UNMC Graduate Studies honored and celebrated 89 graduates at the May 2026 graduate honors convocation.
The ceremony gave every graduate a moment to stand in their accomplishments. And each graduate is extraordinary in their own way, Karen Gould, PhD, interim dean of graduate studies, said during her remarks.
The event allowed each graduate to step onto the convocation stage and undergo a traditional hooding by their mentor, as their accomplishments, publications and research were recognized.
During the ceremony May 7 at the Omaha Conservatory of Music, the graduates also took an oath pledging their professional integrity. Their graduation ceremony and the awarding of their degrees followed on May 9.
Dr. Gould congratulated the graduates for their accomplishments and the resiliency that they’ve shown in completing their rigorous training at UNMC.
“You’ve made it to this day after so much hard work, after early mornings, after long days, after late nights, after overcoming hurdles along the way,” Dr. Gould said. “You’ve made many sacrifices and given up so much, and now you are about to be rewarded with your hard-earned degrees.”
Keynote speaker Wallace Thoreson, PhD, the Gilmore Professor and vice chair of the UNMC Department of Opthalmology and Visual Sciences, urged on the new generation of scientists through the advent of artificial intelligence, encouraging them for their curiosity, creativity and honesty.
“Very few people are capable of the achievements at the level that you have achieved,” Dr. Thoreson said, “and so you should all be very proud.”
Dr. Gould told the graduates they carry with them “the knowledge, the curiosity, the integrity and the determination” to confront the profound challenges facing the world.
“You are the scholars and scientists who will steer our community forward toward a healthier and more sustainable future,” she said. “You are the ones who will make discoveries, break barriers and inspire the next generation. You are the future leaders in your chosen field, and you will blaze the trail ahead.”
See more photos from the UNMC Graduate Studies Honors Convocation.