Under a cool morning sky, Stanislaus State opened its 66th Commencement ceremonies Tuesday, May 26, by celebrating graduates of the College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), the first of four ceremonies honoring the Class of 2026 this week.
Thousands of family members, friends, mentors and loved ones filled the University Amphitheatre, with thousands more watching online via livestream on YouTube.
President Britt Rios-Ellis, marking her second Commencement at the University, told graduates their achievement reflected years of effort, belief and purpose.
She also noted the breadth of experiences represented among the college’s graduates: Nearly 66 percent are the first in their families to earn a degree, and more than half come from Stanislaus County. Others represented communities across California and around the world, including Mexico, Bangladesh and Croatia. The youngest graduate was 20 years old, and the oldest was 76 years old.
“Today marks the pinnacle of all you have poured into this journey: your time, your talent, your persistence, your belief in yourselves and your ability to achieve something greater,” Rios-Ellis said.
Speaking to graduates of CAHSS, Rios-Ellis connected their fields of study to the work they will carry into the world.
“You’ve studied disciplines that preserve culture, challenge injustice and elevate truth,” Rios-Ellis said. “Through your creativity, advocacy and leadership, you will help shape communities that are more thoughtful, inclusive and reflective of who we are.”
Full-Circle Moment for Alumnus Jacque Wilson
Tuesday’s ceremony also included the conferral of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Modesto native Jacque Wilson, a 1997 Stan State alumnus and senior attorney with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.
A longtime advocate for justice reform, Wilson reflected on returning to the campus where he first walked as a child holding the hand of his father, Mack Wilson, who also attended the University.
“It is profoundly meaningful to be back here at the University where he once planted seeds of possibility for our family,” Wilson said, speaking about his father. “He didn’t just tell me to dream. He gave me a blueprint for life.”
Wilson spoke openly about his own challenges, including being expelled from high school, dropping out of Stan State after his mother died and later returning to complete his degree before attending law school.
“Your journey doesn’t have to be perfect to have purpose,” Wilson said. “Mine certainly wasn’t.”
Wilson’s work in justice reform stems from his upbringing in West Modesto, where he watched his father advocate for people whose voices were often overlooked. Years later, one of the most personal fights of Wilson’s career came when his younger brother faced the death penalty under California’s felony murder rule for a crime he did not commit.
Wilson worked with advocates to help reform the law through Senate Bill 1437, and after the law passed, his brother became the first person to walk free under the revised law.
“When you watch someone you love face the death penalty for a crime they didn’t commit, it changes you,” Wilson said. “You realize the system isn’t just ‘broken.’ It’s in need of a transformation.”
He closed with a charge to graduates.
“When the world tells you that your dreams are too bold, when they tell you that where you come from limits where you can go — when the doubters tell you ‘No,’ I want you to look them dead in the eye and say: ‘Watch me.’”
Victory, Redefined
Student speaker Cheyanne Gaines, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, offered a message of perseverance on behalf of the graduating class.
“The funny thing about victory is that it doesn’t always look like applause, confetti or awards,” she said. “Sometimes victory looks like choosing discipline over comfort, faith over fear and purpose over doubt.”
She also thanked the University community for helping graduates reach their goal.
“This campus didn’t just educate us, it transformed us,” Gaines said. “You all believed in us, and belief changes lives.”
The ceremony also recognized graduate Kayla Lynn Stephan, who received the prestigious Metzger-Geiger Award, presented annually to the graduating student with the highest undergraduate grade point average earned at Stanislaus State. Stephan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Psychology.
Commencement continues Wednesday, May 27, with the College of Science ceremony at 8 a.m. at the University Amphitheatre. Ceremonies for the College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work and the College of Business Administration will take place on Thursday and Friday, respectively. View details about the ceremonies and watch the livestreams on the Commencement website.
