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Annual Celebrations & Lectures
Hartwick College campus view of pergola on Founders' Way

Opening Convocation

2026 Ceremony

The Hartwick community gathered on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. in Lambros Arena of the Binder Physical Education Center to welcome new students during this year’s Opening Convocation. The time-honored ceremony marks the official start of the academic year.

The ceremony included remarks from President Laurel Bongiorno, Faculty Speaker: Assistant Professor of Sociology Zachary McKenney, Student Speaker: Student Government Association President Rebeka Alva ’27

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jennifer Dearden welcomed the new class.

Ceremony Webcast Recording

VIEW RECORDING ON YOUTUBE

 

Opening Convocation Highlights - 2026

New Hartwick College students in blue shirts walks up an outdoor staircase on a campus, with a brick building, clock tower, and distant hills visible.
New Hartwick College students wearing blue t-shirts seated on blue bleachers, with 'HARTWICK' written on a blue wall below them.
New Hartwick College students in blue t-shirts and adults in academic regalia are gathered indoors, with some faculty clapping.
Hartwick College President Laurel Bongiorno in academic regalia rings a the Harwick bell behind a podium to being Opening Convocation ceremony for new students with the Hartwick College seal, against a blue banner.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jennifer Dearden welcomed the new class of students during Opening Convocation
Hartwick College Student Government Association President Rebeka Alva ’27 speaking into a microphone at a wooden podium during Opening Convocation.
Hartwick College brass ensemble performs during Opening Convocation in front of international flags. Two musicians wear academic gowns, playing trumpet and tuba. Two others play trumpet and trombone. A woman sits to the left of the ensemble, and a table with a book and blue object is in the foreground.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Zachary McKenney speaks at a podium in front of a Hartwick College banner, with an audience in the foreground and people in academic regalia seated on stage during Opening Convocation.
Hartwick student sings Hartwick College alma mater into a microphone at a podium with Opening Convocation platform party and flags and a blue banner are in the background.
Hartwick College President Bongiorno and VP for Academic Affairs & Provost Deardin greet new students in blue t-shirts at Opening Convocation
Hartwick student in a blue graduation gown stands near a white table where a young woman in a blue t-shirt signs the Hartwick College Matriculation book. Other students in blue t-shirts stand in the background, with blue bleachers behind them.