On May 8, Whittier College celebrated the Class of 2026 with a commencement ceremony punctuated by the cheers of family, friends, and faculty gathered to honor this year’s graduates.
After Chairman of the Board Ron Gastelum ’68 offered a warm welcome to all in attendance, President Kristine Dillon ’73 set the celebratory stage with her opening remarks. Reflecting on the lasting impact of the Whittier community, student speakers Samantha Martinez MA’26 and Garrett Dykier ’26 expressed gratitude for the tapestry of support woven by their Poet peers and professors alike.
The ceremony featured an inspiring keynote address from former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Abbott, who also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of his extraordinary achievements and profound impact beyond athletics.
Born without a right hand, Abbott ruminated on perseverance, possibility, and the power of choosing one’s own path. “You made a choice to be here,” he told the graduates. “You made a choice to broaden your horizons.”
Abbott encouraged students to embrace the “improbable stories” in their own lives and reminded them to pause and recognize the significance of the moment. “You are center stage,” he said. “You are here to be celebrated.”
For many graduates, the celebration marked both an ending and a beginning.
English major Angelica Hennessey said the close relationships she built with professors made her experience at Whittier especially meaningful. “Being able to work closely with all these professors I really respect has been really awesome.”
This fall, Hennessey will begin a master’s program in library science at San José State University with the goal of becoming an archivist.
Between the decorated caps, emotional embraces, and loud celebrations from loved ones in the crowd, the day captured the spirit of the Class of 2026: resilient, ambitious, and ready for what comes next.
