A Toast to the Class of 2026: Southampton Celebrates Its Graduates

Before crossing the commencement stage later this month, members of Stony Brook University's Class of 2026 were celebrated at Stony Brook Southampton during a graduation brunch recognizing their achievements and future promise.

A spirit of celebration filled the Avram lobby and patio on May 4, as graduating seniors were honored as VIP guests, with campus leaders recognizing their achievements across the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, the School of Health Professions, and the Department of Creative Writing, Film and Television.

The gathering set the tone for Stony Brook University's 66th annual commencement on May 22 at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, where undergraduate and graduate students will officially mark this milestone.

With a catered brunch from Golden Pear of the Hamptons and a Southampton-branded photobooth capturing the moment, the event offered a celebratory pause, bringing the community together to recognize the hard work, talent, and promise of this year's graduates.

"What makes Stony Brook Southampton special is the way students become connected to both the campus and the surrounding community during their time here," said Wendy Pearson, Stony Brook's vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of Stony Brook Southampton.

"Our students leave with experiences that have prepared them to lead, serve, create, and make a meaningful impact. Watching them grow into marine scientists, healthcare professionals, sustainability advocates, writers, and artists has been incredibly rewarding, and our entire campus community is proud to celebrate all they have accomplished and the paths they are about to begin."

"Southampton is a close-knit campus, and that makes milestones like graduation especially meaningful," said Richard D. Czyzyk, interim director of student life at Southampton who oversees the day-to-day student experience at the residential, sea-side campus. "Many of these students have grown academically and personally while building friendships, contributing to campus life, and engaging with the local community. This brunch was an opportunity to celebrate all they have accomplished and the exciting paths ahead of them."