Grad Day Kicks Off Festivities for Commencement 2025

Wolfie helped kick off the 2025 Commencement season with the annual Grad Day event, held on the Staller Steps and at the Charles B. Wang Center. Photos by John Griffin.

Stony Brook University kicked off the 2025 Commencement season with its annual Grad Day festivities, as beautiful weather drew scores of students to tables on the Staller Steps while an ice cream social drew an equally impressive crowd to the Charles B. Wang Center.

The April 16 event was co-sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Government, Stony Brook University Alumni Association, Stony Brook's Auxiliary Services Association,and SBU Eats.

Festivities included photo booth, graduation portraits, a live DJ, and class ring and regalia presentations. Inside the Wang Center, a line of students snaked through the first floor at the ice cream social. As always, Wolfie was there to show support to the graduates.

The Alumni Association had a table where staff welcomed graduating seniors to the family of alumni Seawolves and discussed the ways to remain connected after graduation.

At another table, Mariam Jalal, a junior majoring in health science, fundraised for the Stony Brook chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"My mom has lymphoma, and is thankfully in remission now," said Jalal. "This club helped us a lot while we were going through her treatment, and the money raised at events like this helps people like my mom get assistance with treatment. So I wanted to help other cancer patients the way my mom was helped."

Jalal also serves as operations manager for the organization's campus chapter.

A nearby table allowed attendees to make tie-dyed t-shirts, and other activities included a photo booth, graduation portraits, a DJ, and class ring and regalia presentations.

"Grad day is important because it's a chance to say congratulations and good luck to our graduation seniors and remind them as Alumni they are still a part of our community," said Isobel Breheny-Schafer, assistant director of student media and general manager for WUSB, Stony Brook's FM radio station.

"The Alumni Relations team is proud to co-sponsor Grad Day and encourage students to stay connected after graduation," said Andrea Lebedinski, director of lifelong and athletics engagement, Stony Brook Athletics. "The event was well-attended, and many students showed genuine interest in remaining engaged post-graduation."

The team shared various perks and resources available to Stony Brook alumni and introduced the GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) initiative, which aims to foster continued engagement among young alumni through programming and events.

The Seawolf Philanthropy Council was also present, encouraging students to make their Senior Class Gift, "an opportunity to leave a legacy at Stony Brook by making a donation to a cause that was most meaningful to them," Lebedinski said.

- Robert Emproto