Immaculata University Celebrates Class of 2026 at Commencement Ceremonies

In her commencement remarks, Lettiere centered her message on one word: “grit.”

“Today you officially graduate, which means tomorrow you wake up and realize nobody’s giving you a syllabus anymore and there’s no more extra credit to help your GPA,” she told graduates. “You’re going to wake to life and all its messiness.”

Reflecting on the perseverance required to earn a degree, Lettiere reminded students that they did not arrive at commencement by accident. “At some point each of you hit a wall,” she said. “Maybe it was academic, personal, financial or emotional. And you had to decide whether to stop or push through — and here you are. That’s grit.”

She encouraged graduates to carry that same resilience into the future, acknowledging the uncertainty and challenges they may encounter in their careers and personal lives. “It’s not about pretending everything’s okay,” she said. “It’s about refusing to let anything or anybody define who you are.”

Drawing from her own experience, Lettiere recalled advice she received before running her first Marine Corps marathon in Washington, D.C.: “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if all else fails, but never, ever give up.”

Lettiere concluded her remarks with gratitude for the students choosing Immaculata to ready them for the chapter ahead, saying, “Make us proud.”

The undergraduate commencement speaker was Bridget Shaheen, recipient of the 2026 Immaculata Medal, the University’s highest honor. Shaheen has devoted her life to serving vulnerable communities through her leadership at Lazarus House Ministries, where she helped expand programs supporting individuals and families experiencing poverty, homelessness and illness.

The graduate commencement ceremony featured remarks from Thor Edmiston, Ed.D. ’21, superintendent of the Warrior Run School District and adjunct professor in Immaculata’s doctoral program. Edmiston, who earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Immaculata in 2021.

See more Commencement photos on Flickr.