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Graduating from Russell Sage College was a family thing for Marlan Alberty, who was receiving his master’s degree in organization management, and his wife Denicole Alberty, who was graduating from the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program, at Sage’s 108th commencement ceremony at the MVP Arena on May 17.
“My plan is to be a project manager for construction projects,” said Alberty, who is from Oklahoma City, “Sage was a very interactive engaged community. … I want to thank all the business administration faculty. I really appreciate you working with me.”
After commencement, the couple was headed to Virginia, where Denicole Alberty, who plans to become a psychiatric nurse, is from.
But first, they joined the nearly 500 students who walked across the commencement stage. In all, 849 Sage students earned certificates, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees this academic year.
“Graduates, you leave here today with more than a degree. You leave as members of an alumnae and alumni community, 40,000 strong,” said Russell Sage College President Matthew Shaftel. “You go forth with the confidence to lead, and with the power to transform whatever comes next. So, use your voice. Use your talent. And when you can — use your treasure. Support the people and places that shaped you. Institutions like Sage thrive when those who believe in them give back — not just in dollars, but in time, in mentorship, and in connection.”
Addressing the graduates was Lucas Aurelio (Lucas Aurelio Phayre-Gonzalez) a 2018 Russell Sage musical theatre graduate and rising star in television and film who has maintained his connection to Sage. Aurelio also received an honorary doctorate of fine arts during the ceremony.
In his speech, he talked about the work of making it as an actor and the need to believe in yourself in an industry where you hear “no” more than “yes.” Aurelio is coming off the biggest year of his career, having played Paul Suarez in Season 3 of the Netflix series “Bridgerton,” earning a role in a new project by acclaimed filmmaker Noah Baumbach that features George Clooney and Adam Sandler, and filming for another hit series next month that he can’t talk about but describes as a “dream job.”
“There’s something I heard in an acting class at Russell Sage that’s stuck with me all these years later, and it’s something I think everyone in this room should hear: You are enough,” he said. “I know. It’s corny. But it became one of the most important lessons I had to remember in the years to come.”
After graduating from Albany High School in 2014, Aurelio chose Sage because he could play on the soccer team, where he would win a conference championship in 2015, and pursue theater, appearing in more than a dozen productions during his time as Sage.
“When I got the call that I was offered a role on ‘Bridgerton,’ I knew my life was about to change drastically. I envisioned my career skyrocketing overnight — but the truth is that by the time the show aired, I hadn’t booked a job in close to a year. I was still auditioning as much as I could, but the longer I went without work, the more I started to fear that lightning wouldn’t strike twice; that the best was already behind me,” he said. “It was only when I changed my perspective and took responsibility for the things that were in my control, like treating myself with kindness and compassion, that my circumstances began to change. Last month, I booked another dream job, and soon I’ll be chasing the next. But I know now how important it is to be present, enjoy the creative process, and trust.”
For Erin Duffy, who graduated with her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law, and behavior science, graduating college was its own process. She was a student at The College of Saint Rose, which closed last year, before she transferred to Sage, the alma mater of both her sister and her mom.
“The teachout program was great. I was able to transfer all my credits from Saint Rose and graduate this year as I planned, and I’m so appreciative of that,” said Duffy, who will take a year off to study for the Law School Administration Test (LSAT) before attending Albany Law School. “I’m going to miss most of all the faculty and staff that have helped me, Sage Solutions, and also the library.”