Kingsborough Community College Celebrates 60th Commencement
President Suri Duitch, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso
Kingsborough Community College Celebrates 60th Commencement
Kingsborough Community College marked its 60th commencement at the Coney Island Amphitheater on June 18, awarding associate degrees to the more than 800 of the 1,850 graduates who turned out in person along with family and friends.
Calling commencement “the best day of the year,” President Suri Duitch welcomed the crowd and honored the class of 2025. “Every single one of you has something that distinguishes you as a member of this community,” said Duitch. “Each of you is proof that excellence and achievement are available to anyone who is motivated, focused, works hard, and uses their intelligence to grow and learn.”
She reminded graduates to take pride in their accomplishments and remain adaptable, resilient, and humble while using their skills to navigate a complex future. “Wherever you end up and whatever challenges you encounter, this community will always back you up,” she said. “Kingsborough will always love and support you.”
The ceremony also featured remarks from U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, CUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chair Sandra Wilkin, a Kingsborough alumna, KCC psychology professor Catherine Ma, and the Class of 2025 valedictorian Andres Soto.
Jeffries, the House Democratic Leader, urged graduates to stay resilient in the face of obstacles. Drawing from personal setbacks, including losing two elections before eventually becoming the highest-ranking Democrat in Congress, he told graduates to dismiss doubters and pursue their dreams. “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal,” he said. “All that matters is the courage to continue.”
Reynoso, the city’s first Dominican borough president and the youngest in Brooklyn’s history, teased graduates: “After today, it’s all your fault. No more excuses.” He shared his personal story of growing up in a low-income immigrant family and credited public support systems for helping him succeed, adding that they shouldn’t be limited by their past. "Don't give excuses. You're from Brooklyn. We don't do that. We make it happen. We get things done.” He ended with a proclamation declaring a special day in honor of Kingsborough’s 60th commencement and quoted the Notorious B.I.G.: “Spread love. It’s the Brooklyn way.”
Wilkin, Class of 1971, reminded students that Kingsborough has helped change lives for six decades. “You are the living legacy of Kingsborough—six decades of excellence, resilience, and transformation,” she said. She encouraged them never to back down. “Be fearless like Shirley Chisholm. Be bold like Hakeem Jeffries. Be Brooklyn proud. Be unstoppable like yourselves.”
Faculty member Dr. Catherine Ma recounted her story as a first-generation college graduate and encouraged students to keep speaking up and finding their joy. “Your voice is very powerful,” she said. “Never, ever forget that.” She said they should remember this day: “Remember where you came from and how hard, but fulfilling, your road to success has been. Remember the dreams that brought you here, and build the self-confidence to fulfill those dreams—and then dream bigger. And remember that we are all rooting for you. We can't wait to see what you do next.”
Valedictorian Andres Soto, 40, returned to college after leaving school years earlier with a low GPA and a sense of failure. This time, he graduated with a 4.0. Soto credited his professors, classmates, and family for helping him stay on track.
“One of the most important equations I learned at Kingsborough is E=MC²,” Soto said. “Effort equals motivation times consistency squared. Effort is the single biggest thing you control that stands between you and success.” Soto advised classmates to find their purpose, pursue education, and invest time wisely. “The great Earl Nightingale once said, ‘Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.’ We might as well put that passing time to the best possible use,” he noted.
He closed by honoring his grandmother, who attended the ceremony despite undergoing chemotherapy. “To my fellow graduates, whether you're here straight from high school, returning after years away like me, or balancing a dozen responsibilities to make this moment happen, know this: you are proof that persistence pays off, that growth is always possible, and that it's never too late to rewrite your story.”
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