Commencement 2026 Celebrates Community and Courage to Face the Unknown
The joys of graduation season were on full display at the 2026 Commencement ceremony for UC Irvine Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) June 14. ICS Dean Marios Papaefthymiou warmly welcomed graduates, families, friends and community members, who packed the Bren Events Center to cheer on the milestone moment for 863 undergraduate and 47 masters students. On June 15, 68 Ph.D. graduates will be honored as well.
Hal Stern, UC Irvine provost and executive vice chancellor, shared his hope for the graduating class: “I hope that you will do what you can to make the world a better place. I hope that you will always continue learning. I hope that you will always look for the good in people. And please, please always be kind to each other.”
Student speaker Harsh Rathore drew gasps and loud applause when he revealed his secret. For the past two years, he has been the beloved UC Irvine mascot, Peter the Anteater. He wove in the valuable lessons he learned by that experience of stepping outside his comfort zone, acknowledging the challenges that everyone faces, and encouraging fellow graduates to try new things.
“Each of us left something behind to be here today…. We all stepped into the unknown to build something for ourselves. And to be standing here today is proof that we made it!
Keynote speaker Mary Beth Eckert, executive vice president and chief information and digital officer of Pacific Life, inspired the audience with her encouragement to “raise a hand” for what might be “hard things.” She reminded new graduates that they “don’t have to have it all figured out” and to embrace the unknown.
Eckert also addressed the challenges graduates are likely facing with questions if they are going to be ok in the age of AI. “This field is shifting faster than any of us fully understand,” she said. Then Eckert offered insights about the important elements individuals bring beyond AI:
“Technology is not your differentiator. How you think is. Your curiosity, your creativity, your ability to ask better questions and imagine a possibility that no one else has yet thought of. AI doesn’t do that. You do that.”
Technology is not your differentiator. How you think is. Your curiosity, your creativity, your ability to ask better questions and imagine a possibility that no one else has yet thought of. AI doesn’t do that. You do that.
She also emphasized she has watched the graduating class’s values in action with Pacific Life. “What has amazed me is not just your talent. It’s your true fearlessness… Truly hold on to that.”
More information and a full video replay will be available on the UC Irvine Commencement website.
Class of 2026 Profiles
Photo album by Pencilbox Events for Student Affairs. *Please give photo credit if posted/used.
– Tonya Becerra