March 21, 2024 — For Marist's Physician Assistant (PA) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program graduates, Commencement wasn't just a formality—it was a moment of pride and the start of a lifelong journey dedicated to serving others.

On Friday, PA students attended their program award ceremonies while DPT students attended their hooding ceremony and reception before Commencement inside McCann Arena later that night.

At their pre-Commencement ceremony, PA students traded in their short white coats for long white coats, symbolizing their transition from students to health professionals, and recited the Hippocratic oath. Select PA students also received awards, and others were among those inducted into the Pi Alpha Honor Society.

For these new Marist alumni, who have completed these very competitive programs, going out into the world of healthcare marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

"Being from a small community without many resources, I decided to pursue a career in medicine with plans to return and work in these underserved communities," said new PA graduate Noelle Lavine, a Cobleskill resident who said she choose Marist for her master's program to stay "close to the support of my family and friends."

Morgan Borrelli arrived at Marist as an undergraduate in 2016 and earned a bachelor’s in biology and a minor in Psychology.

"I initially fell in love with Marist as I watched my sister graduate from here in 2015," said Morgan. "I returned to Marist in 2022 to earn a master’s in physician assistant studies. After graduation, I will be working in either urgent care or emergency medicine as a PA!"

The PA Program class receives cheers from the Nelly Golleti Theater audience. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist College.

"Marist's PA program has taught me so much about not only medicine but also collaboration, adaptability, and the importance of dedication to others," Noelle added. "I hope to take these skills with me into my future years as a clinician. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this program, and I am excited about my future plans to work in family medicine back in my hometown."

The DPT hooding ceremony marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication and signifies their transition from student to practitioner. Marist's DPT graduates completed their three-year program in December, with most having taken the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), part of the evaluation process used by licensing authorities, and have been working as physical therapists for several months.

Like many academic ceremonies, the hooding ceremony serves as a rite of passage. It marks a significant transition in the graduates' lives and often includes elements of tradition and ritual that underscore the importance of the occasion.

For them, it was gratifying to celebrate their accomplishments and anticipate making a difference in patients' lives every day.

“I always knew I wanted to be a physical therapist, so getting into the Marist DPT program was truly a dream,” said new DPT Caitlin O’Connell, who earned a perfect score on the NPTE and is now working in New Jersey as an outpatient therapist. “I loved that it was a newer program, and that the faculty were so dedicated to student success. The last three years were some of the toughest I’ve faced, but also incredibly rewarding, and I learned so much.”