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A graduate in a cap, gown, and gold USM stole stands in the staging area at Cross Insurance Arena, looking ahead before the processional begins.

The Class of 2026, by the Numbers

On May 9, thousands of people packed Cross Insurance Arena for USM’s 146th Commencement ceremony. Keep reading to see the Class of 2026 by the numbers.

Tim Fogelman class of '26 in full commencement regalia.

Class of ’26: Tim Fogleman on Finding His People — and His Voice — as a Transfer Student at USM

Tim Fogleman arrived in Maine having visited the state exactly once. Two years later, he’s graduating from the University of Southern Maine with a public health degree, a Free Press byline, and friendships he calls the bedrock of everything. Keep reading to hear how a leap of faith led him to USM, what he found when he got here, and what he wants students to know about building community from scratch.

Najmo Ahmed smiles in front of a wall of bookshelves.

Class of ’26: Meet Najmo Ahmed, USM’s Student Commencement Speaker

Najmo Ahmed has a lot going on. She’s finishing her bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences at the University of Southern Maine, interning at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and working toward a master’s in public health — all while preparing a commencement address her mother doesn’t even know about. Keep reading to hear how she got here, what drives her, and what she wants people to take away from her story.

Bridgette Toland smiles in front of a flowering pink tree. Text reads "Dear USM," with an illustrated graduation cap drawn above her head.

Class of ’26: A Love Letter to USM

For four years, USM has been more than just a school — it’s been the place where I found my people, my purpose, and myself. Keep reading to hear what I wish I’d known sooner, and what I’m carrying with me as I go.

Lisa Struebing references a quantum mechanics textbook while writing an equation on a whiteboard in the Dubyak Center on USM's Portland campus.

Class of ’26: How One Adult Student Kept Her Promise — and Earned Two USM Degrees Along the Way

When Lisa Struebing was in her twenties, she made a promise to her mother: she would finish the college degree that she’d started and set aside. Keep reading to hear how decades of determination, two USM degrees, and one introductory physics class led her here.

A portrait of USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald with illustrated graduation cap and tassel, part of the Class of '26 commencement series.

Class of ’26: Where There’s a Will, There’s Deklin Fitzgerald

Last September, USM senior Deklin Fitzgerald stood in front of more than 700 people and told his story — and when he stepped offstage, strangers approached him one after another to say the same thing: “I feel seen.” Keep reading to find out how four years of saying yes to just about everything led him there.

A USM student smiles in a campus common area wearing a Huskies hoodie, with an illustrated lemon and iced lemondade graphic overlaid on the image.

Class of ‘26: Lizzy Fogg on Turning Lemons into Limonata

As she prepares to graduate from the University of Southern Maine, Lizzy Fogg is closing out a chapter defined by performance, international research, and the relationships that helped her grow into both an artist and a more confident version of herself.

Keep reading to learn how a moment on a hiking path in Italy came to define Lizzy’s growth, confidence, and experience at USM.

Thumbnail graphic with a blue background and colorful paper scrap overlays featuring three photos: a student photographing the ocean at the beach, the exterior sign for Portland Lobster Co., and Portland Head Light with the ocean in the background. Text reads "One Husky's Local Favorites" with white paw prints in the corner.

Class of ’26: My Favorite Places to Go and Things to Do as a USM Student in Southern Maine

From coffee dates and karaoke nights to beach days and ski trips, one graduating Husky shares her favorite ways to make the most of Southern Maine. Keep reading to find your next favorite spot.

Bridgette smiling on the Eastern Promenade at sunset, overlaid with polaroid-style images: a lit-up Gorham campus soccer field, a picnic with friends, and her walking with a friend across a street. Dark blue doodles including a star, wave, location icon, and lines decorate the polaroids.

Class of ’26: Why I Chose USM — A Home Away From Home

As I near graduation, I’ve been reflecting on my four years at USM and the sense of belonging I felt from the very start. Keep reading to see how the campus, community, and experiences made it feel like a true home away from home.

USM women’s soccer seniors smiling and holding up four fingers to celebrate their Little East Conference win.

Class of ’26: Four Lessons From 4 LEC Championships

As my senior year at the University of Southern Maine wraps up, I’m reflecting on one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience: four straight Little East Conference (LEC) championships with our women’s soccer team. Keep reading to learn how those four championships shaped my perspective on leadership, teamwork, and legacy.