College of Staten Island Celebrates Commencement, Outstanding Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Honorary Degree Recipient

Below, readers will learn about this year’s valedictorian, salutatorian, and honorary degree recipient.  Laura Kennedy, the honorary degree recipient, is a long-time disability-rights advocate who has served as the director on the boards of multiple non-profits dedicated to advancing the rights and standing of individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.  We covered the commencement in 2023, before the events of October 7th, which was in 2023 and featured an address by famed author Kurt Vonnegut.  We also covered the pinning ceremony at CSI for their Nursing Program student graduates who were stepping out onto their career paths.  

CSI Announces Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Honorary Degree Recipient Ahead of Commencement

The College of Staten Island is proudly celebrating its 77^th Commencement tomorrow, and along with greeting and salutations from President Dr. Timothy G. Lynch and guests, the ceremony will highlight its top honorees: Class of 2026 Valedictorian Michelle Danglade, Salutatorian Ashley Villalva, and Honorary Degree recipient, Laura Kennedy.

A History major at CSI with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Danglade’s journey to this achievement was anything but straightforward. Overcoming significant personal and health-related challenges throughout her college career, she approached each semester with determination, viewing every assignment, project, and milestone as an opportunity to prove to herself just how far hard work and passion could take her.

Beyond the classroom, Danglade has been an active member of the CSI community through her work with the League of Historians, Phi Alpha Theta, and the LILAC Preservation Project, where she volunteers in archival preservation. Her academic interests have also extended into original research, including her presentation, “Vodou in the Age of Covid-19,” at the 2026 Undergraduate Conference on Research, Scholarship, and the Arts. Professionally, she has gained communications and digital media experience through internships with PEN America and The Humble Heroes of FDNY Inc., blending creativity with advocacy and public engagement.

As Salutatorian, Ashley Villalva has demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to service. A student in the Macaulay Honors College at CSI, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minors in Legal Studies and Spanish, maintaining a 3.9 GPA while balancing an impressive record of campus involvement and professional experience.

A proud Hispanic woman and first-generation success story, Villalva credits much of her drive and determination to her mother, whose sacrifices inspired her to pursue every opportunity available to her. Throughout her time at CSI, Villalva became a passionate advocate for students and their needs. Her work in Student Government—from Elections and Advocacy Commissioner, to Vice President, and now President—focused on expanding access to campus resources, supporting student wellbeing, and ensuring every student felt seen and supported.

Beyond Student Government, Villalva has served as President of the CSI Pre-Law Society and as a Macaulay Ambassador, mentoring prospective students and helping them envision their own futures in higher education. Off campus, she gained extensive public service and legal experience through internships with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Unified Court System, and State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, where she currently serves as a Community Liaison.

Honorary Degree recipient Laura Kennedy is a distinguished disability-rights advocate, leader, and educator. The parent of a 43-year-old daughter with a developmental disability, throughout her life, she has been a strong advocate for disability rights on behalf of her daughter and many others. She has served on the boards of AHRC New York City, The Arc New York (formerly NYSARC), and The Arc of the United States, and held the position of president at all three organizations.

Kennedy also serves on the board of the Pennhurst Memorial Preservation Alliance, as well as the Friends of the National Museum of Disability History and Culture. She served as the Director of the Early Childhood Direction Center at Staten Island University Hospital for 26 years, where she assisted parents and professionals by providing technical support in the areas of early intervention and special education.

During her tenure as president of The Arc New York, she established the Historical Archives Committee to oversee the organization’s expansive 75-year collection of disability history. After a decade of preservation efforts, The Arc New York gifted the collection to the CSI Archives. She has also been a member of the Willowbrook Mile Committee at the College.

Tomorrow’s Commencement exercises will begin at 9:30am on the campus’ Great Lawn. Logistical information is available on the College’s Commencement Landing Page. Also slated to address the degree candidates are CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Trustee Michael Arvanites, New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton ’11, and the induction of alumni from CSI Alumni Association President Elizabeth Nieto ’19, ’21.

Class of 2026 Valedictorian Michelle Danglade, Salutatorian Ashley Villalva, and Honorary Degree recipient, Laura Kennedy. Image

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CSI Honors the Class of 2026

It was a picture-perfect day for the Class of 2026, as well as their mentors, families, and friends, to gather on the Great Lawn for the College of Staten Island’s 77th Commencement. This year, a total of 2,247 students received their degrees, celebrating their accomplishments and looking forward to the next steps of their lives. In an inspiring ceremony, President Timothy G. Lynch reflected on the resilience of the graduating class, while acknowledging those who supported them along the way.

“Looking out at this extraordinary Class of 2026,” he said, “I see future teachers, nurses, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, lawyers, public servants, and leaders. I see stories of perseverance, sacrifice, and determination. And I see the people who helped make this day possible—your families, your loved ones, your mentors, your friends—the people who showed up for you, sometimes quietly, sometimes at great cost to themselves. Please take a moment right now and look back at them. They earned today too.”

As he concluded his remarks, Dr. Lynch imparted some advice to the Class of 2026: “Remember where you came from… Lift others as you climb… Be bold.”

Class of 2026 at CSI. Image Credit – CSI

The ceremony also featured a video message from CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and remarks from CUNY Trustee Michael Arvanites.

Disability rights advocate, leader, and educator Laura Kennedy received an honorary degree. In her keynote, Kennedy described the impact of parents who struggled on behalf of their children with disabilities to improve not only their lives, but those of others. After underscoring the critical role that the College of Staten Island has played in the fight for disability rights, she encouraged the graduates to make the world a better place.

Commencement. Image Credit – CSI / Robert Kee

“Graduates, today you celebrate the skills and knowledge you have worked so hard to obtain. You now have the tools to make meaningful contributions in whatever field you choose,” she said.

After congratulatory words from 23^rd District Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton ‘11, the audience heard pre-recorded remarks from the Class of 2026 valedictorian and salutatorian.

Ashley Villalva, a Macaulay Honors student who received a BA in Political Science, reflected on her identity and the shared experience of her CSI community. Valedictorian Michelle Danglade, who earned a BA in History, led the graduates in a mini mindfulness exercise, urging them to focus on the sensations, sounds, and sights of what was happening around them.

“This is a huge lesson I learned from my time at CSI, and one I feel is important to reiterate during this moment: do everything with integrity. I do not know what the next phase of life will hold; we are all on our own journeys, writing our own stories, but whatever comes, we must face it with integrity.

“With every trial, blow, and injustice witnessed, you must constantly look inwards and be assured that how you respond aligns with your own code and honesty. At the end of the day, you must always be able to lie your head comforted by the knowledge that no matter what the day threw at you, you were able to face it in a way that you are proud of.”

CSI Alumni Association President Elizabeth Nieto ’19, ’21 Formally welcomed graduates into the alumni community, encouraging them to stay connected.

“Come back to campus often. Attend alumni events. Network with fellow graduates. Share your accomplishments. Support the next generation of students. The connections you made here do not end today…in many ways, they are just beginning.”

The conferral of degrees officially took place as each Dean called their respective School or Division presented their graduates, and President Lynch invited students to move the tassels on their caps from right to left. The Class of 2026 degree totals include:

-Associate in Arts: 258

-Associate in Science: 109

-Associate in Applied Science: 228

-Bachelor of Arts: 438

-Bachelor of Fine Arts: 11

-Bachelor of Science: 943

-Master of Arts: 41

-Master of Engineering: 8

-Master of Science: 86

-Master of Social Work: 33

-Master of Science in Education: 102

-Specialized Certificate Programs: 38

-Doctor of Physical Therapy: 20

-EDD in Community Leadership: 9

Departmental Commencement exercises followed the main ceremony at various locations across campus.

By Terry Mares

Banner Image: At CSI’s commencement, 2026. Image Credit – Robert Kee