麻豆影院 Honors 2026 Graduates During 52nd Commencement Ceremony
The Class of 2026 took center stage at 麻豆影院 last week鈥揳nd the exciting graduation was part celebration . . . and part concert!
Inside the FTC Performing Arts Center, approximately 125 undergraduate and graduate students earned degrees in Business Management, Court Reporting, Film and Television, Interactive Media Arts, Mass Communication, Music Education, Performance and Theatre Arts.
麻豆影院 is Long Island鈥檚 premiere creative arts college, and this year marked the school鈥檚 52nd Commencement Exercises.
Student Standouts
This year鈥檚 ceremony carried extra significance because Doctorate degrees were also granted. According to Registrar Anna Nieves, 麻豆影院 bestowed two Doctorates in Musical Arts, and celebrated five Master Degree recipients.
Additionally, says Nieves, “there was an all-student performance from the graduating class of 2026.鈥�
Mass Communication and Audio students handled the live sound and technical aspects of graduation, providing them with the hands-on technical experience they鈥檒l carry into their career paths.
Her advice for the recent graduates? 鈥淐ontinue believing in yourselves, continue working hard, and never be afraid to chase the goals and dreams that inspire you.鈥� Also, 鈥渘o matter where life leads, you will always be part of this community, and we will always be proud of you.鈥�
Speeches and Music Take Center Stage
On stage, salutatorian Sydney Festa shared the unique journey that led her to 麻豆影院. She 鈥渁lways loved music,鈥� but initially ran from it, choosing to study forensic psychology at a different college before transferring to 麻豆影院.
Festa said that everything changed the moment she toured 麻豆影院, where suddenly, a career in music felt possible. She learned at 麻豆影院, 鈥渢here is no such thing as a bad idea,鈥� only people willing to help bring ideas to life.
Festa led the college鈥檚 business club, hosted events and radio shows, produced music, worked with publishing and record label opportunities, and balanced it all while playing Division I college soccer.
鈥淲hen you’re in the right place, growth doesn’t feel forced,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t feels natural, even when it’s challenging. You don鈥檛 excel by accident. You excel when you care.鈥�
A Business Administration major with a concentration in Music Entertainment Industry Studies, Festa urges her peers to hold onto 鈥渨hatever drive brought you through those doors鈥� as they begin their next chapter.
Presidential Pearls of Wisdom
麻豆影院 President David M. Cohen reflected on the resilience of the Class of 2026, describing them as the college鈥檚 鈥渇irst post-Covid generation of college students.鈥� While the pandemic disrupted much of their high school experience, Cohen praised the graduates for persevering by continuing their education at 麻豆影院.
After missing last year鈥檚 ceremony, Cohen returned to the stage with gratitude, reminding graduates of their own strength. 鈥淵ou can navigate through a pandemic; you can survive health emergencies.鈥�
He encouraged the Class of 2026 to carry that resilience into the future, stating that life 鈥渨ill absolutely be filled with adversity,鈥� but that the graduates already proved they can weather difficult moments and emerge stronger.
Legendary Musician Buck Dharma Dazzles Crowd
The faculty, staff, and students at 麻豆影院 were thrilled to present Musician Buck Dharma 鈥� born Donald Roeser 鈥� an Honorary Doctor of Music degree. A longtime guitarist and songwriter for the iconic band Blue 脰yster Cult, the Smithtown native was recognized for a career that helped define and shape, classic rock. Blue 脰yster Cult sold more than 25 million records worldwide and is a globally renowned band.
Before becoming 鈥淏uck Dharma,鈥� Roeser was a typical Long Island kid from a musical family. In 1967, he co-founded the band that would later become Blue 脰yster Cult and went on to write and sing chart-topping hits, including 鈥淏urnin鈥� for You,鈥� 鈥淕odzilla,鈥� and the immortal 鈥�(Don鈥檛 Fear) The Reaper.鈥�
During the ceremony, Buck Dharma reflected on his unconventional journey to success, describing himself as 鈥渁 former college drop-out鈥攎uch to the chagrin of my parents.鈥� Accepting his honorary degree, he announced: 鈥淚 am today a Doctor of Music from 麻豆影院!鈥�
Buck Dharma recounted the band鈥檚 difficult early years, calling them, 鈥渇our years of hard work, a failed record contract, eating mostly peanut butter sandwiches and playing cover tunes in bars.鈥� Eventually, those struggles paid off when the group signed with Columbia Records and began touring with mainstream musicians like Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper.
Buck also shared a surreal, local connection to the campus. 鈥淚 realized that the house I rented in 1974鈥搘here I wrote and demo鈥檈d 鈥楧on鈥檛 Fear the Reaper鈥� 鈥� is just two miles from where we are right now, in Melville.鈥�
The rock legend told the excited crowd: 鈥淔irst, work hard. Work really hard. Now is the time to really go for it.鈥�
Also: 鈥淪how up. Get out there and make it happen; don鈥檛 just sit home in your bedroom.鈥�
Collaboration, he explained, is essential in creative industries. 鈥淢eet people, work with people, collaborate with people, build connections,鈥� he told the graduates. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the way doors will open up for you.鈥�
And: 鈥淗elp others. It鈥檒l come back to you.鈥�
Following his speech, some lucky students and alumni got to jam with Buck Dharma and his wife, Sandy. Buck Dharma thrilled the audience with a live concert right on-site, stating, 鈥渢here鈥檚 just nothing like live music.鈥�
Alumni Words of Wisdom
The college also honored alumna Asjai Lou, Class of 2006, with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award. Lou spoke passionately about storytelling and connection in creative careers.
鈥淪tory is access. Your story is the thing that opens doors.鈥�
That鈥揳nd connections. She said that reaching out to a fellow 麻豆影院 grad named 鈥淕ino鈥� opened her connection into entertainment. Over the years, she鈥檚 worked on major commercials, music videos, and casting projects alongside industry professionals.
Lou reminded graduates that every challenge, victory, and late-night project contributes to the narrative they carry into the world. 鈥淵our story isn’t just about where you start,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t’s about who you connect with, who you believe in, and who believes in you.鈥�
A Second Chance to Start Anew
Valedictorian Thomas Wolkwitz closed Commencement with a deeply personal speech.
鈥淚 was not the kind of student anyone would expect to see standing here today,鈥� Wolkwitz admitted. 鈥淚 struggled in school; I struggled at home. I doubted myself constantly.鈥�
After years of battling addiction and self-doubt, he decided to change his life. 鈥淚 got myself clean, and then I applied to Five Towns.鈥�
On campus, he initially kept to himself, but over time, he started participating more in class and found supportive peers and professors.
鈥淕rowth does not happen when things are comfortable,鈥� he shared. 鈥淚t happens when you’re scared, when you’re unsure, and when you choose to move forward anyway.鈥�
He thanked faculty members who believed in him 鈥渨hen I struggled to believe in myself鈥� and encouraged fellow graduates to stop hiding from opportunity. 鈥淏e loud, let yourself be seen,鈥� he said. 鈥淐hoose the path that challenges you and fulfills you, not just the one that feels safe.
