COMMERCE, Texas — Amidst cheers and applause, 1,586 graduates turned their tassels to mark the transition from students to proud East Texas A&M University alumni this weekend.

Degrees were conferred during five graduation ceremonies on May 8–9 at the university's Field House, as family, friends and the university community packed the stands to celebrate the Class of 2026.

A Class Worth Celebrating

Academic excellence was on full display, with 669 graduates earning academic distinction.

Nearly 40% of the class—630 graduates—are first-generation college students, making this moment especially meaningful for families and communities celebrating new opportunities.

From the youngest graduate at 18 years old to the oldest at 73, the Class of 2026 proves that big goals are always within reach.

Voices From the Class of 2026

For the Class of 2026, the walk across the stage represented the culmination of a years-long journey, and the new graduates were ready to share how they were feeling.

An Emotional Walk Across the Stage

Many graduates expressed gratitude, relief, and excitement as they received their diplomas.

• “Earning a degree today was everything, especially receiving it from my father, Dr. Sewell. Having it handed from him was super impactful—super, super emotional for me. It was really special.” — Colin Sewell, M.S. Data Analytics
• “Crossing the stage today was very empowering. I felt grateful, appreciative and on top of the world!” — Emily Conde Garcia, MBA
• “This is like a dream come true. It's like the American dream for me. It means a lot because this is going to open more doors for me.” — Stephen Kekombe, M.S. Analytics
• I'm excited! I had a good time, and now I get to graduate. I'm planning on going into counseling, so it's a way of helping people out, and I've always been inspired by my mom, so it's a way of making my mom proud, too! — Alexis Young, Bachelor’s in Psychology

Grateful for Support

Several graduates also expressed appreciation for the support of friends and family throughout their academic journeys:

• “As a first-generation college student, I'm standing on the shoulders of so many, so much support and so many hours and effort put in by so many people before me, and so it means a lot.” — Emily Hale, Master's in Sociology
• “My parents are back home, and I'm really sad that they couldn't be here, but I'm really proud of myself for getting through all this. I'm proud of my friends, and I'm really happy that they were with me while I did this. I couldn't have done this without my friends and family.” — Nisha Chaulagi, B.S. Nursing

Anticipating What’s Next

Others reflected on their favorite experiences at East Texas A&M and shared what comes next after graduation:

• “I got to work with the quail research, so that was really fun and probably the best experience I had. Also, I got to study crawfish under Dr. Bjorn Schmidt; that was also really fun. Next, I'm going to work at Tyler State Park, starting Monday.” — Brendan Mills, Bachelor’s in Wildlife and Conservation Science
• “I recently accepted a position as a clinical therapist at the Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas, so I'll be working with children and their families who have been victims of mental and physical abuse.” — Malley Morales, M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• “Being able to get my master's degree and impact young East Texas athletes like myself is a really big deal to me. I want to use my degree to help elevate the lives of others and keep changing the lives of young people around me.” — Andrew Cordell Williams, M.S. Health Science Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration
• “The next step for me is grad school and hopefully big stages!” — Juni Gomez, B.M. Vocal Performance
• “I'm feeling very happy, very excited. I'm going to continue my education here at East Texas A&M and get my master's, and I'm just super excited to start.” — Marcella Morel, Bachelor’s in Sociology, minor in Marketing
• “I already have a job lined up as an ag teacher in Hooks, Texas, and so I'm just looking forward to starting work and getting into the classroom.” — Abigail Heard, Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences with a concentration in Agricultural Education

Inspiring Words for the Journey Ahead

Throughout the ceremonies, commencement speakers delivered inspirational messages to the graduates.

Anand Kumar

Graduate ceremony speaker Anand Kumar, a North Texas entrepreneur, reminded students that commencement marks the moment when graduates can step confidently into a new identity, with purpose and potential:

“Today, you are not just receiving a degree; you are stepping into a new identity. You are scholars. You are experts. You are leaders. And tonight, you're not crossing a stage; you're crossing into your future.”

Three of the commencement speakers are also members of the Class of 2025:

Diego Flores

Diego Flores, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, acknowledged that change can feel intimidating, but reminded his classmates that their experiences have already prepared them to navigate life's transitions.

“I do have a way of thinking about this moment of beginning, this extraordinary life transition… we have lots of experience with transition already. So much. You all know the large moments of change you've dealt with, and I want to remind you the small ones add up, too..”

Jason Otah

Jason Otah, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, highlighted the importance of embracing uncertainty and pursuing new opportunities with confidence:

“No matter your post-grad plans, you are equipped to make a difference, to leap into the opportunities that scare you, to run towards the doors you think will be shut, and to not be afraid to fail. With a new wave of changes, new roles, responsibilities, and relationships incoming, don’t let anything stop you from trying.”

Tiffany Norman

Tiffany Norman, who earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Public Administration, City Planning, encouraged her classmates to embrace their unique journeys and take pride in the paths that brought them to graduation:

“If your path looked different, or took longer, or didn't make sense to anyone else at the time, that doesn't mean it was wrong; it just means it was yours. Remember: it is not just about the steps we take across the stage. It is about every step it took to get here. ”

Looking Toward the Future

Armed with knowledge, experience and ambition, the Class of 2026 stepped off the stage and into a world of possibilities. Whatever paths they choose, one thing is clear: they're not just ready to face the future; they're ready to shape it.

Congratulations, Class of 2026! You did it!