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As another academic year ends, the Division of Student Development invited the Class of 2026 to come together for a series of celebrations before they crossed the stage to receive their hard-earned degrees at Commencement.
Rooted in joy, community, and tradition, these events invite Ramblers to celebrate the close of this academic chapter at Loyola University Chicago.
“We are endlessly proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 and the community that stood behind them throughout the growth, challenges, and achievements that define their time at Loyola,” said Keith M. Champagne, vice president for student development. “These celebrations mark the end of their time as students, but the beginning of a lifelong journey as a Rambler.”
Celebrating in the city
Senior Send-Off, the annual series of celebrations hosted by the Center for Student Engagement, began in February with Senior Night at Men’s Basketball vs. St. Louis University. Graduating students were invited to make one last gameday memory cheering on the Ramblers, including a halftime show featuring the Amazing Tyler and live music from Hollyy, enjoyed from the stands of Gentile Arena.
In honor of the city that served as the backdrop for their Loyola experience, seniors boarded the Chicago Architectural Boat Tour later this spring to cruise the Chicago River, taking in the sights, sounds, and history of our iconic skyline.
On April 21, Ramblers flocked to “The Friendly Confines” for Loyola Night at the Chicago Cubs. Students, staff, faculty, and alumni donned special edition caps, enjoying yard games at Gallagher Way before catching back-to-back home runs from their seats inside Wrigley Field.
Honoring Loyola’s community
As students prepared for their last classes and finals on campus, the Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging hosted a series of community-centered celebrations on Lake Shore Campus.
All Ramblers and their loved ones were welcome to join in the festivities, which included the Jewish Celebration, Southwest Asian and North African Celebration, Latinx Familia Celebration, Sankofa Celebration, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Celebration, and the 18th Annual Legacy Celebration.
“We are thrilled to create opportunities to honor and celebrate the achievements, dedication, and challenges overcome by our students, as well as the unique and shared experiences, identities, cultures, and communities that supported and uplifted them throughout their journeys as Ramblers,” shared Astrid Beltrán, assistant vice president for student engagement and diversity.
At each event, the Class of 2026 gathered with their loved ones, and Loyola staff, faculty, and alumni to celebrate through the Jesuit tradition of reflection, as well as music, dance, food, and community.
“Behind every one of us is a story of collective effort. Parents who worked long hours. Family members who believed in us even when we doubted ourselves. Communities that held us together. Friends who became family,” said Laura Garcia Castaneda, who graduated with a Master of Social Work and spoke at the Latinx Familia Celebration.
Honoring tradition
Each year, Loyola invites all students to the beloved traditions of the Senior Toast and Graduate, Professional, and Adult Toast, which mark the transition from student to alumnus.
In Rooney Hall on Sunday, May 3, over 270 graduate, professional, and adult students raised glasses of champagne to their academic accomplishments, their fellow graduates, and mentors who guided them along their journeys.
The next afternoon, over 2,500 seniors and their guests gathered on the East Quad to share a toast before walking through the green doors of Cudahy Hall followed by a reception hosted by Alumni Relations.
This walk mirrors the same path they took at New Student Convocation their first week on campus, inviting a moment of reflection on all the moments in between.
Aniqa Jewa, a senior who earned a degree in elementary education, reminded her fellow graduates at the Legacy Celebration, “This is not the finish line. It’s a beginning.”
