2026Commencement
Commencement is more than a ceremony—it’s a defining moment.
For the Class of 2026, adversity and rapid change aren’t unforeseen disruptions that risk throwing them off track: they’re familiar features of a world that’s transforming faster than anyone could have predicted a few years ago.
In high school, they learned to adapt because adaptability wasn’t optional. New ways of learning, new ways of connecting with others, new ways of navigating the world, all of them delivered with sink-or-swim urgency. But the Class of 2026 didn’t just make it through, they built new skills and a resilience that will yield benefits for the rest of their lives.
They came to UConn as the most diverse class in University history, with one in four the first members of their family to attend college. They met the challenges, navigated the shifting course of events, and left this 145-year-old institution a legacy of achievement and distinction that ranks with any class in University history.
They were here for the opening of Science One and the Toscano Family Ice Forum; for the largest philanthropic gift in UConn history; through record-breaking years for faculty research; and, as you may have heard, for more national basketball championships than any other school could hope to muster in the same timeframe.
This is a group of Huskies who refused to let adversity or uncertainty define their time at UConn, an attitude they’ll bring to whatever they pursue next – business, public service, art, professional sports, graduate education, families, military service, and more.
So here’s to the Class of 2026 – from Avery Point; from Farmington; from Hartford; from Stamford; from Storrs; from Waterbury; and from all over Connecticut, the nation, and the world. Yesterday, today, tomorrow: Huskies Forever.
Congratulations, Class of 2026
Hundreds of days, thousands of hours, and millions of moments have led to this one – commencement, a tassel turn, and those first steps into the next part of the journey. Go with confidence, Huskies of 2026, and congratulations for all the greatness you’ve achieved…and all that’s yet to come.
Tiny Voices, Big Wisdom
What happens when you ask second graders to give advice to college graduates? Our youngest voices share their honest, funny, and surprisingly wise thoughts on life after graduation. As the Class of 2026 takes the next step, these words are a reminder that sometimes the best advice comes from the most unexpected places.
More Than a Cap
As the Class of 2026 prepares to turn their tassels, UConn seniors are putting the finishing touches on one of the most personal parts of graduation—their caps. Created at UConn’s Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute, these designs came to life in a space built for creativity, innovation, and hands-on making.
From tributes to family and culture to inside jokes, career dreams, and words of inspiration, each cap reflects the journey that brought them here.