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The Honorable Kaohly Her, mayor of Saint Paul, will give the keynote address at �鶹��ƵAPK’s 2026 Commencement. The ceremony is Saturday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Twelve undergraduate students received university-wide awards Thursday, April 23 at the 2026 Student Awards Ceremony. The ceremony recognized undergraduate students for their achievements across academics, leadership and campus involvement.

Two �鶹��ƵAPK alumnae are finalists for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award. They were selected out of 128 candidates statewide. Amy Phung '11, a kindergarten teacher at Meadowbrook Elementary School in Golden Valley, and Sher Unruh-Friesen '06, a K-6 special education teacher at Glen Lake Elementary School in Minnetonka, both in Hopkins Public Schools, are among 11 finalists this year. Both earned their master’s degree in education from �鶹��ƵAPK.

During the annual Mahle lecture, speakers Sara Liegl, director of Project Home and Reverend Rachel McIver Morey, director of community and engagement at Interfaith Action, said to a sold out crowd that faith communities are key to addressing family homelessness.

Christopher S. Dennis, founder and principal consultant of the Campus Culture Group, spoke to first-generation and non-traditional students. He discussed imposter syndrome and the “hidden curriculum” in higher education, offering insight into common challenges and sharing practical strategies to help students navigate college.

The Oracle and Untold Magazine came away with staff and individual honors at the 2026 Annual Spring Conference in San Francisco March 6-7. Anabel Bradley, Aiden Lewald and Matias Vega of The Oracle took eighth place in the best news reporting category for their story about a group of �鶹��ƵAPK students who had rented a house that they later learned lacked a certificate of occupancy and was condemned. �鶹��ƵAPK’s literary magazine, placed third in the literary arts category.

The �鶹��ƵAPK Department of Chemistry will host the 2026 Mitsch Lecture in Chemistry on Friday, April 10, at 2:45 p.m. in Sundin Music Hall. This year’s featured guest speaker is Henry S. White, professor of chemistry at the University of Utah. He will explore how electricity drives chemical reactions with applications across chemistry, biology and analytical science.

Four �鶹��ƵAPK undergraduate students participated in the 2025-26 Innovation Scholars Program, a hands-on opportunity combining business, science and health care entrepreneurship.

Eighteen �鶹��ƵAPK students met with legislators to advocate for Minnesota State Grants, sharing personal stories to highlight the program’s impact.

�鶹��ƵAPK has announced its fall 2025 dean’s lists, celebrating the hard work and dedication of our undergrads. See who made the list.