SUNY WCC Celebrates December Completion Ceremony, Marking Key Milestones

Valhalla, NY (December 23, 2025) – SUNY Westchester Community College (SUNY WCC) celebrated its December Completion Ceremony on campus, recognizing 184 students who completed their academic requirements at the conclusion of the summer or fall semester. Participation increased from 177 students in last year’s ceremony, reflecting continued momentum in student completion and success.

The December Completion Ceremony provides students finishing their programs in December with an opportunity to celebrate this important milestone alongside family, friends, faculty, and staff. The ceremony recognizes graduates earning degrees and certificates who will go on to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce in a wide range of professional fields.

“This ceremony is about honoring achievement at the moment it matters most,” said Dr. Vanessa Morest, Provost of SUNY Westchester Community College. “By recognizing students as they complete their academic journeys, we affirm their hard work, reinforce their sense of accomplishment, and help sustain the momentum that carries them forward into their next academic or professional chapter.”

“At SUNY WCC, I found more than just classes – I found professors who believed in me and helped me turn challenges into growth,” said graduating student Maricielo Carolain Huanca, Accounting & Finance A.S. “Overcoming the language barrier wasn’t easy, but SUNY WCC gave me the tools and support to keep moving forward and succeed.”

This year’s December Completion Ceremony held special significance as SUNY Westchester Community College marked the 10th anniversary of its winter completion ceremonies, an initiative launched to ensure that students completing their academic requirements in December receive timely and meaningful recognition. Established to align with transfer timelines and workforce entry opportunities, the winter ceremony reflects the College’s longstanding commitment to celebrating student achievement year-round while reinforcing momentum toward degree completion and continued academic and professional success.

The milestone also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the College’s school-based academic structure, a transformative model introduced to strengthen advising, clarify guided pathways, and better align academic programs with transfer and career outcomes. Over the past decade, this structure has evolved to support expanded career-aligned programs, deeper transfer partnerships, and a sustained focus on completion, equity, and student success. Together, these initiatives underscore SUNY Westchester Community College’s forward-looking approach to academic excellence and its continued investment in helping students achieve their educational goals and move confidently into the next stage of their journey.

The December Completion Ceremony complements the College’s annual commencement exercises held each spring, ensuring that all graduates—regardless of when they complete their academic requirements—are formally recognized for their perseverance, dedication, and accomplishments.