New York State Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado to Deliver Keynote Address During 54th Commencement

SUNY Schenectady is pleased to announce that Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado will deliver the Keynote Address during the College’s 54^th Commencement, which will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 11 a.m., outside, near the School of Music.

Lt. Gov. Delgado, a 1995 graduate of Notre Dame - Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady, will return to the Electric City to speak to the Class of 2024, their families, friends, faculty, staff, and supporters of the College during the ceremony which will take place at 11 a.m. on campus, near the School of Music.

“We are honored that Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado will share his words of congratulations for our graduates and all of their vision supporters during our Commencement, as we salute the Class of 2024,” said Dr. Steady Moono, College President. “We look forward to welcoming the Lieutenant Governor to our campus to celebrate with us as we applaud our graduates earning their associate degrees and certificates. It will be inspiring to our students and to everyone in the audience to have the opportunity to hear from him and learn more about his path to becoming the first person of color to represent upstate New York in Congress, and then the second highest officer in New York State.”

After gradating from high school, Lt. Gov. Delgado went on to earn a Rhodes Scholarship while attending Colgate University and after returning home from Oxford, he received a law degree from Harvard Law School. Before serving as Lieutenant Governor, Delgado enjoyed a career in the music industry focused on empowering young people through hip hop; worked as an attorney focusing on complex commercial litigation, while dedicating significant time to pro bono work in connection with criminal justice reform; and served in the U.S. House representing New York’s 19th Congressional District.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado with his wife Lacey and their sons, Maxwell and Coltrane.

Lt. Gov. Delgado shared his thoughts about returning to Schenectady and speaking to SUNY Schenectady’s Class of 2024.

“I am honored to return to my hometown and speak to SUNY Schenectady’s newest graduates,” said Lt. Gov. Delgado. “I would not be the person I am today without the support of this community, so it is a full circle moment for me to come back as the commencement speaker. I am looking forward to celebrating our graduates and hopefully inspiring the next generation of leaders, dreamers, and change makers.”