TESU Celebrates Its 54th Annual Commencement
A lifetime of determination, perseverance and achievement took center stage Saturday as Thomas Edison State University (TESU) celebrated the Class of 2026 at its 54th Annual Commencement Ceremony. Held at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, the Sept. 26 ceremony brought together the families and friends of nearly 600 graduates, along with University mentors and staff, to honor the extraordinary journeys of working professionals who balanced college with careers, families, military service and countless other responsibilities on the road to earning their degrees.
The Class of 2026 represents the remarkable diversity of the TESU student body with 2,118 graduates, including 771 graduates from New Jersey who represented all 21 counties in the state. Combined, the graduates earned 2,255 degrees — 1,610 at the baccalaureate level, 381 associate, 222 master’s and 42 doctorates. The average age of this year’s graduates is 36.9.
In her Commencement address, TESU President Merodie A. Hancock, Ph.D., congratulated the graduating class and encouraged them to keep pursuing a vision for their future.
Among this year’s graduates was 77-year-old Jayne Reed of New York City, the oldest member of the Class of 2026. Reed’s path to a bachelor’s degree began in 1966, when she enrolled at Fordham University as a classical languages major.
“I was a year younger than my classmates, but I never had any span of attention,” Reed said, reflecting on the many twists and turns that followed, including 12 years in the Cold War Army. “It has taken me 60 years to complete my bachelor’s degree. I feel like the Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ — I finally have that piece of paper.”
Reed earned a Bachelor of Science in Technical Studies from TESU, proving that there is no expiration date on pursuing a goal — and no such thing as being too late to finish what you started.
The University also honored a longtime champion of New Jersey communities during the ceremony, bestowing an honorary degree upon Bernard “Bernie” Flynn in recognition of his “extraordinary civic leadership, stewardship and service through his unwavering commitment to strengthening communities across New Jersey and the greater Mercer County region.”
Flynn, former president and chief executive officer of NJM Insurance Group, continued his commitment to service following his retirement from NJM by becoming volunteer chief executive officer of Mercer Street Friends, where he helped advance the organization’s work to strengthen children, families and communities throughout the Trenton region. Flynn is now fully retired.
In remarks following his award, Flynn told the graduating class, “Your willingness to seek support is one of the greatest strengths you'll carry into your next chapter. Because the world is fast moving, unpredictable and full of opportunity, you will be part of a future where the most successful people aren't the ones who pretend to know everything — they're the ones who stay curious, stay connected and stay open to learning from others.”
The Class of 2026 now joins the more than 90,000 alumni of Thomas Edison State University, carrying with them not only a college degree, but also the opportunity to build their careers, advance their profession and empower their lives.