Students celebrating at 2026 Undergraduate Commencement

Blue skies ahead: For the more than 450 Gaels who took part in the 2026 Undergraduate Commencement on May 22, it was a day to celebrate accomplishments and look toward the horizon. / Photo by Bryan Navarro

‘Formation is Not a Destination’: For the Class of 2026, Their Journeys Are Just Beginning

Hundreds of graduating seniors, friends, and family convened for the ceremony in Saint Mary’s Stadium on May 22. The messages for graduates: Seek out every opportunity to grow and evolve, and bring a culture of care to a world in need.

by Office of Marketing and Communications Staff | May 23, 2026

This is part of a series of stories on Saint Mary’s Commencement 2026. Look for our Graduate and Professional Studies Commencement 2026 recap here, and watch for video recaps of both ceremonies here or on our YouTube channel.

It was the kind of morning that makes one grateful to be graduating in the gorgeous hills east of the San Francisco Bay: 65 degrees and sunny, a brilliant bluebird sky, and a gentle breeze rustling greenery and graduation robes alike.

Along with donning those robes for the big day, the more than 450 Gaels who took part in the 2026 Undergraduate Commencement on May 22 wore their stories on their sleeves—and shoulders, and heads. There were kente-patterned stoles and hibiscus wreaths, leafy crowns and gold medallions. Many of their mortarboards were adorned with memes, artwork, and messages inspirational and whimsical.

Mortarboard with SMC on it at 2026 Commencement — Show your colors: SMC on the mortarboard / *Photo by Bryan Navarro*

Before the ceremony got underway, students, families, and friends convened in the Soda Center for the Commencement Liturgy: a Saint Mary’s tradition going back decades, if not to the founding of the College itself. After scripture readings, hymns, and communion, the event culminated with a reading of a letter to the community from Caitlin Watt ’26, a Biology major and this year’s Sister Clare Wagstaffe Ministry Award Winner. The award is presented to graduating seniors for outstanding commitment to the Lasallian tenet to build an inclusive community “touching the hearts of those you serve” at Saint Mary’s.

Remain curious and lead with integrity

The Class of 2026—earning bachelor’s degrees from the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Science, and the School of Economics and Business Administration—brought plenty of tenacity during their years at Saint Mary’s. They were among the College’s most diverse classes to date. They also continued a growing trend: One in three graduating Gaels identify as first-generation college students.

View of commencement from the stands — Golden state: Graduates and their loved ones gathered in Saint Mary’s Stadium to celebrate one of SMC’s most diverse graduating classes ever, with nearly one-third identifying as a “first-gen” college student. */ Photo by Bryan Navarro*

Of course, this is also a class that has navigated its college against a backdrop of seismic transition. As these students have faced the realities of increasingly pervasive artificial intelligence, political upheaval, and cultural polarization, Saint Mary’s emphasis on “forming the whole person” feels especially necessary, as Provost Carol Ann Gittens, PhD, MBA told graduates and those arrayed on chairs on the lawn and gathered in the stands.

At the same time, the work that began at Saint Mary’s continues long after Commencement, Gittens noted. “Formation is not a destination—it is a lifelong process,” she said. “It calls you to remain curious, to lead with integrity, and to approach the world with both confidence and humility.”

In his remarks, President Roger Thompson, EdD, emphasized how Gaels are uniquely equipped to meet this moment. “As you move forward, carry with you the lessons and values you developed here, both inside and outside the classroom,” he said. “You have learned how to think critically, act ethically, and engage thoughtfully with the world around you. Those qualities matter deeply, and our world needs them now more than ever.”

Celebrating Distinctiveness

Valedictorian Melody Ng at 2026 Commencement — Gael spirit: Valedictorian **Melody Ng ’26**—a first-generation Chinese Malaysian immigrant and a double major in Theatre and Politics—exhorted her class to lean into community and resist passivity. / Photo by Bryan Navarro

The Class of 2026 has, without question, left a singular legacy at Saint Mary’s. They helped propel Softball, Men’s Basketball, and Baseball to West Coast Conference Championships and then some. (At least a few graduating Baseball players were in Arizona on Commencement day, blazing a streak through the winner’s bracket of the WCC tourney.) Members of this class started a new club for entrepreneurship, won the top prize at one of the nation’s biggest debate championships, won recognition in an international competition for business ethics, and built potentially groundbreaking software at a national particle accelerator. And they sought to make the campus ever more inclusive and welcoming, through cultural events, clubs, and vital conversations.

Now, those graduates will be heading out to make their mark beyond this campus. In her address, Valedictorian Melody Ng ’26 encouraged the Class of 2026 to embrace all that makes them distinctive. “Remind yourselves of your dedication and persistence,” she said. “Let us celebrate what we find different about each other, and move forward together.”

A double major in Theatre and Politics and a first-generation Chinese Malaysian immigrant, Ng also exhorted her class to resist what she sees as a tide of passivity. “Ask yourselves: what is fundamentally good, and what brings you joy? Look past the screens that obstruct our formation of self and our conception of right and wrong. Look past the ways we are told we are the only individuals who matter. Look for your community, find what feels like and is your calling.”

Delly in the house

Commencement speaker Matthew Dellavedova ’13 could speak to the Saint Mary’s experience and its power to transform students. After all, the NBA champion, Olympic medalist, and current guard for Australia’s Sydney Kings crossed that very stage and earned a degree in Psychology more than a decade ago.

“I know what it took to get to this point,” Dellavedova said, casting his gaze out to the students. “I also know how much you’re looking forward to getting to the plots after this…” That would be a reference to Grad Grounds, the beloved post-ceremony tradition that turns the SMC campus into a veritable grid of block parties. Which meant: Don’t go too long in the speech.

“Everyone is running their own race. Just worry about what you have to get better at. There’s always another opportunity for growth, another challenge to take on.”
— Matthew Dellavedova ’13, 2026 Commencement Speaker

During his address, “Delly,” as he’s known, spoke to the structure and support that led him to graduate as the Men’s Basketball team’s all-time leader in points, assists, and wins. At the same time, he was candid about his losses and failures. Front and center: attending an NBA draft party at the home of his coach, Randy Bennett, with the only question on everyone’s mind being which team would choose Delly. In the end, no one drafted him. He also recounted getting cut from the Boomers—the Australian national team—twice. With the NBA, he found a way to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers summer league and prove he had the skills and attitude to make valuable contributions to the team—which went on to win the NBA championship.

Matthew Dellavedova '13 speaks at 2026 Commencement with SMC seal in the background — Home court advantage: Commencement speaker **Matthew Dellavedova ’13**, returning to his alma mater, was candid about his successes and failures—and what he has learned from both. */ Photo by Bryan Navarro*

“One thing I’ve learned through all of it—basketball, business, and life—is that the process of improving never stops,” Dellavedova said. “Everyone is running their own race. Just worry about what you have to get better at. There’s always another opportunity for growth, another challenge to take on.”

In his 30s, Delly has embarked on another career in business and venture capital. At the same time, he helped lead the Sydney Kings to a national championship in Australia in April. But above all, Dellavedova said, his most important responsibility is fatherhood and “setting the best example I can for our three kids. Knowing they’re watching how I respond to challenges and setbacks is the best motivation. I want to show them what getting a little bit better each day looks like.”

With that, it was time for the presentation of degrees—and the Class of 2026 began crossing the stage to receive their diplomas, a warm handshake from President Thompson, and perhaps an embrace from a beloved staff or faculty member. (Harry Wessels ’26, another Australian-born basketball player who helped the Gaels earn spots in multiple NCAA Tournaments, earned a hug and a handshake from Dellavedova himself.)

WATCH: 2026 Undergraduate Commencement

Then, it was off to Grad Grounds, where the scent of taco fixings on grills filled the air, burgers sizzled on barbecues, families posed for photos in front of the Chapel, and a mariachi band filled the air with its brassy, boisterous strains—while grads and friends and grandparents alike danced to the music. Champagne flutes were passed; a beach ball emblazoned with mortarboards ambled across the lawn, pushed forth by the wind.

Improving may never stop, as Delly said, but it’s important to have sunny, breezy days to celebrate all that has been accomplished. In that sense, you couldn’t ask for a better day to graduate.