Explore memorable moments from St. Bonaventure’s undergraduate and graduate Commencement celebrations May 16 & 17, featuring photos, videos and graduate accomplishments.
Messages of adaptability, service and confidence defined St. Bonaventure University’s 2026 Commencement weekend as nearly 800 graduates received degrees.
Keynote speakers Freddie Crawford, Class of 1964, and his daughter, Crystal Crawford, reflected on navigating change in an AI-driven world, encouraging graduates to view uncertainty as opportunity. Student speakers Emma Spadoni (Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony) and Shantell Wilson (Graduate Studies Commencement Ceremony) urged classmates to embrace failure, alignment and purpose, while Kate Broderick challenged graduates to lead lives rooted in service and compassion for others.
The university also honored four distinguished leaders with honorary degrees.
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Conor Amendola, a Media Studies major from Erie, Pennsylvania, and Molly Edgington, an Inclusive and Early Childhood Education major from Glastonbury, Connecticut, have been named Ideal Bonaventure Students for the Class of 2026.
The Ideal Bonaventure Students exemplify the spirit of St. Bonaventure and the ideals of St. Francis through their demonstrated commitment to community service and academic excellence throughout their collegiate careers at Bona’s. They are annually selected by a committee that considers nominations from the campus community.
Amanda Albert, a Health Science major with a Biomedical concentration from Long Island, New York, and Benjamin Vitale, a Public Health major from Rochester, New York, were selected as honorable mention Ideal Bonaventure Students. Albert is the daughter of David and Ashly Albert. Vitale is a son of Vince and Nicole Vitale.
All four undergraduate students were honored in April at the Student Affairs Awards Ceremony.
119 students recognized for academic excellence
In addition to the Ideal Bonaventure Students, 119 graduate and undergraduate students were recognized at the Honors and Awards Ceremony, held Friday at Reilly Center Arena.
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ROTC cadets commissioned as second lieutenants
Six graduating seniors who served as cadets in the U.S. Army Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at St. Bonaventure were commissioned as second lieutenants into the U.S. Army on Sunday, May 17.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the university’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, was followed by the Silver Dollar Salute, a traditional event in which each newly commissioned officer hands a silver dollar to the first enlisted or noncommissioned soldier who salutes them. Cadets choose someone instrumental in their upbringing, education or training for this honor.
The cadets are part of the Seneca Senior ROTC Battalion, which comprises cadets from St. Bonaventure, Alfred State College, Alfred University, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and Houghton University.
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SBU faculty members receive awards of excellence
Three St. Bonaventure University faculty members were presented this month with awards of excellence.
Dr. Kaplan Harris, professor of English, received the Professional Excellence in University Service Award; Dr. Andrew Belfield, assistant professor of Theology & Franciscan Studies, received the Junior Faculty Excellence Award; and Sally Kwiatkowski, Department of Mathematics and School of Business, received the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award.
They were recognized during the 7th annual Presidential Staff Excellence Awards ceremony May 7 and again during the university’s Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony May 17.
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