Herkimer County Community College to hold 58th Annual Commencement
Herkimer, NY, May 8, 2026 — Herkimer County Community College will hold its 58th Commencement on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Physical Education building. There are 312 graduates and candidates for degrees and certificates.
President Terri Grates Day will preside over the ceremony.
The National Anthem will be sung by Gavin Haggerty, a Music Industry A.S. major from Westmorland, NY.
The procession will be led by the faculty representative and macebearer, Professor of English Jason Brown.
Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees Michael A. Stalteri, Herkimer County Community College Academic Senate President Jennifer Adjodha-Evans, Ph.D., Student Government Association President Olivia Stromecki, will deliver greetings.
Alan-Michael Caswell, a Human Services major, will deliver the student address titled “A Journey into the Next Chapter,” and Wenael Jean-Baptiste, a Psychology major, will deliver a student addressed titles “Your Story is Still Being Written.” Degrees will be conferred by President Grates Day with assistance from Provost Michael Oriolo and Dean of Students/Director of Athletics Donald Dutcher.
Admission to the ceremony is by ticket only. A live webcast of the ceremony will be available at www.herkimer.edu/commencement. A reception will be held on the lawn immediately following the ceremony.
Local graduates and candidates for associate degrees are:
Ashley M. Addison, Taberg
Kalil Antonio Aguayo-Velazquez, Utica
Zimran Ali, Mohawk
Raheem Alkabi, Frankfort
Emily Nicole Almond, Ilion
Pepe Leonidas Aragon, New Hartford
Brittany A. Arcuri, Turin
Paige N. Austin, Herkimer
Justin J. Aversa, Mohawk
Renee M. Bartley, Camden
Makenzie Shea Boardman, Ilion
Shanna Borthwick, Rome
Crystal Lynn Boyett, Ilion
Kieghley Bridger, Waterville
Kassidy Brown, Herkimer
Lanaysia Serena Marie Brown, Utica
Justin James Bruce, Herkimer
John Brian Campagna, Herkimer
Elena M. Cantarero-Kolch, Utica
Reiley Martin Edward Carabin, New Hartford
Nicholas R. Caruso, Herkimer
Tetiana Chmut, Herkimer
Nathan J. Clark, Ilion
Shelby Rae Clark, West Winfield
Johnathan David Coccia, Rome
Leonardo J. Checo Collado, Utica
Chandler Martin Congdon, Herkimer
Joeseph M. Congdon, Little Falls
Heather Connell, Utica
Sonia Marie Connellis, Utica
Brandon Joseph Cook, Frankfort
Haley Cornine, New Hartford
Nicholas T. Crafton, Salisbury Center
Keith J. Crane, Herkimer
Alanna Marie Darden, Castorland
Brodie Glenn Davis, Yorkville
Rachel Ann DePerno, Westmoreland
Gracie Lynn DelMedico, Frankfort
Brian D. Dodge, Little Falls
Gracie Susan Durant, Canastota
Jesse Charles Dutcher, Utica
Charity Lynn Dygert, Herkimer
Kayla Dzimitrowicz, Herkimer
McKenzie Lynn Eells, Little Falls
Ariana Monique Ellis, Ilion
Arianna Leigh Evans, Herkimer
Noah Matthew Fahd, Salisbury Ctr
Debra A. Ferhatovic, Herkimer
Destiny P. Filkins, Herkimer
Joseph Ryan Franchell, New Hartford
Mackenzie Nicole Frank, Frankfort
Samantha N. Fresco, Ilion
Joseph Daniel George, Little Falls
Dominick M. Gianconna, Whitesboro
Anna Maria Giglio, Utica
Sidney G. Gillogly, Dolgeville
Samantha L. Gleason, Rome
Brianne Elizabeth Griffith, Ilion
Sierra Alexis Grogan, Herkimer
Samuel C. Haar, Bridgewater
Leila Hadzic, Utica
Gavin Robert Haggerty, Westmoreland
Gwendolyn J. Halligan-Jones, Mohawk
Benjamin Daniel Harrold, Clinton
Aaron Lee Haywood, Herkimer
Julia N. Hight, Mohawk
Pediwens Joseph, Utica
Lauren Christina Kelly, Ilion
Kaden C. Kleist, Salisbury Center
Thomas Kloster, Utica
Riley Rose Kohl, Whitesboro
Connor Joseph Koppany, Frankfort
Arseniy Korol, Mohawk
Logan Kraszewski, Dolgeville
Nouhaila Lahmar, Ilion
Nikita Lamakin, New Hartford
Mackenzie Levellie, Herkimer
Haylie N. Lindfield, Frankfort
James Llewellyn, Mohawk
Joseph Douglas Luscomb, New Hartford
Grace Elizabeth Lutke, Oriskany Falls
Antonio Mabbett, Herkimer
Dante Magog, Ilion
Valerie L. Marris, Vernon
Yetneliz Lugo Mateo, Utica
Heather Mathews, Frankfort
Benjamin Michael McDonald, Frankfort
Shayla Monique McMath, Rome
Matthew Anthony Mishlanie, Marcy
Brianna Marie Molter, Oneida
Sean Patrick Morris, Utica
Courtney Anne Morse, Herkimer
Furaha Mukangabo, Utica
Cody Matthew Mullen, Jordanville
Jerzy Aleksander Murawski, Waterville
Ella Patricia Murphy, Mohawk
Tayler Nelson, Forestport
Kaylee Brooke Nichols, Salisbury Center
Kayla A. Norrbom, Ilion
Lillian June Norris, West Edmeston
Kara Osika, Yorkville
Lindsay Marie Pardi, Utica
Jasmin Pelzer, Little Falls
Marc A. Perry, Frankfort
Ashley Patrice Peterson, Utica
Marylynn Ashley Price, Munnsville
Gabriella G. Puleo, Utica
Grace Braun Pullo, New Hartford
Sally Ann Raia, Little Falls
Tj Joseph Rankins, Dolgeville
D’Mila Mariyah Revill, Utica
Derek Handel Roberts, Rome
Lakeisha Z. Robinson, Ilion
Brianna La Rue, Herkimer
Gabriella Paige Sagatis, Little Falls
Jose Ramon Santini, Sauquoit
Amanda Lee Saracino, Dolgeville
James J. Scalise, Herkimer
Angel Marie Scanlon, Herkimer
Matthew G. Scofield, Cold Brook
Dakota A. Shepherd, Mohawk
Violetta Shramovich, Utica
Bailee Elizabeth Smith, Little Falls
Emily Jean Smith, Frankfort
Frank John Spatto, Mohawk
Ryah Marie Spatto, Remsen
Isabella Stephens, Utica
Kayla Renee Stevens, Herkimer
Alexandria Grace Stewart, Little Falls
Mikayla D. Thomas, Little Falls
Justin Andrew Thompson, Herkimer
Jessica Marie Thompsune, Little Falls
Paige R. Trevisani, Utica
Gracie Jo Tutty, West Winfield
Kaylee M. Tyson, Cold Brook
Emeline Uwineza, Utica
Alexis Michelle Vespi, Little Falls
Cameron Voce, Herkimer
Lauren Walrath, Mohawk
Sarah Elizabeth Washburn, Rome
Patricia Ann Washington, Utica
Becky Weiderman, Ilion
Ava Lee Williams, Cassville
Keaonna A. Williams, Utica
Jermaine Z. Willis, Utica
Melina Jovahna Yascaribay-Macao, Utica
Caileigh A. Youker, Dolgeville
For the full list of graduates and candidates for degrees and certificates, visit: www.herkimer.edu/commencement
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About Herkimer County Community College: Located in central New York State, just off the NYS Thruway exit 30 and situated in the foothills of the Adirondack Park, HCCC is one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. HCCC a quality and affordable educational experience and is ranked among the top two-year colleges in the nation based on transfer and graduation rates. HCCC offers a variety of associate degree and certificate programs in art, business, communication arts, criminal justice and law, education, healthcare and service, liberal arts and sciences, and STEM, and is a leading provider of fully online degree programs. The student body of approximately 2,500 hails from throughout the nation and several foreign countries. With on-campus housing for more than 600 students, a nationally ranked athletics program, and a variety of student activities, clubs, and events, HCCC students enjoy the complete college experience. HCCC is a fundamental contributor to the economic development of Herkimer County and the Mohawk Valley region. More information is available at http://www.herkimer.edu.
