The HUB Ballroom came alive with applause, proud smiles, and the rustle of regalia on Saturday, June 13 as 186 students marked the culmination of their academic journeys at the 2026 Jackson School Spring Convocation.
“The Class of 2026 is extraordinary,” Jackson School Director Danny Hoffman said to the more than 700 family and friends attending the event. “This day is marked as a transition from student to public servant, graduate student, scientist, or whatever pathway you choose. We recognize that this transition may not be easy or certain, but we hope the Jackson School has instilled you with the intellectual courage, creativity, and leadership tools to navigate today’s world.”
Jackson School Director Danny Hoffman gives his opening remarks during the 2026 Jackson School Spring Convocation. Photo by Kerry Dahlen
This year marked the granting of academic degrees for 150 undergraduate, 34 master’s students, and two Ph.D. students. Jackson School Professor and Associate Director Celia Lowe introduced faculty members presenting doctoral and master’s candidates, and Associate Professor Stephen Meyers — director of undergraduate programs — followed with undergraduate degree recipients and award announcements.
Professor Reşat Kasaba gives the keynote speech during the June 13 Jackson School Spring Convocation. Photo by Kerry Dahlen
The keynote address, given by Distinguished Speaker and Jackson School Professor Reşat Kasaba, focused on the hope he felt for the Class of 2026 during a geopolitically complex period.
“You come to us because in the Jackson School, we study the world, not just to satisfy our curiosity about how things came to be the way they are, but also why they turned out that way, and what we can do about them,” Kasaba said, later adding that “your unwavering commitment to make things better in these and other circumstances always gives us inspiration and courage.”
Service and leadership take center stage
The ceremony also honored individuals who have made significant contributions to the Jackson School community. Academic Adviser Sabrina Tatta received the Jackson School Student Association (JSSA) Student Service Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication and continued support of students.
“Sabrina truly embodies the core values of the Jackson School through her commitment to student success, mentorship, and community building,” JSSA officers Allie Goodman-Callender, Nadia Schwedsky, and Jackson Kvam said. “Whether advising students on academics, scholarships, and awards or supporting them through challenges, Sabrina’s impact is felt far beyond graduation and continues to shape the lives of the students she serves.”
Nora VanRees received the Jackson Leadership Award, an honor recognizing leadership, community service, and scholarship amongst Jackson School undergraduates. An international studies and law, societies, and justice major, VanRees spoke to her classmates about the weight and importance of a Jackson School degree in an ever-changing world.
Jackson Leadership Award recipient Nora VanRees gives a speech during the 2026 Jackson School Spring Convocation. Photo by Kerry Dahlen
“There’s a Dutch proverb that does a good job of describing what the Jackson School is all about,” VanRees said. “‘Wie goed doet, goed ontmoet,’ meaning ‘Who does good meets well’ — that the goodness you put into the world will return goodness to you. It can be hard to find the good in the world where there is so much bad, but we in this room embody the good. It is now up to us to spread that goodness and kindness wherever we go.”
Book awards, theses, and scholarships highlights:
- Graduate Book Award: Steph Driscoll, M.A. in International Studies
- Undergraduate Book Award: Hallie Earls, B.A. in International Studies; Tomo William Kunz-Taguchi, B.A. in International Studies: Asian Studies and Japanese; Carlie Jo Rogers, B.A. in International Studies and Law, Societies, and Justice; Nora VanRees, B.A. in International Studies and Law, Societies, and Justice
- Best Honors Thesis Award: Naomi Hancock for “Understanding How Infrastructure Investment Shaped Donor Financing in Post-2005 Ethiopia,” B.A. in International Studies; Isabelle Ann Huelin for “The Korean War and the Establishment of National Legitimacy,” B.A. in B.A. in International Studies: Asian Studies
- Donald C. & Margery S. Hellmann Scholar Award: Tin Yu Pak, minor in International Studies and Nora VanRees, B.A. in International Studies and Law, Societies, and Justice
Recipients of Jackson School awards and scholarships are honored during the June 13 ceremony. Photo by Kerry Dahlen
University and nation-wide achievements:
- Dean’s medal nomination
- Boren Scholarship
- Mortar Board Alumni/Tolo Foundation Scholarship
- Fulbright Scholar Program
- Critical Language Scholarship
- Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship
See the livestreamed 2026 Jackson School Spring Convocation here.
All photos by Kerry Dahlen
