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Celebrating the Accomplishments of our Graduating Students

Commencement 2026

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Information For Students
Information For Students

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A graduating female signing "ILY" to the camera

Commemorating our Graduating Class of 2026

Family, friends, and community members will gather to celebrate our graduating students’ accomplishments as they receive their diplomas on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the University Field House.

  • Graduate Ceremony: 9 to 11 a.m. ET
  • Undergraduate Ceremony: 2 to 4 p.m. ET

The ceremonies will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who can’t attend in person.

Days
Hours
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Program Book

Tickets are required to attend commencement ceremonies in person

Tickets are by invitation of a graduating student
For other ticketing questions or concerns, please contact the Commencement Committee.

Moments from the Ceremony

A group of three women performing with drums, wearing vibrant red and white costumes with intricate patterns. The central figure is raising her arms in a celebratory pose, while the others are actively playing their drums. The background shows a gymnasium setting with a crowd and stage lighting.
A male graduate wearing a black cap and gown, adorned with multiple honor cords and stoles, smiles as he walks in a graduation ceremony. In the background, other graduates are visible, with a crowd and a sports hall setting.
A graduate in a black cap and gown raises their fists in celebration, wearing a yellow and black stole, with a medal around their neck. In the background, other graduates are seen also in caps and gowns, creating a festive atmosphere during a graduation ceremony.
A graduate in a cap and gown smiles and gives a thumbs-up while holding a diploma and wearing multiple honor cords. In the background, other graduates are visible, and an audience is seated.
A joyful graduate with long, curly hair wearing a cap and gown celebrates with a raised fist, surrounded by fellow graduates in a crowded auditorium.
A smiling graduate in a cap and gown waves to the camera, surrounded by fellow graduates in a stadium filled with an audience.
A smiling graduate wearing a turban and a graduation gown, holding a hand up in a wave, with an orange, white, and green sash draped over their gown. In the background, a crowd of fellow graduates and spectators can be seen in a large indoor venue.
Two female graduates in caps and gowns stand on a stage, celebrating their achievement with raised hands. They are adorned with colorful stoles and cords, while a group of people in academic regalia can be seen in the background. A large screen displays information behind them.
A group of diverse graduates sitting together during a graduation ceremony, wearing caps and gowns. Some graduates are adorned with colorful stoles, and they are smiling as they celebrate their achievement.
A group of graduates wearing black caps and gowns, some adorned with colorful stoles, smiling and posing for the camera during a graduation ceremony.
A group of graduates seated at a commencement ceremony, wearing black caps and gowns. One graduate in the foreground is wearing a blue cap and a white and black stole, while others are draped in yellow stoles. The audience is filled with graduates, creating a festive atmosphere.
A man in a black academic gown and white collar speaks from a podium to an audience in a large venue, with blurred figures seated in the background.
A young woman in a black robe stands on stage, passionately gesturing with her hands as she speaks or performs, with a blurred audience in the background.
A woman wearing a black robe and a red dress gestures expressively while standing on a stage, looking towards the audience.
A graduate in a black cap and gown smiles as they shake hands with a person in an academic robe during a graduation ceremony.
A graduate wearing a cap and gown smiles and adjusts their cap while standing on stage, with a blue backdrop and seated faculty members visible in the background.
A graduate in a black cap and gown embraces a person wearing a blue academic robe on a stage, with a backdrop of blue lighting and seated individuals in academic attire in the background.
A joyful graduate wearing a cap and gown raises her arms in celebration, surrounded by fellow graduates during a commencement ceremony.
Two students, dressed in matching navy jackets and jeans, stand on a stage during a graduation ceremony, gesturing with their hands as they celebrate. In the background, a faculty member in academic regalia and other attendees are visible, with blue lighting illuminating the scene.
A large group of graduates in caps and gowns is seated, with many individuals raising their hands in celebration. The graduates are wearing various colored stoles, and the atmosphere is festive, likely during a graduation ceremony.
A group of graduates in caps and gowns is participating in a graduation ceremony. One graduate, smiling and gesturing with her hand, is walking forward, while others follow closely behind. The venue is filled with an audience in the background, celebrating the event.
A graduate wearing a cap and gown is smiling and making a hand gesture while holding a diploma. They are surrounded by a crowd in a large indoor venue, celebrating their graduation. The graduate has multiple colored stoles around their neck.
A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating during a graduation ceremony, with one graduate in the foreground smiling and waving, while others follow behind. The venue is filled with an audience in the background.
A group of graduates in caps and gowns walk across a stage during a graduation ceremony, with one graduate joyfully raising their diploma. The audience is visible in the background, seated in a large indoor venue.
A graduate wearing sunglasses and a cap adorned with flowers is smiling and making a gesture with their hand, surrounded by other graduates in a celebratory indoor setting. The graduate is draped in a colorful sash featuring the colors of the Ghanaian flag.
Three individuals pose together outdoors, smiling for a photo. The central figure is wearing a graduation cap and gown, holding a diploma, with cords and a stole around their neck. The two individuals on either side are dressed in academic regalia, with one wearing a blue and gold outfit and the other in a dark blue outfit with a hood. Green trees are visible in the background, suggesting a graduation ceremony setting.
Two graduates, one male and one female, are smiling and holding their diplomas while wearing graduation caps and gowns. The female graduate has long red hair and is adorned with a floral lei, while the male graduate has short hair. They are outdoors at a graduation ceremony, with other graduates and flags in the background.
A young woman in a graduation cap smiles joyfully while being embraced by another person. The setting appears to be outdoors with greenery in the background.
Two male graduates in caps and gowns, smiling and holding their diplomas, pose together outdoors. One is wearing a blue stole, while the other has a red shirt under his gown. In the background, people can be seen celebrating.
A man and a woman pose together outdoors, both wearing graduation attire. The man is wearing a dark shirt with an honor cord draped around his neck, while the woman is wearing a blue graduation gown and colorful stoles. They are both smiling, with greenery in the background.
Four dancers in matching outfits perform on stage, showcasing coordinated movements. The backdrop features a large blue screen, and potted yellow flowers are placed at the front of the stage.
A woman with curly hair smiles while playing a drum, wearing a black t-shirt and light blue jeans. She appears joyful and engaged in the music, with a colorful drum in front of her. The background shows a stage with blue lighting.
A group of graduates in black caps and gowns are walking in a gymnasium filled with seated spectators. One graduate, smiling, is raising his hand in a sign of celebration, while another graduate beside him is also smiling. Both wear sashes around their necks, and the venue has banners hanging from the ceiling.
A close-up of a graduation cap decorated with the words "MY future is UNLIMITED" in colorful lettering. The cap features a pink and green design with a ribbon bow in pink and green. In the background, other graduates can be seen in caps and gowns.
A group of graduates in black caps and gowns, smiling and waving at the camera. They are standing together in a gymnasium decorated for a graduation ceremony, with colorful stoles and cords around their necks.
A group of graduates in black caps and gowns smiles while taking a selfie together, celebrating their graduation in a gymnasium decorated with banners. One graduate holds a pink phone, while another has blue hair and they both wear graduation stoles.
A person wearing an academic gown and hood is standing on a stage, smiling and clapping their hands, with a large screen displaying a blue background behind them.
A graduation ceremony scene featuring a stage with graduates seated in caps and gowns. In the foreground, a woman in a blue dress is smiling and using sign language, while another person in a black graduation gown stands nearby, also gesturing. The background includes a blue curtain, flags, and floral arrangements on the stage.
A person wearing academic regalia, including a black robe and blue hood, is gesturing with their hands while speaking in front of a backdrop of blue curtains.
A group of graduates in black caps and gowns, with one man in a blue academic robe and gold hood joyfully waving. A woman next to him is smiling and raising her hand in celebration. The atmosphere is festive, likely at a graduation ceremony.
A graduate wearing a cap and gown, with an orange tassel, is joyfully gesturing on stage during a graduation ceremony. In the background, seated faculty members are watching, and there is a blue backdrop with a design.
A graduate wearing a cap and gown is smiling and making a hand gesture while standing on stage. They are adorned with a red sash and are surrounded by seated faculty members in academic regalia. The background features blue lighting and a presentation screen.
A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating at a graduation ceremony, with some attendees raising their hands and smiling.
A graduation ceremony scene featuring a joyful moment where a graduate in a black gown and cap embraces a family member. In the background, a woman in academic regalia observes, while another seated individual in formal attire watches the celebration. The stage is decorated with blue and gold elements, and a video screen displays the event.
A speaker in an academic gown and cap stands on stage, gesturing while addressing an audience. A large screen behind them displays their image. The setting appears to be a graduation or formal ceremony, with banners and seating visible in the background.
A graduate wearing a cap and gown is joyfully celebrating on stage, receiving a diploma, while two other individuals in academic regalia assist in the process. The background features blue lighting and a celebratory atmosphere.
A graduation ceremony scene featuring a male graduate in a blue gown with a yellow and teal sash, receiving a congratulatory gesture from a male presenter wearing a graduation cap and a sash. A woman in a black gown observes the moment. The background includes blue lighting and a simple venue setting.
A graduate in a black cap and gown smiles and gestures excitedly while interacting with a faculty member, who is wearing academic regalia. The setting appears to be a graduation ceremony, with banners and decorations in the background.
Two performers in matching sweatshirts are engaged in a lively dance on stage, with one reaching out to the other. In the background, a large screen displays a scene from an event, and several individuals in academic regalia watch from the side. An American flag is visible in the foreground, and the venue appears to be a sports arena with seating in the background.
Two graduates wearing black caps and gowns are smiling and holding their diplomas, standing in a crowded auditorium. One graduate has long, dark hair, while the other has colorful, wavy hair. The background shows other attendees and graduates celebrating the ceremony.
A smiling older woman wearing a black and white hat and sunglasses stands next to a young woman in a graduation cap and gown, holding a bouquet of yellow flowers. They are outdoors, and there are flags and people in the background.
A joyful graduation scene featuring two women embracing, one wearing a graduation cap and holding a bouquet of flowers, while the other has braided hair. They are surrounded by a crowd, with smiles and celebratory gestures in the background.
Three graduates pose together outside a building, wearing traditional black graduation caps and gowns. One graduate holds a small French flag, while another wears a blue stole with various honors. They stand in front of a large sculpture, with a crowd visible in the background and the words "FIELD HOUSE" above them.
Two female graduates stand together outdoors, both wearing black graduation gowns and caps. One holds a diploma and a bouquet of flowers, while the other displays a sign that reads "Gallaudet University Alumni." They are smiling, celebrating their achievement, with a campus building and trees in the background.
A graduate in a cap and gown holds a diploma and bouquet of red roses, smiling alongside a man who holds a baby wearing a yellow hat. They are standing outside a building with large glass doors.

Graduate Commencement Ceremony

  • Friday, May 15, 2026 | 9 to 11 a.m. ET

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

  • Friday, May 15, 2026 | 2 to 4 p.m. ET
Commencement Ceremony - Close Vision

Keynote Speakers

The commencement keynote speaker for each ceremony is a notable figure selected to offer advice and reflections to our graduating classes as they prepare to share with the world their knowledge and skills gained at Gallaudet University.

This year, we are honored to have Honorary Chair Yohei Sasakawa deliver the keynote address for the graduate ceremony, and Nyle DiMarco, ’13 as the keynote presenter for the undergraduate ceremony.

Honorary Chair Yohei Sasakawa

Doctor of Humane Letters

Graduate Ceremony Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient

Biography

Nyle DiMarco, ’13

Doctor of Humane Letters

Undergraduate Ceremony Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient

Biography

Keynote speakers have been a part of Gallaudet University’s commencement tradition since 1869. The Archives and Deaf Collections maintains an annually updated list of those who have addressed our graduates over the years.

Past Keynote Speakers

Student Commencement Speakers

These students speakers will share their journeys, insights, and advice to their graduating classes to prepare them for the future after Gallaudet University. It is an honor for these students to be selected as Undergraduate or Graduate Commencement Speaker.

Wadha Alshammari

M.A. in Deaf Education

Graduate Class of 2026 Speaker

Biography

Christopher “Salt” Morton

B.A. in Communication Studies (online)

Undergraduate Class of 2026 Speaker

Biography

Gallaudet University has selected undergraduate and graduate students to speak to their graduating classes since 1991. If you would like to know who were our previous student speakers, our Archives and Deaf Collections updates the list annually.

Past Student Speakers

Faculty Emerit

Dr. Benjamin Bahan

Deaf Studies

Professor Emeritus

Dr. Beth S. Benedict

Communication Studies

Professor Emerita

Prof. Sarah Burton Doleac

Physical Education and Recreation

Professor Emerita

Dr. Arlene B. Kelly

Deaf Studies

Professor Emerita

Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto

Educational Neuroscience

Professor Emerita

A smiling woman with braided hair wears a black blazer over a red and white patterned blouse. She stands in an indoor setting with blurred backgrounds, conveying a professional and friendly demeanor.

Dr. Carolyn McCaskill

Deaf Studies

Professor Emerita

Dr. Elizabeth A. Moore

Social Work

Professor Emerita

Commencement Awards

Each year in May, we recognize the accomplishments of students who have demonstrated academic excellence and exceptional leadership in their fields.

Please join us in celebrating our Award recipients and their outstanding scholarly achievements!

Undergraduate Awards
Graduate Awards
Past Awards
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Tim Cook presenting to the audience at a Gallaudet Commencement ceremony

Past Commencements

Join previous classes in reliving the memories and inspiration of their graduation ceremonies.

Watch below and be inspired by the words of these accomplished leaders such as notable speakers including Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum of Mount Holyoke College and author, Dr. Annelies Kusters of Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, Dr. Naomi Caselli of Boston University, and so many more.

Watch now and be inspired by the words of these accomplished leaders

FAQs

  • These recommendations are intended for graduating students who test positive for COVID prior to commencement. Graduating students who show symptoms of COVID will not be allowed to attend the ceremony.
  • Students with COVID within days 1-5, who are not showing active symptoms such as cough and/or fever will be allowed to sit in a designated room in the fieldhouse apart from the commencement ceremony and will watch the event on TV in the separate area. They will be brought into the ceremony by a volunteer worker and walk on stage to receive their degrees and then return to the designated space to watch the rest of the ceremony.
  • Students can test out after their 5th day of isolation to return to daily activities and attend commencement activities as normal, but should mask up until day 10. 
    • This includes walking on the stage. 
  • Students with COVID and not showing symptoms should be masked up at all times while sitting in the designated room.
  • Exception to the mask policy: Students will be allowed to walk at the end of the ceremony with a modified walk that could include mask removal for a brief amount of time for photographs.
  • There will be no attendance for rehearsal.

Tickets are required for entrance to commencement. You must have a ticket by invitation of a graduating student, or be a volunteer, to attend.

Information for Students

You can find the GradFest Checklist to help prepare you for the Commencement week festivities. The Checklist includes information on the GradFest, cap and gown orders, ceremony schedule, ticketing, housing and meal accommodations, events, and more.

If you have any specific questions that are not answered on the webpage, please feel free to contact the Commencement Team via the contact form below. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

Contact Us

Honorary Chair Yohei Sasakawa

Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation and a globally recognized humanitarian and human rights leader, will deliver the graduate commencement address. During the ceremony, Gallaudet will confer the honorary degree of Doctors of Humane Letters upon Honorary Chair Sasakawa in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and longstanding contributions to advancing opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing communities worldwide.

Honorary Chair Sasakawa is the Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest private philanthropic organization and one of the world’s foremost supporters of education and disability inclusion. For more than three decades, he has partnered with Gallaudet University to strengthen access to higher education for Deaf students globally.

Under his leadership, The Nippon Foundation established scholarship funds that have supported more than 400 international Deaf students at Gallaudet and partner institutions. These investments have expanded opportunities for Deaf scholars and researchers across continents and strengthened global Deaf leadership networks.

The Nippon Foundation has supported initiatives to promote bilingual deaf education, advance sign language research, expand postsecondary education networks for Deaf students, advocate for sign language rights, and promote disability inclusion in public and private sectors. Through sustained global partnerships, Honorary Chair Sasakawa has helped elevate disability rights within international policy conversations.

In addition to his longstanding commitment to disability inclusion, Honorary Chair Sasakawa has devoted his life to advancing human rights, public health, and humanitarian initiatives worldwide. His work has addressed issues including poverty alleviation, global health, peacebuilding, and the elimination of stigma and discrimination against marginalized communities.

Honorary Chair Sasakawa has received numerous international honors recognizing his humanitarian leadership and public service.

Nyle DiMarco

Nyle DiMarco, ’13, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, actor, and Deaf activist, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address. During the ceremony, Gallaudet will confer the honorary degree of Doctors of Humane Letters upon Mr. DiMarco in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and longstanding contributions to advancing opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing communities worldwide.

A 2013 graduate of Gallaudet University with a degree in mathematics, Mr. DiMarco has become one of the most visible Deaf leaders in media and entertainment. He first gained national recognition as the first Deaf winner of America’s Next Top Model (2015) and later Dancing With the Stars (2016), using those platforms to highlight Deaf culture and language to mainstream audiences.

In 2025, Mr. DiMarco made Emmy history as the first Deaf filmmaker nominated in a directing category for his co-directing of the Apple TV+ documentary Deaf President Now!alongside Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim. The film chronicles the historic 1988 student-led protest at Gallaudet University that reshaped leadership at the institution and became a pivotal moment in the disability rights movement.

Mr. DiMarco also created and executive-produced Netflix’s Deaf U, a reality series following Gallaudet students, and ensured significant Deaf representation behind the camera. His 2022 memoir, Deaf Utopia: A Memoir — and a Love Letter to a Way of Life, was a New York Times Best Seller.

Beyond entertainment, Mr. DiMarco is an international advocate for Deaf rights as human rights. Through the Nyle DiMarco Foundation, founded in 2016, he supports bilingual education, language access, and resources for Deaf children and families worldwide. He has worked with global organizations including the United Nations and the World Economic Forum to advance disability inclusion and equity.

Wadha Alshammari

Wadha became Deaf at a young age and, after the loss of both parents, was raised by her siblings, who became her first teachers and advocates. She grew up with limited access to deaf education in her home country and was told that her dream of becoming a teacher was “impossible.” Wadha’s perspective is informed by her international background and lived experience, and her reflections often center on identity, perseverance, faith, and the non-linear nature of success. She emphasizes the importance of forging one’s own path within systems that may not have been designed with Deaf individuals in mind.

Christopher “Salt” Morton

Salt is the first undergraduate student speaker from one of Gallaudet’s online programs. Known for being the first Deaf man to walk solo across North America from California to New Jersey, Salt has focused on themes of resilience, vulnerability, integrity, and accountability as essential components of growth.