From their entrance to “Pomp and Circumstance” to their exit as alumni, about 840 undergraduate students from the School of Arts & Sciences, Robins School of Business, and Jepson School of Leadership Studies took part in the University of Richmond’s Commencement ceremony at the Robins Center on Sunday.

Speakers reflected on the significance of a University of Richmond degree and the dedication that led students to this milestone.

"As Spiders, you have put in the effort that leads to reasoning clearly, thinking independently, and being creative. And the effort you've put in, semester after semester, has paid off," said President Kevin F. Hallock. "You are graduating with a broader perspective and sharper abilities, which will help you navigate the world, solve problems, and engage with others."

Hallock encouraged students to continue to put in the effort and "just chip away" when faced with challenges or obstacles. He advised them to remain agile in a rapidly changing world that will be impacted by AI.

“You are smart, you are prepared, you are ready,” he said. “You are Spider graduates.”

A University tradition features a student speaker selected through a campus-wide competition. This year, Duc (Ben) Nguyen, a Richmond Scholar from Hanoi, Vietnam, who double majored in business administration and mathematical economics, took the stage to address his classmates and those in attendance, including his parents, who had never been to the U.S. before.

Nguyen shared a story of a bus driver in his hometown that he came to know when making regular visits to his grandparents. The bus driver had big dreams. “During the trip, he would tell me stories about whatever new idea he had for his future,” he recalled. “Every time he talked about a new plan, he ended the same way — ‘We’ll see.’”

Years later, the bus driver left his job to drive for a humanitarian medical team, transporting doctors and supplies to rural villages. When Nguyen asked him about his next plans, he answered with his usual catch phrase.

Only later did Nguyen understand that the bus driver was not preoccupied with finding the perfect path but remained open to the next door that opened — even if not the obvious choice.

“Some of us will follow paths we once imagined. Others will discover entirely new ones … sometimes, the most honest response to the future is the same one that bus driver gave me years ago: ‘We’ll see.’”

Keynote speaker Kobie Turner, a UR alum, NFL football star with the Los Angeles Rams, and talented vocalist who appeared on The Masked Singer, reflected on his own journey. The defensive end, who graduated from UR in December 2021, joined the Spider Football team as a walk-on.

“When I came to this University, I had no scholarship. I had one year to earn it, or I would’ve had to go to a community college and give up on my NFL dreams,” he said.

“The same ‘walk-on’ mentality that I formed here became my superpower and my separator,” he said, noting that mindset helped him compete among the NFL’s elite

He credited Richmond with giving him both the opportunity and the support to chase his dreams and the confidence to remain true to himself.

“Always remember that you are enough,” he said. “There is only one you in this world. And the world needs you as you already are.”

Following Turner’s speech, graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas to cheers from family and friends. The ceremony concluded with a symbolic transition: Alumni Association President Rasheeda Chambers invited students to move their tassels from the right side of their mortarboard to the left. With that, the Class of 2026 marked its official shift from students to alumni— celebrating with a collective toss of caps into the air.