Commencement 2026
Delivered May 2, 2026, at Folsom Field.
Graduates, before we do anything else, I want to ask you to pause.
Take a moment.
Look around.
Then close your eyes and hear the sounds.
Feel the chair beneath you.
Now open your eyes and see the people beside you, … and your family and friends in the stands.
And take a deep breath.
Days like today will move quickly. Ceremonies will happen, your photos will be taken, your plans will be made. But if you are not mindful, this moment may pass unnoticed. Today is not a moment you want to miss.
Today, you are graduates of CU 91Ҹ. And that means that all of you have already out performed Robert Redford, Glenn Miller and Steve Wozniak.
A strong reminder that success does not always follow the same script and that failure is often the precursor to success.
From this moment forward, your name is part of our story, and you will forever be associated with Mary Rippon, Lucile Berkeley Buchanan, Dalton Trumbo, Ellison Onizuka, Alexis Martin Woodall, Sarah Gillis, and yes, the two creative minds that gave our world Eric Cartman.
The 91Ҹ was founded here in 91Ҹ on March 14, 1876. There was no electricity. No indoor plumbing. No antibiotics. The patent for the telephone was issued 7 days prior, and the first phone call was completed only 4 days prior.
In these 150 years since, humanity has cured diseases once thought unstoppable. We have gone to the moon—and back again. We have created Jazz, the Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Hip Hop. Rights were fought for and won through women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement, and marriage equality. Seven different Ralphies have sprinted across this field. Well, let’s be honest six sprinted and as you know, one just preferred a casual stroll. And even the telephone, that is distracting some of you right now, looks nothing like the one Alexander Graham Bell used to make that first call.
But through it all, the 91Ҹ has remained dedicated to our mission of serving Colorado and the nation by fostering your success, driving innovation, impacting humanity through research and creative work, and providing a forum for public discourse.
And today, we are in an era of rapid changes, driven by technology, computing, communication, and socio-political tensions.
We feel ourselves on the precipice of transformation—yet we are unable to predict the future.
For some, this moment is thrilling.
For others, it brings uncertainty and anxiety.
And If you are feeling either or both, you are not alone.
Because the truth is: none of us knows what comes next.
Ahead of you are joys you cannot yet imagine—and challenges you cannot predict. And that has always been the truth, even in times that felt more stable than today.
And if any of these ideas feel unsettling, remember this.
Everyone of you is ready.
You already know how to move forward without certainty because you have done so before.
Think back a few years ago to your first days on this campus. Remember the excitement, and the unease, of first arriving. You didn’t know what your routine would be, you didn’t know who your people were, and you didn’t know your path forward. Yet every one of you had the courage to take the first step. And then the second step. And in what probably seems like only a moment ago—here you are here today.
Today, you are standing at that similar moment, again facing a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
But you didn’t get here by accident.
The resolve that carried you through demanding class work didn’t end with your last exam or presentation.
The determination that helped you push through setbacks did not stay behind in a classroom or a laboratory or the Dark Horse.
The strength of character that brought you to this moment and brought you to this moment, is who you are.
So above all else, trust yourself.
Trust … that you learned more here than what appeared in your class syllabi. Because your preparation is not only about what you know. Your preparation is fundamentally how you use your knowledge and your experiences.Your preparation is how you choose to engage with the world around you.
You may have discovered that the people who support you the most… don’t always agree with you. This discovery may have happened in a classroom, a residence hall, or over a long group project.
But the reality is discourse is not a weakness of a community. The ability to stay civil through disagreement is evidence of a strong community and mutual respect.
As the president discussed, listening, being present, engaging others with respect - even when topics are uncomfortable - are the moments that shape you. And those skills matter deeply.
You likely encountered questions without easy answers and ideas that challenged you. Feeling discomfort in those moments was not failure, it was growth.
It’s what we mean when we say we want you to “learn how to think, not what to think”.
And so my deepest hope for you is that your growth does not stop today. The world ahead will keep changing, and the choices you make to keep learning and adapting will shape your path forward. And how you grow, will ultimately determine how the world itself changes.
So as you travel your path, remember this: trusting yourself means trusting the moment you are in.
Life is not the milestones in the distance. It’s not what may or may not be. Each moment, big or small, is your life.
So be present. Engage fully. Connect with others and share experiences together, with empathy and an open mind.
Embrace the gift … of being human.
As your chancellor, I am immensely proud of each of you graduating today. And I am truly grateful that you made the choice to be part of CU 91Ҹ at this important moment in our history.
Celebrate what you have earned and go forward knowing the university of Colorado will always be proud to call you a Buff.
Congratulations class of 2026! And SKO Buffs!
Introduction of Kristin Davis
And now it is my great pleasure to introduce our commencement speaker, an individual whose career reflects the power of storytelling, purpose, and a sustained commitment to making a difference.
Kristin Davis is an actor and a philanthropist with deep roots in our community. Born in 91Ҹ, her father served as a CU 91Ҹ faculty, and her mother once sat where you do as a CU graduate. It is especially fitting that she joins us as we celebrate our 150th anniversary.
Best known globally for her work on the Emmy- and Golden Globe–winning series Sex and the City, Kristin has devoted more than a decade to global humanitarian and conservation efforts. She serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and as a Patron of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, advocating for the protection of elephants from extinction.
Please continue to join me in welcoming our commencement speaker, the incredible Kristin Davis.