CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) Class of 2026 graduates gathered with friends and family to celebrate their achievements alongside fellow community members in two separate ceremonies organized by student clubs under the guidance of the CUNY SPS Office of Student Life: the Lavender Graduation and the Black Student Union (BSU) Graduation.
Second Annual Lavender Graduation Honors LQTBQIA+ Grads
Held May 7 and co-sponsored by the Office of Student Life and the Pride Club, the CUNY SPS Lavender Graduation Celebration paid tribute to the hard work and perseverance of the School’s LGBTQIA+ community. With a theme of We Exist. We Persist. Queer and Thriving, this year’s hybrid event celebrated the queer and trans graduates who are stepping into their next chapter with pride, purpose, and unwavering possibility.
The evening kicked off with a welcome by Mateo Tebar, vice-president of the Pride Club and current student in the MS in Disability Services in Higher Education program, who also served as the emcee for the night.
The keynote speakers included Pride Club president Tiya Williams (BS in Information Science ‘26) and Miz Jade, a Black, trans, gender-fluid drag performer, host, educator, and activist.
During her remarks, Williams (at left), who also works for the CUNY LGBTQIA+ Health Fellowship, a University-wide project hosted at CUNY SPS, shared her appreciation to the School for creating a safe space for queer students. “I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to the staff at CUNY School of Professional Studies,” said Williams. “Thank you for upholding a community where students feel safe, supported and where we are given the space to grow into who we are meant to be.”
Williams also paid special tribute to her twin sister Amarna Williams, a MS in Disability Services in Higher Education alum who also served as co-chair of the Pride Club while she was a student. “She [Amarna] was the one who encouraged me to apply to SPS, telling me that this school was different… But what makes that even more meaningful is this, she didn’t just tell me about community. She created it. “
Chief Student Experience Officer and Associate Dean Vynessa Ortiz also took to the podium during the event to offer her congratulatory remarks and recognize the graduates' personal triumphs. “You did not just earn a degree, you claimed space, you transformed yourself, and in doing so, you changed what the Institution is capable of being,” Ortiz said.
BSU Graduation Applauds Black Brilliance
Jointly hosted by the Office of Student Life and the Black Student Union (BSU), the 6th annual Black Graduation Celebration on May 14 honored the Class of 2026 and their numerous academic achievements and contributions.
The hybrid evening began with opening remarks from the event’s moderators, BSU leaders Philicia Hinds (BA in Psychology), Genesis Fernandez (BA in Communication and Media), and staff advisor to the BSU, Amarna Williams (MS in Disability Services in Higher Education ‘24).
For the first keynote of the evening, CUNY SPS student Shaniqua Graham (BA in Psychology ’26), a proud parent, female wellness coach, small business owner, and advocate, shared her moving reflections on the evening’s theme, Black Brilliance: The Legacy Continues.
“Today we're celebrating Black brilliance; the legacy continues,” she said. “Being a Black student is not for the faint of heart. We don't just show up to class, we show up carrying our own unique challenges…. We show up after working full-time jobs, raising kids, caring for our elders, and fighting systems that weren't made for us. And we still manage to submit assignments at 11:59 p.m. We show up even when we're tired.”
To conclude her speech, Graham (at right) noted, “Black brilliance is action and audacity. It's not a moment; it's a movement. It's not a trend; it's the truth. It's not a finish line. It's the legacy. And today, the legacy continues with us.”
Following Graham, Reverend Sheila Glenn, a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School, assistant pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church, activist, and former Black Panther, offered words of wisdom and hope for the graduates in a second inspiring keynote speech.
“The future I see is one where Black brilliance is not an exception, but recognized as a constant force,” Reverend Glenn said. “The past that shaped me reminds me that we are not here by accident. We are here because somebody before us kept going, kept building, kept fighting, kept fighting, kept believing.”
After Reverend Glenn’s address, a graduate recognition procession awarded cords and stoles to the 69 graduates attending in person.
About the CUNY School of Professional Studies
As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With over 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.
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