The sounds of applause, drumlines, cheers, and camera shutters filled Southern Connecticut State University’s commencement ceremonies this week as the university celebrated the Class of 2026.
Approximately 2,600 students graduated this year, including nearly 1,300 undergraduate students and approximately 1,000 graduate students earning master’s and doctoral degrees.
Graduate commencement ceremonies were held May 18 and 19 at the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, while Undergraduate Commencement took place May 22 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.
Throughout the week, graduates were recognized for their academic achievement, resilience, leadership, research, service, and commitment to their communities.
Senior Class President Lena Nguyen reflected on the uncertainty and growth that shaped the undergraduate Class of 2026’s journey, encouraging students to embrace change and continue learning beyond graduation.
“We didn’t just learn how to follow a syllabus; we learned how to adapt when the syllabus went out the window,” Nguyen said. “Don’t be afraid to be a work in progress. Your first job doesn’t have to be your forever job, and your current plan doesn’t have to be your final destination.”
Dr. Sandra Bulmer, interim president of Southern Connecticut State University, addressed graduates with a message centered on purpose, service, and the strength of the Southern community.
“You chose Connecticut’s first and only Carnegie-classified Research 2 university,” Bulmer said. “You also chose a community grounded in purpose. A place filled with people who believe in meaningful work and service to others.”
Bulmer highlighted the accomplishments of Southern alumni across education, healthcare, athletics, public service, business, and the arts, emphasizing the university’s long-standing culture of impact and leadership.
“And because you chose well, you are now joining more than 90,000 Southern alumni who are making a difference in our communities every single day,” Bulmer said. “Not always the loudest voices. Not always the people chasing the spotlight. But the people who keep schools running, hospitals healing, businesses growing, and discoveries advancing.”
Undergraduate Commencement keynote speaker Cam F. Awesome encouraged graduates to embrace resilience, growth, and perseverance, reminding the Class of 2026 that setbacks are often the foundation for future success.
“The greatest lessons of my life didn’t come from the wins,” Awesome said. “They came from the losses, the setbacks, the embarrassment, the moments where I had to decide whether failure meant ‘stop’… or ‘learn.’”
Awesome encouraged graduates not to measure themselves by perfection, but by their willingness to continue moving forward through challenges and uncertainty.
“You do not need a perfect story to build an incredible life,” he said. “You just need the courage to keep going after the chapters that hurt.”
The university also recognized distinguished leaders and public servants with honorary degrees during the ceremonies.
At Undergraduate Commencement, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker received an honorary Doctor of Political Science degree in recognition of his leadership and commitment to the New Haven community.
Earlier in the week at Graduate Commencement for the College of Health and Human Services, the university also awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree to Christopher O’Connor, CEO of Yale New Haven Health, for his leadership in healthcare and longstanding commitment to advancing community wellness throughout the region.
“Feel proud of what you have accomplished, proud of who you have become, and proud of the choice you made when you chose Southern,” Bulmer said. “Because you chose well. And now…the world gets to choose you.”
Click here for photo galleries from our 2026 Commencement ceremonies.
Click here to view the Class of 2026 Senior Celebration website.
Related News Coverage:
CT Insider – Southern Connecticut State University Class of 2026 celebrates Commencement in Bridgeport
