Summary of "GVSU Commencement May 1, 2026 at 7 p.m."

Engaging recap of the video (GVSU Commencement, May 1, 2026)

The video opens with pre-ceremony audience instructions at Vanandel Arena—covering items like non-smoking rules and where to find emergency exits. It then cuts to a fun segment called “Philly on the Street.”

“Philly on the Street” (mascot interview segment)

GVSU’s Philly mascot interviews new Lakers. The questions move between basic trivia, roommate life, and graduation plans, including:

“What’s the name of our mascot?” (Philly is standing right there—prompting awkward/funny answers.)
“How big is the freshman class?” One student guesses 300+ and is corrected with laughs, implying the class is much larger.
“Do you know what a mortar board is?” A playful “clueless” response leads to more joking.
A student shares a “freshman move” they still do every semester: getting lost in Mac.
Students trade campus myths like “don’t walk under the blue arch.”
They’re asked for the fight song—one student knows part of it (“Fight, Grand Valley, fight”), while others don’t, leading to enthusiastic coaxing to sing together.
Fun goals/advice punchlines, like:
- aiming for a 4.0 GPA
- wanting to bench 100 lbs
- jokingly telling the president to “get rid of those raccoons out there.”

Throughout the segment, Philly plays along—“conducting” interviews and pulling students directly into the moment—switching smoothly between sincere answers and comedic crowd-work.

The commencement ceremony

After the hype segment, the formal ceremony begins:

National anthem performance and welcoming remarks
Addresses from university leadership, including recognition of gratitude toward families, faculty, and service members
President Filomina Mantella delivers the main message to the Class of 2026, describing graduation into an era of “convergence”—where technology collisions and amplifies everything.

President Mantella’s theme: technology must stay human

Mantella emphasizes that progress should be driven by:

humanity
ethics
compassion
judgment
integrity
equity

—not just by speeding up technological change.

Student commencement speaker: Dallas Matthews

Next is student speaker Dallas Matthews, who frames college like finishing a time-consuming puzzle:

you invest without seeing the whole picture at first
the full image comes together through people, challenges, classes, and campus involvement

As a first-generation student and integrative studies major, Matthews highlights the “Laker effect”—how other Lakers helped her become more confident and build community. She closes by encouraging graduates to carry courage and curiosity forward.

Honorary degree: Steve Wozniak

A major highlight is the honorary degree conferral to Steve Wozniak (noting the transcript misspells it in spots, but the intent is clear). Wozniak receives an honorary doctorate in computing and delivers a long, entertaining commencement address.

Wozniak’s message and memorable ideas

His speech blends:

personal origin stories (engineering inspiration, logic gates, early fascination with radio/computers)
humor and quirky memories (including a “fake name” detail related to returning to finish college)
a consistent philosophy: build useful things, keep humor and fun in your thinking, and remember the human behind technology

One of his most memorable ideas is his “happiness formula”:

Happiness = Smiles − Frowns encouraging fewer worries, constructive problem-solving, and walking away from arguments.

He also critiques modern tech culture, especially:

subscriptions
tracking and permission/data prompts

He argues people shouldn’t be treated as products.

Closing moments and degree conferrals

The ceremony ends with:

degree conferrals across colleges (including College of Computing, Education/Community Innovation, Engineering, Interdisciplinary Studies, and others)
the long list of graduating names
the tassel move (from right to left)
a final charge to graduates: “Let humanity be your north star.”

The video concludes with the playing of the alma mater.

Main highlights / standout reactions & jokes

“Philly on the Street”: comedic mascot interview bits (confusing trivia, roommate teasing, and joke lines like “get rid of those raccoons”).
President Mantella’s “convergence” message: technology should be guided by compassion and ethics.
Dallas Matthews’ puzzle metaphor: college becomes “home” through people and experiences.
Steve Wozniak’s address: humor plus a pointed, human-centered message about technology; “Happiness = smiles − frowns.”
Tassel tradition: graduates physically change sides to signify graduation.
Overall tone: formal ceremony wrapped in genuine community energy, plus memorable comedic segments.

Personalities appearing

Philly (GVSU mascot)
President Filomina Mantella
Courtney Carzinski (chair, University Academic Senate)
Dallas Matthews (student commencement speaker)
Steve Wozniak (honorary degree recipient)
Janet (Wozniak’s wife, recognized during the honorary degree segment)
Jenny Hall Jones (Vice President of Student Affairs)
Jennifer Drake (Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs)
Provost Drake / various college deans (multiple featured by title during conferrals)
Musicians / student musicians (mentioned and applauded)