Annual Graduation Banquet & Alumni Reunion
2026 Graduation Banquet
On May 13, 2026, we celebrated the Class of 2026 at the milestone 10th Annual Graduation Banquet in Kingsmen Park. Graduating undergraduate and graduate students, along with their families, friends, faculty, staff, advisory council members, and guests, gathered for an evening of recognition, gratitude, and celebration as our newest alumni closed one chapter and prepared to begin the next.
Among those in attendance to honor our graduates' accomplishments were President John Nunes, Provost Leanne Neilson, faculty, staff, advisory council members, and other guests. The evening was masterfully emceed by Madi Bodhidatta (Business Administration '26) and featured inspiring remarks from student speakers Jake Anderson (Business Administration '26) and Pia Valtierra (MS Sports Management '26).
The School of Management also recognized outstanding alumni, presenting the Distinguished Alumni Award to John Maier and the Young Alumna of the Year Award to Rosie Baker.
The celebration began with an Alumni Happy Hour, welcoming graduates and alumni back to campus to reconnect with classmates, faculty, and friends before joining the larger banquet festivities. Guests then enjoyed a two-course dinner by Pierre's Catering, silent auction, music, dancing, photo booths, games, and more as the community came together to celebrate the achievements, perseverance, and bright futures of the Class of 2026. We are incredibly proud of our graduates and all they have accomplished.
Video by Tracie Karasik | Photos by Rupert Thorpe
2026 Banquet Sponsors
2025 Graduation Banquet Highlights
On May 14th, 2025, we celebrated our undergraduate and graduate students under the stars in Kingsmen Park. In attendance to honor our graduates' accomplishments were President John Nunes, Provost Leanne Neilson, faculty, staff, advisory council members, and other guests.The event was masterfully MC'ed by undergraduate Nathan Sakhai (Accounting '25) and featured student speakers - undergraduate Devyn Walton (Business Administration '25) and graduate Zeel Suthar (MSIT '25).
We also presented the School of Management Distinguished Alumni Award to Sushma Vasudevan and our School of Management Young Alumna of the Year to James Werbe.Visit here for more information on these awards.
Everyone enjoyed a two-course dinner by Pierre's Catering, music, dancing, photo booths, games, and more! We are so proud of our students and all their accomplishments!
Video by Tracie Karasik | Photos by Rupert Thorpe
2025 Banquet Sponsors
2024 Graduation Banquet Highlights
Congratulations to our 2024 graduates! We celebrated them under the stars in Kingsmen Park in May with family, friends, and faculty at our Annual Graduation Banquet. In attendance, to honor our graduates' accomplishments, were President Lori Varlotta, Provost Leanne Neilson, VP Regina Biddings-Muro, faculty, staff, advisory council members, and other guests.
Aidan Johnston (Accounting '24) masterfully guided the event, which featured student speakers undergraduate Jeanine Zayyad (Business Administration '24) and graduate Zachary Gallagher (EMBA '24). This year, we also presented our School of Management Alumni Awards. Jeff Brouelette was awarded Distinguished Alumnus of the Year 2024, and Anastasis Martinez was awarded Young Alumna of the Year 2024. Visit here for more information on these awards.
Everyone enjoyed excellent entertainment, music, dancing, the magician, catering,
photo booths, exclusive merch, games, and more! Thank you to our corporate event sponsors Jay Bradshaw, The Walt Disney Company, and Jeff Brouelette, for their generous banquet support.
Video by Tracie Karasik | Photos by Rupert Thorpe
Facebook photo album
2023 Graduation Banquet Highlights
We celebrated our 2023 graduates under the stars in Kingsmen Park with family, friends, and faculty at our Annual Graduation Banquet. In attendance, to honor our graduates' accomplishments were President Lori Varlotta, Provost Leanne Neilson, VP Regina Biddings-Muro, Dr. Taiwo Ande, faculty, staff, advisory council members, and other guests.
The event was masterfully guided by Bryant Nguyen (Accounting '23), and featured student speakers - undergraduate Andrea Brimmer (Business Administration '23) and graduate Shawn Adams-Lanz (EMBA '23). This year, we also presented our School of Management Alumni Awards. Don Armstrong was awarded Distinguished Alumnus of the Year 2023, and Majd Abdullah Almaki (MPPA ‘20)was awarded Young Alumna of the Year 2023. Visit here for more information on these awards.
Everyone enjoyed excellent entertainment, music, dancing, the magician, catering,
photo booths, exclusive merch, games, and more! Thank you to our corporate event sponsors
Jay Bradshaw, Wayne Davey, The Walt Disney Company, Arroyo Capital and Nissan for their generous support of the banquet. It was a celebration not to miss!
Video by Tracie Karasik
Facebook photo album
Corporate Sponsorship Partners
2022 Graduation Banquet Highlights
We welcomed close to 600 guests at our Annual Graduation Banquet - the first one since the pandemic struck the world in 2020. This year's special celebration included students from the classes of 2022, 2021, and 2020 and their families and friends! In attendance, to honor our graduates' accomplishments were President Lori Varlotta, Provost Leanne Neilson, VP Cristallea Buchanan, faculty, staff, advisory council members, and other guests, including the Austrian Trade Commissioner to the United States, Mr. Volker Ammann.
GO TO the COMPlete Photo ALBUM on SOM Facebook page
Corporate Sponsorship Partners
Watch a few videos from our past banquets
COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION:
This banquet is a separate event from the commencement ceremony. Please go here for instructions on how to apply for graduation, request tickets for commencement
and ordering of your cap and gown.
If you have questions, please email Rosie Baker at rlbaker@CalLutheran.edu