In the late afternoon of May 9 under warm Texas skies, hundreds of graduating seniors in black gowns and colorful regalia gathered beneath the arches of Lovett Hall for one final Rice University tradition: the walk through the Sallyport.
Four years earlier, they had passed through those same arches during O-Week, stepping onto campus for the first time. Now, they emerged on the other side as soon-to-be graduates, greeted by cheering family and friends before heading to Rice Stadium for the university’s 113th undergraduate commencement ceremony.
Then in true Houston spring fashion, scattered bolts of lightning lit up the sky, triggering a weather delay to the highly anticipated event. It was an electrifying start to an unforgettable night, and less than an hour later, Rice began conferring degrees upon 1,367 undergraduate students — part of the largest graduating class in the university’s history at 3,066. The ceremony blended longstanding academic traditions with the close-knit, unique culture that defines Rice.
Inside the stadium, Bridget Gorman, dean of undergraduates, welcomed graduates and guests, apologizing for the weather and noting that the evening’s program would move at a slightly accelerated pace. Rice President Reginald DesRoches introduced bestselling author and educator John Green, who delivered a reflective, witty and powerful address urging graduates to resist cynicism and remain committed to human connection in an uncertain world.
Speaking to a class shaped by a period of rapid technological and social upheaval, the YouTube star and author of “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Looking for Alaska” and “Everything Is Tuberculosis” acknowledged the uncertainty many graduates feel — from economic instability to the rise of artificial intelligence and other technologies reshaping the world as we know it. He urged the graduates not to surrender to despair.
“Like a replicating virus, all despair makes is more of itself,” Green said. “And the second problem with despair is that, like any overly simplistic worldview, it’s wrong.”
He argued that adulthood requires learning to hold two truths at once: that the world contains profound suffering and injustice, and that meaningful progress is still possible through collective action and care for one another.
“The truth is there is cause for hope,” Green said. “Humans can be amazing. When we allow ourselves to be proximal to suffering, we are capable of extraordinary generosity.”
Green described that tension, between heartbreak and hope, as the central work of adulthood.
“That is the actual real world, to grapple with reality and all its glory and heartbreak and to push the human story forward just a little bit in deep partnership with people you love,” he said. “… We are called to work with and for each other, to repair what is broken and to maintain what is not. We are called to love and be loved, to know and be known.”
He ended the address with a line familiar to many of his fans:
“Good luck, Godspeed, and as they say in my hometown: Don’t forget to be awesome.”
For DesRoches, the night was particularly special because the Class of 2026 was the first group of undergraduates to spend all four years at the university during his presidency, which began in July 2022.
“We started our journeys at Rice together, and we will forever have a special bond,” DesRoches said before the ceremony. “I’m inspired by their resilience, courage, accomplishments and their capacity to lead with both heart and purpose.”
For many graduates, commencement was a moment to reflect on how much they had grown during their time on Rice’s 300-acre campus in the heart of Houston.
Andrew Sun of Will Rice College, who majored in computer science and statistics and will return home to San Diego to work as a software engineer, described the event as both celebratory and emotional.
“Today’s a really special day because we get to celebrate the past four years — a lot of hard work, good times and memories made with a lot of my friends,” Sun said.
Elie Wang of Brown College, a health sciences major, said the university gave her the freedom to grow both academically and personally.
“Looking back on these four years and how much I’ve grown, I’m really grateful for Rice,” Wang said. “I’ve grown so much — not just academically but as an individual. Rice really gave me the space to expand my worldview and pursue my passions.”
Daniel Simón Kafie of Brown College, who majored in economics and finance, said the university’s demanding academic environment prepared him and his classmates to make an impact.
“Rice is a great school,” Kafie said. “It’s meant for people who are going to change the world.”
Kelsey Nowlin of Baker College, who majored in sports medicine and exercise physiology and will attend Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin this fall, said Rice helped set her up for the future.
“Rice has prepared me for this next chapter,” Nowlin said. “I’ve learned so much through all the challenges, and now I’m excited to reflect on everything that brought me to this moment.”
Several students were recognized during commencement for their leadership and contributions to the Rice community.
Olivia Finch received the Graham C. Stebbings College Service Award, which honors significant contributions to Rice’s residential college system.
The Student Association Outstanding Seniors Award was presented to Maya Harpavat, Alex Rubio, Isabella Campos, Ayush Suresh, Divya Saikumar, Ibana Delgado, Hailey Adams, Caleb Solorzano, Jacey Denny and Mariam Falana.
The Rice Service Award was presented to Ria Shah, Sohani Sandhu and Bryan Mendoza.
Suresh also received the undergraduate Sallyport Award, which recognizes students who show exceptional promise in carrying forward the mission of the Association of Rice Alumni after graduation.
Without further delay, one by one the graduates crossed the stage grouped by residential college as their names echoed through the stadium and families erupted in cheers. By the time the last student was called, the field pulsed with excitement. Before sending off the newly minted graduates, Gorman offered one final message.
“While tonight brings your undergraduate chapter at Rice to a close, it is by no means the end of your story with us,” she said. “We are eager to see the lives you will build and the impact you will make beyond these hedges.”
Through cheers and tears, fireworks lit up the night sky and graduates tossed their caps into the air. For the Class of 2026, the evening marked the end of their undergraduate years. But as the fireworks faded into the stars above Rice Stadium, the ceremony underscored a truth woven throughout the university’s traditions for more than a century: Wherever they go next, part of Rice will go with them too.
Visit the 2026 commencement photo gallery here to download and share your photos from the event using the tag #RiceGrad26.