College of San Mateo Commence Ceremony 2026 – Plaza of the Sun
College of San Mateo celebrated the Class of 2026 on Friday during its 104th Commencement Ceremony, honoring more than 400 graduates who crossed the stage before family, friends, faculty, staff, and the broader campus community.
Held at the Plaza of the Sun, CSM’s outdoor amphitheater overlooking the San Francisco Bay and San Francisco skyline, the ceremony celebrated the accomplishments, resilience, and diverse journeys of this year’s graduating class while marking the first commencement ceremony ever hosted in the college’s newly activated outdoor gathering space.
This year, College of San Mateo awarded a total of 1,885 associate degrees and certificates to 1,260 graduates. Among the graduating class were 592 graduates earning honors recognition, 584 first-generation college graduates, 359 Promise Scholar graduates, 53 veteran graduates, 90 international student graduates, and seven foster youth graduates. The youngest graduate was 17, while the oldest was 78.
“This year marks a memorable milestone for CSM,” said Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez, CSM’s President, “For the first time ever, we are hosting our commencement ceremony here at the Plaza of the Sun, surrounded by the beauty of our campus, our planetarium, and the San Francisco Bay. Today, our graduates are quite literally sitting among the stars and planets as they look toward the horizon and manifest greatness for the next chapters in their journey. Thank you for letting us be a part of your story of greatness. It has been our highest honor.”
The ceremony began with a processional featuring trustees, faculty, staff, honored guests, and graduates. Associated Students of CSM President Jaden Nguyen delivered the land acknowledgment honoring the Ramaytush Ohlone people of the San Francisco Peninsula. The national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was performed on the harp by Gabrielle Elyse Oberes Padre, known professionally as the artist GEO.
This year’s student commencement speaker was Jane Seymour Heu I Fale Lilo Taufa, a graduating social sciences student and standout track-and-field scholar-athlete originally from the Kingdom of Tonga.
During her time at CSM, Taufa balanced rigorous academics with collegiate athletics, becoming a two-time state championship winner in the shot put while developing leadership skills and serving as a role model for fellow students. Following graduation, she will continue both her academic and athletic career at Appalachian State University on a full athletic scholarship.
The 2026 commencement address was delivered by Gabrielle Elyse Oberes Padre, a Bay Area-based harpist and interdisciplinary artist whose work reimagines the harp through contemporary performance, improvisation, and community-centered artistic practice.
A proud CSM alum, GEO has performed at major music festivals, including Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival and Head in the Clouds Festival, as well as at cultural institutions, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Asian Art Museum. Earlier this year, she made history as part of the Super Bowl House Band during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
Known for blending hip hop, R&B, improvisation, and global musical influences into her performances, GEO’s work centers on representation, accessibility, and the creation of inclusive artistic spaces that challenge traditional expectations surrounding classical instruments and performance.
Additional ceremony speakers included Wayne Lee, President of the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees; Danni Redding Lapuz; Daniel Keller; and Alex Guiriba.
The ceremony concluded with the conferring of associate degrees and certificates by the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees, assisted by CSM faculty, administrators, and staff, followed by a celebratory recessional honoring the College of San Mateo Class of 2026.
View the program for College of San Mateo’s 2026 Commencement Ceremony, or watch a recording of the 2026 Commencement Ceremony on the College of San Mateo YouTube Channel.
