Friends Academy’s graduates have achieved educational excellence by committing to the highest standards of learning and living. We congratulate them on their next journey knowing they are exceptionally prepared for college and a life of authentic purpose.
American University
Barnard College
Binghamton University
Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Boston University
Brandeis University
Carnegie Mellon University
Clemson University
Colby College
Colgate University
College of the Holy Cross
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Emory University
Eton College
Fordham University
Georgetown University
Hamilton College
The Class of 2023 is headed to...
Hartwick College
Howard University
Indiana University
Johns Hopkins University
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Manhattan School of Music
Middlebury College
New York University
Northeastern University
Occidental College
Pratt Institute
Princeton University
Purdue University
Quinnipiac University
Reichman University (IDC Herzliya)
Rochester Institute of Technology
Southern Methodist University
Syracuse University
The Culinary Institute of America
The George Washington University
The University of Texas at Austin
Tulane University of Louisiana
University of California Irvine
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Mississippi
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of St Andrews
University of Virginia
University of Wisconsin
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Washington University in St Louis
William & Mary
Yale University
Since 1876, Friends Academy has set the standard for K-12 academic excellence on Long Island. If you have an exceptional student in your life and want to learn if the Friends Academy experience is the right fit for your student, please visit fa.org/admissions or call 516-676-0393.
We know you will change the world for the better
Graduation is fast approaching and many graduating seniors in recent years have opted to stand out in their commencements by decorating their graduation caps. If you’re a recent graduate from high school or college (graduated in the last three to four years) and you were creative (and bold) enough to decorate your graduation cap and proudly walk with it down the aisle to receive your diploma, we want you to submit it for their upcoming art exhibit titled “Westbury Arts Celebrates Our Recent Grads”. We want the world to see your creation and celebrate your achievement, and it’s free to enter. If you
prefer to submit a digital photo of your decorated graduation cap instead, please do. Any recent graduates of area high schools as well as college graduates are eligible. Deadline and drop off dates of your submission:
Thursday, June 29, from 12 to 4 p.m., Friday, June 30, from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Or mail your entries to Westbury Arts, 255 Schenck Ave, Westbury, NY 11590. If mailing your entry please include your contact information, school you graduated from and year. If submitting a digital photograph, please email it to Submissions@WestburyArts.org.
—Submitted by Westbury Arts
For the 31st consecutive year, Island Federal Credit Union (Island Federal) has awarded college scholarships to graduating seniors from local high schools.
“Island Federal’s mission is to help Long Islanders achieve their dreams for themselves and their families. To make college more affordable for local high school graduates, we launched the Island Federal Scholarship Program in 1992,” said Bret W. Sears, president/CEO, Island Federal. “Since its inception, the Island Federal Scholarship Program has awarded more than 363 scholarships totaling $855,000 to local high school graduates,” Sears continued. “Once again this year, we are proud to provide scholarships to 11 local seniors to help finance their higher education.”
The following is a list of 2023 recipients who will share $50,000 in Scholarships:
$10,000 WINNERS
Ashley Burke, Babylon, Babylon High School
Bradley Wyckoff, Levittown, Chaminade High School
Gemma Cartwright, Huntington, Huntington High School
$2,500 WINNERS
Anna Rostkowski, Oakdale, Connetquot High School
Dominick Trapani, Bellmore, Mepham High
School
Kaitlin Stephens, Hauppauge, Hauppauge High School
Liam McGough, Southold, Southold High School
Lily Amato, St. James, Smithtown East High School
Lily Jackett, Port Jefferson, Ward Melville High School
Madison Sosnowski, Farmingdale, Farmingdale High School
Tabitha Schully, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson High School
—Island Federal Credit Union
Acommencement speech is a traditional address given at a graduation ceremony to inspire, motivate, and offer guidance to the graduating class as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Typically delivered by a notable speaker, such as a distinguished academic, successful professional, or renowned public figure, the speech aims to reflect on the accomplishments of the graduates, celebrate their achievements, and provide valuable life lessons. Commencement speeches often incorporate personal anecdotes, wisdom, and words of encouragement, encouraging graduates to embrace their potential, pursue their passions, and navigate the challenges that lie ahead with resilience and determination.
Here are some of the most notable commencement speeches delivered to schools and institutions around the nation this year.
“The soul of America is what makes us unique among all nations. We’re the only country
founded on an idea — not geography, not religion, not ethnicity, but an idea. The sacred proposition, rooted in Scripture and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, that we’re all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While we’ve never fully lived up to that promise, we never before fully walked away from it.”
President Joe BidenUnited States Military Academy (West Point)
“You see what can be, unburdened by what has been. And you
have the agility and the ability to bring that potential to life.”
Vice President Kamala Harris Rice University“My parents’ story is proof that change is possible. But that story also attests to the fact that change doesn’t come to those who merely want it. It comes to those who work for it.”
a lot of topics. It’s hard to say, and especially in a society that seems to thrive on sharp opinion and absolutisms and shuns nuance. Nobody wants to be the guy in the back of the room who feels like they are the only one who hasn’t figured out the answer. But guess what? Chances are neither have the guys in the front rows. Until we can acknowledge what we don’t know, we can’t possibly be asking the right questions. You don’t have to be the smartest guy in the room. Your aim should be to be the one asking for more information. The one audacious enough to say: ‘I don’t know.’”
Lester Holt, journalist Tennessee State University
who have to decide to be one of three types of Americans: those who embrace liberty and freedom for all, those who won’t, or those who are indifferent. Only the first do the work of creating a more perfect union. A nation indivisible. The others get in the way.”
Tom Hanks, actor Loyola Marymount University
“Go about the world bringing justice, healing, and mercy.”
Martin Sheen, actor Northern Arizona University
“I realized there is more to life than work. Don’t wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses.”
Karine
Jean-Pierre, White House press secretaryVillanova University
“‘I don’t know.’ It’s a surprisingly difficult thing to say for someone who spends each day providing answers to millions of people on
“There is more than enough wrong to keep you busy trying to make things right for the rest of your natural life.”
Oprah Winfrey, talk show host Harvard University
“For every graduating class, there is a choice to be made. It’s the same option for all grown-ups
Bill Gates, Microsoft founder Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“Pick what you think is the best path and just move forward.” Mark Rober, science YouTuber —Compiled by Christy Hinko
We’ll set it up, serve it up and clean it up! Choose from four menus or customize your own. See our BBQ flyer for details.
Graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas at the 2023 Molloy University Commencement Ceremonies held at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, including students from the School of Arts and Sciences, The School of Business, The School of Education and Human Services and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“I’m so excited,” said Sarah Tafur, originally from Colombia and now living in Valley Stream. “It was hard, but we got it done.”
and learn how to do theater over Zoom. It was crazy but we’ve come out so much more resilient.”
Victoria Franco of Lindenhurst, served as class valedictorian and delivered an address.
The Molloy Class of 2023 is comprised of 940 graduates, including Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degree recipients, plus Associate’s and Advanced Certificate and other graduates.
The Class of 2023 was caught in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic and lockdown, attending many of their classes remotely, but that did not dampen the spirits of the graduates.
“It [COVID] hit right at my freshman year, in my second semester,” said Mason Santa Catalina, a theater major from Roseville, CA. “We had to switch modes
“When we were able to go back in person, that really helped,” said Thomas McHugh, who will take a job in a hospital emergency room as one of the graduates of the Barbara J. Hagan School of Nursing. “Getting that contact back with the teachers really helped us learn.”
The commencement address was given by Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, president & CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) who is the first female
president to lead CCUSA and the 10th president in the organization’s 112-year history. Her career has been dedicated to leading efforts to reduce poverty and providing care for people at risk. As part of the ceremony Molloy will bestow an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) degree upon Sister Donna for her work during her 40-year career.
“We are pleased to welcome Sister Donna to this year’s commencement exercises,” said Dr. James P. Lentini, president of Molloy University. “The CCUSA mission aligns closely with Molloy’s, with an emphasis on respect and dignity for all people, and she will deliver a powerful message that I am sure will resonate with our students.”
Molloy also conveyed an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree on New York State Regent Roger Tilles, recognizing his contributions to the New York State Education Department, his philanthropy and support of the arts.
“Roger has been a friend of Molloy’s for many years and his support of higher education has benefited Long Island and all of New York State for many years,” said President Lentini. “His dedication to the region is unsurpassed.”
—Molloy University
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College and high school graduation season is upon us. Whether you are attending a commencement ceremony or a celebration you will need to come prepared with a gift for the grad. Here are some ideas for that special graduate in your life.
Who doesn’t love a new coffee tumbler? Get your favorite logo, name, image and more customized on a Yeti tumbler or other drinkware. (Yeti, from $20)
Keep track of your applications, homework assignments, documents, bills and more with a portable file organizer. (Staples, $20)
UV sanitizers like the PhoneSoap
3 UV Cell Phone Sanitizer & Dual Universal Cell Phone Charger Box use ultraviolet light to sanitize your phone and offer a second layer of protection against viruses and harmful bacteria. (Amazon, $80)
Work on the go with the most compact solution, a wireless Bluetooth keyboard, like this one from portable, wireless and compatible with Apple and Android devices. (Amazon, $34)
Give a classic high-quality notebook like one from Moleskine for journalling or sketching along with a jazzy set of colored pencils. (Moleskine, $25)
Unfortunately identity theft is not just for travelers anymore. Move your credit cards and chip-based IDs to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-blocking wallet. The lining of these new bags and wallets protect you from unwarranted scanning theft. Fossil makes a variety of wallets and billfolds for men and women. (Fossil, $35)
Give a copy of the classic, Joy of Cooking. It remains the foundation for cooking, a great teaching
cookbook, a recipe for success, every time.
(Amazon, $22)
A smartphone charger like Belkin’s BoostCharge Wireless Charging Stand is a useful gift. The nofrills charging cradle is suitable for Apple and Android devices. It can also prop up your phone in landscape or portrait orientation, letting your giftee read messages at a more comfortable angle. (Belkin, $35)
Leaving home for the first time? It’s never too early to have a set of your own standard tools. This starter kit from Stanley has all of the essentials that you might need in a pinch.
(Home Depot, $54)
BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com
On the surface, the future looks bright for spring’s college grads, with employers planning to hire nearly 15 percent more candidates from the class of 2023 than in the previous year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Dig a little deeper, however, and the outlook gets murkier, cautions career coach Beth Hendler-Grunt.
“College graduates struggle to find jobs due to competition, lack of work experience and not understanding employer expectations,” she said. “And their parents are frustrated. They want to help, and they’re not sure how. Many parents haven’t looked for a job in more than 20-plus years, and things have definitely changed in that time.”
How can parents help?
What should grads do?
Hendler-Grunt’s new book, The Next Great Step: The Parents’ Guide to Launching
Your New Grad Into a Career, gives parents a simple, step-by-step plan for successfully guiding their young adults through the transition from college to career.
Filled with tips, job aids and insightful stories, The Next Great Step addresses everything from how parents can help their young adults get “unstuck” and navigate the hiring process, to how students and grads can stand out from the rest of the graduating class. Hendler-Grunt shares the secrets of how to “network” the right way and excel in interviews, and how parents can offer solid career advice to their grad.
The Next Great Step provides insights from three key perspectives: the concerns of the parent, the thought process of the student and the expectations of potential employers.
“Navigating the post-college job world is all about developing and implementing the right strategies,” Hendler-Grunt said. “This book is required reading for families looking to navigate a changing world from college to career. Companies need new grads. It’s just a matter of connecting the dots.”
Hendler-Grunt is the founder and president of Next Great Step (www. nextgreatstep.com). She is a dynamic leader, advisor and facilitator who has extensive experience consulting with startups, Fortune 500 firms, universities and individuals. She founded Next Great Step with the sole focus of guiding college students and recent grads to help them land the job they deserve. Hendler-Grunt leverages techniques and insights from hiring managers and CEOs and brings those secrets to students to help them stand out and get the job. She has enabled hundreds of clients to achieve success, with 90 percent of her clients landing the job of their choice. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, SiriusXM radio, Kiplinger, CNN, Fortune and many other media outlets. She is also the mom of a recent college grad and college sophomore...so she gets it.
Purchase a copy of The Next Great Step: The Parents’ Guide to Launching Your New Grad Into a Career on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble and other online book retailers.
Farmingdale State College (FSC) held its Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony here today, with more than 1,300 degrees conferred, comprised of 1,130 Bachelors, 11 Masters, and 153 Associates degrees and 16 Advanced Certificate graduates, from the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business; Engineering Technology; and Health Science.
“This is your day,” said Dr. John Nader, president of Farmingdale State College in his commencement address. “FSC exemplifies that original SUNY vision by students who are talented and motivated and simply need the opportunity to succeed. You have done that.”
Nader went on to relay stories of amazing graduates who have accomplished great things inside and
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. These 55 young women are courageous leaders and visionary changemakers who are making meaningful, sustainable changes in Nassau County, their communities and around the world. They are our future, and the future looks bright!
Albertson
Shalini Samuel
Baldwin
Vanessa Osse
Bayville
Kylie Daly
East Meadow
Lauren Rodriguez
East Norwich
Mariana Panariello
Farmingdale
Alexa Frontino
Faith Williams
Floral Park
Ella Iannitti
Rebecca Reisig
Franklin Square
Caitlin Fitzpatrick
Garden City
Maria Dalia
Jaci Licari
Kathryn Maloney
Juliana Mitchell
Madeline Mitchell
Gretchen Murphy
Ella Pocock
Grace Power
Keira Regan
Cristina Seoylemezian
Ryan Sievers
Kennedy Wilgosz
Great Neck
Elizabeth Margiloff
Hempstead
Azaria Ellis
Lynbrook
Ryan Benvenuto
So a Yaker
Malverne
Anna Nealon
Manhasset
Noelle Bartul
Catherine Broderick
Cailey Held
Bella Rontiris
Massapequa
Audrey Pioreck
Shea Salamack
Massapequa Park
Lea Marie Mastorakis
Mineola
Julia DaSilva
Charlee Denzler
Grace Pizzardi
Samantha Vitale
North Bellmore
Lauren McCarthy
Oceanside
Emma DeFrancesco
Oyster Bay
Kate Webster
Rockville Centre
Emma Lincks
Seaford
Nicole Nietsch
Syosset
Erica Borzone
Shannen Fung
Wantagh
Angelina Bendetti
Corinne Kassatly
Hannah PopadinLesniak
Nicole Tobia
West Hempstead
Sophia Cano
Brianna Suarez
Oubina
Ava Zino
Westbury
Yasmine Mathew
Sarah Vincent
Williston Park
Ava Schmidt
To learn more about the Gold Award visit gsnc.org/gold or scan the QR code above.
outside the classroom, including organizing book, clothing and supply drives and activities to help their Long Island communities and address needs at an intimate human level.
Every student had their own personal story of struggle and triumph.
“When I was born, doctors said I wouldn’t be able to walk or talk and now I’m getting my degree,” said Bernice Jean-Baptiste, a psychology graduate from Suffolk County. “It’s surreal to me.”
Carol Sung of New Hyde Park, an interactive design major and recipient of The Ferro Family Endowed Scholarship at FSC, was named class valedictorian and delivered the address.
—Farmingdale State College
e Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell celebrated its ninth commencement ceremony on May 8.
e event was held at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University, where 94 graduates from the Class of 2023 took another step closer to realizing their dreams, becoming the nation’s newest doctors and scientists to enter the eld of medicine.
e ceremony was presided by Susan Poser, president of Hofstra University, David Battinelli, MD, dean of the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health.
“We are jealous of your opportunity for the journey and the chance to have all of the countless discoveries and advances in medicine that we did not have and couldn’t offer our patients,” said Dr. Battinelli, who also serves as the executive vice president and physician in chief of Northwell Health. “A career in medicine is a lifelong journey—you will have more hard work, but the future of patient care and discovery is in your hands, and the future of your career is bright.”
The commencement keynote was delivered by Kevin Tracey, MD, president and CEO, and the Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.
A pioneer in the scientific fields of inflammation and bioelectronic medicine, Dr. Tracey’s contributions include discovery and molecular mapping of neural circuits controlling immunity.
As an accomplished inventor on more than 120 United States patents, author of more than 400 scientific publications, and co-founder of several biotechnology companies, Dr. Tracey encouraged the graduates to continue to dream big and learn from their achievements.
Of the 94 Zucker School of Medicine students conferred, there are 86 MDs, one PhD, two MD/PhDs, two MD/ OMSs, and three MD/MPHs.
The school’s newest physicians and scientists are an ambitious and culturally rich group, including 11 first-generation individuals and 17 graduates who are underrepresented in medicine, ready to bring the highest level of health care to a growing and diverse
Dr. Tanzim Bhuiya is one of 13 graduates to receive the Graduation with Distinction in Research Award this year. He is hooded by Dr. Kevin Tracey, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. The school’s vice dean, Dr. Samara Ginzburg (left), looks on as Bhuiya is conferred. Photos courtesy of Hofstra University
population.
Commencement day was also a full circle moment for dual degree MD/ MPH graduate Dr. Tanzim Bhuiya, who completed Hofstra University’s 4+4 BS-BA/MD program, an eight-year curriculum that combines undergraduate and medical school education. As a Hofstra undergrad majoring in disability studies, he developed a passion for humanities in medicine. A service trip to Panama also sparked his interest in global health and a desire to pursue a master’s in public health.
Dr. Bhuiya is one of 13 graduates to receive the Graduation with Distinction in Research Award. He follows in his father’s footsteps, Dr. Tawfiqul Bhuiya, a beloved and highly regarded Northwell Health physician who sadly passed in 2020.
“My dad was my introduction into medicine and truly modeled the qualities a physician should have and the person I want to become—he was my role model my entire life.”
Classmate Danielle Anesta Lowe Howell, MD, knows all too well what it’s like to experience the challenges of medical school while suffering a personal loss. She credits her perseverance partly to the school community’s compassion and encouragement.
“The medical school was incredibly supportive as I coped with the loss of my father in the midst of my clinical year,” explained Dr. Howell, who will begin a residency program in psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital. “I attribute much of my growth and success as a student to the close-knit community that the Zucker School of Medicine cultivates.”
While in medical school, Dr. Howell completed the Klar Leadership Development and Innovation Management Scholarly Concentration. In 2021, she was honored with the Feinstein Institutes’ Advancing Women in Science and Medicine (AWSM) Barbara Hrbek Zucker Emerging Scientist Award for her research projects looking into the role of social determinants of health in hospital settings. It was the first time in AWSM’s history that a medical student received funding.
With newly conferred degrees in hand, Zucker School of Medicine graduates are ready to embark on the next steps in their life-long journey. This ambitious group of physicians matched to residencies in 23 specialty areas at institutions throughout 14 different states.
—Hofstra University
