Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Degree Candidates Program (Saturday, May 9)
Commencement ceremony details
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | Camp Randall Stadium
Welcome to the one hundred and seventy-third University of Wisconsin–Madison Commencement! Below is the commencement program featuring the ceremony agenda, speaker and senior class officer profiles, flag bearers, and attire details.
Ceremony agenda
Processional of the Official Party
“Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
The audience is requested to rise as the procession of the official party enters, led by Class of 2026 degree candidates representing each of the schools and colleges with their respective flags.
The National Anthem
Avery Elise Brutosky ’26, Bachelor of Music: Education
Chayse Morgan Hoefler ’26, Bachelor of Music: Education
‡ Eric Daniel Luebke ’26, Bachelor of Music: Education
Wisconsin Welcome
Caasi Woji ’26, Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Human Resources, Marketing; Senior Class President
A Cappella Performance
“Build Me Up Buttercup”
Performed by Wisconsin Waale
Presiding Officer
Provost John Zumbrunnen, PhD
Welcome from UW–Madison Chancellor
Introduction by Olakunle James Ojo ’26, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology; Certificates in Health Policy and Gender & Women’s Studies; Senior Class Vice President
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
Welcome from the UW System Board
of Regents
Regent President Amy B. Bogost ’83, JD
Charge to the Graduates
Introduction by Ariadna Guadalupe Márquez ’26, Bachelor of Arts, Communication Arts; Certificates in Digital Media Analytics, Digital Studies, Digital Cinema Production, Sports Communication; Senior Class Communications Chair
Keynote Speaker James Patterson, MA
Recognition of Honorary Degree Recipient
Tia Nelson ’86
Honorary Doctor of Science
Honorary degree was awarded on Friday, May 8.
Conferral of Law and Master’s Degrees
Law School
Doctor of Law (Juris Doctor)
Doctor of Juridical Science
Master of Laws
Dean Daniel P. Tokaji, JD
Graduate School
Master of Accountancy
Master of Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of Engineering
Master of International Public Affairs
Master of Music
Master of Professional French Studies
Master of Public Affairs
Master of Science
Master of Social Work
Dean William J. Karpus, PhD
Remarks on Behalf of the Graduates
Ryan Schwartz ’26, Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance,
Investment and Banking, Real Estate and Urban Land
Economics
Welcome to Alumnihood
Introduction by Christopher Johns ’26, Bachelor of
Arts, Political Science; Senior Class Philanthropy Chair
Sarah Schutt, MS, Chief Alumni Engagement Officer (Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association) and Executive Director (Wisconsin Alumni Association)
Recognition of Graduates with Honors and Distinction
Conferral of Baccalaureate Degrees
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science–Agricultural Business Management
Bachelor of Science–Biological Systems Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Nutrition and Dietetics
Dean Glenda E. Gillaspy, PhD
College of Engineering
Bachelor of Naval Science
Bachelor of Science–Biomedical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Engineering Mechanics
Bachelor of Science–Engineering Physics
Bachelor of Science–Environmental Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Geological Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Industrial Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Materials Science and Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science–Nuclear Engineering
Dean Devesh Ranjan, MS ’05, PhD ’07
College of Letters & Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts–Journalism
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Liberal Studies
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science–Applied Mathematics, Engineering, and Physics
Bachelor of Science–Journalism
Bachelor of Social Work
Dean Eric M. Wilcots, PhD
School of Business
Bachelor of Business Administration
Dean Vallabh Sambamurthy, PhD
School of Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Science–Art
Bachelor of Science–Art Education
Bachelor of Science–Dance
Bachelor of Science–Education
Bachelor of Science–Education Studies
Bachelor of Science–Health Promotion and Health Equity
Bachelor of Science–Kinesiology
Bachelor of Science–Physical Education
Bachelor of Science–Rehabilitation Psychology
Bachelor of Science–Theatre and Drama
Dean Marcelle Haddix, PhD
School of Human Ecology
Bachelor of Science–Community and Organizational Development
Bachelor of Science–Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies
Bachelor of Science–Consumer Finance and Financial Planning
Bachelor of Science–Consumer Marketplace Studies
Bachelor of Science–Human Development and Family Studies
Bachelor of Science–Human Development and Family Systems
Bachelor of Science–Human Ecology
Bachelor of Science–Interior Architecture
Bachelor of Science–Personal Finance
Bachelor of Science–Textiles and Fashion Design
Dean Soyeon Shim, PhD
School of Nursing
Bachelor of Science–Nursing
Interim Dean Susan J. Zahner, DrPH, RN, FNAP, FAAN
School of Pharmacy
Bachelor of Science–Pharmaceutical Sciences
Bachelor of Science–Pharmacology and Toxicology
Dean Steven M. Swanson, PhD
Turning of the Tassel
Closing Remarks
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin, JD, PhD
“Varsity”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
Varsity! Varsity! U rah rah! Wisconsin,
Praise to thee we sing!
Praise to thee our Alma Mater,
U rah rah! Wisconsin!
Recessional of the Official Party
“Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4”
Performed by the University Commencement Band, Mead Witter School of Music
‡ Candidate for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement
Speakers
Senior class officers
School and college flags
The school and college flags used in today’s ceremony were commissioned for commencement by then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank in 2015. They are used in this and other similar ceremonies, including convocation for incoming students — the complementary celebration to commencement that begins students’ university careers.
The flags’ background wave design reflects the university’s location along Lake Mendota. Colors on each flag reflect the traditional academic colors for the courses of study within each school or college. The Graduate School, College of Letters & Science, and School of Education are multicolored, representing their varied disciplines. Flags also feature the year in which each school or college was founded, from 1848 for the Law School and School of Medicine and Public Health (authorized in the charter for the newly created university) to 1983 for the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Flag bearers in the opening procession were selected by the dean of each school and college to represent their fellow students.
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Amanda G. Rusch, Bachelor of Science, Global Health
College of Engineering
Enrique Alejandro Aldape, Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering
College of Letters & Science
† Isabelle Grace Sunby, Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Spanish; Certificates in Chinese Professional Communication and Statistics
Graduate School
Louis Jason Aquino, Master of Science, Agroecology; Certificate in Community-Engaged Scholarship
Law School
Brandon Pope, Juris Doctor
School of Business
Caasi Woji, Bachelor of Business Administration, Management and Human Resources, Marketing
School of Education
Sarah Lynn Rhoads, Bachelor of Science Theatre & Drama, English; Certificate in Educational Policy Studies
School of Human Ecology
Mireya Nayeli Esparza, Bachelor of Science Community & Organizational Development; Certificates in Consulting, Public Policy
School of Medicine and Public Health
Sumin Yang, Doctor of Medicine
School of Nursing
Julia Zellmer, Bachelor of Science–Nursing
School of Pharmacy
Zhongyu (Claire) An, Bachelor of Science Pharmacology & Toxicology; Certificate in Data Science
School of Veterinary Medicine
‡ Tyler Arthur Diels, Bachelor of Science, Animal and Veterinary Biosciences
Diels will attend the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in fall 2026.
Half Century Badger
Nancy Schanke, Class of 1976
Escorted by the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board flag bearer
Wisconsin Student Alumni Board (WASB)
‡ Simon Brown, Bachelor of Business Administration Finance, Investment & Banking; Certificate in Computer Sciences
† Honors Candidate
‡ Candidate for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement
Academic colors and attire
During the ceremony, participating graduates will wear academic attire symbolizing level of degree earned, academic and scholastic achievement, and affiliations.