The University of Findlay will host Commencement ceremonies for 2026 graduates on the morning and afternoon of Saturday, May 2 in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex.
The Class of 2026 is comprised of 841 students, ranging from the ages of 18 to 63, and they have completed 19 associate degrees, 504 bachelor’s degrees, 210 master’s degrees, and 122 doctoral degrees.
Graduates come from 28 countries and 30 states, including 565 from Ohio. There also are seven veterans or currently-serving members of the U.S. military in this class.
One College Credit Plus (CCP) student is graduating from high school this spring – and also graduating from UF with an Associate of Arts in General Studies, gaining a jump start on a college career.
The Class of 2026 joins 28,408 living alumni of Findlay College and University of Findlay around the world.
Christine Denecker, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs, will serve as the keynote speaker for the morning’s graduate ceremony. She oversees five colleges and more than 80 academic programs.
Denecker graduated from Bluffton College with degrees in communication and English education and earned her master’s degree in English and her Ph.D. in rhetoric and writing from Bowling Green State University. In her 22 years at UF, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Education. Most recently, she served as associate vice president for learning and innovation.
Denecker is the founder of UF’s Teaching Partners Program, and much of her career has been dedicated to supporting the professional development of UF faculty. She currently serves on the Hancock Historical Museum board, the Bluffton Public Library Foundation Board and is president of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, the accrediting body for dual enrollment.
Her publications include the award-winning edited collection: The Dual Enrollment Kaleidoscope: Reconfiguring Perceptions of First Year Writing and Composition Studies and her research has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals.
At the afternoon undergraduate ceremony, Chris Ostrander, chairman of the UF Board of Trustees, will address the graduates and will be presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Business Leadership.
With nearly three decades of executive leadership experience, Ostrander’s career brought him, his wife, Dina, and their family to Findlay through Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, where he served as president of the Americas business from 2011 to 2015.
Ostrander currently is president of Nokian Tyres North America, following five years of service on Nokian Tyres’ board of directors in Helsinki, Finland. He also is a limited partner and board advisor for Tamarind Hill Management, strategic partner for SKV Invest GmbH, and a member of the board of advisors for Bluegrass Alpha Partners – all active in the venture capital sector.
“Chris has led multinational organizations in a wide range of industries and has provided the University with valuable leadership insights for 16 years as a member and chairman of our Board of Trustees,” President Katherine Fell, Ph.D., said. “His proficiency in today’s business world guides UF as we educate strong, global leaders of the future.”
Ostrander served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also holds a master’s degree in engineering management from Missouri University of Science and Technology and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
He additionally has been involved in community service on the boards of several Findlay-area organizations, including the United Way, YMCA, Humane Society, and the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.
The graduate ceremony’s formal procession begins at 9 a.m. For the undergraduate ceremony, the formal procession begins at 2 p.m. Following each ceremony, graduates will participate in Findlay’s long-standing tradition of marching back through the Griffith Memorial Arch.
Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live by UFTV on its YouTube Channel, UFTV Productions.
Additionally, a Baccalaureate Worship Service will take place at 6 p.m., Friday, May 1 in the TLB auditorium of Winebrenner to honor and support the graduating Class of 2026 with encouragement and prayers. The Christian faith-based ceremony invites all participants to reflect, celebrate, and send the UF graduates forward with hope and blessings.
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