Class of 2026 honored at spring commencement ceremonies

May 7, 2026

Dakota State University will celebrate the achievements of 480 graduates in the Class of 2026 during spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 9.

Commencement weekend activities begin Friday, May 8, with a rehearsal scheduled for 4:15 p.m. at the DSU Fieldhouse. Graduates are encouraged to attend to review ceremony procedures and lineup instructions. Following rehearsal, graduates and their guests are invited to a reception from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Trojan Zone.

Saturday's events begin with the Hooding Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in the Dakota Prairie Playhouse for master's and doctoral graduates. Doors will open at 8 a.m., and participating students should arrive in regalia by 8:15 a.m.

The main Commencement Ceremony will follow at 10:30 a.m. in the DSU Fieldhouse. Doors open to guests at 9 a.m., and graduates should report to the Madison Community Center double gym by 9:45 a.m. in full regalia. Tickets are required for admission to the Fieldhouse ceremony. Overflow seating with a livestream of the ceremony will be available at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse.

Of the 480 graduates in the Class of 2026, 280 are scheduled to walk during the ceremony.

This year's commencement address will be delivered by retiring DSU faculty member Dr. Chris Olson. Graduating senior Austin Kaiser will serve as the student speaker, and graduate Emily Helgeson, who will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on May 8, will be recognized during the ceremony. More information on the dignitaries can be found on dsu.edu/news and through the links above.

Guests attending commencement are encouraged to arrive early and utilize parking areas near the DSU Fieldhouse, Dakota Prairie Playhouse, and Beacom PREMIER Complex. Families unable to attend in person may watch the ceremonies through Dakota State University's livestream broadcasts on the university's YouTube channel. These links and more information are available on the Dakota State University commencement page.

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