Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Coach Tara Watchorn (Sargent’12), head coach of the BU Women's Ice Hockey Team and Olympic gold medalist at the 2014 Winter Games, delivered the Sargent College Convocation address on May 16, 2026. A former BU hockey player herself, Watchorn made history as the first BU women's hockey alumna to serve as a Division I head coach, making her a uniquely fitting speaker for the occasion.
In her convocation address, Coach Watchorn reflected on leadership, resilience, and the importance of community, centering her remarks around three key themes: You Are More Prepared Than You Think, Standards Over Outcomes, and People Are the Point. She encouraged graduates to trust in the preparation and experiences that brought them to this moment, emphasizing that while outcomes may fluctuate, the standards they carry with them will continue to guide them long after graduation.
Ahead of the convocation, Watchorn also reflected on her own experiences at Boston University and Sargent College in an interview discussing her journey from student-athlete to coach. She shared that although she enjoyed her studies and valued her professors' support, her academic experience at Sargent challenged her in unexpected ways and pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Watchorn credited those experiences with teaching her humility, resilience, and the importance of asking for help, lessons that continue to shape her leadership style today.
CHAPTERS:
_______________________________________________
0:00 — Introduction
1:18 — Coming to BU + Life as a Student-Athlete at Sargent
2:56 — The Road to Olympic Gold
4:29 — You Are More Prepared Than You Think
6:04 — Standards Over Outcomes
7:06 — BU Women's Hockey: A Championship Built on Standards
8:25 — People Are the Point
10:47 — Closing: Stay Curious, Keep Moving Forward
_______________________________________________
👉 Learn more about BU Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: https://bu.edu/sargent
👉 Keep reading about Tara Watchorn's interview ahead of her convocation address: https://www.bu.edu/sargent/spotlight/head-coach-tara-watchorn-2026-commencement/?utm_campaign=social_main&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_longform&utm_content=commencement
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#bostonuniversity #graduation2026 #TaraWatchorn #olympicgoldmedal
Coach Tara Watchorn (Sargent’12), head coach of the BU Women's Ice Hockey Team and Olympic gold medalist at the 2014 Winter Games, delivered the Sargent College Convocation address on May 16, 2026. A former BU hockey player herself, Watchorn made history as the first BU women's hockey alumna to serve as a Division I head coach, making her a uniquely fitting speaker for the occasion.
In her convocation address, Coach Watchorn reflected on leadership, resilience, and the importance of community, centering her remarks around three key themes: You Are More Prepared Than You Think, Standards Over Outcomes, and People Are the Point. She encouraged graduates to trust in the preparation and experiences that brought them to this moment, emphasizing that while outcomes may fluctuate, the standards they carry with them will continue to guide them long after graduation.
Ahead of the convocation, Watchorn also reflected on her own experiences at Boston University and Sargent College in an interview discussing her journey from student-athlete to coach. She shared that although she enjoyed her studies and valued her professors' support, her academic experience at Sargent challenged her in unexpected ways and pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Watchorn credited those experiences with teaching her humility, resilience, and the importance of asking for help, lessons that continue to shape her leadership style today.
CHAPTERS:
_______________________________________________
0:00 — Introduction
1:18 — Coming to BU + Life as a Student-Athlete at Sargent
2:56 — The Road to Olympic Gold
4:29 — You Are More Prepared Than You Think
6:04 — Standards Over Outcomes
7:06 — BU Women's Hockey: A Championship Built on Standards
8:25 — People Are the Point
10:47 — Closing: Stay Curious, Keep Moving Forward
_______________________________________________
👉 Learn more about BU Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: https://bu.edu/sargent
👉 Keep reading about Tara Watchorn's interview ahead of her convocation address: https://www.bu.edu/sargent/spotlight/head-coach-tara-watchorn-2026-commencement/?utm_campaign=social_main&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_longform&utm_content=commencement
Subscribe to our channel by clicking the button above!
Follow BU on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/bostonu.bsky.social
Follow BU on Facebook: facebook.com/BostonUniversity
Follow BU on Instagram: instagram.com/bostonu
Follow BU on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/boston-university
Follow BU on Threads: threads.com/@bostonu
Follow BU on TikTok: tiktok.com/@bostonu
#bostonuniversity #graduation2026 #TaraWatchorn #olympicgoldmedal
