“Don’t throw away your time”: GVSU winter class of 2026 celebrates Commencement

Over 3,200 members of Grand Valley's Winter Class of 2026 were celebrated during three Commencement ceremonies at Van Andel Arena on May 1 and 2.

Following the opening processional, the ceremonies began with remarks by Courtney Karasinski, chair of the University Academic Senate. President Philomena V. Mantella then welcomed graduates to this significant milestone, reflecting on the changing moment they’re stepping foot into. 

“Today, you do not enter into an individual field, but a world that is deeply interconnected,” Mantella said. “At Grand Valley, our people, place and planet commitment calls us to ensure that this progress is always grounded in ethics and integrity — our responsibility to one another and to the world we share.”

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, Inc., was this year’s Commencement speaker. He also received an honorary Doctor of Computing degree during the Friday evening ceremony for his groundbreaking contributions to computing. Wozniak was conferred by his wife, Janet, Mantella, Susan Jandernoa of the GVSU Board of Trustees and Provost Jennifer Drake. 

Wozniak addressed all three Commencement ceremonies, sharing stories about his time as a young engineer inventing the computer that would become the Macintosh II. 

“If you love doing something, put yourself into it,” said Wozniak. “You are young, you have the physical and mental energy, and you can get great things done if you don’t throw away your time. Put it into an incredible future, for yourself and for the world.”

At the Saturday afternoon ceremony, a second honorary degree was awarded to Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Epic. Participating in the conferring of Faulker’s degree was Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health. 

“Judy has dedicated her career to building systems that connect patients, providers and information,” said Mantella. “What makes her impact so powerful is not just the technology; it is the purpose behind it. She has remained steadfast in her belief that innovation must serve people. That data must empower better decisions. And that even the most advanced systems must center the human experience.” 

Following Mantella’s remarks, each ceremony’s student speaker was introduced by Jenny Hall-Jones, vice president for Student Affairs. The student speaker at Friday’s ceremony was Dallas Matthews, who received a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies. At the Saturday morning ceremony, the student speaker was Elaina Marcum, who received a master’s degree in recreational therapy. At the Saturday afternoon ceremony, the student speaker was Sarah Dudinetz, who received a master’s degree in business administration. 

At the Saturday morning ceremony, Marcum shared her story of going from a teen-ager in the foster care system to a Michigan foster youth advocate.

“As a teen-ager navigating the foster care system, I moved through placements that often felt temporary and unfamiliar. Homes where I existed, but didn’t truly belong,” she explained. 

At the start, stepping on campus felt like another unfamiliar placement for Marcum, who worked up to four jobs at once and faced housing insecurity throughout her college career. Thanks to many of her experiences at Grand Valley, she is now an advocate for opportunities and policy change for youth in foster care, and hopes to create supportive networks for those in similar situations to the ones she grew up in.

“Grand Valley did not just educate me – it nurtured me to become an example of excellence.”

– Elaina Marcum, student Commencement speaker, master’s degree in recreational therapy

MORE: Read about some graduates and their paths as Lakers.

After remarks, Mantella then welcomed student singers to perform “For Good” from the musical Wicked, written by Stephen Schwartz.  

The conferring of degrees was led by Mantella Drake. Graduates moved their tassels and were dismissed as official members of the Winter Class of 2026.

Graduates and their supporters can purchase Commencement mementos as well as DVDs of each Commencement ceremony from GVSU’s Commencement website .