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174th Commencement Ceremony
Class of 2025

Friday, May 16, 2025, at Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    174thCommencement
    Friday, May 16, 2025 - 10a.m.
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY

    Speaker: TBA

    *The ceremony is approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.
    *Unlimited seating within the amphitheater and lawn, no tickets required

    Arrival Time
    Graduates must arrive at SPAC no later than 9 a.m.; signs will direct you to student line-up area at the pavilion. Processional will begin promptly at 10 a.m.  

    Directions
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center is located about 40 minutes north of Albany. Commencement will take place in the Main Amphitheater.

    Visit Directions and Parking at SPAC

    Regalia Information for Graduates
    Information on ordering regalia for Commencement will be emailed on November 5, 2024.  There is no cost to students who order regalia between November 5 and December 20, 2024.  All regalia must be ordered no later than December 20 to ensure on time arrival. There will be a $75 charge to students who order regalia after December 20, 2024.

    Regalia Pick Up for Graduates  
    Regalia will be distributed on two dates. 
    Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 9am to 12pm in the gym
    Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 11am to 2pm in the gym

    *All outstanding fees (including tuition & fees, parking fines and book fines) need to be paid, and financial aid exit interviews completed prior to pick up.

    Announcement Cards/Class Rings
    Jostens Company is the official vendor for announcement cards and class rings. You may also order online at www.jostens.com.

    Class of 2025 Farewell Party
    TBD

    Web Cast
    Commencement will be Web cast live for family and friends to view. More details will be shared as we get closer.

    Handicapped Seating
    There is ample handicapped seating throughout the amphitheater and is available on a first come first serve basis.  There will be golf carts running from the lot to the amphitheater to assist those in need. If you have additional questions about handicapped seating, please contact Andrea Irizarry at airiz@albanylaw.edu. To locate the handicapped seating in advance please click here.

    Unlimited Seating - No Tickets Required
    There will be unlimited seating within the amphitheater and lawn for Commencement. No tickets will be required and you do not need to notify the school of the amount of guests you will be inviting.

    Photos
    Formal stage photos will be taken, as well as candid photos. Links to proofs for the stage photos will be sent via your law school email approximately two weeks after the ceremony. The candid photos will be made available at no cost. A link to the candid photos will be sent via the law school email address one week after the ceremony.

    The Justinian Society
    Members of the class receiving their juris doctor degree summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude become members of the honorary legal society of Justinian.

    Honors for JD
    Academic honors are awarded at graduation. Honors for students who meet the requirements for graduation will be awarded as follows:

    Cumulative Average: 3.75 or higher - summa cum laude (white cord)
    Cumulative Average: 3.50 or higher - magna cum laude (gold cord)
    Cumulative Average: 3.25 or higher - cum laude (silver cord)

    Honors will be awarded to transfer students and those who visit elsewhere for a semester or a year if, in addition to meeting the above grade-point averages, they take two full years and complete no fewer than 55 credits at Albany Law School. Honors are based on grades received at Albany Law School. 

    Honors for LLM
    Cumulative Average: 3.75 or higher - summa cum laude (white cord)
    Cumulative Average: 3.50 or higher - magna cum laude (gold cord)
    Cumulative Average: 3.25 or higher - cum laude (silver cord)

    For a student to be eligible for Honors at Graduation, at least 21 graduate academic credits must be earned directly from Albany Law School.

    Honors for MS
    Academic honors are awarded at graduation. Honors for students who meet the requirements for graduation will be awarded as follows:

    Cumulative Average: 3.85 or higher - summa cum laude (white cord)
    Cumulative Average: 3.70 or higher - magna cum laude (gold cord)
    Cumulative Average: 3.50 or higher - cum laude (silver cord)

    Prizes and Awards
    Prizes and awards will be available in the Commencement Program

    174th Commencement
    Friday, May 16, 2025 - 10a.m.
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY

    Speaker: TBD

    *The ceremony is approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

    Arrival Time
    Faculty and Trustees must arrive at SPAC no later than 9:15 a.m.; signs will direct you to the faculty/trustee robing area. Processional will begin promptly at 10 a.m.  

    Directions
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center is located about 40 minutes north of Albany. Commencement will take place in the Main Amphitheatre.

    Visit Directions and Parking at SPAC

    Regalia Pick Up for Faculty and Trustees
    Regalia will be distributed on the morning of Commencement in the faculty robing area at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. 

    Regalia Return for Faculty and Trustees
    All regalia (gowns and hoods) will need to be returned to the faculty robing area immediately following the ceremony.

    Class of 2025 Farewell Party
    TBD 

    Web Cast
    Commencement will be Web cast live. Family and friends can watch the event via the Internet. More details to follow.

    Faculty Hooders
    If you are selected to be a Faculty Hooder, you will be contacted in April to schedule a 'dress rehearsal' to be held during the week of Commencement to ensure that hooding runs smoothly during the Commencement Ceremony. 

    Accommodations
    For your convenience, blocks of rooms will be held at the following properties for Thursday, May 15, 2025.

    HILTON GARDEN INN ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER/UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
    62 New Scotland Avenue, Albany
    518-396-3500  Reference Code: ALC, Group Name Albany Law Commencement
    Book Online by Clicking HERE 

    HILTON GARDEN INN SARATOGA SPRINGS
    125 South Broadway
    Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
    Phone: 518-587-1500
    Book Online by Clicking HERE 

    *If you prefer to call to make your reservation, please call the number above and select 0.

    174th Commencement
    Friday, May 16, 2025 - 10a.m.
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY

    Speaker: TBD

    *The ceremony is approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.
    * Unlimited seating within the amphitheater and lawn, no tickets required

    Arrival Time
    Guests may begin arriving at 9 a.m.; Processional will begin promptly at 10 a.m.  

    *For your convenience, click here for a list of Saratoga restaurants.

    Directions
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center is located about 40 minutes north of Albany. Commencement will take place in the Main Amphitheater.

    Visit Directions and Parking at SPAC

    Class of 2025 Farewell Party
    TBD

    Web Cast
    Commencement will be Web cast live. More details to follow as we get closer.

    Handicapped Seating
    There is ample handicapped seating throughout the amphitheater and is available on a first come first serve basis.  There will be golf carts running from the lot to the amphitheater to assist those in need. If you have additional questions about handicapped seating, please contact Andrea Irizarry at airiz@albanylaw.edu. To locate the handicapped seating in advance please click here.

    Unlimited Seating - No Tickets Required
    There will be unlimited seating within the amphitheater and lawn for Commencement. No tickets will be required and you do not need to notify the school of the amount of guests you will be inviting. 

    Photos
    Formal stage photos will be taken by Genesee Photos and candids will be taken by Denis Nally. Links to proofs will be sent to each graduate's law school email approximately two weeks after the ceremony.

    Accommodations
    For your convenience, blocks of rooms will be held at the following properties for Thursday, May 15, 2025. 

    HILTON GARDEN INN ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER/UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
    62 New Scotland Avenue, Albany
    518-396-3500  Reference Code: ALC, Group Name Albany Law Commencement
    Book Online by Clicking HERE  

    HILTON GARDEN INN SARATOGA SPRINGS
    125 South Broadway
    Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
    Phone: 518-587-1500
    Book Online by Clicking HERE 

    *If you prefer to call and make a reservation, please call the number above and select 0.

    Questions

    Andrea Irizarry
    Director of Academic and Student Programs
    518-445-3302
    airiz@albanylaw.edu

    Class of 2024

    Class of 2023

    Class of 2022

    Class of 2021

    Class of 2020

    Past Commencement Ceremony Videos

    Past Commencement Keynote Speakers

    2024 - The Honorable Elizabeth A. Garry ’90

    2023 - Roberta "Robbie" Kaplan

     

    2022 - Bonnie Jenkins

     

    2021 - Rob Capers

     

    2020 - Jim Sandman

     

    2019 - Janet DiFiore

     

    2018 - Michael Garcia

     

    2017 - David McCraw

     

    2016 - Megyn Kelly