Home / Education / Moms Steal Spotlight at OSU Graduation on Mother's Day
Moms Steal Spotlight at OSU Graduation on Mother's Day
11 May
Summary
- Ohio State's largest graduation fell on Mother's Day for the first time since 2021.
- Speakers recognized mothers and mother figures for their unwavering support.
- Over 1,000 graduates from the Class of 2026 are mothers themselves.
Ohio State University's spring commencement on May 10 saw 12,315 graduates celebrated, with mothers and mother figures taking a prominent role. This marked the first time the university's largest annual graduation ceremony coincided with Mother's Day since 2021.
Commencement speakers, including President Ravi Bellamkonda, recognized the profound impact of mothers and maternal figures, with Bellamkonda sharing personal gratitude for his own mother's efforts. Molly Ranz Calhoun, president of the Ohio State Alumni Association, noted that over 1,000 graduates in the Class of 2026 are mothers themselves.
Calhoun, an alumna who attended Ohio State because her mother did, shared a humorous anecdote about her mother's influence on her college choice, emphasizing the importance of parental guidance. Many mothers present expressed joy in sharing their child's significant day, with Jennifer Love calling her youngest child's graduation the "biggest testament as a mother."
The ceremony also occurred following a complex spring semester, marked by the departure of former president Ted Carter. Bellamkonda, recently promoted from provost, addressed the graduates, emphasizing collective achievement and shared ownership of the university's success. Commencement speaker E. Roe Stamps IV urged graduates to see themselves as the "real owners" of their alma mater.
