- The 2019 NYU Commencement Preshow featured 20 graduating students celebrating their stories of academic, entrepreneurial, service, and artistic achievements.
- Hosted from the field of Yankee Stadium, the 45-minute live production appeared on the Jumbotron and was live streamed on the NYU website and to the NYU Facebook page’s 800,000 followers.
- The 2019 Preshow highlighted NYU’s Female Founders, the National Baton Champion, the Prison Education Program, the Alternative Breaks Program, and the Tandon Motorsports Team.
- Trivia questions honored NYU’s history and alumni as the audience was asked to cheer for their answers.
- The Preshow is a creative collaboration of the NYU Office of Public Affairs, University Events, NYU TV, and the Metrovision Production Group.
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH VIDEO (Runtime: 42 seconds)
José Diaz is the first student who has attended the NYU Prison Education Program and gone on to receive a bachelor's degree (from CAS). He spoke about his accomplishments, gratitude, and future plans after having spent over a decade in prison. Diaz said, "The Prison Education Program took a leap of faith on me."
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH VIDEO (Runtime: 1 minute)
Talk about an entrance! Marcus Cheung, captain and co-founder of NYU Tandon School of Engineering Motorsports, drove the team’s prototype around the track at Yankee Stadium. The group of interdisciplinary engineering students designed and manufactured nearly 80% of the off-road vehicle that now competes in national races.
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH VIDEO (Runtime: 45 seconds)
As part of the NYU Female Founders segment, Gallatin grad Melissa Bartow shares the entrepreneurial story of "Wanna Date?"—a company she started as a junior in her dorm room. The date-based spread she dreamed up while working in a smoothie shop near campus is now sold in 20 retail stores.
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH VIDEO (Runtime 1 minute 37 seconds)
Men's national collegiate baton champion Tim Lyzen had the Yankee Stadium crowd holding their breath during his live performance on the field. Despite years of injuries including a fractured skull, the Steinhardt grad remains committed to the sport. "I train 4 to 5 hours every single day like an Olympic athlete," Lyzen said. "It’s hard to balance that with work and internships and school. But it’s given me time management skills!"
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH VIDEO (Runtime: 55 seconds)
One in three bites of food that you eat depends on pollination from bees. With a focus on both sustainability and entrepreneurship, NYU Tandon's Octavia Larentis and Monica Mendoza—co-founders of the startup Beespect—explained how their smart beehive lid uses sensors to help beekeepers gather data and prevent colony loss.
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH THE FULL NYU COMMENCEMENT PRESHOW 2019 VIDEO (Runtime: 50 minutes)
Behind the scenes: The production team on the field, in the dugout, and in the broadcast truck
Photo Credits: Josh Magpantay (NYU Tisch) & Marian Goldman (NYU Photo Bureau)