May 19, 2016 
The Next Chapter
Our seniors are in the home stretch with the finish line coming into full view. Friday's Main Commencement Ceremony in LaValle Stadium marks the culmination of the Stony Brook journey for the Class of 2016, and I am overjoyed for each one of them.
As is our tradition, we will begin with a breakfast for our graduating student-athletes and their families. The day represents such a special moment in their lives and it makes me happy to be a part of it. For the coaches and staff, the breakfast provides an opportunity to take photos with the student-athletes in their regalia and hear about their plans for the future. The widest smiles always belong to the members of our academic staff, who work tirelessly throughout the year to prepare our student-athletes for success in the classroom. I know how grateful that our student-athletes are for the investment of time and energy that our advisors make, and I share in their appreciation of the work that they do.
The Main Commencement Ceremony in LaValle is a magical experience with all of the traditional pomp and circumstance befitting of the occasion. It is always a special opportunity for me to be part of the platform party. Along with President Stanley, each of the Deans and my colleagues on the University Council, I don regalia and sit on the stage. When I look out at the graduating seniors, I think about the impact that these young women and men will have on our society.
I know that our graduating student-athletes are leaving Stony Brook prepared to take on the next chapter of their lives and I can't wait to celebrate with them on Friday.
A Great Weekend for Baseball
Graduation weekend also brings the final home series of the year for our baseball team. The Seawolves will host Albany for three games in a crucial series heading into next week's America East Tournament. The first game is on Friday at 3 with a Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 12 and 2:30.
The senior class will be honored on Saturday before the noon game. These seniors have played a huge role in our continued success and they will definitely be missed. Of course, they still have plans to win a conference championship and I know that they are focused on finishing strong this weekend. I encourage you to come and support the team at Joe Nathan Field. The weather should be great and nothing beats watching baseball on a beautiful spring day.
100 Reasons to Celebrate
Courtney Murphy just completed one of the greatest seasons in women's lacrosse history, scoring her 100th goal against Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to establish a new single-season benchmark. She broke the previous record of 98, which had stood since 1984, in the team's first-round win over Boston College.
Yesterday, Courtney became the first Stony Brook women's lacrosse player to earn first-team All-America honors. Second-team honoree Kylie Ohlmiller became an All-American for the second consecutive year while Alyssa Fleming was named to the third team. It was the first time in program history to have three All-Americans.
On a final note, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the graduates of Stony Brook University! Please continue to dream and know that anything is possible with a plan and positive energy…
Together We Transform!
Warm regards,
Shawn
