SUNY Oneonta Grads Go Forth!

ONEONTA – 1,000 students turned their tassels from left to right today the Dewar Arena, announcing themselves as the newest graduates of SUNY Oneonta.

Broadway producer Hal Luftig, ’79 and set designer Neil Mazzella, ’73, both Tony Award winners, gave the graduating addresses and received honorary degrees.

Luftig, who’s produced 27 Broadway shows, shared a quote from a talk actress and activist Jane Fonda gave during his time at SUNY.  “She told me, ‘Don’t let the notion of what you can lose prevent you from standing up for what you believe in and doing the right thing’,” he recounted.

Mazzella, one of Broadway’s most sought-after set designer, advised students to keep their eye on what they love, rather than a job title. “Don’t focus so much on a career,” he said.  “Focus on your passions.”