POTSDAM—The State University of New York at Potsdam will honor the Class of 2025, as hundreds of students earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees, during the College's 205th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17.

SUNY Potsdam will hold its Commencement Ceremony outside in the Academic Quad, rain or shine, unless there are extreme weather conditions. Guests are asked to dress appropriately for the weather, and bring umbrellas, blankets or sunscreen if needed. There will be an option for guests who are uncomfortable with weather conditions to watch the ceremony live on a large screen inside, in the Knowles Conference Center.

For family and friends around the world, SUNY Potsdam will stream the ceremony live on the College's YouTube channel again this year.

There is an emergency weather plan for Commencement, in case of extreme conditions like lightning or freezing temperatures. Under the emergency plan, an indoor ceremony would be held at 10:15 a.m. in the Maxcy Hall Jerry Welsh Gymnasium. Graduates would be given four tickets for guests, with overflow seating made available in the Maxcy Hall Ice Arena.

Immediately following the ceremony, a reception will be held for graduates and guests.

This year's keynote speaker for Commencement is the successful SUNY Potsdam alumnus Ronald Fishbeck '80, the retired CEO of Systems Made Simple, who also serves as the vice president of the Potsdam College Foundation Board of Trustees.

Fishbeck earned his bachelor's degree in computer science at SUNY Potsdam, where he met his wife, Teresa Fishbeck (Hon. '19). After graduation, they moved to the Northern Virginia area, where he began his career with Computer Sciences Corporation, working on anti-submarine warfare systems, combat control systems and satellite communication networks.