1000’s gathered at Madison Sq. Backyard on Friday to rejoice this yr’s graduating class of NYU’s Stern Faculty of Enterprise.
Manasa Gudavalli
Stern’s 2023 commencement ceremony ended with a burst of confetti showering the graduates. (Manasa Gudavalli for WSN)
Over 5,000 folks gathered at Madison Sq. Backyard to honor the Stern Faculty of Enterprise’ undergraduate class of 2023 on Might 19. The ceremony featured David Solomon, the CEO of billion-dollar funding banking agency Goldman Sachs, because the keynote speaker.
The occasion marked one of many final commencement ceremonies of outgoing NYU president Andrew Hamilton’s time period, as he might be succeeded by NYU administrator Linda Mills this July.
Hamilton mentioned Stern has steadily risen in status over time, attributing its success to the varsity’s college students and school. After encouraging college students to use their schooling to their day-to-day lives, Hamilton left the ceremony early to talk on the Tisch Faculty of the Arts’ commencement at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor.
“As you head out into that subsequent stage in your lives, I do know that you’ll draw on the whole lot that you just’ve realized at Stern,” Hamilton mentioned. “Throughout these previous 4 years — these very difficult 4 years — you’ll additionally draw in your inherent expertise and drive, however I need to guarantee you that, along with that, you’ll draw on the exceptional Stern group.”
After acknowledging Madison Sq. Backyard’s status for internet hosting iconic artists and musicians, Hamilton reiterated his want to channel Elton John in his speech, a sentiment he had beforehand expressed at a ceremony for graduates of the Gallatin Faculty of Individualized Examine.
Stern dean Raghu Sundaram then thanked Hamilton for main the college by way of the pandemic and sustaining Stern’s shut ties to NYU’s campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. He congratulated the graduates and famous the varsity’s achievements within the areas of synthetic intelligence, sustainability and preventing inequality in enterprise.
“As you ponder the subsequent step in your journey, I’ve just one request to make of you: carry your complete self to the whole lot,” Sundaram mentioned. “You’ve withstood the ravages of a pandemic and emerged stronger than ever earlier than. You’re about to graduate and enter the skilled world with the added strengths that solely a Stern schooling can present, a improbable community of classmates and alumni.”
Sundaram then launched Solomon to the gang, noting the CEO’s second profession as an newbie DJ. Solomon spoke about his early aspirations to be a drummer earlier than reflecting on his time at Goldman Sachs and providing graduates recommendation for his or her careers after NYU.
“Don’t be in a rush — see the place life takes you,” Solomon mentioned. “When somebody does one thing good for you, write a handwritten observe even when you’ve got horrible handwriting. I will not be the physician my mother wished me to be, however I positive write like one.”
Stern graduate Samyak Sawale, the coed speaker at this yr’s ceremony, recommended his classmates for his or her resilience and dedication over the past 4 years, particularly throughout the pandemic.
“Due to our resilience, power, and dedication, the NYU Stern group bounced again higher than ever,” Sawale mentioned. “We’ve solely simply taken step one in being accountable world residents and ambassadors of the Stern model.”
Miles Discipline, a graduate who attended the ceremony, mentioned that Stern was the one college he had utilized to 4 years in the past and that he was grateful for the chums and reminiscences he revamped his time at NYU.
“It’s been an incredible expertise these previous 4 years,” Discipline mentioned. “I sit up for beginning the subsequent chapter with all these individuals who have had such an influence on my life.”
Manasa Gudavalli contributed reporting.
Contact Yezen Saadah at [email protected].