Celebrating the St. Olaf College Class of 2026
St. Olaf College will celebrate the Class of 2026 with a commencement ceremony on the Campus Green on Saturday, May 23.
President Susan Rundell Singer will deliver the charge to the graduating class. The Class of 2026 senior commencement address will be delivered by Esi Amoah ’26 is a biology and chemistry major with a concentration in public health.
The commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed and archived online. Leading up to the commencement ceremony, the graduating class will have the opportunity for celebration and reflection at several other events throughout the weekend.
The Last Lecture and Parting Words will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, in Boe Memorial Chapel. Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Jake Grossman and Director of Student Activities Brandon Cash ’16 will deliver the remarks.
The Commencement Weekend Concert will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22, in Skoglund Center Auditorium. This combined concert provides an opportunity to celebrate the musical talents of the St. Olaf Band, St. Olaf Choir, and St. Olaf Orchestra, as well as the graduating seniors in those ensembles.
The Campus Illumination Ceremony and Lighting will take place at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 22, on the Campus Green. Graduating students are welcome to bring guests. This ceremony honors the graduates as they transition from life as a student to becoming a member of the St. Olaf alumni community. Each member of the Class of 2026 will light their personalized lantern during the ceremony and illuminate the Campus Green. At the end of the evening, students may take their lantern home as a remembrance of their time on the Hill.
The Baccalaureate Service will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, in Skoglund Center Auditorium. Graduating students and their guests are invited to gather to worship and give thanks for the life and the community that was shared by the Class of 2026.
Detailed information about each of these events — and more — can be found on the Commencement web page.