Five Towns College Honors 2026 Graduates During 52nd Commencement Ceremony

The Class of 2026 took center stage at Five Towns College last week–and the exciting graduation was part celebration . . . and part concert!

Inside the FTC Performing Arts Center, approximately 125 undergraduate and graduate students earned degrees in Business Management, Court Reporting, Film and Television, Interactive Media Arts, Mass Communication, Music Education, Performance and Theatre Arts.

Five Towns College is Long Island’s premiere creative arts college, and this year marked the school’s 52nd Commencement Exercises.

Student Standouts

This year’s ceremony carried extra significance because Doctorate degrees were also granted. According to Registrar Anna Nieves, Five Towns College bestowed two Doctorates in Musical Arts, and celebrated five Master Degree recipients.

Additionally, says Nieves, “there was an all-student performance from the graduating class of 2026.”

Mass Communication and Audio students handled the live sound and technical aspects of graduation, providing them with the hands-on technical experience they’ll carry into their career paths.

Her advice for the recent graduates? “Continue believing in yourselves, continue working hard, and never be afraid to chase the goals and dreams that inspire you.” Also, “no matter where life leads, you will always be part of this community, and we will always be proud of you.”

Speeches and Music Take Center Stage

On stage, salutatorian Sydney Festa shared the unique journey that led her to Five Towns College. She “always loved music,” but initially ran from it, choosing to study forensic psychology at a different college before transferring to Five Towns College.

Festa said that everything changed the moment she toured Five Towns College, where suddenly, a career in music felt possible. She learned at Five Towns College, “there is no such thing as a bad idea,” only people willing to help bring ideas to life.

Festa led the college’s business club, hosted events and radio shows, produced music, worked with publishing and record label opportunities, and balanced it all while playing Division I college soccer.

“When you’re in the right place, growth doesn’t feel forced,” she said. “It feels natural, even when it’s challenging. You don’t excel by accident. You excel when you care.”

A Business Administration major with a concentration in Music Entertainment Industry Studies, Festa urges her peers to hold onto “whatever drive brought you through those doors” as they begin their next chapter.

Presidential Pearls of Wisdom

Five Towns College President David M. Cohen reflected on the resilience of the Class of 2026, describing them as the college’s “first post-Covid generation of college students.” While the pandemic disrupted much of their high school experience, Cohen praised the graduates for persevering by continuing their education at Five Towns College.

After missing last year’s ceremony, Cohen returned to the stage with gratitude, reminding graduates of their own strength. “You can navigate through a pandemic; you can survive health emergencies.”

He encouraged the Class of 2026 to carry that resilience into the future, stating that life “will absolutely be filled with adversity,” but that the graduates already proved they can weather difficult moments and emerge stronger.

Legendary Musician Buck Dharma Dazzles Crowd

The faculty, staff, and students at Five Towns College were thrilled to present Musician Buck Dharma — born Donald Roeser — an Honorary Doctor of Music degree. A longtime guitarist and songwriter for the iconic band Blue Öyster Cult, the Smithtown native was recognized for a career that helped define and shape, classic rock. Blue Öyster Cult sold more than 25 million records worldwide and is a globally renowned band.

Before becoming “Buck Dharma,” Roeser was a typical Long Island kid from a musical family. In 1967, he co-founded the band that would later become Blue Öyster Cult and went on to write and sing chart-topping hits, including “Burnin’ for You,” “Godzilla,” and the immortal “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.”

During the ceremony, Buck Dharma reflected on his unconventional journey to success, describing himself as “a former college drop-out—much to the chagrin of my parents.” Accepting his honorary degree, he announced: “I am today a Doctor of Music from Five Towns College!”

Buck Dharma recounted the band’s difficult early years, calling them, “four years of hard work, a failed record contract, eating mostly peanut butter sandwiches and playing cover tunes in bars.” Eventually, those struggles paid off when the group signed with Columbia Records and began touring with mainstream musicians like Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper.

Buck also shared a surreal, local connection to the campus. “I realized that the house I rented in 1974–where I wrote and demo’ed ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ – is just two miles from where we are right now, in Melville.”

The rock legend told the excited crowd: “First, work hard. Work really hard. Now is the time to really go for it.”

Also: “Show up. Get out there and make it happen; don’t just sit home in your bedroom.”

Collaboration, he explained, is essential in creative industries. “Meet people, work with people, collaborate with people, build connections,” he told the graduates. “That’s the way doors will open up for you.”

And: “Help others. It’ll come back to you.”

Following his speech, some lucky students and alumni got to jam with Buck Dharma and his wife, Sandy. Buck Dharma thrilled the audience with a live concert right on-site, stating, “there’s just nothing like live music.”

Alumni Words of Wisdom

The college also honored alumna Asjai Lou, Class of 2006, with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award. Lou spoke passionately about storytelling and connection in creative careers.

“Story is access. Your story is the thing that opens doors.”

That–and connections. She said that reaching out to a fellow Five Towns College grad named “Gino” opened her connection into entertainment. Over the years, she’s worked on major commercials, music videos, and casting projects alongside industry professionals.

Lou reminded graduates that every challenge, victory, and late-night project contributes to the narrative they carry into the world. “Your story isn’t just about where you start,” she explained. “It’s about who you connect with, who you believe in, and who believes in you.”

A Second Chance to Start Anew

Valedictorian Thomas Wolkwitz closed Commencement with a deeply personal speech.

“I was not the kind of student anyone would expect to see standing here today,” Wolkwitz admitted. “I struggled in school; I struggled at home. I doubted myself constantly.”

After years of battling addiction and self-doubt, he decided to change his life. “I got myself clean, and then I applied to Five Towns.”

On campus, he initially kept to himself, but over time, he started participating more in class and found supportive peers and professors.

“Growth does not happen when things are comfortable,” he shared. “It happens when you’re scared, when you’re unsure, and when you choose to move forward anyway.”

He thanked faculty members who believed in him “when I struggled to believe in myself” and encouraged fellow graduates to stop hiding from opportunity. “Be loud, let yourself be seen,” he said. “Choose the path that challenges you and fulfills you, not just the one that feels safe.