, Anderson Center for the Arts.
• 5 p.m. Senior Send-Off Reception, Stack Lounge, Dewar Union.

For more information about Commencement 2025, visit the website.