Elmira College Celebrates 160th Commencement

Elmira, NY (06/05/2018) — Elmira College celebrated the graduation of 297 students during its 160th Commencement on Saturday, June 2 at the Murray Athletic Center, Pine Valley. The exercises included 270 undergraduate and 27 graduate students.

Following a welcome and award recognitions by Elmira College President Charles Lindsay, Mr. A. Scott Welliver, Elmira College Board of Trustees, joined Dr. Lindsay to confer Mr. Guy Vickers, president of the NYC-based PVH Foundation at PVH Corp., with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his extensive philanthropic work and long-standing support to Elmira area organizations.

Throughout Vickers's extensive career in community affairs, he worked closely with many associations such as Millennium Promise and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project, where he served as vice chair of the Board and currently serves as the chair of the Memorial Foundation, Inc. In addition, Vickers serves as a board member for Economic Opportunity Program, Inc. in Elmira, New York. He has also demonstrated a dedication to young people and was recognized for his guidance and positive influence within the community. In 2016, Vickers was presented with the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Annual Rush HeARTS Award for Outstanding Community Service.

In 2015, Vickers and Tommy Hilfiger received the prestigious Trumpet Award, which honors African American achievers and those who support the African American experience. In 2013, Vickers was presented with The King Legacy Award for International Service for his work with The Millennium Villages Project, an organization dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Following the conferring of the honorary degree, Dr. Charles Mitchell, provost, introduced the 2018 Valedictorians, Marisa Bernardi '18 and Emily Bush '18, and then presented the 2018 undergraduate and graduate candidates to Dr. Lindsay for conferral.

"Today, as we celebrate your achievements and hard work over the past few years, we also share in your excitement and anticipation for the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead," reflected Dr. Lindsay. "Elmira College has a history and tradition of graduating women and men who make a difference in this world, and as you leave Elmira's 'fair halls' to join the ranks of those distinguished alumni, know that this is your place - the College where you made friends, shaped your future and came of age. The College that will be part of you forever."

During ceremonies prior to Commencement, members of the graduating class were recognized with multiple honors and prizes, including induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest national honors organization, and officer commissioning with the United States military. The Class of 2018 also included more than 140 honor graduates receiving summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude honors.

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