Recognition and regalia

Doctoral students certainly spend countless hours on solitary research, lab work, data analysis, fieldwork and writing papers, but that depiction doesn't tell the whole story.

While on their way to attaining a degree held by only 2% of the U.S. population, plenty of doctoral students engage in extracurricular activities that give them well-rounded experiences that further shape them professionally and personally. They also make lots of friends and have fun along the way - and some even find love.

"To me, the University of Delaware is opportunity," said Stephanie Kuntz-McAllister, one of about 250 students who participated in UD's 2026 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony at the Bob Carpenter Center on Wednesday, May 20. "My favorite part about UD was the opportunity to do things that I didn't even think I would be interested in, be eligible for, useful or just didn't even occur to me."