Way to Go, Class of 2026!

One of many proud Geneseo grad families (SUNY Geneseo photo)

SUNY Geneseo held its 160th Commencement on Saturday, May 16, conferring nearly 900 degrees before an audience of family, friends, faculty, and staff.

Rebecca Wilson Bresee ’93, an animator for Walt Disney Studios, received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree and addressed the morning ceremony. In a speech threaded with good advice and Disney quotes, Bresee reminded graduates of Peter Pan’s belief that all it takes is faith and trust, and a little bit of pixie dust.

“I like to think that pixie dust is actually preparation meeting opportunity,” she said. “Opportunity is the pixie dust sprinkled in with all the hard work you’ve done here at Geneseo to prepare yourself for what comes next.” Be persistent in your endeavors, she concluded. “If you are prepared, you will have the power to make your own dreams come true when that pixie dust gets sprinkled on you and your special opportunity arrives. Then you’ll fly.”

Jeff Clarke ’83, executive leader and former Kodak CEO, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and addressed the afternoon ceremony on time, technology, optimism, and the importance of embracing change. Clarke called himself a techno-optimist and referenced his Geneseo education in economics when describing how the market sorts through technology change.

“Creative destruction is powerful and appears to be accelerating due to globalization and the pace of technological advancement,” he said. “Depending on your point of view, this can be inspiring or daunting. You can hope that creative destruction will not touch you. Or you can embrace the accelerating pace of change and the opportunities it creates.”

Corrina Filek ’26, from Livonia, NY, was this year’s senior orator at the morning ceremony. Filek graduated with a double major in anthropology and sociomedical sciences. Giulyana Gamero ’26, from Rockford, IL, spoke at the afternoon ceremony. She graduated with a major in communication and ran a regular radio drama on WGSU.

Two seniors received the Richard Roark Award this year: Grace Hubbel ’26 from Rochester NY, a philosophy and sociomedical sciences double major with a minor in human development; and Sophie Fulton from Batavia, NY, a business administration major with minors in accounting and college honors. The award is presented to a graduating senior whose excellence in scholarship and community service emulates Roark, a former Geneseo professor of anthropology who was presumed drowned off the island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies.

Receiving the Student Association President’s Cup this year was Sarah Feik, from Cooperstown, NY, a marketing major with a minor in communication. The award is given annually to a graduating senior who exemplifies superior service and dedication to the Geneseo Student Association. 

Watch our Commencement 2026 video

Watch videos of the morning ceremony and afternoon ceremony