5/18/2026

Delaware Law School celebrated the class of 2026 on May 14 under the commencement tent on Memorial Field, where hundreds of family members, friends, faculty and alumni gathered to honor a class defined by resilience, purpose and deep community connection. From the opening notes of the National Anthem to the final recessional, the ceremony carried a theme each speaker returned to in their own way: the idea that success in the legal profession is built not only on intellect and discipline, but on the people who walk beside you.

Provost Mark Nicosia opened the ceremony by welcoming graduates and introducing the platform party, faculty and university leadership team. He emphasized the collective effort behind each student’s achievement, noting the faculty’s role in guiding, challenging and championing students throughout their time at Delaware Law. 
President Stacey Robertson followed with an address centered on the science of positivity. Drawing on research in positive psychology, she encouraged graduates to cultivate habits that fuel resilience and long-term success—gratitude journaling, meditation, acts of kindness and regular movement. 

“We become more successful when we are happier and more positive,” Robertson said. 

She urged graduates to embrace positivity not as a denial of challenges but as a mindset that broadens creativity, strengthens relationships and supports well-being. Her message offered graduates a practical roadmap for navigating the pressures of the legal profession with balance and intention.

Dean Todd Clark then introduced valedictorian Kenneth DiFilippo, highlighting his exceptional academic record, leadership of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law and service as a Josiah Oliver Wolcott fellow. Clark noted this class holds special meaning for him, as it was the first cohort he recruited as dean. The students’ growth and leadership have shaped the culture of the law school, he said. 

Kenneth DiFilippo’s address blended humor and sincerity as he reflected on the shared challenges of law school, from cold calls to caffeine-fueled study sessions. He thanked families, professors, mentors and classmates for their support and emphasized his excitement to enter the profession alongside his peers. 

“What excites me is the opportunity to practice with all of you,” DiFilippo said.

The ceremony’s keynote address came from Justice N. Christopher Griffiths of the Delaware Supreme Court, who delivered a powerful message centered on the idea of “making family wherever you go.” As the first Black man to serve on Delaware’s highest court, Griffiths spoke candidly about humility, kindness, and the importance of treating everyone, from paralegals to parking attendants, with dignity and respect. He shared personal stories illustrating how compassion can forge lifelong bonds, reminding graduates the Delaware Way is rooted in civility and humanity. 

“It doesn’t cost a thing to be kind,” Griffiths said.

He urged graduates to build community across differences and carry those values into their careers.

In his closing remarks, Clark urged graduates to enter the profession as advocates for justice, reminding them that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” He celebrated their leadership, global diversity and commitment to service, and closed with a familiar call-and-response used throughout the law school: “We will — pass the first time,” “We are — the Pride,” and “The Pride — never rests.”

As the ceremony concluded and graduates stepped out from under the tent to meet the people who supported them, one message echoed above all others: success in the law is built on community. The class of 2026 now moves forward carrying not only their degrees but the professional family they built at Delaware Law, ready to make their mark on the legal profession and the communities they will serve.