Under slightly overcast skies and lingering coastal humidity, the amphitheatre was packed with proud family members, friends, faculty, and supporters gathered to celebrate a class defined by resilience, curiosity, and community.
The Class of 2026 represented 34 states and 21 international students, bringing together a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and ambitions. Among the graduates were 16 military veterans, 91 student-athletes, 26 Honors Program students, and graduates ranging in agefrom 19 to 59 years old. In total, Flagler awarded 693 degrees, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and Master of Public Administration degrees.
“This Commencement marks the conclusion of your academic time with Flagler and you have worked hard to meet the requirements and the standards of our College, as well as the expectations of our faculty,” Flagler College President John Delaney told graduates during his welcome address. “The diploma that you receive today is a symbol of having successfully completed the requirements for a degree from Flagler College and I am firmly convinced that every diploma I bestow today is a passport to success.”
Delaney also reflected on the relationships graduates formed throughout their time at Flagler, encouraging students to remain connected to the friends, mentors, and family members who helped shape their college experience.
“You may not always remember what you learned in each class, but you will remember the people who shared this time with you,” he said. “These are the people who will be there for the joy and the grief and there is no substitution for your shared experiences.”
During the ceremony, Delaney recognized two students for their exceptional contributions to the Flagler community. Callie Hertz received the President’s Award for Leadership, while Zoey Nettles received the President’s Award for Service.
Associate Professor of Criminology Joshua Behl delivered the faculty greeting, using a humorous Sherlock Holmes story to reflect on the value of a Flagler education and the importance of balancing intellectual curiosity with perspective and awareness.
“All the knowledge, all the analysis, and all the perspectives you’ve gained matter,” Behl said. “But so does your ability to see what is right in front of you. The people who need you. The opportunities that challenge you. The moments that define you.”
Senior class speaker Chloee Jayde Brill delivered a heartfelt and humorous reflection on the unpredictable nature of college life, emphasizing growth through imperfection, failure, and shared experiences.
Brill, a Theatre Arts major with a minor in Music from Nashville, Tennessee, encouraged graduates to embrace uncertainty and the lessons learned through mistakes.
“Rejection became redirection, failure became feedback, and mistakes became a roadmap for growth,” Brill said. “Those experiences taught me more than success ever could: how to think on my feet, how to adapt, and how to keep moving forward even when everything seems impossible.”
Throughout her speech, Brill reflected on the everyday moments that defined the college experience for many graduates, from late-night study sessions and campus traditions to crowded dorm rooms, rehearsals, and navigating flooded St. Augustine streets.
“We leave as a community that has learned resilience, curiosity, and courage,” she said. “Every late-night conversation, every shared laugh, every moment of panic that ended in triumph has woven a story that is entirely ours.”
This year’s commencement speaker, Florida State Senator Thomas J. Leek, centered his remarks on intentional living, purpose, and service to others.
“The goal is enduring happiness,” Leek told the graduates. “Spend your days committing yourselves to a life of purpose, but not just a life of purpose, I hope you commit to a life that is greater than yourself.”
Leek encouraged graduates to lead lives rooted in love, compassion, and dedication to causes larger than individual success. Following his remarks, Delaney presented Leek with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his career in public service and leadership.
As graduates crossed the stage, many wore cords, medallions, and regalia representing academic honors, military service, leadership organizations, and academic honor societies. More than one-third of the graduating class earned Latin honors, including 75 Summa Cum Laude graduates.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Arthur Vanden Houten and Dean of Academic Life Craig Woelfel presented candidates for graduation before Delaney formally conferred degrees upon the Class of 2026.
One of the ceremony’s longstanding traditions also returned as graduates received ceremonial railroad spikes following the conferral of degrees, symbolizing both Flagler College’s history and each graduate’s opportunity to build their own legacy.
Following the turning of tassels and a roar of applause from the packed amphitheatre crowd, graduates joined together in singing the Flagler alma mater before celebrating the occasion with family, friends, and classmates.
As the Class of 2026 begins its next chapter, graduates leave Flagler College as part of a growing alumni network making an impact across industries and communities around the world, carrying forward the College’s commitment to thoughtful leadership, meaningful service, and transformational learning.
