Benjamin Summers Commencement address was delivered at the Binghamton University Harpur College Ceremony at the Events Center on May 20.

Summers, a history major, came to Binghamton after taking a "gap year off" following his high school graduation to participate in an international program called Kivunim: New Directions. He earned college credit during the program, which involved trips to several countries including Morocco and India, from a base in Jerusalem, Israel. The program's focus is for participants to gain an understanding of other cultures, religions and worldviews in order to develop "world-consciousness" while enhancing and enriching their Jewish identity.

On campus, Summers has been heavily involved in both the Hillel and Chabad communities, and has spent four years as a member of Kaskeset, Binghamton University's only all-Jewish a cappella group, including one year as president. He has also worked in the Public Speaking Laboratory in the Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center.

After graduation, Summers will live in Atlanta, "pursuing my passion in conflict resolution from there, and after a few years of working, I'll pick a new city and start a new adventure there," he said. "It's a very loose plan, but the way I want to spend my time is not just earning money, but also learning skills."

"It's all sinking in slowly," he said. "I'm unlike a lot of friends who have their careers planned out, but I'm OK with that. It's a really exciting time to be me."