Class Day 2026

Highlights from our Class Day ceremonies

Four graduates in light-blue caps and gowns smile for a photo outdoors; two hold bouquets of flowers.
Two graduates in academic regalia stand in a crowd; one smiles and flashes a peace sign while holding a program.
Graduates in light-blue caps and gowns take a selfie under a large tent; one person raises a decorative fan.
A line of graduates in light-blue caps and gowns walks along a campus path toward a ceremony area.
Two faculty or staff in academic robes walk under a tent, each holding an oversized red inflatable gavel marked “2026.”
Undergraduate Class Day keynote speaker, Angeliki Frangou MS’88, chairwoman and CEO of the shipping conglomerate Navios Maritime Partners L.P.
A group marches under a tent carrying a blue “Columbia Engineering” banner as graduates line the aisle.
A faculty member in academic regalia waves while walking down the aisle as graduates and guests applaud.
Vice Dean for Research George Deodatis
Columbia Engineering Dean Shih-Fu Chang in academic regalia smiles while speaking into a microphone at a podium onstage.
Dean Shih-Fu Chang pictured at the Undergraduate Class Day ceremony
Angeliki Frangou in academic regalia gestures while addressing the audience from a podium with a “Columbia University” backdrop.
Angelik Frangou: “We engineers were once defined by the problems we solved. Today, we are defined by the futures we build.”
A student speaker stands at a “Columbia University” podium, wearing a stole, speaking in front of a blue Columbia University backdrop.
Peder Dingsor, President of the Class of 2026
Barclay Morrison in academic regalia shakes hands with a smiling Columbia Engineering student in a light-blue cap and gown holding an award onstage in front of a Columbia University backdrop.
Andre Villarente Perez (right) presented with the George Vincent Wendell Memorial Award
Wide view of Columbia Engineering students in light-blue caps and gowns seated in rows under a large tent during Columbia Engineering Class Day 2026.
Columbia Engineering faculty member presents an award to a Columbia Engineering student in cap and gown as faculty applaud onstage.
Salutatorian Samir Farraj (right) with Barlcay Morrison, Senior Vice Dean of Academic Programs
Columbia Engineering student speaker in a light-blue gown stands at a podium microphone delivering remarks during Columbia Engineering Class Day 2026.
Valedictorian Danielle Maydan addresses her fellow graduates
Two Columbia Engineering students in light-blue caps and gowns smile and pose together outdoors among classmates before the ceremony.
Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan seated onstage smiling during the ceremony, with the Columbia University backdrop behind.
Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan, 2026 Graduate Class Day speaker
Barclay Morrison in academic regalia extends a hand to greet another faculty member onstage as the audience applauds.
Jagannaath Shiva Letchumanan, a Graduate Student Life Award winner
Bernard "Bert" Steyaert in light-blue doctoral regalia and tam standing onstage under the ceremony tent.
Bernard "Bert" Steyaert, a Graduate Student Life Award winner
Thomas Caulfield and Barclay Morrison shake hands onstage beside a wooden podium during Columbia Engineering Class Day 2026.
Thomas Caulfield at the podium raises a large red ceremonial mallet while Columbia Engineering students and faculty look on during the ceremony.
Alumnus Tom Caulfield addresses students at Graduate Class Day
Columbia Engineering doctoral graduates sitting during the 2026 Class Day ceremony.
Harry West in graduation regalia standing among Columbia Engineering faculty. A blue "Columbia University" backdrop is behind him.
Harry West, recipient of this year’s Society of Columbia Graduates Great Teacher Award
Lauren Marbella in graduation regalia standing among Columbia Engineering faculty during the 2026 Class Day ceremony
Lauren Marbella, recipient of a CEAA Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award
Treena Arinzeh and Dean Shih-Fu Chang in graduation regalia holding up a certificate during the 2026 Columbia Engineering Class Day ceremony
Treena Arinzeh, Janette and Armen Avanessians Diversity Awardee
Dean Shih-Fu Chang and Dan Esposito holding up a certificate at the 2026 Columbia Engineering class day ceremony.
Daniel Eposito presented with the Edward and Carole Kim Award for Faculty Involvement
A Columbia Engineering doctoral student in graduation regalia shakes hands with Dean Shih-Fu Chang. Another doctoral student looks on from behind the other.
Three Columbia Engineering students in graduation regalia.
A Columbia Engineering student in graduation regalia shakes hands with Dean Shih-Fu Chang during 2026 Class Day ceremonies. Columbia Engineering faculty look on in the background.
A group of Columbia Engineering students in graduation regalia posing for a photo under the ceremony tent
A Columbia Engineering doctoral graduate in regalia sitting in a chair. A faculty member stands behind them adjusting their hood.
Michael Weinstein in graduation regalia speaking into a microphone on stage. The projection screen behind her reads "Columbia Engineering"
Michael Weinstein, professor of applied mathematics, addresses graduates at the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
A large group of Columbia Engineering doctoral graduates in regalia posing for a photo in two rows
A Columbia Engineering student posing for a photo with a woman while holding a bouquet of flowers.
Columbia Engineering students in graduation regalia walk in a line under the ceremony tent.
A Columbia Engineering student in graduation regalia holding a bouquet of flowers in front a sign that reads "Columbia Engineering".
Columbia Engineering students in graduation regalia facing away from the camera in the foreground of Low Library
Columbia Engineering students in graduation regalia hugging among among a crowd of graduates.
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Graduate Student Class Day 

In the afternoon, the Engineering School celebrated the 2026 Graduate Class Day. Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan, an MS graduate in business analytics in IEOR, was selected by faculty and administration to be the student speaker. She emphasized how her fellow students collaborated and cooperated, each bringing their different strengths and perspectives to each task.

“At Columbia Engineering, I watched something beautiful unfold every single time a problem appeared in front of a group of us . . . There’s so many different instincts, different frameworks, different angles, all applied to the same mess, the same problem. And somehow, between all of these different approaches, a solution would emerge that none of us would have found alone. That moment is what Columbia Engineering is to me. Not the problem sets, not the late nights — but the instinct to turn towards each other when something goes wrong.”

Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan smiling in graduation regalia behind a podium that reads "Columbia University" with a microphone.
Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan, 2026 Graduate Class Day speaker. Credit: Siobhan Mullan/Columbia Engineering

Jagannaath Shiva Letchumanan and Bernard Steyaert, both PhD students in electrical engineering, were recognized as this year’s Graduate Student Life Award recipients. 

Keynote speaker Tom Caulfield BS’82, MS’84, EngScD’86, chairman of the semiconductor company GlobalFoundries, emphasized how education can change lives. Caulfield, who was the first in his family to attend college, placed this year’s graduates in a larger narrative about how bringing together talented students from every part of the globe strengthens America’s competitive edge.

“Our willingness to embrace the mosaic of people, ideas, experiences, and ambitions from around the world has made this country a global leader in science, engineering, entrepreneurship, and discovery. And many of you sitting here today are now part of that story,” he said. 

He also stressed being decisive, taking action, and viewing the engineering for humanity vision as a calling. 

“Never forget who engineering is meant to serve,” he said. “People. Communities. Society. Humanity . . . Today, as you accept your degree, you are accepting more than a credential. You are accepting a responsibility. A responsibility to lead. A responsibility to build. A responsibility to solve problems that others cannot. And a responsibility to use your gifts in service of something larger than yourself.”

Thomas Caulfield at a podium raises a large red ceremonial mallet while Columbia Engineering faculty look on during 2026 Columbia Engineering Class Day ceremonies.
Alumnus Tom Caulfield addresses students at Graduate Class Day. Siobhan Mullan/Columbia Engineering

Later in the ceremony, Professor of Biomedical EngineeringTreena Arinzeh received the Janette and Armen Avanessians Diversity Award.

Dean Chang shared with the audience that on Wednesday, May 20, the Empire State Building would be lit up in Columbia Blue in honor of Columbia’s 2026 graduates.

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

On Tuesday, May 19, Columbia Engineering held a special doctoral hooding ceremony for its PhD candidates. The ceremony was attended by approximately 100 recent recipients of, and candidates for, the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Engineering Science. 

Elisa Konofagou in graduation regalia holding two thumbs up behind a podium with a microphone
Elisa Konofagou, Robert and Margaret Hariri Professor of Biomedical Engineering, speaks at the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Credit: Siobhan Mullan/Columbia Engineering

The students heard remarks from Elisa Konofagou, Robert and Margaret Hariri Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Radiology (Physics) and of Neurological Sciences (in Neurosurgery), who was recently elected to the National Academy of Inventors, and from Michael Weinstein, professor of applied mathematics and of mathematics, who was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Senior Vice Dean Barclay Morrison recognized two student award winners: Cheng “Gavin” Gong, a doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering, for the Campbell Award, and Xiaoxiao Sun, also in biomedical engineering, for the Morton B. Friedman Memorial Prize for Excellence. 

Afterward, students were “hooded” by faculty, with hoods to communicate the scholar’s home institution, Columbia University, and their discipline. Dark blue hoods represented the Doctor of Philosophy, and orange hoods represented the Doctor of Engineering Science.

University Commencement and Commissioning Ceremony 

For the first time, on Wednesday, May 20, Columbia held two separate Commencement ceremonies, one for its graduate students and one for undergraduates. Degrees are officially conferred en masse at Commencement by the University President to graduates of all of Columbia’s 17 schools. 

Speaking of the Engineering School’s students, Dean Chang told the audience, “These graduates are bringing engineering and applied science to every discipline and domain, and to every sector of society we can imagine.” 

On Thursday, May 21, Columbia Engineering celebrated another milestone for graduates at the NROTC Commissioning Ceremony. This year’s officer candidates were both engineering graduates: Dana Clarke, a computer engineering student, and Paul Randall, an applied physics graduate. 

Dean Shih-Fu Chang in graduation regalia standing at a podium and holding up an inflatable red mallet as Columbia faculty look on.
At University Commencement, Dean Shih-Fu Chang takes the podium, with Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman (to his left) and Provost Angela Olinto. Credit: Diane Bondareff/Columbia University

Graduation Awards

STUDENT AWARD WINNERS

Zvi Galil Award for Improvement in Engineering Student Life

National Society of Black Engineers

Bernard Jaffe Prize for the Encouragement of Inventiveness in Engineering

Maierdan Yierfan

School of Engineering and Applied Science Scholar Athlete Award

Sarah Mikami

Campbell Award

Cheng “Gavin” Gong

School of Engineering and Applied Science Student Activities Award

Sarah Mikami

Thomas "Pop" Harrington Medal

Andre Villarente Perez

George Vincent Wendell Memorial Award

Andre Villarente Perez

Robert D. Lilley Award for Socially Responsible Engineering

Columbia University Science Olympiad

Morton B. Friedman Memorial Prize for Excellence

Xiaoxiao Sun

Graduate Student Life Awards

Jagannaath Shiva Letchumanan

Bernard Steyaert

Columbia Engineering Graduate Speaker

Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan

Valedictorian and Illig Prize

Danielle Maydan

Salutatorian 

Samir Rami Farraj 

FACULTY/ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS

CEAA Distinguished Faculty Teaching Awards

Lauren Marbella, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering 

Drew Youngren, Lecturer in the Discipline of Applied Mathematics 

Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching

Adam Elmachtoub, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research 

Faculty Mentoring Award 

George Deodatis, The Santiago and Robertina Calatrava Family Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Vice Dean for Research

Edward and Carole Kim Award for Faculty Involvement

Daniel Esposito, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

Janette and Armen Avanessians Diversity Award 

Treena Arinzeh, Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Society of Columbia Graduates Great Teacher Award 

Harry West, Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research

2026 Alumni Medalists

Shawn Edwards BS’90, MS’95, CTO, Bloomberg 

Rumaasha Maasha BS’94, Aerospace Engineer, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

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