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Gettysburg College celebrated eight women’s lacrosse seniors at Special Commencement, honoring their transformational leadership, selfless teamwork, and lasting impact as they prepare to continue their NCAA championship journey.

Before heading off to Massachusetts for the next round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship, eight senior student-athletes were honored in a Special Commencement ceremony inside the College Union Building (CUB) Ballroom on Tuesday, May 12.

History Prof. Magdalena Sánchez teaches early modern history at Gettysburg College. As the first woman to be tenured in the History Department — and, with her colleague History Prof. Emerita Barbara Sommer, the first woman to be promoted to full professor of history — Sánchez teaches courses stretching chronologically from medieval Europe to the French Revolution.

From student-athletes and campus advocates to researchers, writers, and public servants, the Gettysburg College’s Class of 2026 reflects the impact of a liberal arts education shaped by meaningful relationships, hands-on experiences, and a strong sense of community.

Kate Anderson ’09 returns to Gettysburg as the Commencement speaker with a career spanning Broadway, Disney, and television. In this Q&A, she reflects on her campus experiences, creative journey, and the lessons that shaped her path from student to acclaimed songwriter.

Supported by courage, conviction, and community, Bishruti Rijal ’26 turns four years of a Gettysburg College education into a launchpad for her future.

When Gettysburg College Commencement student speaker Bishruti (Bish) Rijal ’26 addresses the Class of 2026 on May 16, she’ll be in the company of her campus family—friends, classmates, faculty, and staff who have supported her on her college journey.

Gettysburg College’s political science career course integrates academics with hands-on professional development, equipping students with practical skills, confidence, and connections through collaboration with the Center for Career Engagement.

Sarah Jacobs ’06, a contemporary maximalist and surrealist artist, forged her path in visual storytelling supported by Gettysburg College’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum. Today, she uses art to give back to the Adams County and Gettysburg community that nurtured her personal and professional development.

From separation to oneness, and complexity to simplicity, Sarah Jacobs ’06 explores questions of life and living through brushstrokes on her canvas. Through her art, Jacobs invites viewers to enter her paintings and discover worlds beyond their senses.

Gettysburg College will award four honorary degrees at its Class of 2026 Commencement ceremony, recognizing the achievements of alumna Kate Anderson ’09, policy strategist Susan Eisenhower, arts leader Chad Smith, and historian James G. Basker.

Gettysburg College will confer four honorary degrees during its 191st Commencement ceremony on May 16, recognizing individuals whose professional achievements, leadership, and service embody the College’s mission to educate students for lives of impact.

For more than a century, music has shaped the Gettysburg College experience. As the Sunderman Conservatory marks 20 years, that legacy continues—connecting generations through a liberal arts approach that inspires creativity, community, and lifelong impact.

On any given day at Gettysburg College, music drifts across campus—through open practice room windows, rehearsal halls, and performance spaces—carrying with it more than melody. It unites history, community, and a legacy shaped by generations of students, faculty, and alumni who have invested in its future.

Maren Carter ’27 and Christian Keller ’27 reflect on the Gettysburg College Choir’s 90th anniversary tour as an emotional, community-driven experience that strengthened tradition, leadership, and belonging while connecting past and present through the enduring power of music.