Members of CCNY's Class of 2016 cheer First Lady Michelle Obama.
Rousing, colorful, stirring and inspiring sum up The City College of New York’s memorable 170th Commencement Exercises. More than 8,000 people, including First Lady Michelle Obama and a large media turnout converged on the South Campus Great Lawn to salute the Class of 2016.
Obama, making her last commencement appearance as First Lady, received a rock-star welcome. She was then wowed by the speakers, including Yemeni-born Salutatorian Orubba Almansouri, who passionately narrated her fight to pursue her education, countering the tradition for females in her culture.
Obama, in turn, thrilled the audience with her address lauding CCNY’s famed diversity.
“You represent just about every possible background — every color and culture, every faith and walk of life,” she said, imploring the graduates to go forth and pursue their dreams.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided low-cost, high-quality education for New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. More than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in the College of Liberal Arts and Science; Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture; School of Education; Grove School of Engineering; Sophie Davis Biomedical Education/CUNY School of Medicine; and the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. U.S. News, Princeton Review and Forbes all rank City College among the best colleges and universities in the United States.