{"id":13313,"date":"2026-05-19T15:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=13313"},"modified":"2026-05-19T15:18:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:18:00","slug":"class-of-2026-celebrated-at-john-j-delaney-graduate-reception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/class-of-2026-celebrated-at-john-j-delaney-graduate-reception\/","title":{"rendered":"Class of 2026 Celebrated at John J. Delaney Graduate Reception"},"content":{"rendered":"

Faculty, staff, and students gather for a night of welcoming the 2026 Saint Peter\u2019s graduating class into a lifelong alumni community.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Saint Peter\u2019s University celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during the annual John J. Delaney Graduate Reception, hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement ahead of Commencement ceremonies.<\/p>\n

Held in honor of John \u201cJack\u201d Delaney \u201950, the evening recognized graduating students while officially welcoming them into the University\u2019s global alumni community. Delaney played a leading role in the formal reorganization of the Saint Peter\u2019s alumni community in 1953, helping establish the strong culture of alumni engagement and lifelong connection that continues today.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cTonight, we celebrate a truly special milestone: the accomplishments of the Class of 2026,\u201d said Cinthia Diaz during her opening remarks on behalf of Saint Peter\u2019s University and the Office of Alumni Engagement. \u201cYour hard work, resilience, and dedication have brought you to this moment, and we are incredibly proud of all that you have achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The reception highlighted the achievements and diversity of the graduating class, which includes more than 1,000 graduates representing programs across the University, including Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Nursing and Professional Studies. Addressing the graduates, Saint Peter\u2019s University Alumni Board President Eric McCullough reflected on the unique makeup of the Class of 2026 and the impact students have made both inside and outside the classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a diverse and dynamic class,\u201d McCullough said. \u201cMore than half of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students, and more than 80 percent of you have participated in internships, research, study abroad, or other hands-on learning experiences preparing you not just for your next step but for long-term success.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The evening also included a mission moment and prayer led by Father James Miracky, S.J., vice president for Mission Integration and Ministry, offering a blessing for the graduating class as they prepare to begin the next chapter of their journeys.<\/p>\n

Saint Peter\u2019s University President Hubert Benitez congratulated graduates on their accomplishments while encouraging them to carry the University\u2019s Jesuit values into their futures. \u201cSaint Peter\u2019s University is grounded in a mission to form leaders committed to service, integrity, and the common good,\u201d Benitez said. \u201cAs you move forward, I encourage you to carry those values with you into your careers, your communities, and your lives.\u201d During the evening, President Benitez also recognized members of the Class of 2026 selected to receive commencement awards for outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service to the University community.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A highlight of the reception was the presentation of the Class of 2026 Gift of $3,026 by student representatives Christopher Dominguez and Julio Santos. Continuing a longstanding Saint Peter\u2019s tradition, the graduating class raised funds in support of the General Scholarship Fund, helping make Saint Peter\u2019s education accessible for future students.<\/p>\n

The student representatives also recognized Anne Butler \u201969 for contributing an additional $1,000 gift in support of the initiative.<\/p>\n

The evening concluded with graduates, families, faculty, staff and friends celebrating together with music, food and activities, marking both the culmination of their Saint Peter\u2019s journey and the beginning of their lifelong connection to the University community.<\/p>\n

Wherever your path takes you, Saint Peter\u2019s will always be part of your story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Faculty, staff, and students gather for a night of welcoming the 2026 Saint Peter\u2019s graduating class into a lifelong alumni community.\u00a0 Saint Peter\u2019s University celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during the annual John J. Delaney Graduate Reception, hosted by the Office of Alumni Engagement ahead of Commencement ceremonies. Held in honor of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1293,"featured_media":13319,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,2],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-13313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-current-students","category-faculty-staff","category-future-students","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nClass of 2026 Celebrated at John J. 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