Commencement
'Skills, Grit, Fortitude and Experience'
When Kent State University President Todd Diacon took the stage at spring 2026 Commencement, he didn't open with statistics or institutional milestones. He opened with a potato peeler.
IN A FLASH: An End and a Beginning
Commencements as a foundational activity of a university are memorable days filled with emotions - some celebratory, some bittersweet.
Kent State Celebrates Nearly 5,000 New Graduates at Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremonies
Kent State University will honor nearly 5,000 graduates from its eight-campus system during its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies on May 7-9 and May 15. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the commencement website.
Two Degrees Completed, on His Way to His Third
Graduate student Delonte Goodman finished his fall semester at Kent State by successfully defending his master's thesis and receiving his master's degree. When he returns to campus in the spring, he will work as a teaching assistant as he begins his doctoral program.
IN A FLASH: Scenes From Fall Commencement
Kent State University conferred degrees to more than 2,400 new graduates in Fall Commencement ceremonies on Dec. 13 at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
Cheers to the Fall Class of 2025: Kent State Celebrates New Graduates
The accomplishments of the Fall Class of 2025 were recognized with commencement ceremonies on Dec. 13.
‘Think About the Plight of Others Even As You Encounter Your Own Difficulties’
Kent State University President Todd Diacon offered graduates an unconventional yet powerful message during the August 2025 commencement ceremony, weaving together personal experiences, a global perspective and practical wisdom in an address focused on resilience, empathy and maintaining a healthy perspective throughout life.
‘I’m Looking Forward to It; Crossing the Stage as a Graduate, Instead of as a Planner'
After planning and supporting hundreds of ceremonies and events at Kent State, Lisa O'Connell, director of University Events and Protocol, got a graduate's-eye-view of summer commencement ceremonies as she walked the stage to receive her graduate degree as part of Kent State's Class of 2025.
Cheers to the Summer Class of 2025: Kent State Celebrates New Graduates
The Kent State University alumni family will grow by more than 1,000 new graduates from its eight-campus system across Ohio as the university holds its summer commencement ceremony. The accomplishments of the Summer Class of 2025 will be recognized with a commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on Aug. 9.
The Top Names in the Golden Flashes Class of 2025
Find out which first names were repeated most frequently at Kent State’s spring commencement ceremonies in 2025 and which names topped the list against national trends.