Reality television stars and accidental farmers, brand-building entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and community activists, Brent Ridge and Joshua Kilmer-Purcell, widely known as The Fabulous Beekman Boys, will present an unconventional Commencement Address Debate at SUNY Cobleskill on Saturday, May 9, at 11am.
In a war of wisdom, Dr. Ridge and Mr. Kilmer-Purcell will compete with each other to determine who can best advise graduates on "The Reality of Life after College."
A first for SUNY Cobleskill, the debate will challenge Dr. Ridge and Mr. Kilmer-Purcell to provide the best guidance for the people, selected by the people.
Both men will answer each question with the hope that their counsel is deemed most valuable by the audience. Debra H. Thatcher, Acting President of SUNY Cobleskill, will moderate the debate.
Upon its conclusion, graduates and guests will vote to select the winner.
In recognition and high praise for their significant achievements, Dr. Ridge and Mr. Kilmer-Purcell will be awarded honorary doctorates at the ceremony by the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Dr. Ridge played a leading role in the development and funding of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine's Acute Care for the Elderly, now known as the Martha Stewart Center for Living.
Mr. Kilmer Purcell's story-telling prowess explores universal themes of love, loyalty, emotional honesty, and pursuit of dreams, while his cookbooks promote a lifestyle of understanding and respecting food. Both have used their successful business ventures to fund philanthropic ventures in rural New York State, including the "Mortgage Lifter" program that supports creative projects designed by local farmers to enhance farming operations. And together they surprised the world when they won "The Amazing Race" in 2013.