On May 30, a small orchestra at Carnegie Hall will perform an original song written by University of Puget Sound graduate Madison Hening ’26. Hening’s piece, titled “Lily Rose,” was written for a class as part of the Lullaby Project, which pairs new and expectant parents with artists to compose personal lullabies for their families.
When Rocio Guevara Perez ’23, MAT’26 walked through the doors of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, it was a full circle moment. After leaving Lincoln as a high school graduate seven years earlier, she was now returning as a student teacher, completing her internship as part of the University of Puget Sound’s Master of Arts in Teaching program. For Guevara Perez, it was both a homecoming and a chance to help students like her succeed.
Rovin Ian Antonio ’23, DPT’26 is graduating with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. An army veteran and Puget Sound alumnus, Antonio has been a steadfast leader within his cohort, serving as co-president of the Student Physical Therapy Association. In this role, he organized program-wide events and secured partnerships to fund student research and global travel. Antonio also coordinated the Fall 2025 PT/OT Job Fair, connecting more than a hundred students with potential employers.
Isa Fitzgibbons ’26 is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts. Since joining the University of Puget Sound as a transfer student, Isa has distinguished herself as an exemplary scholar and artist, stepping into leadership roles both on and off the stage. In 2025, she studied abroad in London and was one of 15 students to receive the Agricola Scholar Award, which she used to develop Every Sound I’ve Ever Made, an original one-woman show weaving together writing from various women authors.
Abi Longbottom ’26, a politics and government major at the University of Puget Sound, has been honored as a 2026 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) award recipient. She was recognized alongside 168 students across the country for their contributions to creating a more civically engaged culture within their campus communities.
It was the evening of April 29, 1997, and something remarkable was about to take place. Students crowded into Schneebeck Concert Hall, buzzing with excitement and nerves. As they navigated to their seats, they whispered to each other, eager to witness the inaugural spring showcase of the Repertory Dance Group (RDG). Chatter filled the room until 8 o’clock struck and the lights dimmed.
University of Puget Sound will honor its graduates on Sunday, May 10, at 2 p.m. at the 134th Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony at Baker Stadium will celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026, including both undergraduates and students completing one of Puget Sound’s five graduate programs.
University of Puget Sound student Tdohasan Sunray ’27 received a President and Chancellor’s Student Civic Leadership Award during an April 17 ceremony at The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. The award, sponsored by the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good, recognizes outstanding college student civic leaders from consortium schools. Sunray was joined onstage by Gov.
When Jake Elorduy ’26 arrived at the University of Puget Sound, football was his entry point. A lifelong athlete, he expected a run-of-the-mill college experience, centered on his experience on the field. What he found went far beyond the game.
“It’s hard to get a full grasp of what campus looks like if you’re not physically there,” Elorduy said. He grew up in Sacramento, California, and hadn’t traveled to the Pacific Northwest before touring Puget Sound. “Once I saw the community, that really drew my attention.”
The members of the University of Puget Sound’s Adelphian Concert Choir are used to traveling for performances. For decades, the choir has climbed aboard a bus to tour all over the Pacific Northwest. This year was different. Instead of a tour bus, members of the choir boarded a plane bound for New York City’s world-famous Carnegie Hall.