SLU-Madrid Class of 2026 Represents 26 Countries and Territories, 22 U.S. States
On May 11, Saint Louis University-Madrid held its Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony at the nearby Espacio Pablo VI.
This year's 107 graduates come from 26 countries and territories, including Benin, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, India, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, the Palestinian territories, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United States and Venezuela.
American graduates represented 22 U.S. states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
The class also reflected SLU-Madrid's academic diversity. The most popular majors among graduates were international business, psychology, communication, political science and international studies.
Felipe Rosario of Puerto Rico delivered the ceremony’s first student reflection in Spanish, sharing a poem with fellow graduates.
Namita Chawla, originally from India, reflected on her personal growth during her time at SLU-Madrid.
"When you're surrounded by so much diversity, you quickly learn that being different isn't a bad thing; rather, it's what sets you apart," Chawla said. "The beautiful thing about SLU-Madrid is that it never demanded we fit into one mold. Instead, it gave us the room to evolve, to fail, to change our minds, to find new passions, new people and new versions of ourselves. And that is something truly rare."
SLU-Madrid Rector William P. Johnson, J.D., encouraged graduates to recognize the significance of the moment.
"It feels good to participate in something joyful," Johnson said. "It's really important to pause, take a momentary break from busy lives, and recognize the hard work, dedicated effort, perseverance and outstanding results that have brought this class of 2026 to this moment on their educational journey."
Saint Louis University President Edward Feser, Ph.D., delivered this year's commencement address in person. His remarks focused on the meaning of place and the ways communities shape identity and worldview.
"So wherever your path leads after SLU-Madrid, whether you live in great global cities or small towns, my hope for you is this: learn a place, be with it, care for it," Feser said.