BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College celebrated its 148th commencement ceremony on Saturday, honoring 309 graduates – including three Diocese of Charlotte seminarians – and marking a milestone in the college’s 150th anniversary year.
The day began with a baccalaureate Mass on the piazza of the Abbey Basilica, presided over by Abbey alumnus Bishop John Joseph McDermott of Burlington, Vermont. The graduation ceremony followed, led by Chancellor Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., and the college's new President Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley, who welcomed families, friends, faculty and staff to the celebration of years of study and dedication.
“Today, we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements of our graduates but also the enduring spirit of Belmont Abbey College,” Talley said. “Each of these students has demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership and service, and we are inspired by the virtues and character they carry into the world. As we honor our 150th anniversary, we are reminded that the values instilled here will guide them for a lifetime,”
This year’s graduating class included diocesan seminarians Matthew Hennessey, Theodore Holthe and Jeremy Smith as well as 26 nursing students, 10 students who completed new motorsports management degrees and 27 psychology graduates, many of whom were headed to graduate school.
A significant number of student-athletes also graduated this year, demonstrating dedication both on the field and in the classroom. Among this year’s honorees, Addie Galek, a senior on the women’s soccer team, was named the recipient of Conference Carolinas’ 2025-26 Murphy Osborne Award. In addition, 10 athletic teams earned the Messick Award, while the college’s athletic department received the overall Messick Award for the year – the highest sportsmanship honor within the conference. These achievements reflect the college’s mission to cultivate sport and virtue while fostering the holistic development of body, mind and soul.
Several legacy families celebrated another child’s graduation, demonstrating the enduring values and strong sense of community instilled by Belmont Abbey College across generations. Susan Reid, a member of the 5th Honors College cohort majoring in Great Books and minoring in Classical Languages, was named the 2026 valedictorian. The graduating class also includes 22 Honors College Scholarship students, 24 Hintemeyer Catholic Leadership Scholarship scholars, who are continuing the Abbey’s long tradition of forming men and women of faith and service.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the 2026 Abbey Student of the Year award to Caroline Gutierrez. The Abbey Student of the Year recognizes a student who exemplifies engagement, leadership and academic and extracurricular excellence. In a cherished tradition unique to Belmont Abbey, the award recipient delivers a speech in place of a traditional commencement speaker, offering personal reflections and inspiration to fellow graduates.
In her remarks, Gutierrez encouraged her classmates to embrace their unique calling and lead with courage and conviction: “Each of us has been given a unique purpose in this life, and the Abbey has helped us to foster it. One of my favorite quotes is by St. Catherine of Siena, she says, ‘Be who God made you to be and you will set the world on fire.’ So, class of 2026, I encourage you to carry this wisdom with you and share your unique light and gifts with the world. Be brave and stand firm in the morals and values that guide your heart. This is what Belmont Abbey has taught us, that in all things, we may strive for excellence and virtue.”
Belmont Abbey College also conferred honorary degrees on Bishop John McDermott of Burlington, Vermont, and Jesse Aaron Grapes, former headmaster of Benedictine High School in Richmond, Virginia. Both honorees were recognized for their contributions to education.
— Catholic News Herald