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Chancellor Justin Schwartz

Graduates, before we do anything else, I want to ask you to pause. Take a moment. Look around. Then close your eyes and hear the sounds. Feel the chair beneath you.��

Now open your eyes and see the people beside you, and your family and friends in the stands.

Take a deep breath.

Days like today will move quickly. Ceremonies will happen, your photos will be taken, your plans will be made. But if you are not mindful, this moment may pass unnoticed. Today is not a moment you want to miss.��

Today, you are graduates of CU ������ý����. And that means that all of you have already outperformed Robert Redford, Glenn Miller and Steve Wozniak.��

A strong reminder that success does not always follow the same script and that failure is often the precursor to success.

From this moment forward, your name is part of our story, and you will forever be associated with Mary Rippon, Lucile Berkeley Buchanan, Dalton Trumbo, Ellison Onizuka, Alexis Martin Woodall, Sarah Gillis, and yes, the two creative minds that gave the world Eric Cartman.��

The University of Colorado was founded in ������ý���� on March 14, 1876. There was no electricity. No indoor plumbing. No antibiotics. The patent for the telephone was issued only 7 days prior, and the first phone call completed only 4 days prior.��

In these 150 years since, humanity has cured diseases once thought unstoppable. We have gone to the moon—and back again. We have created Jazz, the Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Hip Hop. Rights were fought for and won through women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement, and marriage equality. Seven different Ralphies have sprinted across this field. Well, let's be honest, six sprinted and as you all know, one preferred a casual stroll. Even the telephone, that is distracting some of you right now, looks nothing like the one Alexander Graham Bell used to make that first call.��

But through it all, the University of Colorado has remained dedicated to our mission of serving Colorado and the nation by��fostering your successes, driving innovation, impacting humanity through research and creative work, and providing a forum for public discourse.

Today, we are in an era of rapid changes, driven by technology, computing, communication, and socio-political tensions.��

We feel ourselves to be on the precipice of transformation—yet we are unable to predict the future.��

For some, this moment is thrilling. For others, it brings uncertainty and anxiety. If you are feeling either or both, you are not alone.

Because the truth is: none of us knows what comes next.

Ahead of you are joys you cannot yet imagine—and challenges you cannot predict. That has always been true, even in times that felt more stable than today.

And if any of these ideas feel unsettling, remember this: every one of you is ready.

You already know how to move forward without certainty because you have done so before.

Think back a few years ago to your first days on this campus. Remember the excitement, and the unease, of first arriving. You didn't know what your routine would be, you didn't know who your people were, and you didn't know your path forward. Yet every one of you had the courage to take the first step. And then the second step. And in what probably seems like only a moment ago - you are here today.

Today, you stand at a similar moment, again facing a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. But you didn't get here by accident.

The resolve that carried you through demanding class work did not end with your last exam or presentation.

The determination that helped you push through setbacks did not stay behind in a classroom or a laboratory or the Dark Horse.

The strength of character that brought you to this moment is who you are. So, above all else, trust yourself.

Trust that you learned more here than what appeared on your class syllabi. Because your preparation is not only about what you know. Your preparation is fundamentally how you use your knowledge and experiences. Your preparation is how you choose to engage with the world around you.��

You may have discovered that the people who support you the most don't always agree with you. This discovery may have occurred in a classroom, a residence hall, or over a long group project.

But the reality is discourse is not a weakness of community. The ability to stay civil through disagreement is evidence of a strong community and mutual respect.��

As the president discussed, listening, being present, and engaging others with respect—even when topics are uncomfortable—are the moments that shape you. And those skills matter deeply.

You likely encountered questions without easy answers and ideas that challenged you. Feeling discomfort in those moments is not failure, it is growth.��

It's what we mean when we say we want you to “learn how to think, not what to think.”

And so my deepest hope for you is that your growth does not stop today. The world ahead will keep changing, and the choices you make to keep learning and adapting will shape your path forward. And how you grow, will ultimately determine how the world itself changes.��

So, as you travel your path, remember this: trusting yourself means trusting the moment you are in.

Life is not the milestones in the distance. It's not what may or may not be. Each moment, big or small, is your life.

So be present. Engage fully. Connect with others and share experiences together, with empathy and an open mind.��

Embrace the gift of being human.

As your chancellor, I am immensely proud of each of you graduating today. And I am truly grateful that you chose to be part of CU ������ý���� at this important moment in our history.��

Celebrate what you have earned and go forward knowing that the University of Colorado will always be proud to call you a Buff.��

Congratulations class of 2026! And Sko Buffs!

And now it is my great pleasure to introduce our commencement speaker, an individual whose career reflects the power of storytelling, purpose, and sustained commitment to making a difference.

Kristin Davis is an actor and philanthropist with deep roots in this community. Born in ������ý����, her father served as a CU ������ý���� professor, and her mother once sat where you do as a CU graduate. It is especially fitting that she joins us as we celebrate our 150th anniversary.

Best known for her work on the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series "Sex and the City," Kristin has devoted more than a decade to global humanitarian and conservation efforts. She serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the��United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and as a Patron of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, advocating for the protection of elephants from extinction.

Please join me in welcoming our commencement speaker, the incredible Kristin Davis.

Kristin Davis, 2026 Commencement Speaker

Hello! Thank you Chancellor Schwartz. I am so thrilled to be here at CU ������ý���� to celebrate the graduating class of 2026!

������ý���� is a very special place to me. I was born at ������ý���� Community Hospital and my mother graduated from CU in 1967. We lived over on Spruce Street. So, a very special thank you to the student-led committee who chose me to come speak to you today, it has been very meaningful.

It is an honor to be here speaking to you today, one that frankly I was a bit confused by. So much so that I felt the need to call my agent and ask if perhaps there had been some kind of mistake. After they reassured me that there had not been a huge error, I started to reflect on why I had been chosen to speak to you today and what I might say to you. In this exploration, I asked myself what message or experience could I bring to you on the occasion of this milestone that is unique to me? What would have been helpful for me to hear on the day that I graduated from college?��

And the answer is: do not set limits on what you envision for yourself.��

But first, you need to prepare.��

I found my love for acting at 10 years old in the community theater in my town. I obsessively studied acting for the next 12 years, getting a BFA degree in acting and entering the fully insane world of the “entertainment industry.” But I continued studying for the next 8 years, right up until I was working so much that there wasn’t time to go to acting class.

So that is my first lesson: preparation is key. And the great news is that you’ve done that! We are here today to celebrate all of the sacrifices you and your family have made to get you to this point in life. And it hasn’t been easy, I’m sure! But you did it!��

Now, the next adventure begins. Now that your intense preparation is complete, what I believe you need are two very important things.��

One, a vision for what your life will be like and two, deep faith in yourself to achieve that vision. I want you to allow your deepest self to create a vision of what your life will look like. Not just your work but every aspect of the life you dream of having. And I’m not talking about the things you might own. I’m talking about adventure, love, creativity, friendship, joy, purpose. Then you need to invest emotionally in this inner vision.��

Next, when you go out into the world and the doors start to open—and they will open—walk through them. This is when faith and investment will come into play. Some of the doors may look different than you imagined. You will need to rely on your instinct to know if what is behind that door is what is right for you. And some of the doors will inevitably lead to situations that will test you. This is what happened to me with “Sex and the City.”��

I had been hired for a series regular role on “Melrose Place.” My first big job after 8 years of auditioning. I was thrilled. It was a huge show at the time, and I was excited to go to work every day. But after a year, they let me go and killed my character off. I was pretty upset. But honestly, not as devastated as I would have expected. In my gut, I felt there was more for me.��

After another year of auditioning, I was hired to be a series regular on a very unusual pilot called “Sex and the City.” This was by far the most exciting project I had ever read, a show with four leading women walking around New York City, talking about guys. I was beyond thrilled to be part of something so entirely different from anything I’d ever seen on TV before.��

But during the filming of the pilot, a producer knocked on my trailer door and handed me a two-page contract that she wanted me to sign. I was confused because I had already signed a short book-length contract that my lawyer had negotiated for me before we started work. The new contract said that Charlotte would only be a “recurring” character instead of a series regular, and my paycheck would be one seventh of what we had previously negotiated. I called my lawyer back in LA in a full panic. He told me not to sign the new contract and to tell the producers that I “forgot” to bring the new contract back to work. Well, this was a lot of acting for me to do until the pilot was done. But I did it.

And I did it because I had faith in myself. I had faith that even though Charlotte had a different point of view than the other characters, that the show needed her voice. I had faith that I had something to offer to the show. Something unique that only I could contribute. It was a risk. I could easily have gotten fired after the pilot wrapped. But when the producers edited the footage together, thank goodness they saw that Charlotte was necessary. This one time that I bet on myself completely changed the course of my life. The success of the show opened doors for me around the world and allowed me to do things I had not even dreamed of. Such as standing here in front of you today.

So, what might this mean for all of you? You are entering the so-called adult world at an unprecedented time. There are no clear paths to success in our current chaotic world. There is not even a set definition of success.

I believe that all of you are uniquely suited to this moment in time. You all have gifts to help us solve the many issues we are facing in our world. I believe that we are witnessing a seismic shift in our institutions and systems. This can be scary, but also exciting. Your generation questions everything, and that is exactly the energy we need in our world. You are flexible thinkers, you are emotionally intelligent. You understand that you need to protect your mental health. You know how to express yourselves. And most importantly, you understand that we are all connected.��

One of the doors that opened for me with the global success of the show was that I was able to pursue my interests in philanthropy. Since 2014 I’ve been working with the UN High Commission for Refugees. And this work has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am inspired every single time I visit a refugee camp by the incredible resilience of the human spirit. People who have been forced to flee their homes with nothing are able to find joy and connection and help each other to reinvent and move forward. They remind me of what we are all capable of.

So, look around you. Take this moment in. You have formed powerful bonds through your experience here at this beautiful university at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. You have worked hard. I’m pretty sure you have played hard, too! Know that you are ready for the next chapter. ��Dig deep to find the vision of what you want for your own life and for others. Have the faith in yourself to pursue that vision.

I’m going to share one of my favorite quotes with you: Henry David Thoreau said, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

I believe in all of you. I believe in your own unique gifts. The world desperately needs your contributions. I can’t wait to see what you will create.��

Please carry this joy of your accomplishments forward to the adventure that awaits. Congratulations class of 2026!

Ally Young, Senior Class Council Director

Good morning class of 2026! Dad, make sure you hit the record button and aren’t just taking a photo. It's such an honor to be here with you all earlier in the morning than most of us have ever taken classes. My name is Ally Young, and it has been my honor to serve as the Senior Class Council Director this past year.

I’d like to start off by thanking the Commencement Committee for facilitating this wonderful ceremony. I would also like to say a special thank you to my Senior Class Council team. You have all dedicated so much of your time to elevating the graduating class experience, and your hard work has not gone unnoticed. I'd also like to thank our esteemed speaker, Ms. Kristin Davis, for joining us and delivering a wonderful speech. Senior Class Council and CU ������ý���� are honored to have you. Lastly, thank you to this stadium full of friends and family members who have joined here today to celebrate us graduates.

Class of 2026—we stand as the graduating class during the 150th anniversary of CU ������ý����. You could also call it the sesquicentennial, which I just learned how to say. What a beautiful opportunity we have here to look not only into the future, but into the past. It feels like just last week we were walking around campus trying to pretend we weren't looking at Google Maps; that we were fighting other new students and their parents for carts to haul bags and area rugs into our residence hall (or in some cases, waiting half an hour for the Stearns elevator). We’ve come so far from our first days here. We met our first college friends, moved into our first apartments, learned our passions, and began to understand what kind of people we want to become. From late night study sessions in Norlin to late night trips to Fat Shack, we found a unique sense of community here that is steeped in tradition.

As we turn our attention forward to life after graduation, we must remember the values instilled in us during our time here. The pillars of the Colorado Creed are a tradition appearing all across campus: honor, respect, and integrity. Developed by students over 20 years ago, the Creed encourages us to act with honor and accountability, respect the rights of others, accept our differences, and contribute to the greater good of the community. These values have been the foundation of our time here at CU, but after graduation this foundation will be tested. We live in an imperfect world. We will encounter systems and situations where we must ask ourselves when tradition serves us and when we must forge a new path. Class of 2026, today I remind you that it is just as important to honor tradition as it is to know when to break it.

Without the breaking of traditions, many of us wouldn’t be sitting here today. Education hasn’t always been widely accessible. Gender, race, and socioeconomic status used to limit who was allowed to sit in this stadium at commencement. Over 100 years ago, Lucile Berkley Buchanan was the first black woman to graduate from CU ������ý����. Upon her graduation, not only was her photograph excluded from our yearbook, but she was not allowed the opportunity to walk across the stage with her graduating class. Tradition didn’t allow it. But Buchanan was a determined changemaker who went on to pave a path for black women, and women as a whole, in the field of education. The Lucile Berkley Buchanan building, formerly known as the Education Building, here at CU was re-named in 2021 in honor of her dedication to breaking tradition where it wasn’t serving us. Lucile Berkley Buchanan is just one example of many changemakers here on campus for which buildings have been renamed. As Buchanan and so many others after her have demonstrated, our identities should not get to decide our futures for us.

Lucile’s story is just one example of the kinds of tests we face in our world. With the rapidly shifting landscape of technology and generative AI, we are forced to weigh the cost of advancement against the opportunities it may present. CU is a university with a rich tradition of discovery and innovation. Just a few years ago, the CU System received a record breaking $1.7 billion in funding for research projects and grants. On April 1, multiple CU alumni sat in the control room for the launch of Artemis II. With the opening of the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education, we’re turning our environmental research into action. In continuing our research tradition, it is important to keep the Colorado Creed in our hearts and minds. We must continue to prioritize accountability, honesty, and curiosity in our research advancements and the bettering of our world. Let the tradition of human-centered accomplishments guide you. Let technology be a tool and people be the ones to guide it.

I know the graduates in front of me today have already begun initiating change. Some of us here are first generation college students. Some of us are first generation immigrants. Each year our classes grow to include more diversified voices and perspectives than ever. So don’t let it stop now.

As we move forward into the world, challenge yourself and those around you not to take a step back but two steps forward. We must be careful to learn from the past and analyze how we can push our society toward empathy, equity, and a safer world for every individual. Remember the Colorado Creed. Use it to become a trailblazer like Lucile Berkley Buchanan. Recognize how far human curiosity and determination have brought us. Find balance in tradition and changemaking. There’s no Google Maps to guide us toward our destinations post-graduation. So, open your eyes and chart the map for yourself. Class of 2026—thank you and Sko Buffs!