The College of Staten Island community came together on May 14 to celebrate the inaugural Students of Color Graduation Ceremony, honoring the achievements, resilience, and cultural pride of the Class of 2026. The ceremony featured remarks from campus leaders and distinguished keynote speaker Debbie-Ann Paige ’06, whose work in public history and civic engagement has helped preserve and elevate the stories of Staten Island’s diverse communities.
The celebration, held at the Center for the Arts’ Williamson Theatre, also showcased a variety of artistic and cultural performances, including spoken word poetry by Dr. Shawn Denise Landry, musical performances by Persephone Crespo and Dr. Jonathan Quash, and a dance presentation from Alberto Lopez and Crystal Deosaran. The event concluded with the presentation of graduation cords and a recognition of the many students celebrated throughout the afternoon.
The ceremony marked a meaningful new tradition at CSI, highlighting community, achievement, and belonging while recognizing the journeys of students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. View more moments from the afternoon in the photo gallery below:
