BMCC Celebrates Graduates at Inspiring 58th Commencement

Thousands of proud family members and friends cheered on graduating members of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) Class of 2023 on June 8 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  The 58^th annual ceremony recognized more than 3,600 graduates from the past academic year.

More than 1,600 of those graduates participated in this year’s commencement event, each of them, crossing the stage and receiving their diplomas as their names were called out over the arena’s sound system. Around half of the graduates earned grade point averages of 3.3 and higher, earning them the distinction of honors on their diploma.

In addition to the traditional trappings of pomp and circumstance, the 2023 commencement, held on the year the College marks its 60^th anniversary, included a dazzling cultural celebration performance featuring scores of dancers and musicians including the BMCC Brass Band led by Music Professors David Levy and Quentin Angus.

During his welcoming remarks, BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe told the graduates their ideas will make industry better, their compassion will make healthcare better, their strategic minds will make science better and their creativity will make Broadway better.

“Our graduates become teachers, nurses, scientists, financial analysts, doctors, lawyers, politicians, jazz musicians and so much more,” said President Munroe. “Graduates, you are our hope for tomorrow. Now is the time to take the greater knowledge, capacities and insights you developed while at BMCC and apply them in a career, or a degree program that will give you the life you truly want and positively impact and strengthen your families, your communities and the fields you enter.”

When the president asked the graduates who were the first in their family to earn a college degree to stand, more than half of them stood up to a round of thunderous applause. Even more stood up when he recognized all the graduates who persevered despite holding down full or part-time jobs.

Among the ceremony’s other speakers were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who sent his message via video, Vice President for Student Affairs Marva Craig, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Erwin Wong, CUNY Board of Trustee’s member Brian Obergfell and CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodríguez.

The Chancellor told the graduates that BMCC and all CUNY schools have served as powerful engines of social mobility in New York City for decades.

“I want you today to own that sense of history, of social mobility and change,” said Chancellor Rodríguez. “CUNY, BMCC, all our schools—we are the backbone that makes New York City run. All the things that are great about New York City—our creativity, our excellence, every sector of the economy—it is the graduates of the City University of New York who hold up this city and make it great. Now you can go on to write your own chapter of excellence, of dreams and fulfillment in this great city of New York.”

Featured keynote speakers included Student Government Association President Carlene Hunte-Nelson and Valedictorian Alex Brown.

Among this year’s special guests were BMCC alumna Dr. Sandra Lindsey, who was the first person in the United States to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, as well as Alsion Roach Wilson, Consul General of Jamaica, New York. Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies’ Chief Community Impact Officer Lorelei Vargas accepted the Presidential Medal for the organization.

“Today is such a special day for all of you here, and this is why we at Trinity do what we do,” said Vargas. “Each of you has a story, a compelling story and for many of you, today did not come easy. It was not a straight path and sometimes, a difficult and painful path. Perhaps at some point, you wondered if you were on the right path, but nonetheless, you are here today—you made it, you got your degree. So today I say, ‘Congratulations.’

The ceremony closed with President Munroe and Provost and Senior Vice President Wong conferring the graduate’s degrees followed by a moving performance of BMCC’s alma mater, “Hail to Manhattan” performed by the singer Michael Mayo.

To watch the ceremony in its entirety, visit the BMCC Media Center’s live stream page. Watch a special post-commencement video featuring interviews with graduates here.