Honoring resilience, global reach, and the journeys behind 9,400+ graduates
Every University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) 2026 graduate walks a different path: A mother inspired by her teenage daughter who, after a traumatic brain injury at age nine, will graduate from high school just days before her mom crosses the stage at UMGC. An active-duty soldier who completed coursework between training rotations, deployments to more than 20 countries, and fatherhood. A 50-year-old first-generation student following in the footsteps of his two daughters, both college graduates. A disabled Marine Corps veteran who is raising two children while serving as caregiver for his wife, who is battling Parkinson’s.
During commencement season, UMGC is celebrating the unique stories of 9,424 spring graduates, from 16 to 77 years of age, and from 50 U.S. states, D.C., and 25 countries and territories.
A more flexible approach to commencement
Grad Walk, now in its fifth year and held each winter and spring, hosted more than 2,700 UMGC graduates and 18,000 guests May 14–17 at the university’s global headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland. The event is one in a series of UMGC commencements hosted in-person around the world in April, May, and June, including five ceremonies for military-affiliated students in Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Guam.
“New opportunities are in reach because of your efforts and commitment. Be bold and seize those opportunities, knowing that courage—like learning—is a tool for transformation,” said UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, in a commencement address recorded for the 2026 virtual ceremony.
“Through education, you have developed and honed the knowledge, skills, and abilities to build stable families and communities, a more competitive workforce and economy, a more resilient civic society, and a more capable and prepared military. This is an honor, a privilege, and a solemn responsibility.”
A personalized path to the stage
Grad Walk allows participants to choose a time to cross the stage as friends and family members enjoy a stage-front view. Afterward, they can join faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends in the “Celebration Zone.” A live-stream of the stage crossings during the four-day event allows family, friends, and fellow graduates worldwide to share in the celebration.
More than 200 UMGC staff, faculty, and alumni volunteer for various roles during Grad Walk, cheering on graduates, assisting with setup and tear-down, staffing booths or tables, and more. The event remains a large-scale UMGC effort after the institution moved away from large arena celebrations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach resonated with UMGC’s key audiences, who appreciate the event’s careful scheduling and intimacy, which keep families together throughout the celebration.
Extending the moment beyond the stage
Prior to the celebration, graduates received UMGC’s signature “Grad Packs” by mail, with commemorative UMGC swag enclosed. A virtual ceremony allowed those unable to participate in-person to join the celebration, and an online gallery of graduates offered each graduate the option of customizing and sharing a slide across digital platforms.
“I’m thrilled we found a way to help graduates celebrate commencement wherever they are in the world,” said Angela Grant, director of commencement services, noting that these combined efforts have become a lasting extension of UMGC’s mission to connect with students across geographic boundaries.
In the virtual ceremony, graduates heard from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, University System of Maryland Regent Ellen R. Fish, UMGC President Fowler, UMGC Chief Learner Experience and Success Officer Angie Besendorfer, EdD, and fellow UMGC graduate Shanteal Alleyne ’26, who earned a master’s degree in strategic communications.
“I used to think I was the exception. The one who had waited too long. The one who was too far behind,” said Alleyne, who credited her UMGC success coach with helping shift her mindset. “But now I know that doubt can be part of the journey, and when it shows up again, I will remember that I wasn't alone then and I'm not alone now.”
She continued, addressing her fellow graduates: “When you walk across that stage, I hope you realize you didn’t just complete a program. You became someone stronger, someone more resilient.”
Commencement without borders for military learners
At several stateside ceremonies on military bases—part of UMGC’s broader spring commencement season—the university will continue to honor military-affiliated graduates, who make up 62 percent of this year’s graduating class. Regional celebrations hosted by U.S. military installations globally also serve graduates, most of whom are on active duty.
Regional graduation celebrations include:
- April 23 – Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, San Diego
- May 7 – Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
- May 13 – Fort Drum, New York
- May 14 – Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- May 29 – Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
- May 29 – San Antonio
- June 4 – Fort Bliss, New Mexico
- June 5 – Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
- June 5 – San Diego
- June 12 – Fort Carson, Colorado
- June 12 – Travis Air Force Base, California
These open house events welcome graduates and guests for a chance to capture photos in regalia with their degree.
A global celebration that meets graduates where they are
UMGC’s commencement experience, from Grad Walk to military recognition ceremonies around the world, reflects the institution’s commitment to meeting graduates where they are. A curated photo gallery is available for graduates and families to relive the celebration and share on social media using #UMGCgrad.
Read more spring graduate stories about perseverance, military spouses, career transformation, military servicemembers and veterans, and the community graduates found at UMGC.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense information or visuals does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
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