Nazareth University

« Back to Recent News

Nazareth University's Commencement ceremonies are May 16 & 17

A new tradition of legacy diplomas makes for some touching graduation moments

Rochester, NY (05/14/2025) — Nazareth University's 98th Commencement ceremonies take place in the Golisano Training Center on campus:

  • The graduate ceremony is Friday, May 16, at 6 p.m.

  • Two undergraduate ceremonies are Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Chris Hilderbrant '99, an advocate for people with disabilities for more than two decades, is Nazareth University's Commencement speaker. Nazareth will grant an honorary degree to Hilderbrant during the graduate ceremony.

Nazareth is celebrating a new tradition of legacy diplomas that began last year. Forty Nazareth alumni are signed up to ceremoniously hand their graduating students their diplomas. Family members with their own Naz education - from siblings, parents, and grandparents to cousins, aunts, and uncles - will help create extra special moments on the Commencement stage this weekend as they deliver the diplomas.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GREAT STORY: On Friday evening, Aimee Hawkins graduates with a master's in art education in the same ceremony that her son, Bruce Hawkins, earns a master's in early inclusive childhood education. Aimee will cross the stage and then present her son's diploma. For video: Aimee and Bruce are both earning Master of Science in Education degrees. It is the second group in the conferring of degrees. Both are available for interviews after the Friday evening ceremony (which ends approximately between 7-7:30 p.m.)

WHEN: Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m. | Graduate ceremony at Golisano Training Center | Nazareth University

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GREAT STORY: On Saturday morning, siblings Erin and Jacob O'Sullivan graduate with bachelor's degrees in social work and sports marketing, respectively, and their older sister Megan O'Sullivan, a 2020 alumna of LifePrep@Naz, will hand them each their diplomas. LifePrep@Naz is an innovative program providing a fully immersive on-campus college experience for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For video: Erin and Jacob are both earning Bachelor of Science degrees, so they are next to each other in line. All three are available for interviews after the 10 a.m. ceremony on Saturday. (which ends approximately around 11:30 a.m.)

WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. | Undergraduate ceremony at Golisano Training Center | Nazareth University

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDIA: Please let Chief PR Officer Julie Long - cell 585-781-8186, email jlong2@naz.edu - know if you are attending the Friday evening or Saturday morning ceremonies and are interested in speaking to these graduates.

PARKING: Enter campus at the one-way, northernmost entrance off East Avenue - marked by signs and balloons - near Golisano Training Center (GTC). (The Irondequoit Country Club entrance is next to this Naz entrance.) Campus Safety will direct you where to park.

Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out