‘Resilient’ Class of 2026 celebrated at Sonoma State
Sonoma State’s Class of 2026 is perhaps “the most resilient collection of students this university – any university – has ever had,” the university’s president told graduates on Saturday, May 23.
During the first of five Commencement ceremonies scheduled this weekend on the university’s Rohnert Park campus, SSU President Michael E. Spagna lauded graduates — most of whom were in high school when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted societies worldwide — for their resilience and adaptability.
”Consider, for a moment, the rapid, constant pace of change you have experienced. Most of you … can easily remember what dramatic change it brought to your learning environment, your social environment, and your home environment. What do you call someone who adapts to that kind of sudden, significant change? Resilient,” Spagna said.
The president also praised members of the Class of 2026 for navigating personal challenges and for facing uncertainty as they embark on new personal and professional journeys. “You’ve learned that skill security might be more valuable than job security, and that your capacity to use what you’ve learned here at Sonoma State – to adapt to changing environments and make them your own – is your superpower,” he said.
“Now your responsibility is clear. Continue on that path. Take what you’ve learned and pay it forward. Help others find their voice, and community, and capacity to grow and learn.”
Spagna’s remarks came during the first of five Commencement ceremonies May 23 and 24 at Green Music Center on the SSU campus. College of Science, Technology, and Business ceremonies were set for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 23, with the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies commencing at 5 p.m. the same day. On May 24, the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts will hold two ceremonies, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
At the 9 a.m. ceremony on May 24, the university will bestow honorary degrees on two longtime North Bay community leaders and arts supporters.
Gayle and Arnold Carston will be jointly awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters at the 9 a.m. Sunday, May 24 Commencement ceremony for the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts. The honorary degree was approved by the California State University Board of Trustees.
The Carstons, who own and operate the Santa Rosa businesses World of Carpets and ProSource, are among the North Bay’s most loyal supporters of the arts. For decades, they have been patrons to the Green Music Center at SSU, the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, and the Santa Rosa Symphony. They were among the earliest enthusiasts of what became the Green Music Center, and in 2024 expressed their continued commitment with a $1-million gift to support the GMC and student scholarships.
In all, Sonoma State will graduate 1,958 students during the five ceremonies, awarding 1,623 bachelor’s degrees, 187 master’s degrees, and 148 credentials.
Itzel Hernandez of Santa Rosa, who received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the College of Science, Technology, and Business, said she chose Sonoma State because it allowed her to stay close to home while earning a degree in a supportive environment where she could build meaningful connections, grow professionally, and remain connected to her community.
“Sonoma State helped me grow into someone who is more confident in both my voice and abilities,” Hernandez said. “As a first-generation student balancing school, work, and life responsibilities, there were moments where I doubted myself, but those experiences ultimately pushed me to become more resilient.”
Mya Pequeno of Napa, graduating from the College of Education, Counseling, and Ethnic Studies with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Studies, said SSU created opportunities to build “connections with classmates and professors who made me feel supported and encouraged. Being part of a close-knit campus community helped me grow both academically and personally. It taught me the importance of confidence, balance, and staying motivated through challenges.”
Additionally, “Being a third-year transfer student from another four-year university, Sonoma State … made me feel at home. It felt as though I had been at SSU my whole university experience, and I wouldn't change it for anything.”
Amanda Pohopien of Glendora, in Southern California, said she chose Sonoma State for its highly ranked housing, beautiful campus, and the opportunity to learn at a university where she could connect with her peers and professors and develop meaningful connections for post-graduate work.
Pohopien, who earned dual degrees — Bachelor of Arts in Cinematic Arts and Technology and Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies — said the most memorable aspect of her time at SSU “is easily the amazing people I've met through my job on campus. Being a part of the Seawolf Living squad was on my bucket list as a freshman, and I am so beyond proud of myself and how much I've grown in my position.
”I have so many lifelong best friends from this team and from the fun classes I've taken.”