During commencement weekend, May 15 & 16, nearly 500 undergraduate and graduate students crossed the stage to officially become Canisius University graduates. Families, friends, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the Class of 2026 during a weekend filled with Griff pride, reflection and excitement for what lies ahead.
Festivities began Friday with a Baccalaureate Mass in Christ the King Chapel, the Academic Excellence Awards Ceremony and the PA Program White Coat Ceremony.
On Saturday, two commencement ceremonies were held in the Koessler Athletic Center. The first honored graduates from the Division of Arts, Education & Sciences at 10 a.m. while the second celebrated the Division of Business, Communications and Health Studies at 1:30 p.m.
Rebecca Krawiec, PhD, professor and chair of Religious Studies and Theology, led both commencement processions as mace bearer, while Canisius Chaplin Rev. Fred Betti, SJ, delivered the invocation.
Kelly Ryan, president of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, delivered the commencement address during the morning ceremony for the Division of Arts, Education and Sciences. She encouraged graduates to lead with compassion, truth and moral courage in an increasingly divided world. Drawing on her work with refugees and immigrants, Ryan challenged the Class of 2026 to care for their neighbors, uphold human dignity, seek truth in the face of misinformation and “take care of one another” as they move into their next chapter.
Student speaker Maggie Donner ’26, an adolescence education major with a biology concentration, reflected on the importance of embracing life’s uncertainty with kindness, curiosity and confidence, encouraging graduates to carry forward empathy, leadership and resilience shaped during their time at Canisius.
During the afternoon ceremony, award-winning writer and alumnus Damon J. Young ’02 addressed graduates from the Division of Business, Communications and Health Studies with a remarks that encouraged students to challenge conventional advice, define success on their own terms and embrace their ability to shape a better future. Reflecting on the challenges facing younger generations, Young acknowledged the shortcomings of those who came before them while expressing hope in the Class of 2026’s courage, resilience and determination.
Student speaker Michaela Staskiewicz ’26, an English major on the Pre-Physician Assistant Track, reminded her classmates that it is often the small, everyday choices — joining clubs, pursuing new opportunities, supporting others and embracing the Jesuit value of magis — that define the Canisius experience and shape compassionate, courageous leaders.
From proud smiles and celebratory hugs to the turning of tassels, commencement weekend was a meaningful sendoff for the newest generation of Canisius alumni.
