This was no ordinary convocation. It also marked the opening of York College’s 60th anniversary celebration, commemorating its chartering in October 1966.
Looking across the diverse audience, President Claudia V. Schrader reflected on York’s six decades of expanding aspirations and possibilities. Founded during a period of profound social change, York was built on the conviction that higher education should be accessible to talented and determined students from every background.
“Education is a revolutionary act,” Schrader declared, citing figures including Frederick Douglass, Marie Curie, Nelson Mandela, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as examples of individuals who transformed what was possible.
Student Government President Favour Ogueri connected York’s history to the community’s successful fight to preserve the College during the fiscal crisis of the 1970s.
Keynote speaker Grace C. Bonilla, president and CEO of United Way of New York City, also highlighted her family’s connection to York, where her immigrant father gained fluency in English.