ALBANY, NY—The 55th Maria College Commencement is scheduled for this Sunday, May 21 at 3:30pm in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY. Albany Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard, D.D. will confer degrees and certificates and perform a rite of commissioning to graduates. Rhea Clark, widow of James A. Clark Jr. will accept a posthumous McAuley Service of Distinction award for her husband’s commitment to the Mercy mission.
Clark served on the College’s board of trustees from 1990 to 2003. He is fondly remembered as a dedicated, humble and honorable servant who embodied the Catholic values instilled in all Maria College students—Compassion, Service, Scholarship, Community, Integrity and Respect. His support of the Mercy mission was steadfast.
Graduation events will start with the traditional Maria White Tea ceremony on Thursday, May 18. For the first time, graduates of the three nursing programs—LPN, RN, and BS in nursing degree completion—will be honored in one pinning ceremony and welcomed into the nursing profession by the Maria College nursing faculty. The ceremony will include the traditional candle lighting ceremony and the reciting of the International Council of Nurses’ Pledge. The celebratory events will continue when graduates and their loved ones gather at 6 pm on Friday, under a white tent, for commencement dinner with an academic awards convocation.
Maria College President Dr. Thomas Gamble stated, “The Maria Board of Trustees and I are very proud of the class of 2017 and the sacrifices they made to reach this milestone and the tremendous contribution they will soon be making to serve others. The Maria education has prepared graduates for exciting careers in various healthcare professions, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, and liberal arts. We are also very excited that this is the first year we are conferring our bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management.”
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About Maria College
Founded in 1958, Maria College is one of 16 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves almost 1,000 students in a variety of degree and certificate programs including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, and health and occupational sciences. Maria College prepares students for meaningful careers in healthcare and service so they can make a difference in the lives of others.