Our community demonstrated strength and momentum this year. Spider Athletics celebrated championship seasons and record-breaking crowds, supporters everywhere helped us reach new giving milestones, and graduates landed jobs at top companies and prestigious graduate programs.
Stepping Into What's Next
University of Richmond’s Class of 2026 heads to leading companies and top graduate schools around the world.
During the University of Richmond’s Commencement Weekend, May 8–10, more than 1,000 students from across schools celebrated their journeys and bright futures.
The Class of 2026 was defined by a strong record of achievement. Recent graduates are now heading everywhere from Nashville and Chicago to Singapore and Madrid, securing roles at globally recognized organizations like Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Google, and Teach for America. Others are continuing their academic journeys at some of the world’s most competitive graduate programs, including Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Oxford, and Yale.
Their paths to this moment have been anything but ordinary. Nearly three-quarters of the class studied abroad, immersing themselves in cultures and coursework far beyond campus. Eighty-five percent completed internships or summer research, gaining hands-on experience with organizations ranging from federal legal offices to international institutions in Geneva. Across disciplines, students translated classroom learning into tangible impact, whether presenting original research, managing investment funds, or leading service initiatives throughout the Richmond community.
Class of 2026 Experiential Learning & Achievement Highlights
- 30 received nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships
- 73% studied abroad
- 85% completed internships or mentored summer research
- Every Robins School of Business student participated in experiential learning
- Bonner Scholars served with 27 Richmond-area nonprofits
Learn more about graduate outcomes and achievements here.
NFL star headlines Commencement.
NFL football star and 2021 UR grad Kobie Turner was the University’s 2026 Commencement speaker. Turner is a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams, a talented vocalist who appeared on The Masked Singer, and a Richmond Spider who studied mathematics and music. He played football at UR from 2018 to 2021.
Turner addressed about 840 undergraduate students (and thousands of their family and friends) earning their bachelor’s degrees from the School of Arts & Sciences, Robins School of Business, and Jepson School of Leadership Studies during the Commencement ceremony on May 10.
“The best thing that this University gave me is the opportunity and the support to truly chase my dreams,” Turner said. “Through my time here, I gained the confidence to step out into the world as I am, knowing that I am enough.”
Turner’s advice to graduates included:
- Who you have in your corner matters. You are the company you keep, so surround yourselves with people who challenge you to be the best version of yourself in all areas of your life. We are not meant to do life alone but choose your company wisely.
- Weather the storm. Life inevitably will bring you adversity. We don’t grow in comfort. In my years in the NFL, I’ve learned that those who weather the storms, who show consistency through the wins and losses, are the ones who are the most successful. When you’re heading into the storm, you lean in with preparation. As you’re in the middle of the storm, you lean in with perseverance. And as you come out of the other side of the storm, you lean in with perspective.
- You are enough. Always remember that you are enough. There is only one you in this world. And the world needs you as you already are. Your occupation doesn’t define you. You are so much more than that. When you enter the workforce, stay rooted in the fact that you are more than what your title says. When you stay true to who you are, opportunities surface that you never knew were possible.
Graduating student Duc (Ben) Nguyen, a Richmond Scholar from Hanoi, Vietnam, offered the student address. Ben double-majored in business administration and mathematical economics with a minor in data science. While at Richmond, he won a piano concerto competition and the Charles T. Norman Award and was recognized by Poets&Quants for Undergrads as a member of the “Best and Brightest Business Students: Class of 2026.”
Ben began his address by welcoming his parents, who had traveled from Vietnam to Richmond for the first time.
He encouraged his fellow graduates to be open “to the kind of possibilities that lead us somewhere we never expected.”
“If Richmond has given us anything, it is the ability to recognize those side doors and the courage to walk through them,” he said.
“The best thing that this University gave me is the opportunity and the support to truly chase my dreams. Through my time here, I gained the confidence to step out into the world as I am, knowing that I am enough.”
Inspiring Spider Pride
Seven Spider athletic teams capture regular-season or tournament titles.
Seven Spider teams rose to the top this academic year, capturing regular-season or tournament titles in commanding fashion. Richmond's conference championships this school year are the most since the 2005–06 season.
“Winning championships is a tribute to the dedicated hard work and preparation that our Spider student-athletes and coaches have put into their programs,” said John P. Hardt, vice president and director of athletics. “Championships are not won in a week. They are the product of countless hours of training, of strategizing, of physical conditioning, of visualization, and much, much more.”
Banner year for men’s lacrosse.
Men’s lacrosse completed an undefeated A-10 season, capturing the A-10 regular season title and winning the A-10 tournament.
The University welcomed 6,805 fans to a packed Robins Stadium on Saturday, May 9, as the Spiders faced off against Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament. It was the Spiders’ first NCAA home game in program history, the highest attended Richmond lacrosse game ever, and the highest attended first-round game in NCAA history. Though the Spiders fell to Duke 14–12, the game wrapped what can only be described as a banner season.
The team also reached No. 1 in the national rankings in April. It’s the first time a Spider sports program has ranked No. 1 in the nation since football in 2009 and the first time any Spider program has ranked No. 1 at the top level of collegiate competition.
Additional highlights for conference and tournament champions.
Men’s tennis won the A-10 tournament for the first time since 2006 and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
Women’s golf won the A-10 tournament for the second consecutive season, with Spiders placing first, third, fourth, and fifth individually and finishing 28 strokes ahead of the field. The team also advanced to the NCAA regionals tournament.
Men's golf won the A-10 tournament, marking the program's fourth tournament title of the season, the most in a single season in program history. The team also advanced to the NCAA regionals tournament and coach Adam Decker repeated as A-10 Men’s Golf Coach of the Year.
Swimming and diving won the A-10 tournament, marking the program's 17th A-10 tournament championship, tallying 600 points over the four-day meet and collecting four gold medals, five silver medals, and four bronze medals. Head coach Matt Barany was named A-10 Women's Swimming Coach of the Year for the 11th time in his career at Richmond. The team competed in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championships.
Field hockey captured the A-10 regular season title, defeating VCU 2–1.
Women’s lacrosse captured the A-10 regular season title, the program's first outright regular season title, with a perfect 9–0 conference record.
Spider baseball posted its second straight 30-win season for the first time since 2012–13, and Richmond defeated Big Ten opponents Penn State and Maryland during its non-conference schedule.
Capital Cup Victory
Spider Football overcame a 14-point deficit on the road to beat William & Mary 28–21 and capture the Capital Cup for a third straight season. The teams will rematch this fall as conference rivals, with William & Mary football set to join the Patriot League.
Spiders excel on and off the field.
Richmond’s more than 400 student-athletes are champions on the field and in the classroom.
Richmond student-athletes achieved a Graduation Success Rate of 98%, matching the University's highest rate since the introduction of GSR in 1998. Richmond's success positioned the Spiders among the top 10 teams across all Division I institutions, alongside Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Marquette, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and San Francisco.
The University honored more than 100 student-athletes at the annual scholar-athlete breakfast this spring, an event that celebrates student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater following two or more semesters at Richmond. Women’s swimming and diving (3.77) and men’s golf (3.51) were also honored for posting the highest combined GPAs among Richmond’s programs.
Women’s basketball draws record crowd during stellar season.
More than 5,000 fans packed the Robins Center on Jan. 18 as the University of Richmond women’s basketball team defeated rival VCU 77–47 in front of the program’s largest home crowd in the past 25 years.
Operation: Code Red, a campuswide initiative, aimed to bring 5,000 fans together to support a team that has led the A-10 over the last two seasons. The Spiders drew 5,224 fans — their largest home crowd since 2000.
“Seeing an arena full of red was a powerful testament to the ability of intercollegiate athletics to bring every part of our Spider community together,' said John P. Hardt, vice president and director of athletics.
“At the start of the game, when we walked out after the huddle to go to the jump ball, I was looking around. I'm like, ‘man, this is insane,’” Ullstrom said. “And just having that support — like when we make a big shot — that crowd just kind of like boosts you up.”
The win gave Richmond a 48–47 edge in the all-time series against VCU.
Stellar Stats
Women’s basketball also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. The Spiders faced Nebraska in the First Four at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, falling 75–56 to finish the year at 26–8. It was the third straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the team, a program record.
Maggie Doogan, who graduated earlier this month, was named the A-10 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for a second consecutive season. She finished her career as the No. 2 scorer in program history, with 2,138 points.
The team was No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll in October, the first top 25 ranking in program history.
Welcome, Coach Kresge!
The University of Richmond named Alisa Kresge head coach of Spider women’s basketball in April 2026. Kresge joins Richmond after eight successful seasons at the University of Vermont, where she led the Catamounts to three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years, three America East tournament titles, and two regular-season championships. A two-time America East Coach of the Year, Kresge brings a strong record of competitive success and student-athlete development as she leads the next chapter of Richmond women’s basketball.
All-Rookie Team.
Aiden Argabright was named to the A-10 Men’s Basketball All-Rookie Team, making him the first Spider to earn that honor since 2018. Argabright will be back on the court this fall for his sophomore season.
Making Connections
Spiders across generations come together.
From events that bring alumni back to campus, such as Homecoming and Reunion, to regional alumni gatherings and expanding industry and interest-specific programming, generations of Spiders are connecting with the University and one another.
President Hallock hosts alumni to talk Spider pride and progress.
Over the course of the academic year, hundreds of alumni and parents gathered for presidential receptions featuring University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock. The events, held in cities around the country, brought together graduates and parents to reconnect and hear updates on the University’s recent momentum and future priorities.
During Q&A sessions, Hallock highlighted recent University accomplishments and addressed challenges facing higher education nationally, noting that Richmond remains well-positioned.
When asked how alumni can support the University, Hallock encouraged continued engagement, optimism, and Spider pride.
Meet the Alumni Association president.
Rasheeda D. Chambers, a 2003 accounting graduate and assistant director of internal audit with Atlantic Union Bank, joined the University of Richmond Alumni Association board in 2019. Her service as the board’s president began on July 1, 2025.
“If I did not have a scholarship, I would not have been able to come to Richmond,” Rasheeda said. “So, for me, maintaining scholarships for students going forward is very important. I believe our charge as alumni is to show that our hearts are still there and we still care.”
Rasheeda also welcomed the Class of 2026 to the ranks of alumni at the Commencement ceremony on May 10. Read more about Chambers here.
Spider Dash 5K celebrates community and connection.
The fourth annual Spider Dash 5K drew Spiders from throughout the region, as well as Philadelphia and New York, back to campus. Roughly 40 alumni registered, joining UR students, staff, and faculty and using the time on campus to reconnect with classmates and revisit spaces that once shaped their daily routines.
Yosmary Rodriguez, a 2016 alum, made the trek back to campus from Charlotte, N.C., with her family, including her infant son.
“We came for the first time last year while I was pregnant,” she said. “We wanted to do it now that he’s here — making it a family tradition. We want him walking it next.”
UR Alumni Professional Network provides more connection points for Spiders.
A new series of gatherings seeks to help Richmond alumni connect professionally and learn about industry trends from one another.
The Alumni Professional Network offers a mix of online and in-person programs for alumni working in arts and entertainment, marketing and communications, government, finance, and technology. The sessions, which launched last spring, feature both networking-focused events and panel discussions on current topics.
Panels held throughout the fall included an online discussion on social media influencer marketing, a session on maximizing impact through technology integration held at Deloitte in Arlington, and a conversation about how AI is transforming industries held at LinkedIn in New York City.
Fueling our Progress
Spiders show up in an incredible way for UR Here Giving Day.
36 hours. 5,200+ donors. $3.4 million. Record-breaking numbers speak for themselves.
On April 8 and 9, 5,297 donors came together to raise $3.4 million for the University of Richmond — marking the most successful UR Here Giving Day ever.
Spiders around the world demonstrated their love for Richmond by supporting students, unlocking matches and challenges, and investing in Richmond’s future.
“It’s amazing to see what the University of Richmond community came together to achieve on our 8th Annual Giving Day,” said Martha Callaghan, vice president of advancement. “Each year, more alumni, parents, and members of our campus community are showing up for UR Here, and each year we’ve raised more money to support the incredible things happening on our campus.”
Support came from 2,025 alumni representing classes from 1950 to 2025, as well as 1,442 parents, 560 students, and 393 faculty and staff. Donors represented all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 19 countries.
Participants could designate their gifts to specific schools, departments, or athletic teams; student aid; or the UR Annual Fund. The Men’s Basketball Student Athlete Development Fund, the Men’s Lacrosse Fund, the UR Annual Fund (greatest needs), the Jepson School of Leadership Studies Dean’s Impact Fund, and the newly established Class of 2026 Scholarship saw high participation.
More than 350 students, faculty, staff, and local alumni gathered on the University Forum for a UR Here celebration, helping to unlock an additional $17,500. Additional events built momentum, including alumni receptions in New Jersey and New York with President Kevin F. Hallock, a Jepson Student Government Association event with a dunk tank, and “Happy UR Here Hour” celebrations in cities across the U.S. and in Rome.
Callaghan said she was grateful to the many Spiders who contributed.
“This effort shows that there is great strength in numbers — when everyone comes together, it strengthens our web.”
University of Richmond community rallies for students in need.
This year’s Spiders Helping Spiders also saw record participation. The fundraising campaign, held for one week in November, drew 1,525 donors and raised nearly $471,000 to support students.
Donors could direct their funds to three areas of need. Support for Financial Aid increased dramatically, rising 42% from 2024 to $262,958. Other areas included the Career Opportunity Fund ($75,756) and the Student Emergency Fund ($132,285).
Nearly 800 alumni spanning 71 years contributed, with classes ranging from 1954 to 2025 — a 17% increase in support. Additionally, 870 parents and grandparents of students and alumni made donations, a 5% boost from the previous year, and Spiders from throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Chile, Germany, France, China, Taiwan, and South Korea joined in the campaign.
One Class of 2027 parent who made a gift to the Career Opportunity Fund shared that their Spider was starting to look for internships, so they knew how important it was to find professional clothes.
“I hope our gift can help other Spiders feel as confident as possible about how they present themselves outwardly, as their UR education has undoubtedly taken care of the educational side of the equation,” the parent said.
One alum who went on to become a teacher wrote: “Thank you, Richmond, for all the amazing opportunities you offered me during my time. It was an invaluable blessing and some of my greatest memories. I love UR with all my heart.”
Alumni and families were generous with matching gifts, matching 1:1 and 2:1 for a total of $208,000.
“That level of generosity isn’t just a milestone — it’s a powerful statement about who we are as a community. When Spiders see a need, they step forward.”
$6 million gift to the University of Richmond will support expansion of the Wilton Center.
UR alums and longtime generous benefactors Carole and Marcus Weinstein will donate $6 million to the University of Richmond to support the expansion of the Wilton Center. The E. Carlton Wilton Center for Interfaith Campus Ministries provides space and programming for students of all backgrounds and faith traditions.
“We believe the Wilton Center plays an important role in fostering connection, understanding, and belonging on campus,” said Marcus Weinstein. “Our hope is that this expanded space will serve students for generations to come by encouraging meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and a stronger sense of community.”
Located next to Cannon Memorial Chapel, the Wilton Center is home to the Office of the Chaplaincy and partner campus ministries. Students use various spaces in the center for prayer, fellowship, small group discussions, and meeting space.
“Throughout our years at Richmond, we’ve seen how meaningful spaces can bring people together in powerful ways,” said Carole Weinstein. “We are excited to support the expansion of the Wilton Center and help create a welcoming environment where students from all backgrounds and faith traditions can gather, reflect, learn, and build community together.”
Architectural planning for this expansion project will begin soon.
“Our Chaplaincy communities are growing and thriving, and this success has surpassed the capacity of our building,” said Craig Kocher, dean of Religious and Spiritual Life, University Chaplain, and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Chaplaincy. “This generous gift from the Weinsteins will expand the Wilton Center and further allow the religious and spiritual communities at the University to continue to flourish and learn from each other.”
Among numerous contributions to campus, the Weinsteins donated $25 million to the University of Richmond to support the Weinstein Learning Center. The family’s gifts have also supported global engagement, scholarships, faculty chairs, well-being, and the Chaplaincy, including Jewish Life and its pilgrimage programs.
“Time and again, Carole and Marcus’s visionary leadership and profound generosity have enhanced the lives of our students and helped define the Richmond experience,” said University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock. “Their latest gift will further foster the religious and spiritual flourishing of our community.”
