Celebrating the journey—and the arrival: Music major and Moonlight Scholar Kaylin Holliman ’26 crosses the stage at the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony. / Photo by Bryan Navarro
Stories, Scenes, and Snapshots: Video Highlights from Commencement 2026
Watch videos, check out photos, and hear stories from new grads in their own words in these highlights from Undergraduate Commencement and Graduate & Professional Studies Commencement.
This is part of a series of stories on Saint Mary’s Commencement 2026. Find links below to full video recordings and recaps, and find more on our YouTube channel. Videography by Francis Tatem, words by Mike Janes and Steven Boyd Saum.
Highlights and Memorable Moments from Saint Mary’s 2026 Undergraduate Commencement
Saint Mary’s College of California proudly celebrated the Undergraduate Class of 2026 during Commencement exercises held Friday, May 22, in Saint Mary’s Stadium. The ceremony honored more than 450 graduates and featured inspiring student speakers, heartfelt moments with family and friends, and a memorable Commencement address from Gaels basketball legend and NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova ’13.
From the morning Commencement Liturgy to graduates crossing the stage and celebrating afterward at Grad Grounds on the Chapel Lawn, the day reflected the spirit, resilience, and shared humanity of the Saint Mary’s community.
Hear from a few of the members of the Class of 2026, including Rebecca Carranza ’26, who earned a degree in Politics and says, “Saint Mary’s transformed me.” Danijela Concion ’26 earned her degree in Physics and says of Saint Mary's, “It’s such an amazing place.” Timothy Phelps ’26 double majored in Business Administration and Theology & Religious Studies and was recognized with the De La Salle Award, the highest honor presented to a graduating senior. For him, he says, SMC is “a place where I can really be authentic and learn and live with other people.” Brandon Valerio '26 double majored in Dance and Physics and says, “One of the best things here at Saint Mary's is the community.”
The Journey to Commencement | Stories from SMC's Graduate & Professional Studies Class of 2026
In this special Commencement recap, members of Saint Mary’s College of California’s Graduate and Professional Studies Class of 2026 reflect on the journeys that brought them to graduation and the goals that lie ahead.
Meet Bamba Mansaray, EdD ’26; Brandon Brookshire, MBA ’26; Jaden DeSouza ’25, MA ’26, who earned degrees in Environmental Science and Communication; Jackson Simmons, MA '26, who completed a program in Kinesiology: Sport Coaching; and Tiffany Dinh, MS ’26, who completed a Professional Master's of Science in Biotechnology. They share their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Their stories highlight the determination, resilience, and sense of purpose that define the Graduate and Professional Studies community at Saint Mary’s. The video also captures memorable moments from the ceremony, celebrating more than 350 graduates and the transformative power of higher education.
Congratulations to the GPS Class of 2026—and Go Gaels!
Francis Tatem is an award-winning photographer and videographer at Saint Mary’s. Write him.
Smile! Photos from Graduate & Professional Studies Commencement in the Flickr Gallery
Photos by Bryan Navarro
