Down the Aisle and Across the Stage: Sending Off the Class of 2026 with a Puzzle from the Heart
On Monday, May 18, the 58 members of the BUA Class of 2026 crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from Head of School Chris Kolovos and Associate Head of School Rosemary White as part of BUA’s 32nd Commencement exercises. The ceremony, held at BU’s Tsai Performance Center, featured student addresses from Angelique Pacombe-Jones ’26 and Owen Bergstein ’26, each of whom offered powerful reflections on their BUA experiences and hopes for their classmates as they head off to write the next chapters. Angel Dong ’26 and Nick Kohl ’26 recited the Classics orations in Latin and Greek, respectively.
Will Shortz, New York Times Crossword Editor and puzzle master for NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday,” delivered what one longtime faculty member called the “most BUA” keynote address in memory. In what he himself dubbed “the nerdiest commencement speech ever,” Shortz led the graduates and assembled guests through a BUA-themed acrostic puzzle that he created specially for the occasion. From the very first clue, it was clear that Shortz understood the assignment – and his audience. The solution revealed an elided quote from BU’s most esteemed alumnus, Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it…The surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”
This quotation had personal resonance for Shortz, who shared that his motivation and his life’s work in puzzles is bringing joy to others. It was a fitting parting message for our graduates, who, throughout their time at BUA, have been counseled to “be a person for others.” Our hope for the Class of 2026 is that they go out into the world to fulfill their dreams and reach their potential not at the expense of others, but in service to them. Their grid is wide open — and we can’t wait to see what they fill it with.
The official photographs from Commencement are available at this link; the full video of the ceremony is available here.