NYIT welcomed 3,500 graduates to its global alumni network at the May 22 commencement ceremony at NYIT-Old Westbury. More than 14,000 guests celebrated the achievements of students hailing from 50 states and 81 countries.

"You will find yourselves in the most inclusive economy ever, developing strategies and products that are enriched by human differences," President Guiliano told the Class of 2011. Honorary degree recipients included Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., U.S. Surgeon General (who also gave the keynote address at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine's 30th hooding ceremony on May 23); Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA legend and founder of the Skyhook Foundation; and Denis Huisman, Ph.D., founder and president of Groupe EDH, an organization of higher education institutes in France.

"I look out at you and see the community that is New York Institute of Technology," said Class of 2011 student speaker Michael Cavalli (B.S. '11). Today marks nearly six decades of tradition that we, as the graduating class, uphold-the tradition of well-rounded students, of global education, of graduates who become leaders."

In June, graduation ceremonies were held at NYIT's global campuses in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, and Vancouver locations-and, for the very first time, at NYIT-Nanjing. More than 270 students became the inaugural graduates of NYIT's Nanjing campus at a June 5 ceremony that included hundreds of guests as well as Yang Zhen, president of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and U.S. Consul General in Shanghai Beatrice Camp.

"We have succeeded in assimilating the essence of both Chinese and American cultures," said student speaker Dai Yisi, an international business administration major. "We have learned how to live independently, think analytically, work as a team, and foster the problem-solving spirit in our daily life."

NYIT now has 89,000 graduates worldwide.

View NYIT's Commencement 2011 Photo Gallery.

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