NEW YORK, N.Y. May 20, 2024 ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Standing before thousands of graduates and their supporters at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s Commencement, Tony Award-winning actor addressed the graduating class of 2024.
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Let go of the reins that you have held onto for the past few years,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ she said. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Let go of the impulse to control outcome. Let go of the voices in your head telling you to worry, to be anxious, and to fear the unknown. This challenge is meant to assure you that by letting go you make room for this new perspective. For inspiration, creativity, and the energy you will need to keep evolving.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Speaking to roughly 20,000 people including 4,093 graduates at in Queens, LaChanze shared her journey to Broadway and beyond, reminding students that while following their dreams wouldnΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½t always be easy, the rewards would always be worth the effort.
LaChanze, who received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, was among many highlights throughout the day that included five ceremonies, student speakers, a food village, music, and lots of Commencement festivities. The day culminated with the conferral of nearly 4,100 degrees including 2,382 mastersΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½, which is the largest number in over five years. In a graduation reflective of PaceΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s theme of Opportunitas, graduates and their families celebrated a day of joy, achievement and looking forward to the future.
In addition, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, which recently earned the No. 1 ranking for Environmental Law by U.S. News & World Report for the fourth consecutive year, graduated 254 students.
Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, the received the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the highest honor conferred by the Law School, recognizing his lifelong contributions to public service and the legal profession.
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Put honesty first, whether you are interacting with courts, clients, adversaries or colleagues,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said Judge Wilson. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Remember that the historical core of your profession is compassion, not craftiness. Devote some meaningful measure of your time to helping those who cannot afford your assistance, but who desperately need it.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Former president of DC Comics Paul Levitz addressed the joint afternoon ceremony for the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Sands College of Performing Arts, and School of Education where he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. President of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens, David L. Reich, MD addressed graduates of the College of Health Professions and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. Pace also awarded Angella and Danroy Henry, parents of former Pace student Danroy ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½DJΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Henry Jr. and founders of the , with its Opportunitas in Action Award.
DJ Henry was a Pace Student and a member of the football team. His life was tragically cut short on October 17, 2010 when he was shot and killed by a Pleasantville police officer.
During the main ceremony, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ President Marvin Krislov told the graduates he was incredibly proud of them and was impressed by their strength and resilience. He noted that many of the graduates did not have a high school graduation in 2020. Thus, making this ceremony more meaningful for them, their families, and their friends.
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Everyone has faced obstacles ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ a health challenge, a career setback, a loss,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said President Krislov. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½But I have learned that everyone has kindness, generosity, and unique talents. As you move forward through the world, I urge you to always practice empathy.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
In closing, Krislov asked the graduates to remember three things: to commit to being citizens of the world and keep learning; to be open and share their story with others and learn othersΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ stories; and to remain active and part of the Pace Community.
In addition to the main ceremony, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Your hard work and dedication have brought you to this pivotal moment,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins to graduates via video. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½As you embark on your new journeys, I encourage you to stay true to your values, embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and pursue your dreams with relentless determination.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Students celebrating this exciting achievement were a mix of undergraduate, graduate, law, and doctoral students, spanning a variety of disciplines and future careers, such as nurses and physician assistants, cybersecurity experts, lawyers, accountants, teachers, performers, and much more.
Since 1906, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ has been transforming the lives of its diverse studentsΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, School of Education, Sands College of Performing Arts, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Art Gallery presents Critical Connections: Protest Photography Past + Present, in collaboration with ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ a movement designed to create Black and Asian solidarity through mutual education and celebration. The exhibition opens with a free public reception on Thursday, November 14, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A coalition of lawmakers, small business groups, and entrepreneurs came together recently to celebrate the expansion of ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s on-site small business counseling services to Flatbush, Brooklyn.
As part of National Arts and Humanities Month, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ is highlighting its commitment to experiential learning in the humanities. The university recently kicked-off The Ground Beneath Our Feet (GBOF), a program funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (), which provides students with hands-on experience while connecting them to history and current events.