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The Class of 2026 crossed the stage at the Shrine Auditorium on May 11, marking not only the end of their Mount Saint Mary’s University journey, but also becoming part of a historic moment during the University’s 100th anniversary year.

This year, 338 undergraduate students and 139 graduate students were honored across two ceremonies that celebrated not only academic achievement, but also resilience, transformation and the community that carried them to this milestone.

Families waved signs and flowers from their seats, while searching the crowd for familiar faces beneath caps and gowns. Faculty members walked through the backstage areas where graduates waited anxiously before the ceremony, offering hugs, words of encouragement, and proud smiles to students they had mentored, challenged and supported throughout their time at the Mount.

Throughout both ceremonies, speakers reflected on the challenges students overcame, the community they built together, and the responsibility graduates now carry to lead with compassion, courage and service. Together, the Class of 2026 represented the spirit of courage, compassion and perseverance that has defined the Mount for a century.

Opening both ceremonies, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Adam Weyhaupt, PhD, welcomed graduates and guests to his first Commencement at the University as a provost, acknowledging the joy and significance of celebrating the Class of 2026 during the Mount’s centennial year.

President Ann McElaney-Johnson, PhD, reminded graduates that Commencement was not only a celebration of academic achievement, but also of the determination, hard work and purpose that brought them to this milestone.

“We take joy in your commitment to your education. We are inspired by your sense of purpose and the passion you bring to your work. We are both humbled and honored to have been part of your journey,” she said.

Her remarks also encouraged graduates to move forward with confidence and determination. “Be curious, be bold, be confident and be kind,” said President McElaney-Johnson. “Each of you is called to a life of true purpose. Live it fully!”

Graduate Commencement Ceremony

The morning ceremony celebrated graduate students earning master’s and doctoral degrees — many of whom completed their programs while simultaneously building careers, supporting families and navigating major life transitions.

Graduate student speaker Omar Brian Yu ‘26, who earned a Master of Science in Nursing, captured that spirit of determination through his own journey, which took him from the Philippines to Norway, London, New York, and finally Los Angeles. Speaking with humor and honesty, Yu reflected on the power of stepping out of his comfort zone and moving through life with grit and consistency.

“This degree didn’t just give me fancy letters after my name,” Yu said. “It changed who I am. It made me a better leader and a much stronger person. We will not just do more with this degree. We will be more because of it.”

His message resonated deeply throughout the room because it spoke to something many graduates understood firsthand: the people who walked into their programs years ago were not the same people sitting in Commencement robes that morning. Graduate school challenged them academically, professionally and personally. It also transformed them.

That idea of transformation carried through the keynote address delivered by Commencement speaker Ileana Hernandez Ortiz, founding partner of Hernandez Laska LLP and member of the University’s Board of Trustees for nearly 10 years. Drawing from her experiences as the daughter of immigrants, the first woman in her family to graduate from college, and one of the few Latinas in leadership positions within her field, Hernandez Ortiz encouraged graduates to embrace the very experiences and identities that shaped them.

“Your background, your story, your journey, your voice, and your perspective — they are not barriers,” she said. “They are your greatest assets, and they are exactly what your field needs.”

Her speech moved between stories of perseverance, leadership and service, reminding graduates that their degrees carry both opportunity and responsibility. She urged them to mentor others, advocate for justice, and use their education to build more inclusive communities and professions. “Leadership is not about how far you go. It is about how many people you bring with you,” Hernandez Ortiz said.

As graduates crossed the stage to be hooded by faculty members and receive their degrees from President McElaney-Johnson, the auditorium erupted repeatedly in applause, cheers and joyful tears. The moment reflected years of perseverance not only by the graduates themselves, but also by the families, mentors, professors and loved ones who supported them every step of the way.

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

By the afternoon undergraduate commencement ceremony, the energy inside the Shrine Auditorium had shifted into something electric. Graduates embraced classmates they once met as strangers in classrooms, across campus and residence halls. Parents stood proudly in the aisles taking photos. Faculty members waved enthusiastically as students processed into the auditorium.

Daisy Pizana ‘06, president of the Alumnae Association Board, officially welcomed graduates into the Mount’s alumnae community, connecting the Class of 2026 to generations of Mount graduates who came before them.

Two student speakers then shared deeply personal reflections that captured both the struggles and triumphs behind Commencement day.

Weekend, Evening and Online College graduate Selena Valdivia ’26 spoke candidly about surviving abuse and domestic violence and how the Mount community helped her rediscover her confidence and sense of belonging. “My teachers and mentors saw me grow from the broken person I was on the inside to the strong, resilient woman I am today,” Valdivia said.

She encouraged graduates to continue believing in themselves and to use their education to create positive change in the world. “As we celebrate this milestone, always remember to never lose sight of your dreams, always stay curious, and fight for what you believe in,” concluded Valdivia.

Nursing graduate Mikol Warshaw ‘26 reflected on the relationships, challenges and milestones shared by the Class of 2026, from navigating uncertainty to supporting one another through difficult moments. “Classmates became support systems. Study partners became motivation. And somewhere along the way, friends became family,” Warshaw said.

A highlight of the undergraduate ceremony was the presentation of the University’s highest honor, the Carondelet Medal, to Helen Boutrous, PhD, JD, faculty emerita, former director of the pre-law program and longtime mentor to Mount students. Boutrous was recognized for her decades of dedication to teaching, mentorship and service to the Mount community.

The University also conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Thomas J. Blumenthal in recognition of his longstanding leadership, generosity and commitment to expanding educational access and opportunity for Mount students.

A dedicated supporter of Catholic education and the Mount’s mission, Blumenthal has served as chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and has played an instrumental role in advancing student success initiatives and strengthening the University community. As he prepares to step down from his role as chair of the Board of Trustees in July, the honorary degree recognized the lasting impact of his leadership and his enduring commitment to the University and its students.

Serving as Commencement speaker, Helen Boutrous delivered a heartfelt address filled with humor, wisdom and encouragement. Reflecting on the lifelong impact of a Mount education, she reminded graduates that success is not defined by a single path, but by the courage to pursue a meaningful and fulfilling life.

“Define and seek your own joy,” Boutrous told graduates. “You decide your path to joy.” She encouraged students to trust themselves as they move into the next chapter of their lives, reminding them that their journeys may evolve over time and that “finding your own joy on your own terms will bring you the freedom of self-determination.”

As the ceremony came to a close and graduates moved their tassels from right to left, the audience rose to its feet in applause. For a few final moments, graduates paused to take in the scene around them: classmates who had become lifelong friends, professors who guided and challenged them, and family members and loved ones whose support carried them to this milestone.

Then, as the University’s “Unstoppable” anthem filled the auditorium and graduates recessed out into the Los Angeles sunshine, the Class of 2026 stepped forward not only as graduates, but as the newest chapter in Mount Saint Mary’s University’s 100-year legacy.

Watch the recorded livestreams of the undergraduate and graduate 2026 commencement ceremonies:

• Undergraduate recording
• Graduate recording