Joely Pasetsky: Hi Joely Pasetsky here, just wanted to congratulate the associate class of 2020. We did it! This is such an amazing achievement and I am so impressed with all of you. I hope that you’re celebrating with us virtually and that you all stay safe and healthy so we can return in the fall. I just want to thank all the professors for encouraging us to pursue our wildest of dreams and for being so accommodating during these difficult times. Thank you so much FIT, and two more years to go, we can do it, guys. Daniella Koller: Hi FIT, class of 2020, You probably don’t know me, but my name is Daniella. I”m a fashion knitwear design major and I’m graduating just like all of you. And I really wanted to congratulate all of you on this amazing accomplishment especially given the challenging circumstances that we’ve all had during the past couple months and I really hope that everyone gets the opportunity to do something to celebrate. Here you can see I baked a celebratory cake but it’s cooling off right now. Zaldy: Congratulations, FIT graduates. Obviously, these were a special request so...here they are. What a truly remarkable time it is to be launching yourself into the true unknown, but you dreamers can transform our realities beautifully so I’m wishing you all the luck in the world and congratulations once again. Randy Fenoli: Hello to the 2020 graduating class of FIT. And congratulations. You did it. Make this moment, honestly just to say how proud I am of you for making this far. Not only will you have the honor of being a graduate of the fashion institute of technology? What I consider one of the finest colleges on the planet, especially for fashion and creativity, but of course because. You'll also be forever known as the class that graduated during this crazy pandemic. I realize it this may not be the graduating ceremony you always wanted. But what I do know is that to make it here to where you are today. Took perseverance. Drank. Passion. Sacrifices and incredible talent and creativity. And I truly believe that these incredible qualities that you possess. Are going to see you through the next chapter of your life. And through your future. For me FIT was absolutely one of the most amazing times of my entire life and it brought me some of my dearest friends that I'm still friends with today. FIT led me to be a you know, a bridal designer. Would it brings to you is still to be revealed? But remember. The same qualities that brought you here today. Are forever going to shape your future. Because you possess such talent passion and creativity. You already have an advantage. Because that's what we need right now our creative thinkers. This can be you. I'd say I still remember the struggles at college life. Oh my gosh, the all-nighters the sleepless nights but didn't eat for weeks or whatever. Creating that final garment and finishing our final projects. However, this is your life. This is your opportunity. What will you create? It's not always about the hardships that we go through but how we conduct ourselves during those hard times. I like to think of my life as a book and open book with blank pages. I hope the pen and I get to write and create my future by the choices. I make. So choose wisely and create a wonderful life. And trust me there are going to be tough days. I have them too. But then I tried to remember that inner child inside of me. We all have one it's always there. But you're gonna say to that inner child. Or you can hold it. You can tell it that you love it, it's okay to have bad days we all have them forgive yourself. That you're proud of them. And just know that I'm proud of you for who you are. For what you've done. And what you're gonna do. The same I anxiously await to see how you're gonna apply your passion and talent and creativity to create the future of the world. I can't wait. To live you. I send you my love. Congratulations job well done. Fern Mallis: Congratulations if I see class of 2020, you will have the best stories to tell for the rest of your life about your graduation. You're a great opportunities during crazy times like this. So go out there be creative be entrepreneurial. We need you now. We need you to fix this world that we screwed up. Go out and do it and be smart and have fun and be passionate and make us FIT proud class of 2020. Go. Michael Kors: Congratulations FIT graduates. Bravo to the class of 2020. You guys are so talented so smart and have a million great ideas. I can’t wait to see all the terrific things you’re going to do. Again: Bravo and congrats. Taur Orange: Kudos to you FIT graduates, class of 2020. You made it. You will remember this victory for the rest of your lives, and we will remember you for the rest of ours. Congratulations. Sarah Mullins: Hats off to the graduates of 2020! Go design your hearts out! Virgina Bonofiglio: Congratulations to the class of 2020! You did it! Shannon Maher: From our home to your home, congratulations to the class of 2020. And to the Home Products Development grads: Bree, Casey, Erica, Esther, Garrick, Jayna, Lily, Kazuki, Kim, Rachel B., Rachel D., and Sam, stand proud guys, you did it. Daniella Koller: There really hope that everyone gets the opportunity to do something to celebrate here. You can see I baked a celebratory cake. Carmita Sanchez-Fong: Under the most unique of circumstances, you displayed what is best in the human spirit: empathy, compassion, creativity, imagination, passion. We have been inspired by your determination. Your crossing of the finish line is a testament to your endurance, your ability to survive and conquer. We look forward to what you can do to change and inspire the world. May God bless you. Brad Paris: I know it’s been a rough semester but you’ve shown a lot of resilience in the face of adversity. Deborah Hernandez: You were incredibly adaptable this semester and hanging in there and proving that adaptability just makes you shine even brighter for this world. Lori Massaro: As you embark on your journey post-graduation and make your way in the world of fashion, business, art, and design, you’re going to look back at your time at FIT and say, “I was there when.” Andrea Casson: Buona fortuna. If you go through this semester, you can do anything. You have impressed me with your creativity, your resilience, your patience, and your discipline. Ron Amato: Like generations before you who have faced adversity, and overcome, you will be talked about for years to come. Daniel Bekendorf: Accomplished and ambitious, talented and courageous. Inspiring and creative. Restless and relentless. Maria Hwang: you are ready to go out in the world and change the world for the better. Lawrence Langham: It’s a beautiful world out here, and it's a world that needs you. His daughter:: You did it! Amy Lemmon: The world needs your 2020 vision. I cannot wait to see what your creativity will bring to this world. Barbara Mugnai: We love you and we send you the warmest hug from Italy. Ciao, and grande abbraccio. Ciao! Michelle Van-Ess Grant: You’re creative, you’re intentional, and you have skills beyond measure. Not too many people can say they’re part of the FIT alumni club, but you are. Eleanor DiPalma: Let’s work together to get through this pandemic. We will. I’m sure of it. We can do it together. Marianne Eggler: get out there and seize the day with your unbelievable creativity and your ambition and your overall fabulosity. Vasilios Christofilakos: So, I'm going to share my words of wisdom with you. And it's about interviews, whether they're remotely online, whether they're going to be face to face. And you're asked the phenom question: What's your five- and ten-year plan? Well, here's my answer. "I don't know what I'm doing in the next five to ten minutes and you want a five- to ten-year plan?" Michael Kors: You guys are so talented so smart and have a million great ideas. I can’t wait to see all the terrific things you’re going to do. Leah Van Horn: although it’s a new world out there, you will find ways to create opportunities that did not exist before. Ted Folke: this semester has been a very very unusual semester in the history of FIT. I think that the craziness sort of goes with the the creative endeavors Shannon Leddy: Because let me tell you, FIT students, you are going to be the ones that are going to lead us in this uncertain and unknown future that we have. You’re the ones with the ideas. It’s the creatives and the designers that are going to take us to the place that we need to be at, and to help us to think differently CJ Yeh: Janet Napolitano once said, “You don’t go to university so you can punch a clock. You go to university so you can be in a position to make a difference.” That’s what I believe you have become: difference-makers. Hans Galutera: I actually think that these are exciting times as we get to reset design and come up with more interesting and more innovative solutions to our new world. And most importantly, right now, volunteer! Deborah Payton-Jones: You know what you can do? You can teach a senior citizen how to do something on social media. Show them how to get an Instagram, Tik Tok. Zaldy: What a truly remarkable time it is to be launching yourself into the true unknown, but you dreamers can transform our realities beautifully Nomi Kleinman: Your hard work and creativity in the face of adversity is inspiring. And I know you will rise like shining stars from this experience. Marianne Klimchuk: I am so inspired by you, I’m so proud of you, and I can’t wait to watch the next chapter of your lives. Patrice George: but in the meantime I just hope you’ll be shuttling off into the future with the pride of being an FIT alumni Christina Lyons: Grazyn Pilatocwicz: Class of 2020, you are all my heroes. Nothing can stop you. Shelley Parker: I’m so thrilled for all of you. Now go out there and design some kickass accessories. Peter Chan: Hi FIT class of 2020, congratulations, all the best to you, stay well, good luck, and stay in touch. Anne Kong: Don’t forget to stay in touch with your FIT family and your classmates. Tardis Johnson: FIT will always be here to guide you, to be your reference point, to be your foundation as you pursue your career in industry. Carla Quataro-D'Arcy: until we meet again in person I send many many hugs to all of you Al Romano: AMC. While you may be leaving FIT, remember that FIT will always be with you. Stay in touch and we will help you in any way we can. Neil Brownlee: I'm proud to say I used to call you my students, but now I can call you my colleagues. Catherine Geib: Oh, and let’s not forget: we will wear these caps and gowns in October, and this party is continued. Randy Fenoli: Class of 2020, I salute you. I send you my love. job well done. congratulations ciao be awesome woo woo stay safe we love you take care and stay safe Best of luck. good luck Woo hoo! Congratulations class of 2020! This cupcake is for you. Troy Richards: To congratulate the graduating class of 2020, this has been an extraordinary year since the occasion you've demonstrated the resilience that creativity is ingenuity that we've all know that you've been capable of but you far exceeded our expectations and fully confident that you will be success moving forward and look forward to following you great job go off and enjoy the summer. Make sure you come back to FIT visits. Steven Frumkin: Patrick Knisley: On behalf of my office and all the faculty and liberal arts. I salute you and I applaud you and a special place to those of you graduating informing media and artistry and museums professions here is our small rigorous highly selective programs, you need to measures in the school of liberal arts, we are very proud of you. I look forward to hearing great things of you as your careers unfold congratulations. Jack Oliva: It is my distinct pleasure to stand in front of you and congratulate you on completing your studies at FIT. It's customary for the Vice President for Academic Affairs to address the graduating class or throughout the ceremony so for now I want you to know how much of a pleasure it's been for me to work with you. Watch you grow in the time you've been here and as you prepare to leave just a thought to take away. I hope that you've learned in your time here in addition to great and out of work with spreadsheet and all about your liberal arts classes. I hope you have learned that it's okay to take some risks. It's all. Okay to ask questions and not to have all the answers all of the time. This is something that will continue as you find your way moving into the careers that you have chosen or on to some further schooling. In fact, when you walk away from a learning situation ask yourself are there questions I still have because if there are and you've done your job as a student and you walk away not only with the knowledge and skills that you gain or also with an agenda of things that you want to. Complete continue to ask yourself as you move forward. So, congratulations have fun and enjoy yourself. Dr. Joyce F. Brown: Class of 2020. I hope you enjoyed your week virtual activities and today's culmination in the commencement ceremony. You know, I really wish I could have been with you. I wanted to be able to shake your hands or bump it elbows or whatever it is, we're allowed to do these days. But instead, I have to just wish you success and strength. And as we close this chapter in your lives with us. I want to wish you. Success but I want you to go out into the world and make change. Make your mark. Make some noise. Make it better. Make us proud and I know you will. And so with that, I wish you good luck and Godspeed. And I hope you'll come back and visit us.