More than 2,000 Mavericks are ready for their next chapter after receiving their diplomas during the 2026 University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) commencement ceremonies on May 7 and 8 at Baxter Arena.
Thursday’s graduate ceremony celebrated UNO’s 456 master’s students and 44 doctoral students, while 1,559 undergraduate students turned their tassels during Friday’s ceremony.
By the numbers
- 2,059 total graduates
- 81% of graduates are from Nebraska
- 638 graduates are first-generation students
- 33 U.S. states represented
- 32 countries represented
Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, expressed her pride in the 2026 graduating class.
“Throughout your time here, you have honed your skills, expanded your knowledge, and forged lasting relationships,” she said. “You have faced challenges head-on, pushed through when others said you couldn’t, and have grown into individuals poised to make a mark on the world.”
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Allison D. Garrett, an attorney with the national law firm Spencer Fane, and the former chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, addressed students on Friday in her keynote address, offering a simple reminder.
“Strong emotional intelligence, good writing and other communication skills, and a focus on kindness and compassion will never go out of style.”
Keynote speaker Eric Maldonado, who most recently served as the chief commercial officer for S&P Global Market Intelligence, offered three standards for students to consider as they enter an ever-changing workforce driven by the AI revolution.
“The thing about curiosity, hard work, and enthusiasm is you control all three. Not the economy, not technology, not timing. You. They also cost nothing and will give you unlimited return on investment,” he said.
Academic honors
Academic honors were awarded based on the following grade-point average ranges.
- Cum laude: 3.51 to 3.62
- Magna cum laude: 3.63 to 3.86
- Summa cum laude: 3.87 and above
1,677 of UNO’s May 2026 graduating class comes from the state of Nebraska, a number that the institution proudly shares as a marker of opportunity and success in developing and retaining the area’s top talent.
In the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 WSJ/College Pulse, UNO was recognized as the university offering the best value, best student experience, and best social mobility in the state.
“The University of Nebraska at Omaha is not in the business of just giving out degrees. We are in the business of building character,” Chancellor Li said. “We are here to ensure that when you leave this institution, you are prepared with knowledge, opportunity and a commitment to the greater good of your community.”
