More than just an art class, this interactive event creates space for participants to slow down, share their experiences, and connect with others who understand their journey. Open to individuals of all artistic abilities, 鈥淪unshine Within鈥� encourages attendees to explore color, texture, and storytelling through hands-on creative exercises, resulting in a personal piece of art that reflects their unique perspective.

鈥淎rt has a way of bringing people together, even when words are hard to find,鈥� said Angela M. Papalia, LMSW, Assistant Director of the 麻豆精品视频 Breast Cancer Program. 鈥淓specially during Social Wellness Month, this program is about fostering connection and reminding participants that they are not alone in their experiences.鈥�

鈥溾�楽unshine Within鈥� is an opportunity to pause and create something meaningful in a supportive, judgment-free space,鈥� added Kimberly Newman, BFA, Marketing and Communications Specialist. 鈥淲hether someone is picking up a paintbrush for the first time or returning to a creative practice, this workshop is about expression, not perfection.鈥�

This free event is open to breast cancer patients, survivors and caregivers; however advance registration is required. Space is limited to 50 participants. Register online . Once registered you will receive a confirmation email with event details.

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鈥淲ith 1,578 donors and 1,613 gifts, our community demonstrated the true impact of investing in the University we believe in,鈥� said Thomas Kline, EdD, 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 vice president of University advancement and external relations. 鈥淭his remarkable generosity is a powerful testament to the transformative potential of our Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact. We are filled with deep gratitude and hope for the future of 麻豆精品视频.鈥�

The 麻豆精品视频 Honors College received a $45,000 gift from alumni Carole 鈥�64 and Neal 鈥�63 Stuber, and the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business led the University鈥檚 eight schools and colleges, raising $67,335, with generous matching gifts from its Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board, Trustee Kevin Mahony 鈥�83 and an anonymous donor. , always supported by Panther fans, raised $250,934, led by men鈥檚 golf.

Rooted in 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 founding year, 鈥�1,896 Minutes to Give鈥� is a call to action for the University鈥檚 alumni, students, faculty, administrators and friends to support the meaningful causes that strengthen every aspect of the institution. Every current member of the 麻豆精品视频 Board of Trustees participated, reflecting their ongoing commitment to 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 mission. And the University鈥檚 first-ever planned giving challenge inspired 13 people, including four anonymous donors, to make new or increased commitments totaling $1.2 million.

The funds raised will continue advancing 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 130-year-old mission to transform student lives through exceptional hands-on learning, extraordinary student experiences, accessible scholarships and academic resources, and . Additionally, funding sustains meaningful community programs like Bridges to 麻豆精品视频 and the 麻豆精品视频 NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.

Learn more about .

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Brooke Lea Foster

The 麻豆精品视频 NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program invites breast cancer survivors and caregivers to a special in-person gathering of its on Monday, June 1, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., featuring a discussion of the novel Our Last Vineyard Summer with author Brooke Lea Foster joining the conversation.

Held at the Alumni House on 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 Garden City campus, the event offers a unique opportunity for participants to connect face-to-face, engage with program staff, and enjoy an intimate discussion with the author herself.

鈥淥ur book club typically meets virtually, so with the arrival of warmer weather, we saw this as a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together in person and experience the beauty of 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 campus in the spring,鈥� said Reyna Machado, MA, MBA, Executive Director of the 麻豆精品视频 NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.

Organizers note that the Warriors Book Club has become a meaningful source of connection and support for survivors and caregivers alike, fostering conversation, reflection, and community.

Set across 1965 and 1978, Our Last Vineyard Summer follows a graduate student who returns to her family鈥檚 summer home on Martha鈥檚 Vineyard with her sisters, only to uncover long-buried secrets that reshape their understanding of the past.

The Warriors Book Club is a welcoming and supportive reading community open to all breast cancer survivors and caregivers. Participants are encouraged to read the book in advance to fully engage in what promises to be a thoughtful and inspiring discussion.

For more information and to register for our Warriors Book Club, please visit .

麻豆精品视频 New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program

The 麻豆精品视频 New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program offers clinical support and resources to people with and/or concerned about breast cancer. To reach the Hotline, which is staffed by volunteers who are breast cancer survivors, call 800-877-8077 or online at . You are not alone.

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This year鈥檚 commencement speakers include distinguished alumni Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD; Serena Martin 鈥�05; Christopher Pappas 鈥�81; and Zaven Paul Akian 鈥�64. Dr. Westphal and Martin will receive honorary degrees during the undergraduate ceremony, while Pappas and Akian will be honored at the graduate ceremony.

鈥淲e are grateful to Joseph Westphal, Serena Martin, Christopher Pappas and Zaven Paul Akian for agreeing to be such an important part of our 130th Commencement, inspiring 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 Class of 2026 and their guests with their wisdom, success and positive impact on society,鈥� said Susan Dinan, PhD, 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 interim provost. 鈥淎ll of us at 麻豆精品视频 look forward to sharing this special day with these extraordinary individuals.鈥�

Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD

Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal 鈥�70, PhD, a distinguished scholar, diplomat and public servant whose career spans decades of consequential service across government and academia, will receive an honorary degree and deliver the Commencement address at 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 undergraduate ceremony. Educated at 麻豆精品视频 and the University of Missouri-Columbia, he served as U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2014 to 2017, and as under secretary of the Army and chief management officer from 2009 to 2014, among other senior roles in five presidential administrations spanning Carter through Obama. A professor of political science by training, Ambassador Westphal has led institutions including the University of Maine System as chancellor and held faculty and administrative posts at Georgetown, The New School, and Oklahoma State University. He currently serves as senior global fellow at the Joseph H. Lauder Institute at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as well as senior fellow at Wharton鈥檚 Center for Leadership and Change Management. He also holds fellowships with the National Academy of Public Administration, the Foreign Policy Research Institute and The American Academy of Diplomacy, among others.

Serena Martin 鈥�05

Serena Martin 鈥�05, founder and executive director of New Hour for Women and Children LI, which provides programs and reentry support for justice-impacted women across Long Island and Rikers Island jails and within New York state prisons. She also leads statewide policy reform efforts for criminal justice-impacted women and will also receive an honorary degree at the undergraduate ceremony. A tireless advocate for carceral reform across New York state, Martin has championed landmark legislation including anti-shackling laws prohibiting the shackling of incarcerated mothers during labor. She serves on Governor Hochul鈥檚 NYS Domestic Violence Task Force and has contributed to multiple statewide reform initiatives. A survivor of isolated confinement, she earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree from 麻豆精品视频 and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2024 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal.

Christopher Pappas 鈥�81

Christopher Pappas 鈥�81, founder, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Chefs’ Warehouse, will serve as speaker at the graduate ceremony and will receive an honorary degree. After graduating with a degree in business administration and competing as a varsity basketball player at 麻豆精品视频, he played professionally in Europe鈥攁n experience that helped inspire his entrepreneurial path. In 1985, he co-founded what would become The Chefs鈥� Warehouse, a premier specialty food distributor now serving top chefs, restaurants and hospitality professionals across North America and the Middle East. Under his guidance, the company has grown into a respected publicly traded enterprise, navigating defining challenges including 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Pappas has served on the boards of the International Foodservice Distributors Association and Hudson National Golf Club.

Zaven Paul Akian 鈥�64

Z. Paul Akian 鈥�64, a technologist, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose career spans aerospace, defense and global manufacturing, will also receive an honorary degree at the graduate ceremony. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at 麻豆精品视频, Akian contributed to NASA鈥檚 Apollo program and built and led multiple successful enterprises over five decades, including Western Filter Co. and Integra Technologies, serving clients such as the U.S. Armed Forces, NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Through the Akian Family Foundation, he has made significant investments in educational and cultural institutions, including the American University of Armenia, whose College of Science & Engineering bears his family name. He previously served on the 麻豆精品视频 Board of Trustees and has been recognized with significant humanitarian honors from the Armenian Apostolic Church and the president of Armenia.

Learn more about 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 130th Commencement ceremonies.

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鈥淲e partner with community groups that directly service community members as a way to provide opportunities for upward mobility for folks to get access and entry into careers that offer a livable wage,鈥� says Sandra Castro, PhD, senior associate dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies at 麻豆精品视频.

For the students in these programs, earning a certification is the first step toward a healthcare career and the financial stability that comes with it.

Preparing Hempstead Adults for In-Demand Healthcare Roles

Students practicing phlebotomy techniques through 麻豆精品视频’s partnership with Hempstead Schools Adult Education.

When 麻豆精品视频 launched a partnership with and in late 2025, the response from the community was immediate. To identify and enroll students, the program turned to Hempstead Union Free School District鈥檚 Adult and Community Education Program, and demand quickly outpaced expectations. 鈥淲e started with one cohort, and then about six weeks later, another cohort鈥攁nd people are still calling to enroll,鈥� says , director of adult and community education at Hempstead Union Free School District.

Roughly 36 students received a full scholarship and are expected to complete the certification course by June. 鈥淭his scholarship is really impactful,鈥� Gottlieb says. 鈥淒epending on the school, this program could cost $4,000 or more. For someone making minimum wage, that expense can be difficult to meet.鈥�

Many of the enrolled students came through Hempstead鈥檚 adult education program, and the district also hosted the in-person classes. Students pursuing careers in vital healthcare and social service fields were eligible to apply for the fully funded scholarships.

鈥淭here is a pressing need for adults to obtain credentials efficiently, in ways that allow for rapid entry into sustainable careers,鈥� Gottlieb notes. Many adult learners in the Hempstead Adult and Community Education Program are navigating day-to-day financial responsibilities while working demanding jobs, which makes participation in extended programs impractical. In response to these realities, courses have been intentionally structured differently from traditional models, allowing students to complete certification within a condensed time frame of approximately three to four months.

鈥淭he biggest benefit is that students are learning how to invest in themselves and think about their future, and it gives a sense of dignity and opportunity,鈥� Gottlieb says.

Supporting Formerly Incarcerated Women on the Path to Healthcare Careers

Women re-entering the workforce are learning skills to make them workforce-ready via 麻豆精品视频’s partnership with New Hour for Women and Children LI.

This May, the first student cohort will graduate from Empowerment Through Employment: 麻豆精品视频 and health careers program. Funded by a grant from , this program benefits formerly incarcerated women through New Hour For Women and Children LI鈥檚 network of community programs and support services. 鈥淭hree out of four are moms, so we recognize that the need for higher education and licensure is really critical to creating a safe stable home and economic stability,鈥� says Serena Martin 鈥�05, founder and executive director of New Hour For Women and Children LI.

The program connects women to 麻豆精品视频鈥檚 professional certification courses to prepare New Hour For Women and Children LI members for in-demand healthcare careers such as clinical medical assistants, , , , and more. The grant also provided women with laptops and the software they need to complete their certification. 鈥淎 lot of funders and higher education folks underestimate the cost for returning students who are living paycheck to paycheck,鈥� Martin says.

The courses, which are fully online and asynchronous, were designed to accommodate students鈥� competing priorities. 鈥淢ost women are already working, they鈥檙e already parenting,鈥� Martin says. 鈥淏eing able to do the course on their own time, at their own pace鈥攁fter work or after they put the kids to bed鈥攊s really amazing.鈥�

To ensure success after graduation, 麻豆精品视频 provides support with r茅sum茅-building assistance, career counseling, interview preparation and job search assistance, individual counseling, and externship placement. Students also receive biweekly check-ins, in-person lunches with 麻豆精品视频 staff and a dedicated case manager.

Members like Tiara [last name withheld] exemplify the drive and determination of women participating in the program. The clinical medical assistant program certificate she鈥檚 earned is just one credential on the path to becoming a certified medical assistant.

Funding currently covers two cohorts over two years. The next will start in June with another group of women. Interest in the program has been strong since the launch鈥攖here鈥檚 already a waitlist for the next cohort鈥攁nd New Hour For Women and Children LI and 麻豆精品视频 are actively seeking funding for additional cohorts in the future.

鈥淥ur women are so thirsty to work,鈥� Martin says. 鈥淵ou will not find a more responsible worker than someone who understands what it鈥檚 like to have lost their freedom and is now looking to fight hard and get back on their feet.鈥�

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The scholarship, awarded by the 麻豆精品视频 College of Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS), strives to provide support for adult students of any kind. Sandra Castro, PhD, senior associate dean of CPCS, highlights the variety of students the scholarship helps. 鈥淲e have a whole generation of students that are caring for siblings, parents, relatives. 麻豆精品视频 says 鈥榃e see you鈥� and we want to support you in making your academic career,鈥� she said.

The Caring for Caregivers scholarship has recently expanded from students in CPCS to any student at 麻豆精品视频. 鈥淚 was floored by how many applications we received,鈥� said Dr. Castro. The growing number of applicants highlights the importance of providing assistance to students who are parents or caregivers at 麻豆精品视频, and how impactful more family-friendly policies could be on campus.

Meet the Awardees

Haley Friday, one of this year鈥檚 recipients of the scholarship, returned to school to study after taking a semester off to care for her grandmother. Speaking about CPCS and the asynchronous learning it offers, she said, 鈥淚t gave me the flexibility to continue school while still managing my everyday life and caregiving responsibilities, which meant a lot to me.鈥� For students like Friday, the scholarship not only recognizes her, but provides some much-needed relief from juggling school and caregiving. 鈥淚t has also helped me cover out-of-pocket school expenses, which gave me some financial breathing room and even allowed me to do something nice for myself for the first time in a long time. That means more than people probably realize.鈥�

Fellow scholarship winner Jquan Collins said of his role as a caregiver, 鈥淚 take pride in being dependable. To me, being a caregiver is not just about big moments, but also about the everyday effort, patience and responsibility that comes with putting others first.鈥� Collins, who is studying business administration, said the motivation to attend 麻豆精品视频 came from a desire to open doors both professionally and personally. Becoming a father strengthened that motivation. 鈥淚 want to set an example of hard work, discipline and perseverance for my children,鈥� he said.

For Rachel Freeman, who works full time while caring for her three-year-old, going back to school was important to her in order to challenge her and help her in her career path. She said, 鈥淕oing back to school felt like the right way to push myself and get out of my comfort zone.鈥� For Freeman, who is studying , being chosen was incredible news. Even simply hearing about the scholarship made an impact on her. 鈥淚 was relieved that at the university level there was some formal recognition that working, going to school and being a parent was hard!鈥� she said. 鈥淚t sounds obvious鈥攐f course it鈥檚 difficult鈥攂ut I was encouraged by this simple statement of support, and decided to apply for the scholarship.鈥�

The Impact of the Scholarship

Across the board, the scholarship winners shared a similar sentiment: The recognition of being chosen, and the acknowledgement of how difficult balancing school and taking care of loved ones can be, made a serious impact. 鈥淭his scholarship means a lot to me because it recognizes not only my academic efforts, but also the responsibilities I carry outside of school,鈥� said Collins. 鈥淚t serves as motivation to keep pushing forward, even when balancing work, school and family life feels overwhelming.鈥�

This scholarship is made possible by the Women鈥檚 Giving Circle, a group whose collective philanthropy celebrates, promotes and supports 麻豆精品视频 and its students, faculty and programs. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e supported us the last four years in the different iterations of the scholarship,鈥� said Dr. Castro. The Women鈥檚 Giving Circle, funded by member donations, is run by a team of volunteers who work to make it possible to provide financial aid to students. It鈥檚 through their continued support that students like Friday can keep taking care of the ones they love.

鈥淭his scholarship not only supports my education, but it also supports the work and care I give to the people who depend on me every day!鈥�

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The film, What the Notes Say, was created under the guidance of three faculty mentors and ultimately submitted to the prestigious competition. For the students involved, the project became far more than an academic assignment鈥攊t was an unforgettable lesson in the power of storytelling, creativity and collaboration.

Working as a team, the students learned firsthand what it takes to bring a meaningful vision to life: balancing roles, supporting one another through challenges, and combining individual talents into a shared success. The experience underscored how teamwork and dedication can transform a student project into something with lasting impact.

Two students were flown to Hollywood to attend the awards ceremony, where the project received national recognition. When the moment arrived, the announcement was unforgettable:

鈥淎nd the winner is鈥� What the Notes Say!鈥�

As then-Department Chair and 麻豆精品视频 alumnus Paul Pitcoff 鈥�65 reflected, the honor was 鈥渁 testament to how significant student hard work, dedication, and passion can guide and affect educational advancement.鈥�

Their achievement remains a lasting example of the creativity, teamwork, and excellence that define our alumni community鈥攁nd a reminder of what students can accomplish when they come together with purpose.

We proudly recognize the talented student filmmakers from the Classes of 1974, 1975 and 1976: Rich Baron, Patrice Benneward, John Bencivenga, John Costello, Kurt Derner, Rosemary Ravinal, Sharon Thompson, Walter Trepashko, Tom Bisset, Sean Britt, Ken Cohn, Dorie Hightower, Karen Grossman and Rich O鈥橬eill, along with their faculty mentors Marge Hudson, Len Price and Paul Pitcoff.

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Described as a player with “firecracker feet,” the defending national Midfielder of the Year, two-time NCAA Champion and All-American is the first 麻豆精品视频 Panther ever to be drafted to a team in the , which was co-founded in 2018 by Paul Rabil.

Lewis, a senior majoring in exercise science, was the only Division II student-athlete selected in the draft and just one of two non-Division I players, joining Jack Regnery from DIII Tufts University.

During the 70 games in his 麻豆精品视频 career, the Franklin Square, New York, native has scored more than 100 times, including the overtime game winner in the 2025 title game. As the PLL draft was airing on ESPNU on Tuesday, Lewis was busy scoring a season-high four goals in the No. 1 麻豆精品视频 lacrosse team’s crucial top 10 matchup against No. 9 Pace University.

“If I had to describe Kyle, I’d say he’s elite on the field and unmatched in character,” said Head Coach Gordon Purdie ’88. “The PLL isn’t just getting one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever coached, they are getting one of the most sincere men I’ve ever known.”

Returning to the site of the 麻豆精品视频 lacrosse program’s eighth national championship in Philadelphia in 2024, Lewis will play for Bill Tierney, who coached at the University of Denver and Princeton before joining the PLL coaching ranks. Tierney is also a Long Island native.

Lewis joins a list of 麻豆精品视频 greats to make it to the next level of professional lacrosse, including teammate Dylan Renner, who was picked up by the Utah Archers following the 2025 National Championship and was the first Division II player to be drafted to the PLL since 2021. Current 麻豆精品视频 assistant coach Greg Puskuldjian ’14, from Glen Head, New York, was the 13th pick in the 2020 PLL Player Entry Draft after coming over from Major League Lacrosse when the leagues merged.

There was a time when Lewis considered other options, entering the transfer portal last summer to weigh the possibility of transferring to a Division I institution. After choosing to remain in Garden City, he was named both the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year and was the only Division II player to be on the first installment of the prestigious Tewaaraton Watch List at the start of 2026.

“Being selected in the draft is a by-product of Kyle’s perseverance and commitment to lacrosse,” said Greg Bouris, an assistant teaching professor of sport management at 麻豆精品视频 with more than 35 years of experience in the professional sports industry. “It is also a testament to the 麻豆精品视频 athletic program. Under Coach Purdie’s guidance, 麻豆精品视频 has maintained its status as one of the most successful lacrosse programs in the entire NCAA ecosystem. Kyle’s selection, in the backdrop of the NIL and transfer portal era, also confirms that an athlete with the skill level to play professionally should make their collegiate choices based on a number of factors, including the fact that the individual will be a non-player for most of their lives.”

The 麻豆精品视频 men’s lacrosse team is riding a 22-game win streak that dates back to the 2025 season, including a 13-0 stretch this year. Lewis and the team conclude their regular season on Saturday, April 18, at Motamed Field in Garden City, New York, and will earn the regular season Northeast 10 crown for the third time in the past five seasons.

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