DECATUR, Ill. – celebrated more than 250 graduates from the Class of 2026 during Spring Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 17, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center. The day included two ceremonies recognizing undergraduate and graduate students from 鶹Լ’s four academic colleges. Graduates from the College of Fine Arts and the College of Professional Studies participated in the 10 a.m. ceremony, while graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Tabor School of Business were honored at the 3 p.m. ceremony.
The ceremonies marked a milestone moment during 鶹Լ’s 125th anniversary celebration, bringing together graduates, families, friends, faculty, staff, and alumni to recognize the academic achievements and personal growth of the newest members of the Big Blue alumni family.
鶹Լ President Dr. Dean Pribbenow welcomed graduates and guests, noting that Commencement is one of the University’s most meaningful traditions because it reflects not only the completion of academic requirements, but also the transformation that takes place throughout a student’s 鶹Լ journey.
“Education is not simply delivered by one person to another; it is built collectively through shared experiences, conversations, collaboration, and community,” Pribbenow said. “Each of you has shaped the character and spirit of this University just as surely as this University has shaped you.”
Pribbenow also placed the day in the context of 鶹Լ’s 125-year history, referencing President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to Decatur in 1903 for the dedication of 鶹Լ University and Roosevelt’s reminder that “to whom much has been given, from them much shall rightly be expected.”
For Pribbenow, that charge remains central to the purpose of a 鶹Լ education.
“You have experienced the gift of knowledge. Skills. Mentorship. Opportunity. Friendship. Perspective,” Pribbenow said. “And now, graduates, what shall rightly be expected’ of you? I believe it’s to be a force for good in the world.”
He encouraged graduates to carry forward the lessons, relationships, and experiences they built at 鶹Լ while using their education to serve others.
“Education is not meant to eliminate uncertainty. Education is meant to help you navigate it,” Pribbenow said. “Graduates, you leave this University at a time when the world desperately needs your courageous leadership, your curious creativity, your humble service, and your compassionate action.”
This year’s Commencement keynote speaker was Dr. James Rauff, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, who is retiring after 38 years at 鶹Լ. Rauff has served 鶹Լ students since 1988, and his career has spanned Mathematics, Computer Science, Linguistics, and Anthropology. During his time at 鶹Լ, he published more than 200 works and mentored numerous student researchers, James 鶹Լ Scholars, and capstone students.
Rauff’s address, titled “Everywhere and Forever,” blended humor, reflection, and wisdom drawn from a career spent teaching and thinking about infinity.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about, learning about, and teaching about infinity,” Rauff said. “One wonderful and magical thing about infinity is that it encompasses space — it’s everywhere — and time — it’s forever.”
Rauff offered graduates four items to carry with them into the next chapter of their lives: be kind, show up and be there, be thankful, and be yourself.
“Try to be kind to people. Being kind acknowledges and values them as a person,” Rauff said. “You may never know the impact your kindness will have on a person, but it could make their day a little better, or it could even change their life.”
He also reminded graduates of the importance of presence — not simply being in the room, but being fully engaged with others and with the world around them.
“When you show up, the ‘there’ is the center of the universe,” Rauff said. “Show up and be there for those you love. Show up for your colleagues, and when you do, be there. When you see injustice, show up and be there for the person suffering from that injustice. Show up and be there for planet Earth.”
Rauff closed by encouraging the Class of 2026 to embrace their individuality as they move into new careers, graduate programs, and communities.
“You will grow and change. You will learn and forget. But you will always be you. Uniquely and beautifully you,” Rauff said. “So, consider packing these for your life’s journey: Be kind, show up, be thankful, and be you.”
The ceremonies also featured remarks from student speakers Carissa Guerrier and Miamaya Parra, who reflected on the uncertainty, growth, and transformation that shaped their 鶹Լ experiences.
Guerrier, an Exercise Science major from Grayslake, Ill., delivered a speech titled “Learning to Pivot: Trusting Yourself Through Change.” During her time at 鶹Լ, Guerrier was active across campus as Secretary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vice President of the Latin American Student Association, President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a Wellness Peer Advocate, a Strength and Conditioning Intern at the Rathje Center, and a Big Blue Ambassador. After graduation, she will attend Saint Louis University to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
In her remarks, Guerrier described arriving at 鶹Լ with a clear plan to play basketball, major in Biology, and attend physical therapy school. When that plan changed after her first year, she said she had to learn how to pivot.
“Looking back now, I can confidently say that those moments of change — those moments that forced me to adjust — were some of the most important moments of my journey and have played a role in shaping me into who I am today,” Guerrier said. “We are far more capable than we give ourselves credit for.”
Guerrier encouraged her classmates to trust the experiences that shaped them and to move forward without fearing uncertainty or failure.
“We are leaving this place with knowledge, experiences, relationships, and resilience,” Guerrier said. “We have built a toolbox over these past years. One filled with skills, lessons, and perspectives that will carry us forward.”
Parra, a graduating senior from Chicago majoring in English Writing and Psychology with a minor in Spanish, delivered a speech titled “The Power of the Unexpected.” A campus leader, Parra served as President of the Latin American Student Organization, Vice President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an EDGE mentor, a student aide in the Office of Student Affairs, and a member of Black Student Union.
Parra shared that 鶹Լ was not originally part of her plan. In fact, she said she applied only after a high school Dean of Students encouraged her to consider his alma mater. She arrived on campus unsure if she wanted to stay, but a willingness to say yes to new opportunities transformed her experience.
“I walked onto this campus stubborn, hesitant, and already planning my exit,” Parra said. “Somewhere along the way, I became a leader, a mentor, and someone willing to take chances on herself.”
For Parra, the unexpected became the defining lesson of her 鶹Լ journey.
“The place I was so certain was wrong for me became the place that changed me most,” Parra said. “Sometimes the experiences we resist the most become the experiences we need the most. That is what I call the power of the unexpected.”
As the Class of 2026 crossed the stage, the ceremonies celebrated not only degrees earned but also the resilience, leadership, and community that shaped each graduate’s 鶹Լ experience.
“Thank you for the ways you have shaped this community,” Pribbenow told the graduates. “You have left an indelible mark on this institution, and this University and the Big Blue will forever remain a part of you.”
Morning Ceremony Livestream
Afternoon Ceremony Livestream
