Celebrating the historic role of SUNY Old Westbury in bringing people of all races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds together to improve themselves and society through education and action.
SUNY Old Westbury will celebrate its 60th anniversary throughout the 2025-2026 academic year.
Upcoming Anniversary Events
Presidential Medalist
Spring 2026
Program in Development
SUNY Old Westbury will debut in 2026 a new honor to be given to a leader who epitomizes the campus' mission and vision as an institution dedicated to excellence, equity and service.
46th Convocation to Honor Academic Excellence
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 6 p.m.
Clark Athletic Center
This event, one of the University's most important academic traditions, will mark the campus anniversary by centering its focus on the campus' long history of stimulating in students a passion for life-long learning while celebrating its most outstanding students.
Own Your Future Gala
April 16, 2026
Heritage Club, Bethpage, New York
The 2026 "Own Your Future Gala" will enable benefactors, campus community members, alumni and friends to gather in support of student scholarships and support and to celebrate the important history and bright future of SUNY Old Westbury.
Past Anniversary Events
Reflections Through the Decades
December 3, 2025
The School of Arts and Sciences played host to a panel of former faculty members who reflected on their, and the University's, experiences. The panel included Dr. Laura Anker, distinguished service professor emerita, American Studies; Dr. Robert Hoyte, distinguished teaching professor emeritus, Chemistry & Physics; and Dr. Lisa Whitten, associate professor (retired), Psychology.
Still, We Rise: Visionaries, Missionaries, and Transformations
October 27 - November 25, 2025.
The Amelie A. Wallace Gallery, located in the Campus Center, housed an exhibition commemorating the campus' 60-year history. The varied eras of the campus' history spread out across the gallery's three levels with photos, documents and videos marking major elements of SUNY Old Westbury's past and present.
Founder's Day
November 12, 2025
"Founders' Day" brought together students, faculty, alumni and the community to commemorate the university's founding and to celebrate its rich history and enduring legacy of education and societal impact.
Panther Pride Homecoming
September 29-October 5, 2025
The campus' history and impact were celebrated in ways big and small! Alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff gathered across the week to celebrate 60 years of history, tradition, and fun!
2025 Fall Convocation
September 10, 2025
Clark Athletic Center
President Timothy Sams welcomed new first-year and transfer students as the community came together to celebrate its 60th year during one of the key academic traditions of the SUNY Old Westbury campus.
Charter Day
June 10, 2025
"Charter Day" marked the day the State University of New York Board of Trustees passed its resolution calling for the creation of our Nassau County institution. The campus community gathered to commemorate this important point in our campus' history and then moved off in teams to conduct service engagements across the campus.
Our Anniversary Logo
The 60th anniversary logo was the product of a student competition conducted during the spring 2025 semester. Catherine Johnson '27 had her work selected as the winning design!