The cheers were loud, and the graduates were proud. NYIT’s 45th annual commencement on May 21 marked the culmination of the college’s worldwide celebration of its 50th anniversary, as well as the beginning of a prosperous future for the college’s 3,500 graduates.

In his address, Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., president of NYIT, applauded the award-winning creative and scholarly work of NYIT students and discussed the integral part the college is playing in the increasingly global role of higher education, as well as its impact on improving local communities – a concept he called glocalization.

“NYIT’s philosophy is glocal because we are steeped in the technologies that continue to transform our world,” said President Guiliano. “In fact, we were among the first in higher education to combine words like technology, access, education and careers in defining our mission.”

Students and faculty members from NYIT campuses in the Middle East, Manhattan and Canada traveled to the Old Westbury campus to honor the accomplishments of the Class of 2006 and participate in the festivities, while people from around the world watched the event via live webcast. In addition, students from Ellis College of NYIT – the online college for working adults – came from as far as Germany.

Honorary degrees were conferred upon David M. Childs, FAIA, consulting design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; former Bears pitcher Don Cooper, Chicago White Sox pitching coach; and Linda G. Davila (B.S. ’78), C.F.M., chair of the NYIT Board of Trustees and vice president at Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Group. A tearful Cooper told the graduates to “find their passion” as he accepted his degree via satellite from the Sox’s home ballpark.

Following the main ceremony, graduates were individually recognized and many received outstanding achievement awards at their respective school ceremonies.

President Guiliano, Davila and members of NYIT’s administration traveled to Bahrain and Jordan on June 4 and June 6, respectively, to honor graduates from NYIT’s Middle East programs. The trip marked a first-time visit by Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Ford.

“NYIT’s global commencement ceremonies are true indicators that we’ve earned our distinction as a worldwide leader in higher education,” says Ford. “I was thrilled to take part in this year's commencement ceremonies at our Middle East campuses.”

In addition to business leaders and representatives from the Ministry of Education in Bahrain and Jordan, special guests included U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain William Monroe, Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al-Hussein of Jordan, Dr. Wajih Owais, president of Jordan University of Science and Technology (NYIT’s strategic academic partner in Jordan), and Dr. Mohamed Hussein, NYIT’s executive director for the Middle East.