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The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Stockbridge School of Agriculture celebrated its Class of 2026 associate degree graduates at the school’s 104^th Commencement on Saturday, May 16 in Stockbridge Hall’s Bowker Auditorium.

The Stockbridge School is one of the oldest and most prestigious agricultural programs in North America, and this year’s 19 graduates each received an associate of science degree in one of five majors: Arboriculture and community forest management, landscape contracting, sustainable food and farming, sustainable horticulture and turfgrass management.

After graduates processed into the Bowker Auditorium, accompanied by a fanfare from the UMass Amherst Graduate Brass Quintet, alumnus Kevin Hollister ’78 sang the National Anthem. Baoshan Xing, director of the Stockbridge School, welcomed the assembled students and their families before Michael Fox, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, praised the graduates for their work in joining a prestigious tradition. 

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“Our two-year programs stretch their roots all the way back to 1893, when the leaders of the Massachusetts Agriculture College identified the need for training students in applied and practical agriculture,” said Fox. “For over 100 years, these two-year programs have played key roles in preparing generations of students to enter our state’s farming and green industry sectors.”

“How wonderful it is to be with a group of optimists today,” UMass Amherst Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Fouad Abd-El-Khalick said to the assembled students during his remarks. “You have faith that the rain will come when it is needed and that the sun will take its turn. You have faith that crops will grow, and herds will produce. And year after year—generation of Stockbridge graduates after generation of graduates—you aim to do things better than they have been done before….You are literally and symbolically growing the future of the commonwealth, our nation, and our world.”

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Xing presented the Stockbridge School’s two most prestigious awards: The John W. Denison Award and the Roland H. Verbeck Award.

The Denison Award for Academic Achievement and Student Leadership was presented to Ryan Libby of the landscape contracting program, who was recognized for his academic discipline, passion and enthusiasm for the program, strong work ethic, team sportsmanship and willingness to embrace challenges.

The Verbeck Award is given to a student who exemplifies and upholds the ideals and spirit of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Roland Verbeck was director from 1928 to 1954. During his term, Verbeck was known for his boundless enthusiasm.

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This year’s Verbeck award went to Grace Doyle, a sustainable horticulture graduate. Doyle was recognized for her motivation, passion and positive attitude. “Doyle represents the spirit of the Stockbridge School through her perseverance, dependability and unwavering commitment to agriculture,” read the citation.

Jordyn Bolognani, James F. McHugh Jr. and Miryam E. Rosenberg were each recognized for their academic distinction in maintaining a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74, which Brianna L. Caponigro and Ryan A. Libby were inducted into Lear, the Stockbridge School Honorary Scholastic Society, for each maintaining a cumulative average of 3.75 or higher through the third semester of their program.

The graduates were then conferred their degrees and pinned each other with the traditional Stockbridge pin, which symbolizes the connections they share with one another and the greater Stockbridge alumni community.

The associate degree recipients of the Class of 2026 are:

Arboriculture and Community Forest Management

Owen F. Abrams
Chloe J. Espinal
Cyrus J. Gonsalves
Julian R. Hynes
Aiden Tulchin
 

Landscape Contracting

Benjamin Belisle
Connor A. Cuggino
Ryan A. Libby
James F. McHugh Jr.
Emmanuel J. Vasiliadis
 

Sustainable Food and Farming

Brianna L. Caponigro
John C. Nicotera
Isabella S. Roberts
Miryam E. Rosenberg
 

Sustainable Horticulture

Jordyn Bolognani
Grace C. Doyle
Michele M. Meder (January graduate)
 

Turfgrass Management

David L. Buell
Zachary T. Sullivan
Emmanuel J. Vasiliadis
Jacob C. Dolan (January graduate)
Peter D. Lopata (January graduate)