On May 16 and 17, the JCU community gathered to celebrate the graduate and undergraduate classes of 2026 and the years of work, sacrifice, and growth that carried them to the commencement stage.
The first of the weekend’s ceremonies took place on that Saturday, where those earning advanced degrees across the university heard from Catherine Hickman, Assistant General Manager of the Cleveland Browns, about the importance of not limiting potential.
“You need to bet on yourself,” Hickman said. “Not halfway. Not with one foot out the door. Not in the carefully hedged, risk-managed, “let’s see how it goes” kind of way. I mean, really bet on yourself — with your time, your energy, your ambition, and your willingness to be seen trying something big.”
She added that often the cost of not pursuing a dream can be even greater than potential setbacks.
“You’ve learned, perhaps the hard way, that the world does not always reward risk the way the inspirational posters suggest. But here’s what I’ve learned: the cost of not betting on yourself is just as real — it’s just slower and quieter. It accumulates in small moments of self-censorship. In the idea you didn’t pitch. In the role you didn’t apply for because you only met seven of the ten listed qualifications. In the business you thought about starting but never quite started.”
Hickman’s message resonated with the over 200 graduate students who were recognized on Saturday, inspiring them to take the next steps in their career journeys with confidence and a willingness to pursue meaningful career goals and ambitions.
On Sunday, nearly 600 undergraduates took the stage while a crowd of families and supporters gathered excitedly.
Alan R. Miciak addressed graduates by reflecting on commencement as both an ending and a beginning — a moment that celebrates years of achievement while also marking the start of what comes next. As he prepares to conclude his own tenure leading John Carroll University after five transformative years, Miciak drew a parallel between the graduates stepping into their futures and his own transition away from the presidency.
“The most powerful choice made after graduation isn’t which door to walk through, but committing to the deliberate decades-long work of executing a plan you have laid out for a life dedicated to something greater than yourself,” Miciak said. “Combining ambition and purpose is at the core of a John Carroll education. Graduates, you are Jesuit educated. Welcome to the work.”
In recognition of his leadership and contributions to John Carroll University, Alan R. Miciak was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, officially welcoming him into the University’s alumni community.
Earlier in the ceremony, Chuck Todd — political journalist and former host of Meet the Press — offered graduates a timely and hopeful message about artificial intelligence, disruption, and opportunity. Reflecting on both the promise and limitations of emerging technology, Todd argued that a Jesuit education uniquely prepares students to navigate periods of rapid change.
Todd first addressed the uncertainty surrounding technological and societal shifts, emphasizing that moments of disruption can create opportunities for younger generations.
“Disruption favors the young. In moments like this, you actually have the advantage...Now your generation's challenges are different, but difficult generations often produce resilient people, and your generation has already experienced more disruption before age twenty-two than many generations experience in a lifetime. So no, I don't think this moment should make you pessimistic. I actually think it has prepared you better than you realize.”
He then connected that idea to the rise of artificial intelligence and the enduring value of human judgment and moral reasoning.
“AI is going to create extraordinary opportunities. It's also going to put a premium on exactly what this education gave you,” Todd said. “A machine can process, but it cannot discern. It can generate answers. It cannot decide which questions are worth asking. It can simulate empathy. It cannot actually feel the weight of a moral choice. That's what a Jesuit education trains, not just critical thinking--moral reasoning.”
The ceremony concluded beneath the late afternoon sun as the newest John Carroll University graduates rose to their feet for a final standing ovation, ready to discover what the world most needs of them and to begin the work of answering that call.
John Carroll University is proud to welcome nearly 800 students to its alumni community and looks forward to seeing the impact they will make in their careers, communities, and around the world.
