뉴스센터

 

On June 13th, 2025, SUNY Korea celebrated a momentous day, beginning with a commencement ceremony for the Spring 2025 graduating class at the IGC Auditorium. Together, the graduates of SUNY represented seven departments: Computer Science, Technology and Society, Mechanical Engineering, Business Management, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Fashion Business Management, and Fashion Design. This wide array of majors was just one aspect of their diversity- students came from over ten different countries, representing the global reach SUNY Korea has worked hard to cultivate over the years.

Professor Hamid Hefazi served as the anchor for the event, beginning with a warm welcome to the graduates and their friends and family who came to celebrate their accomplishments. Arthur H. Lee, President of SUNY Korea, gave a congratulatory speech, reminding the new graduates that they are part of a large network of successful alumni all over the world, working towards a brighter future. Their achievements - whether earning an Associate's, Bachelor's, or pursuing further education - were made possible by their dedication and perseverance at SUNY Korea.

Carl Lejuez, Provost and Executive Vice President of SBU and Chairman of SUNY Korea LLC, once again joined the ceremony this year to deliver a congratulatory message to the graduating class. He reminded the graduates that they are now part of a global alumni network of over 200,000 members from the State University of New York (SUNY), and encouraged them to stay connected and support one another through mentorship and shared experiences.

SUNY Korea welcomed a special guest this year: Tardis Johnson, Associate Dean of Student Academic Support and Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at FIT, who traveled from New York City to give a speech to the FIT graduating class in Incheon, South Korea. His invigorating speech emphasized the honor it was to graduate as an alumnus of one of the best fashion schools in the world, praising their hard work and encouraging them to keep being true to themselves and their creative sides.

The ceremony concluded with the awarding of certificates to the graduates, many of whom received honors such as Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude—a testament to the strong academic ethic SUNY Korea students have maintained throughout their time here. Among these academic stars, FIT’s Minhee Kim, a Fashion Business Management graduate, and SBU’s So Won Park, an Applied Mathematics and Statistics graduate, were appointed Valedictorians of their respective schools.

Following the ceremony, FIT Korea welcomed guests to view the incredible work of the graduating Fashion Design students at the SUNY Korea Museum of Modern Costume. Among the many beautiful garments designed by the graduates, designers Yoonseo Han and Anežka Rysavá were selected for the ‘Critic Awards’ by Jaewon Park, a renowned trailblazer in the growth of the Korean fashion industry, in recognition of their beautiful and thoughtful handiwork. During this ceremony, Professor Mark-Evan Blackman gave a congratulatory speech to the graduating class, leaving many students in tears after having shared so many memories and sleepless nights creating these pieces with the others in the room. The close bond between the Fashion Design professors and graduates was evident, shaped by months of collaboration at SUNY Korea. The Fashion Design faculty honored the commitment and hard work of their graduating students by giving them a gift of appreciation, a heartfelt end to a lovely student showcase.

       
(Critic Awards to Yoonseo Han and Anežka Rysavá)

The journey of these SUNY Korea graduates doesn’t end here–some will enter the professional world, while others will continue their studies in the United States and beyond. Regardless of their next steps, their shared experience here at SUNY Korea links them together. We proudly wish them a farewell as they become history-makers around the world. Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Written by Student Reporter, Kenessa Washington
(kenessa_washington@fitnyc.edu)