‘The World Needs Leaders like You’: Charlotte Commencement Highlights

Last week, the Class of 2026 crossed the Commencement stage and officially became alumni. JWU Charlotte awarded 394 undergraduate degrees, with 47% of graduates earning with Latin honors.

The ceremony opened with Kalid Johnson singing a beautiful version of the national anthem, followed by Charlotte President Richard Mathieu’s address to the soon-to-be-grads: “Today, we gather to celebrate you — your accomplishments, your growth and the journey that has brought you to this defining moment. Commencement is one of the most meaningful days in the life of a university, and it is a true honor to share it with you.”

Here are some highlights from the 2026 Commencement ceremony:

Charlotte Campus President Richard Mathieu:

Members of the Class of 2026: Today is YOUR day. You join a global network of proud JWU alumni, and you do so at a time when the world needs leaders like you — resilient, compassionate and driven to make a difference.

Think for a moment about how far you have come. The challenges you have faced. The long nights. The moments that tested you, and the moments that revealed your strength. Growth does not happen in comfort, and you have grown in remarkable ways.

Today, you are not leaving that community. You are joining an even larger one — tens of thousands of JWU alumni around the world. This is a community you will carry with you, and one that will continue to go with you, wherever life takes you.

Undergraduate Student Speaker John Billinis ’26:

I invite you to remember your freshman orientation. We were excited but ever so nervous about what was to come.

The unfamiliarity of college made us wonder what the next few years will be about. How will classes be? What events will I go to? Will I find the love of my life? What will I eat tonight? Did I even pack my bedsheets?

These past few years have gone by and have shaped us into who we are today. Our growth as students and as people are attributed to the immense amount of work we put into JWU and ourselves.

I encourage you to carry forward the values you’ve developed at Johnson & Wales. Be confident in who you are. Lead with integrity. Continue to learn, grow, and adapt. Seek out those opportunities, even when they seem out of reach, and embrace the challenges that come with them. Success is not always about having all the answers — it’s about having the courage to pursue them.

Alumni Speaker Angela Kimbrough ’18

If there’s one truth I hope you carry with you, it’s this: Progress rarely looks like a straight line.

Some of your greatest achievements will come disguised as detours. Some of your most important lessons will arrive wrapped in uncertainty, and some of your proudest moments will begin with the simple decision to try, even when you’re uncertain.

As you move forward, remember that success isn’t a destination; it’s a practice. It’s built in the small choices you make every day. The decision to show up, to stay curious, to treat people with kindness and believe in your own potential even when doubts whisper in your ear otherwise.

You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. In fact, some of the most extraordinary lives are from people who were brave enough to explore before they had all the answers.

Steven Bagwell '18 Hon.

Today, you’re not just earning a degree — you’re graduating from an institution known for innovation, hands-on learning and preparing students to step directly into important work. That matters, because the world you’re entering doesn’t just need knowledge — it needs people who can think on their feet, adapt quickly and solve problems creatively. And that is exactly what you’ve been trained to do.

Your skills and training have you prepared to work wherever you want, nationally or internationally. But I hope many of you choose to stay here in Queen City. Because Charlotte isn’t just growing — it’s accelerating.

Last year, 33 million visitors came through this city. And one in nine jobs here is tied to hospitality. That kind of growth creates energy. It creates opportunity. And it creates demand for exactly the skills you’ve spent years developing.

As you leave here today, I hope you will stay open to opportunities that scare you a little. Take the role that stretches you. Volunteer for the project you’re not sure you can handle. Those are the moments that will shape you.

Angela Kimbrough:

Take a moment to honor how far you’ve come. Allow yourself to feel proud, celebrate this extraordinary milestone and carry that JWU spirit with pride, and remember, wherever life leads you, you will always be a Wildcat.

Steven Bagwell:

Stay open to possibility. And don’t be afraid to take the long way — it often leads to the most rewarding destinations.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. I cannot wait to see what you do next.

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