Daemen University’s 75th commencement is in the books. Undergraduate and graduate ceremonies were celebrated on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Kleinhans Music Hall.
President Gary A. Olson addressed the graduating class, commending them for their dedication and reminding them to apply their critical thinking skills that they honed while at Daemen, saying, “This is an ability that will help you make wise choices for the rest of your life, and it may be the greatest asset that you take away with you when you leave here today.”
The Lumsden Award—presented annually to the senior with the highest cumulative grade point average in the graduating class—was awarded to Anna Mangialomini, a psychological sciences major who maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her undergraduate studies and graduated summa cum laude.
Former TV anchor Don Postles and Chief Executive Officer of Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMC) Thomas J. Quatroche, Jr., PhD served as the undergraduate and graduate commencement speakers, respectively.
Postles and Quatroche were each awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters during their respective ceremonies.
