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Show up for others. Exercise empathy. Lead responsibly. These were among the themes at �Ͼ�Ʒ��’s 2026 commencement.

This year, 530 graduates received their degrees at undergraduate and graduate ceremonies May 9 at Saint Paul RiverCentre. More than half of �Ͼ�Ʒ��’s class of 2026 earned Latin honors. Thirty-eight percent are first-generation, and 36 percent are students of color.

“You all are a truly diverse and collaborative community of learners,” said President Mayme Hostetter, presiding at her first �Ͼ�Ʒ�� Commencement since assuming office on July 1, 2025. “You have developed knowledge, values and skills, and you have already demonstrated profound leadership, scholarship and service through notable adversity, with true togetherness, and racking up a lot of wins along the way.”

Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray, director of the Wesley Center for Spirituality, Service and Social Justice, delivered the invocation. Doron Clark ’00, chair of the �Ͼ�Ʒ�� Board of Trustees, and Patti Kersten ’19, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, presented the John Wesley Awards, which recognize students, faculty and staff whose leadership and service best exemplify the spirit of the Methodist church founder to “do all the good you can.”

In her commencement address, Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who was born in Laos and came to the U.S. at age three, credited others for helping her overcome significant obstacles: the 12th-grade English teacher who taught her how to write; her college finance professor who allowed her to take his class again; a woman of color leader who advised Her never to lower her standards, and her parents, who always believed she would persevere.

“Surround yourself with people who see something in you – especially when you cannot,” Her told the undergraduates. “...Then turn around and show up for others. Give it right back. Pull others up with you. Look for people with potential and invest in them, because giving it away doesn’t subtract from you; it multiplies.”

Mohamed “Momed” Abdirahman ’26, the undergraduate student speaker, focused on the importance of community, connection and empathy in college and beyond. 

Abdirahman said he found his community after talking to a �Ͼ�Ʒ�� student ambassador during a campus visit. After enrolling, his connections deepened as he became active in student groups and served as an admission ambassador. He urged his classmates to keep seeking community and connection – with empathy – regardless of who they are and where they land.

“Keep your head up and stand up tall because our differences make us stronger,” he said. “Our differences build our beautiful community. Our differences are how we connect to one another. Our differences are how we empathize with each other.”

Graduate student speaker Anthony Bass EdD ’26, shared an experience that has become a lasting lesson in leadership. At a college homecoming afterparty more than 30 years ago, Bass stepped into a fight involving a teammate’s sister. Other people followed him. Chaos ensued. Glass shattered. Gunshots rang out. One of his teammates died.

“Eric died because of me,” Bass said. “Not because I pulled the trigger—but because leadership carries consequences. Influence multiplies decisions. When you lead people, you never lead only yourself.”

Bass urged classmates to remember their responsibility as leaders as they step into a rapidly changing world. Resilience isn’t pretending that everything is fine; it’s choosing to keep building even when it isn’t, he said.

“As you leave this place, go with skill,” Bass said. “Go with courage. Go with conviction. Go with wisdom. Let your leadership protect, not consume. Let your influence heal, not wound. Remember someone is always downstream from your choices. Go build a future worthy of the responsibility you carry.”