Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Class of 2026 students at the University of Arizona celebrated their achievements on May 15th in Casino Del Sol Stadium. President Suresh V. Garimella conferred approximately 9,000 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional degrees at this year’s 162nd Commencement.
Dr. Eric Schmidt, former CEO and chairman of Google, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences, and leading architect in the era of artificial intelligence, delivered the Commencement address and was awarded an honorary degree along with Alice Chaiten Baker, Gabby Giffords, Ron Rayner, and Scott Stuber. Secretary Francisco Aguilar was honored with the 2026 Alumni Achievement Awardee, and seven outstanding graduating students were presented their awards.
Read more about the speaker and honorees: https://news.arizona.edu/news/former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-will-address-university-arizona-graduates-commencement
Read more about the student award winners: https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-recognize-seven-outstanding-graduates-commencement
Read more about the celebration: https://news.arizona.edu/news/thousands-celebrate-newest-graduating-class-u-162nd-commencement
Commencement Website: https://commencement.arizona.edu/
PROGRAM:
Wildcat Graduate photo slideshow
Land Acknowledgment
Graduate student procession
Faculty procession
Platform procession
Placement of the Mace, Grand Marshal, Regents Professor Renu Malhotra, PhD
Presentation of the Colors, U of A Joint ROTC Color Guard
National Anthem, BFA Musical Theatre graduates
Welcome by President Suresh V. Garimella
Spanish Language Welcome by Professor Javier Duran
Regent Remarks by Regent Cecilia Mata
Undergraduate Student Response by ASUA President Adriana Grijalva
Graduate Student Response by GPSC President Mourad Abdennebi
Provost Welcome and Introduction of Senior Awards by Provost Patricia Prelock
Provost Awardee, Grant Palmer
Vice President of Student Affairs, Amanda Kraus, presents Senior Awards to
Merrill P Freeman Awardees Imon Contractor and Nicholas Davis
Robert Logan Nugent Awardees Alicia Salazar Contreras and Lane Vazquez Luna
Robie Gold Medal Winners Braelyn Huff and Gabriel Trinidad
UA Foundation Senior Vice President Jonelle Vold presents
Alumni Achievement Award to Zachary Fenton, Principal, ZFI Holdings, Class of 2009
Honorary Degrees presented by Senior Vice Provost Jenna Rickus to
Mrs. Alice Chaiten Baker, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Mr. F. Ronald Rayner, Honorary Doctor of Science
The Honorary Gabrielle Giffords, Honorary Doctor of Letters
Mr. Scott Stuber, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Dr. Eric Schmidt, Honorary Doctor of Science
Presented by the Provost and Conferred by the President
Commencement Address by Dr. Eric Schmidt
DOCTORAL DEGREE CONFERRAL
MASTER'S & PROFESSIONAL DEGREE CONFERRAL
Arizona International Recognition
Arizona Online Recognition
Honors Students Recognition
BACHELOR'S DEGREE CONFERRAL Candidate Introduction by College Deans
CONCLUSION
ALMA MATER performed by Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre graduating seniors
RECESSIONAL
FINALE
Many thanks to our Wildcat student cast, Julia Ferret, Voice of Ceremony; Dariya Jordan Smith, Wildcat Emcee and Vocalist; Erik Rosenbaum, Wildcat Emcee; Vocalists Addy Siciliano, Selah Lipman, Andrew Flekier, and Kinzie Pipkin. Video voice overs by Logan Tyler Hall, Riya Luthra, and Kinzie Pipkin. More thanks to our student stage crew, Elizabeth Gardner, Rayce Morland, and Riley Baheshone. Musical direction and arrangement by Jamie Reed, Assistant Professor of Practice, and talent coordination by Christie Kerr, Associate Director, School of Theatre, Film & Television.
U of A Joint Color Guard comprised of ARMY: Andrew Froggatt, Right Rifle, Javier Lopez, US Flag, Fernando Davis, Army Flag; NAVY/USMC: Evangline Cumming, Left Rifle, Eric Martinez, USMC Flag, Keysha Esparza-Mendoza, Navy Flag; AIR FORCE: Ashton Russell, AF Flag, Ethan Semanko, SF Flag. STAFF LEAD: MSgt Powers, Stephen M., Assistant Marine Officer Instructor.
Follow The University of Arizona:
Facebook: / uarizona
Instagram: / uarizona
X: / uarizona
Official Website: https://www.arizona.edu
UANews: https://news.arizona.edu
Subscribe to Our Channel:
Stay updated with the latest U of A news ►► https://go.arizona.edu/yt-subscribe
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
#universityofarizona #arizona #university #uofa #arizonawildcats #Wildcatforlife #beardown #beardowngrad #graduation #graduation2026
The Class of 2026 students at the University of Arizona celebrated their achievements on May 15th in Casino Del Sol Stadium. President Suresh V. Garimella conferred approximately 9,000 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional degrees at this year’s 162nd Commencement.
Dr. Eric Schmidt, former CEO and chairman of Google, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences, and leading architect in the era of artificial intelligence, delivered the Commencement address and was awarded an honorary degree along with Alice Chaiten Baker, Gabby Giffords, Ron Rayner, and Scott Stuber. Secretary Francisco Aguilar was honored with the 2026 Alumni Achievement Awardee, and seven outstanding graduating students were presented their awards.
Read more about the speaker and honorees: https://news.arizona.edu/news/former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-will-address-university-arizona-graduates-commencement
Read more about the student award winners: https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-recognize-seven-outstanding-graduates-commencement
Read more about the celebration: https://news.arizona.edu/news/thousands-celebrate-newest-graduating-class-u-162nd-commencement
Commencement Website: https://commencement.arizona.edu/
PROGRAM:
Wildcat Graduate photo slideshow
Land Acknowledgment
Graduate student procession
Faculty procession
Platform procession
Placement of the Mace, Grand Marshal, Regents Professor Renu Malhotra, PhD
Presentation of the Colors, U of A Joint ROTC Color Guard
National Anthem, BFA Musical Theatre graduates
Welcome by President Suresh V. Garimella
Spanish Language Welcome by Professor Javier Duran
Regent Remarks by Regent Cecilia Mata
Undergraduate Student Response by ASUA President Adriana Grijalva
Graduate Student Response by GPSC President Mourad Abdennebi
Provost Welcome and Introduction of Senior Awards by Provost Patricia Prelock
Provost Awardee, Grant Palmer
Vice President of Student Affairs, Amanda Kraus, presents Senior Awards to
Merrill P Freeman Awardees Imon Contractor and Nicholas Davis
Robert Logan Nugent Awardees Alicia Salazar Contreras and Lane Vazquez Luna
Robie Gold Medal Winners Braelyn Huff and Gabriel Trinidad
UA Foundation Senior Vice President Jonelle Vold presents
Alumni Achievement Award to Zachary Fenton, Principal, ZFI Holdings, Class of 2009
Honorary Degrees presented by Senior Vice Provost Jenna Rickus to
Mrs. Alice Chaiten Baker, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Mr. F. Ronald Rayner, Honorary Doctor of Science
The Honorary Gabrielle Giffords, Honorary Doctor of Letters
Mr. Scott Stuber, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
Dr. Eric Schmidt, Honorary Doctor of Science
Presented by the Provost and Conferred by the President
Commencement Address by Dr. Eric Schmidt
DOCTORAL DEGREE CONFERRAL
MASTER'S & PROFESSIONAL DEGREE CONFERRAL
Arizona International Recognition
Arizona Online Recognition
Honors Students Recognition
BACHELOR'S DEGREE CONFERRAL Candidate Introduction by College Deans
CONCLUSION
ALMA MATER performed by Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre graduating seniors
RECESSIONAL
FINALE
Many thanks to our Wildcat student cast, Julia Ferret, Voice of Ceremony; Dariya Jordan Smith, Wildcat Emcee and Vocalist; Erik Rosenbaum, Wildcat Emcee; Vocalists Addy Siciliano, Selah Lipman, Andrew Flekier, and Kinzie Pipkin. Video voice overs by Logan Tyler Hall, Riya Luthra, and Kinzie Pipkin. More thanks to our student stage crew, Elizabeth Gardner, Rayce Morland, and Riley Baheshone. Musical direction and arrangement by Jamie Reed, Assistant Professor of Practice, and talent coordination by Christie Kerr, Associate Director, School of Theatre, Film & Television.
U of A Joint Color Guard comprised of ARMY: Andrew Froggatt, Right Rifle, Javier Lopez, US Flag, Fernando Davis, Army Flag; NAVY/USMC: Evangline Cumming, Left Rifle, Eric Martinez, USMC Flag, Keysha Esparza-Mendoza, Navy Flag; AIR FORCE: Ashton Russell, AF Flag, Ethan Semanko, SF Flag. STAFF LEAD: MSgt Powers, Stephen M., Assistant Marine Officer Instructor.
Follow The University of Arizona:
Facebook: / uarizona
Instagram: / uarizona
X: / uarizona
Official Website: https://www.arizona.edu
UANews: https://news.arizona.edu
Subscribe to Our Channel:
Stay updated with the latest U of A news ►► https://go.arizona.edu/yt-subscribe
Land Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.
#universityofarizona #arizona #university #uofa #arizonawildcats #Wildcatforlife #beardown #beardowngrad #graduation #graduation2026
