This May, St. John Fisher conferred more than 1,000 baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees to graduates across six ceremonies. Among those turning their tassels and receiving diplomas were 300 students from the Wegmans School of Nursing’s undergraduate and graduate programs.
During a ceremony honoring undergraduate nursing students, the University bestowed a President’s Medal upon Karen Zandi, president and CEO of the Mary Cariola Center.
Zandi was recognized for the impact she has made on children and families in the Rochester community. She has led Mary Cariola Center in Rochester since 2012 and during her tenure, the school, resident homes, and family support services have flourished. As the regional leader in personalized, interdisciplinary, evidence-based education, and life skill solutions for people with complex disabilities, she has positioned Mary Cariola as the standard-setter in innovation that unlocks lifelong potential. Her inspiration comes from the students, residents, families, and staff of the agency who are the source of empowerment and success.
Zandi offered encouragement to the nursing graduates in her remarks.
“You are entering a profession built on service, resilience, and hope, and the world needs you now more than ever,” she said. “Go forward with confidence in what you’ve learned, humility in what you have yet to learn, and pride in the calling you have chosen.”
Edward Graves delivered remarks on behalf of his fellow graduates, speaking to the camaraderie he found with this class and encouraged his classmates to remember that they are never alone when life’s challenges come their way.
“Wherever we go from here, different hospitals, different units, and different paths, I hope we carry this with us,” he said. “That sense of camaraderie. That willingness to support each other. That reminder that even in the hardest moments, we’re never really alone.”
During the ceremony celebrating graduate degree recipients of the Doctor of Nursing Practice, M.S. in Nursing, and M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, Katerina Nuñez delivered remarks to her fellow graduates.
“Graduates, as we enter this next chapter of our lives as professional helpers and healers, we will make an impact. We’ll make our presence known. We’ll empower. Celebrate others who succeed and lend a hand to those who stumble,” said Nuñez. “As graduates in the fields of mental health counseling and nursing, we each hold genuine social power to initiate change. What are we going to do with that power?”
Class of 2026 Earns Their Nursing Degrees2026-08-26T11:24:20-04:00This May, St. John Fisher conferred more than 1,000 baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees to graduates across six ceremonies. Among those turning their tassels and receiving diplomas were 300 students from the Wegmans School of Nursing’s undergraduate and graduate programs.During a ceremony honoring undergraduate nursing students, the University bestowed a President’s Medal upon Karen Zandi, president and CEO of the Mary Cariola Center.
Zandi was recognized for the impact she has made on children and families in the Rochester community. She has led Mary Cariola Center in Rochester since 2012 and during her tenure, the school, resident homes, and family support services have flourished. As the regional leader in personalized, interdisciplinary, evidence-based education, and life skill solutions for people with complex disabilities, she has positioned Mary Cariola as the standard-setter in innovation that unlocks lifelong potential. Her inspiration comes from the students, residents, families, and staff of the agency who are the source of empowerment and success.
Zandi offered encouragement to the nursing graduates in her remarks.
“You are entering a profession built on service, resilience, and hope, and the world needs you now more than ever,” she said. “Go forward with confidence in what you’ve learned, humility in what you have yet to learn, and pride in the calling you have chosen.”
Edward Graves delivered remarks on behalf of his fellow graduates, speaking to the camaraderie he found with this class and encouraged his classmates to remember that they are never alone when life’s challenges come their way.
“Wherever we go from here, different hospitals, different units, and different paths, I hope we carry this with us,” he said. “That sense of camaraderie. That willingness to support each other. That reminder that even in the hardest moments, we’re never really alone.”
During the ceremony celebrating graduate degree recipients of the Doctor of Nursing Practice, M.S. in Nursing, and M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, Katerina Nuñez delivered remarks to her fellow graduates.
“Graduates, as we enter this next chapter of our lives as professional helpers and healers, we will make an impact. We’ll make our presence known. We’ll empower. Celebrate others who succeed and lend a hand to those who stumble,” said Nuñez. “As graduates in the fields of mental health counseling and nursing, we each hold genuine social power to initiate change. What are we going to do with that power?”/media/news-images/summer-2026/Undergrad-nursing-Commencement_960.jpg
