Commencement Moments in Time

The Leeds School of Business honored its largest graduating class in school history in 2026. More than 1,900 students crossed the commencement stage and celebrated their achievements with friends, family and members of the Leeds community. We reached out to a few of the graduates we photographed to ask them about their Leeds experience. Here, three new Forever Buffs share the stories behind these images.

Student in graduation regalia holding two diplomas edited with the Flatirons in the background

"Completing my degrees was a mix of pride, gratitude, and reflection. Earning both a degree in Accounting and a degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology required balancing two very different disciplines, demanding persistence, adaptability and a strong commitment to both fi elds. As a result, commencement felt like the culmination of years of hard work, late nights, and support from the people around me. Many semesters were spent rushing between semesters were spent rushing between classes in Koelbel and the Gold Biosciences buildings, constantly shifting between mechanisms that govern living systems and analyzing the information organizations use to make strategic decisions.Ìý

After years of hard work and uncertainty, this moment at graduation brought an incredible sense of relief and excitement. More than anything, I feel grateful for the opportunities I had at Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder and am excited about the next chapter of my career.â€

Abemelik Sjong (Acct, MCDBio’26)

Two graduates in regalia are in color among a crowd of others in black and white


"Completing my graduate degree was a moment of immense pride and gratitude. As a first-generation student, earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees is something I once could only dream of. While this achievement represents years of my own hard work and dedication, it is equally a refl ection of the sacrifices my parents made to create opportunities for me. In many ways, these degrees are as much theirs as they are mine.

I was also fortunate to share my Leeds experience with close friends who made the journey even more meaningful. Isabel (Izzy) Leutenegger (pictured here) and I have known each other since high school, and we went on to complete our Finance and Accounting undergraduate degrees together before both pursuing master’s degrees in Accounting. Sharing so many milestones with a close friend made the experience especially memorable.â€

Erick Colin Rios (MAcct’28)

A doctoral student gets hooded

"Being hooded at the commencement ceremony felt incredibly meaningful and surreal. It was a special moment to reflect on how much I had grown during my time at Leeds, both academically and personally.Ìý

It was especially meaningful to be hooded by [Assistant Professor] Andrea Pawliczek, who guided me throughout this journey and from whom I learned so much as both a researcher and a person.â€

Jenny Kim (PhDAcct’26)