The College of Saint Rose held its final commencement ceremony on Saturday.

More than 5,000 people were in attendance as a total of 1,736 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates of advanced study were conferred.

This was the final class to graduate as the college decided in November to shut down due to financial issues and declining enrollment.  

The event came 100 years since the first ceremony in 1924.

“Congratulations to all of our 2024 graduates. Like our founders, your stories are about your depth of creativity, intellectual rigor, adaptation, determination, joy, love, and resilience. You completed your degree through some of the most difficult years in our history, and today, we celebrate all you have become,” said college President Marcia J. White said in a news release.

The commencement address was delivered by Joan Horgan, director of spiritual life, who has been a part of the Saint Rose community for 30 years.

There were also two student speakers – D’Andre Little, who received a master’s degree in computer science and Laura Uribe, who earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. She will pursue her master’s degree at the University at Albany.

The college also honored Sister Honora Margaret Kinney, professor emeritus of history, and Dr. Mary Ann Schultz McLoughlin, professor of mathematics, with the Carondelet Medal for their commitment to the Saint Rose tradition of the liberal arts and dedicated service to the college.