University of Mississippi

Anthony Miner, of Pearl, who graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in biological science in May, credits the UM Gospel Choir for helping him grow personally and find his place at Ole Miss. A chance encounter with the choir at a tabling event on the Ole Miss Student Union Plaza in his freshman year led him to attend a rehearsal, and he never looked back.

Dymond Mitchell graduated in May from the University of Mississippi as a Stamps Scholar, member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and worldwide traveler with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in society and health. She also leaves a legacy robust with leadership and community action.

Wayne Weaver grew up in the Neshoba County town of Philadelphia playing video games such as Super Smash Brothers and Pokemon at area gaming shops and tournaments around central Mississippi. As he prepared to graduate in May at the University of Mississippi, he said that his younger self never would have imagined that he could represent Ole Miss in international tournaments against players from around the world.

Brian Harrington, who graduated from the University of Mississippi in May with a doctorate in counselor education, was the Mississippi Counseling Association's Outstanding New Counselor in 2022. He was nationally board-certified and, by every measure, exactly where he was supposed to be in his career. But he felt like there was more he needed to do. It was not the first time he felt this way. Harrington approached every job with the idea that people needed someone in their corner.

Playing basketball at the recreation center is just a pastime for most college students, but for Austin, Texas-native Max Smith, it was the outlet that fulfilled a lifelong dream. Smith, who graduated from the University of Mississippi in May with a master's degree in sport management, has always had a love for basketball. Coming out of high school, Smith had college offers to play basketball, but COVID limited his options, and none of the available programs felt right.

Maria Fernanda Argote de la Torre and two friends from the same high school in Mexico graduated from the University of Mississippi with engineering degrees and as Taylor medalists.

Jose Andres Cepeda Santiago and two friends from the same high school in Mexico graduated from the University of Mississippi with engineering degrees and as Taylor medalists.

As NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace crossed the finish line at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, Griffen Hinkle did not celebrate like a fan. Instead, he locked in like a professional, camera in hand, capturing every second of the victory. The University of Mississippi integrated marketing communications graduate from Fairfield, Illinois, knew early on that sports content creation was a passion.

Paulina Eguibar Ortega and two friends from the same high school in Mexico graduated from the University of Mississippi with engineering degrees and as Taylor medalists.

More than 3,800 students graduated from the University of Mississippi in May 2026. Undergraduate and graduate candidates received degrees from the College of Liberal Arts, General Studies and schools of Accountancy, Applied Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Journalism and New Media, Law and Pharmacy.

The University of Mississippi announced students named to the Spring 2026 Honor Roll lists, including Chancellor's Honor Roll.

The University of Mississippi announced students named to the Spring 2026 Honor Roll lists, including Dean's Honor Roll.

Six years after joining the University of Mississippi as the first in her family to attend college, Victoria Amari has earned one of the nation's most competitive graduate research awards. Amari, a first-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering from Hayden, Alabama, has been awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

A University of Mississippi graduate is among the inaugural winners of the Lafayette Fellowship, a new scholarship created in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Amber Cecil, a 2025 engineering graduate from Hernando, will spend the next year studying at University Grenoble Alpes in France through the fellowship. The award will provide education, airfare and living expenses during her master's program alongside mentorship and training opportunities.

As of May, the smiling face that students see when they stop by the dean's office in the University of Mississippi School of Engineering is not just a staff member behind a desk; she is a fellow graduate. Debbie Shelby, the school's administrative secretary, joined in the university's 2026 Commencement ceremonies as she completed a lifelong goal of earning her college degree.

For Keiran Lencheski, sports have always been more than a game; they've been a lifelong passion that turned into purpose. That passion led Lencheski, a University of Mississippi journalism graduate who completed her degree in December 2025, to opportunities many young broadcasters only dream of, including working behind the scenes on NBC Sports' Olympic coverage.

Canaday Baker, of Madison, graduated from the University of Mississippi in May as a Taylor Medalist with a degree in special education. She will head into a classroom of her own, carrying a unique perspective. "I have a disability myself, and I have always loved helping people with disabilities," Baker said."

For Esraa Al Shawakri, the journey to Commencement has been defined not by a single decision, but by a series of shifts in perspective. What began as a practical decision shaped by family influence has evolved into a career defined by purpose, adaptability and scientific curiosity. Al Shawakri, a Ph.D. graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, focuses on pharmaceutics and drug delivery. It's an area she discovered not at the start of her journey, but along the way.

Emily Davis, of Benton, Louisiana, graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor's degree in exercise science in May. She will continue her education at LSU Health Sciences in Shreveport, Louisiana, pursuing a master's in occupational therapy, a goal she has held since seventh grade.

A girl named Kendria becomes a refugee after the invasion of Diolon, a once-great civilization and her former home. She must choose whether to fight the invaders or try for something much harder: peace. That sums up the draft of a high-fantasy novel Olivia Bacon wrote before she arrived at the University of Mississippi four years ago, and she is grateful for the English professors who taught her how to hone it and keep reaching for new plateaus in her writing.

Kesler Smith, of Oxford, graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi in May, earning degrees in psychology and Southern studies. To Smith, both majors consider the same fundamental question: Why do people become who they are? Her coursework has ranged from cultural anthropology to a seminar on Bob Dylan, each sharpening her lens.

Joseph Page, of Ashton, Maryland, a sport management major at the University of Mississippi, won the JoAnn Edwards Speech Award, which recognizes UM undergraduate students who demonstrate the highest ability and overall effectiveness in public speaking.

Ashish Shrestha's interest in documentary filmmaking originated from his love of travel. After learning about the University of Mississippi's Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Expression program through a friend, he realized he wanted to sharpen his storytelling skills.

When Daniza Ivazova moved from Russia to the United States, the 18-year-old stepped into a completely unfamiliar world: a new language, culture and academic system. Once Ivazova found her place, there was no stopping her. She will graduate in August with her second Ole Miss degree, a Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics, and is launching her career with the "Big Four" firm Deloitte.

For Antonella Rescigno, an integrated marketing communications major from Caracas, Venezuela, photography has never just been about capturing images; it's about documenting truth. "I just kind of grew up in that world," Rescigno said. "I grew up going to protests. I've been taking photos back home and documenting everything that's been going on for 10 years."

Ariane Angel Sanchez arrived at the University of Mississippi as a Luckyday Scholar with a passion for service and left in May as someone who has spent four years putting that passion to work. The communication sciences and disorders major from the Philippines has spent her undergraduate career conducting research, providing clinical care to children and leading organizations across campus as a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Luckyday Scholars Program.

Sydney Guntharp walked across the University of Mississippi campus in the late summer heat of August 2022 with her tenor saxophone strapped to her back, an uncertain young person trying to discover more about herself and her place in the world. Four years later, the political science and English major walked across the Grove stage in May as a Stamps Impact Prize winner, a Fulbright Scholar and the university's sixth finalist in three years for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Alexandra James, a senior social work major from Horn Lake, will graduate in August after a path that began far from a traditional classroom. She dropped out of high school in 10th grade and earned her GED in her mid-20s. For years, she carried the belief that college wasn't for her.

"Okish Atahli." That is what University of Mississippi senior and Mississippi Band of Choctaw tribal member Sydney Ben is on her way to becoming - a pharmacist. When all is said and done, she will be the first tribe member to become a licensed pharmacist. As an early-entry pharmacy student from Choctaw, Ben will graduate in August with her bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical sciences and a minor in chemistry, all while having completed her first year of pharmacy school during her senior year.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Alice Cofield Collins did not have to go far to continue her education, and she would not have had it any other way. The Oxford native earned her bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Mississippi in 2024, then jumped right in the graduate program. In May, she completed her master's degree with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.