School of Veterinary Medicine
Class of 2025 Commencement
Sunday, June 8, 2025 – 10am
Louis Armstrong Stadium
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
124-02 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368

Congratulations to the School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2025!
We’re So Proud. You Should Be, Too.
You did it. You’ve worked hard to reach this milestone moment and SGU couldn’t be prouder of your achievements.
We have the utmost confidence that you have been equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors to make a positive impact on the world, at a time when it’s most needed.
We met you as a student looking to make a difference and we’re proud to see you join a network of, now, over 2,500 School of Veterinary Medicine graduates worldwide making that difference every day.
Downloads
Share your exciting news using one of our Commencement signs and we’ll share your posts on social media and on this page. Be sure to use the hashtag #SGUGrad.
Print it, fill it, and post it.
#SGUGrad
The best way to take part in the celebration is through using our hashtag—#SGUGrad.
Simply add it to your post. It will automatically appear on this page, and by clicking on it on any social media channel, you and your classmates will be able to see the excitement that’s going on around you.
🎓 Calling all SGU graduates! As we celebrate the Class of 2025 this weekend, we want to hear your stories.
What`s your fondest memory from your time at St. George`s University? Whether it`s reciting the oath at your White Coat Ceremony, a post-exam day at Grand Anse beach, or a life-changing moment in clinicals, share your experiences with us!
Join the conversation 👇

Check out the highlights from the 2025 School of Arts and Sciences Career Fair, where 130+ students and alumni came out to connect with over 40 companies, and explored exciting career opportunities across a range of fields. Find the full album on our Facebook page!

🎓 From white coats to caps and gowns, your moment is ONE WEEK away! Tag your grad squad in the comments!
SOM: June 7 at 10am EST and 3pm EST, June 8 at 3pm EST
SVM: June 8 at 10am EST
All commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed on our website, Facebook, and YouTube channels. Tag @stgeorgesu to join the celebration and share your moments! #SGUGrad

Photo of the Week: Honoring excellence in public health! ✨
Hats off to the newest Delta Omega Honorary Society inductees in SGU’s Gamma Kappa Chapter within the Department of Public Health and Preventative Medicine:
🎓 Terrisha Walcott-Pierre (Grenada) – Environmental & Occupational Health
🎓 Christian von Tippelskirch (USA) – Environmental & Occupational Health
🎓 Simone Pierre (Grenada) – Preventive Medicine
Founded in 1924 at Johns Hopkins University, Delta Omega honors top public health scholars and leaders through a highly selective process based on academic distinction and service.
We are proud of our newest members and the global impact they’re set to make!
Photo courtesy of Terrisha Walcott-Pierre

🏆 Congratulations to fourth-year SVM student Mike Starrett (@mike.s.dogtor)!
Mike was recently awarded the Equine Health Program Special Focus Award - Orthopedics/Sports Medicine from North Carolina State University, where he is completing his clinical year.
Dr. Carrie Jacobs presented the award and cited Mike`s "hard work, curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication to learning."
Mike says, "Receiving this award and support from NC State has been truly humbling. It has reinforced my commitment to both equine and small animal practice and has given me even greater motivation to pursue my career goals. I am also deeply appreciative of the ongoing support from everyone at SGU, whose dedication to my learning has been invaluable throughout my journey.”
A native of Utah, Mike`s passion for veterinary medicine stems from a lifelong love of animals and a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. "I truly couldn’t imagine myself in any other field."
"I chose SGU because of its unique environment and the incredible opportunities it offered to pursue my passions. The supportive community and diverse clinical experiences have played a significant role in shaping my education and career outlook. Looking ahead, my goal is to practice mixed small animal and equine general practice. I am particularly passionate about increasing access to high-quality veterinary care for owners who may not have the resources to seek treatment at referral hospitals."
Join us in congratulating Mike on his honor from NCSU! 🎉 We wish you all the best on your journey to making a big impact in veterinary medicine!

POV: that "graduated!" feeling 🥰
With more than 300 graduates representing over 24 countries, the recent Grenada Commencement Ceremony was a momentous milestone for the Class of 2025!
Find the full photo album on our Facebook page and read a recap of the ceremony at the link in our bio! #SGUGrad

Photo of the Week: "Mastered it with a 4.0 🎓" -Marvin Salfarlie, BSc `23, MBA `25
Class of 2025: what was your biggest accomplishment at SGU? #SGUGrad

🎓 “The work is done!” Relive the unforgettable moments, proud smiles, and joyous celebrations from the 2025 Grenada Commencement Ceremony. 🎉✨ Tag a grad in the comments to congratulate them on their hard work! #SGUGrad

Commencement Information
Explore the following information in your preparation for commencement. If your question is not answered below, please contact us at graduationinfo@sgu.edu
Registration
Eligible students will be invited to register their attendance for the ceremony. This registration indicates your intent to graduate, provided you fulfill all degree requirements as confirmed by the Registrar’s Office.
Students who do not fulfill all degree requirements will be automatically removed from the ceremony list.
During registration, you can apply for guest tickets and specify any special seating or access needs for yourself or your guests.
Ceremony
Each commencement ceremony will lasts approximately two hours and will include brief addresses from distinguished speakers, the conferral of degrees, and a recessional.
The ceremony will commence promptly with the academic procession and the entry of graduates. The official party will be seated on stage, while graduates and their hooders will be seated in the audience facing the stage. Each graduate will be presented on stage, receive their hood, cross the stage to receive a replica of their diploma and then return to their seat.
If you have a hooder, they will accompany you, at all times, throughout the ceremony.
The stage party and faculty will lead the recessional, followed by the graduates. At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates will have one hour to take photos with their guests, faculty, and fellow colleagues outside in the plaza of the venue.
Student Information
Conduct During the Ceremony
Commencement is a significant milestone. Let us celebrate your achievement while remembering the contributions of those who supported you. We kindly request that you conduct yourself with respect for all guests, fellow graduates, and the occasion itself. Thank you for your help in making this day meaningful for all.
Academic Dress
To participate in the Commencement Ceremonies, graduates must wear the appropriate academic regalia. St. George’s University will cover the cost of your regalia when ordered before the deadline. These items are yours to keep. A credit card is required for the purchase of any additional items.
All items will be shipped to the address you provide and once you place your order you will receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation within 24 hours, please contact customer service at 1 (800) 837-4235.
**You are responsible for bringing your regalia on the day of the ceremony. Caps and gowns will not be provided on the day of graduation**
Tickets
To request guest tickets, students must first register to attend the ceremony. When registering to attend the ceremony, students should specify the number of guest tickets required. Each graduate is eligible for 10 guest tickets, in addition to their own. Additional tickets may become available, but this is not guaranteed.
All attendees require a ticket, including children aged 3 and above, and hooders. However, children under 3 years old are welcome to sit comfortably on an adult’s lap and will not need a ticket.
Tickets will be distributed electronically before the event. If additional guest tickets are needed send an email to graduationinfo@sgu.edu with the subject line “ADDITIONAL GUEST TICKETS”.
The commencement ceremony is a free ticketed event. There is no charge for attending, and university policy strictly forbids selling commencement tickets for any commercial value or monetary gain. Violations of this policy will result in serious consequences.
Hooders
Graduates may select a parent, spouse, or sibling who is also an SGU DVM graduate to hood them during the ceremony. The chosen hooder must possess a veterinary medicine degree (DVM). To request a hooder, please submit a copy of their medical license or diploma with your request before the communicated deadline. We will not accommodate hooder requests on the day of the ceremony. Please note that hooders will require a guest ticket to attend the ceremony.
Diplomas
Please note that you will not receive your official diploma on the day of the ceremony. The ‘diploma’ presented to you on stage is a replica for photo purposes.
Once the Office of the University Registrar confirms your graduation, your official diploma will be sent to you electronically via Parchment to your SGU email account. You will also receive a physical copy of your diploma in the mail within a few weeks.
It is important to understand that your graduation completion date, diploma date, and the date of the commencement ceremony are separate and may not necessarily align. If you have any questions regarding your completion date or when you will receive your diploma, please contact the Office of the University Registrar directly by emailing rblair@sgu.edu.
Awards
School of Medicine Honors
There are different designations for which graduates will receive honor cords: SGA representative, Gold Humanism Honor Society member, Iota Epsilon Alpha Honor Society member, Scholarly Activity and Research Designation. Click here to gain more details from the Office of Research.
Graduates who have achieved the following distinctions will receive honor cords on the day of ceremony:
- SGA Representative
- Gold Humanism Honor Society Member
- Iota Epsilon Alpha Honor Society Member
- Scholarly Activity and Research Designation
For more information on Scholarly Activity and Research Designation, please click here to visit the Office of Research website.
Commencement Program
All students who have met all graduation eligibility requirements will have their names published in the program. Commencement programs will be available for download on graduation day. If for any reason a student cannot attend graduation, they can download a copy on the day of the ceremony on the commencement website.
Portraits
We partner with Island Photography to provide graduates with their commencement ceremony photos. On the day of the ceremony you will be photographed as you are hooded and when you receive your “diploma” from Chancellor Modica. Your “diploma photo” image as well as a class group photo will be delivered to you free of charge as a graduation gift from the Chancellor.
Graduates need to provide their contact information to Island Photography. All other photographs will be available for purchase through our official graduation photographer Island Photography. If you have any questions regarding these photos, please contact Island Photography directly.
Island Photography
PO Box 70 / 139 Haven Avenue. Port Washington, NY 11050
P: 516.767.1234 / F: 516.304.5660
1-800-869-0908
www.islandphoto.com
Guest Information
Live Stream
For friends and family who cannot attend, the commencement ceremony will be live streamed, with a link to the stream posted on the commencement website the morning of the event. The stream will go live 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Visas
Requests for visas for you or your guests must be arranged in advance and should be sent to graduationinfo@sgu.edu. Please include the title VISA LETTER in the subject line. When making a request please be sure to include the following:
- Full name (as it appears in passport)
- Date of birth
- Citizenship
- Gender
- Relationship to the graduate.
Obtaining a visa might take several weeks and it is your responsibility to ensure you have completed all requirements before travel.
Special Accommodations
We strive to accommodate the accessibility needs of all students and their guests. Please note that we do not provide wheelchairs and cannot guarantee the specific location of accessible seats as wheelchair-accessible seating is provided at the venue.
To request special seating arrangements for those with mobility please send an email to graduationinfo@sgu.edu with title “SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS” in the subject line at least three weeks prior to the ceremony with the following information:
- Name of graduate
- Name and number of guests requiring handicapped accessible seating
- Notes on accommodations needed (For example, walks with difficulty, uses wheelchair, uses motorized scooter, etc.)
We will do our best to accommodate your request and persons requiring special seating arrangements will be allowed to enter the venue prior to general seating.
Transportation and Parking
Limited parking is available and we strongly recommend that all attendees utilize public transportation where possible.
Note that you may have to park some distance from the ceremony location. If you have guests that will require a little extra time, make sure to arrive early. See the map and corresponding information regarding where to park and how to get there.
Directions:
- Subway: Guests should take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station.
- Long Island Rail Road: LIRR provides easy service to Mets-Willets Point Station. Guests with disabilities should exit at Woodside/61st Street Station and transfer to the 7 train. Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station. (Please note that the LIRR stop at Mets-Willets Point Station is not accessible for guests with disabilities.)
- Car: Guest driving can use either the Grand Central Parkway exit 9E or Whitestone Expressway Exit 13D or Long Island Expressway Exit 22B – College Point Blvd.