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.
As St. Olaf seniors enjoyed their last weeks on campus, they shared some of their favorite memories from their time on the Hill. Read a few reflections from the Class of 2026 below.
“Several of my friends were graduating seniors last year, and I was sticking around after spring semester finals because I worked in Residence Life. One night during Senior Days, about a dozen of us went to grab ice cream from the Blast right before it closed for the day. We then went on an evening walk along the Cannon River that took us through half of Northfield. It was one of those moments I was told college was supposed to be all about, a memory bound to a temporary space and a fleeting time that was all the more valuable for it.” — Muvaki Nhlema ’26 | Computer Science, Chinese, and Asian Studies
“My favorite memory is going on tour with the St. Olaf Orchestra to Norway. It was the trip of a lifetime, and I will never forget the memories I made there with my fellow orchies.” — Frances Thayer ’26 | Nursing
“My favorite memories during my time at St. Olaf are when my friends and I would have spontaneous hang outs or meet each other in different cities during our study abroad!” — Kristen Kryzle Sison ’26 | Studio Art, Business and Management Concentration
“I enjoyed going to a friend’s senior recital on organ. For one of the pieces, everyone was supposed to sing along, and because everyone was an Ole, of course they sounded heavenly. I did not expect to attend that recital and spontaneously feel that joyous, but it happened.” — Sophia González | Math, Physics, and Philosophy
“It’s really hard to say what my favorite memory is because I have so many. It’s a tie between training and competing with the swim team and creative filmmaking for my classes and with the Film Production Society!” — Olivia Hopewell ’26 | Film and Media Studies, Business and Management Concentration
“My favorite memory was performing alongside my friends at SpringFest with our band, Undergrad.” — Martin Skare ’26 | Physics and Mathematics
“My favorite memories from my time at St. Olaf are the simple moments: sitting on the Quad with friends, getting dinner at Stav, supporting fellow students at home concerts and sporting events, and even just studying together in the library!”— Norah Langager ’26 | English