Nearly 7,000 students crossed the stage and got their diplomas from Duke University on Sunday.
The ceremony began at 9 a.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium. Microsoft executive vice president and CFO Amy Hood, a Duke graduate, delivered the commencement address. You can watch the entire ceremony here or on WRAL's YouTube page.
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Travel will be busy
Mother's Day weekend is peak travel time, and Raleigh Durham International Airport anticipates over 280,000 passengers between May 8-11. The Monday after Mother's Day and commencement weekend is one of the busiest travel days of the year at RDU. Last year, the airport set a new single-day record on Monday, May 13, with nearly 59,000 travelers passing through the airport.
RDU recommends the following to keep the weekend running smoothly:
- Anyone picking up arriving passengers should wait in the free cellphone lot located at 1000 Trade Drive, just a few minutes from the terminals.
- Have your loved one call when they land, then give them 30 minutes to deplane, collect their luggage and meet you in the parking lot of terminal curb.
- Departing passengers should arrive to the airport early. Give yourself two hours for a domestic flight and three hours for international flights.
- Make sure to have your REAL ID or passport handy.
'Lower your bar a little': Microsoft CFO addresses Duke grads
Duke University's Class of 2026 commencement ceremony was held on Sunday, May 10, at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Hood, a Duke graduate, received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree before delivering the commencement speech, sharing messages of inspiration and comfort for the graduating class.
"I can't believe I'm saying this to some of the most accomplished young people on the planet, but maybe lower your bar a little," Hood said. "Be open that something may not be exactly right but could turn out to be a perfect place to learn about yourself -- what you like [and] what you don't. All the steps matter, and it took me decades to figure that out."
She went on to address the graduates, "What's remarkable about your generation is you mostly already know that you've been adapting your whole lives, and that's a superpower."
Thousands graduated on Saturday in the Triangle
NC State graduation and commencement ceremonies
The North Carolina State University class of 2026 held graduation on Saturday, May 9, in Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
The commencement speaker was NC State alumnus Harry Sideris, the CEO of Duke Energy. The student speaker was Tonya Henderson Gatling, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in leadership in the public sector.
A livestream of the ceremony is available at go.ncsu.edu/WatchCommencement and on the NC State Facebook page. Visit NC State’s website for more information.
UNC graduation and commencement ceremonies
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill class of 2026 ceremony was held Saturday.
The commencement speaker was country musician and North Carolina native Eric Church.
NC Central University graduation ceremonies
Commencement speakers included Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd, Ray Lewis, professional football Hall of Famer, and former U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina, Dena J. King.
The ceremonies can be found on the university’s website and YouTube channel.
Visit North Carolina Central University’s website for more information.
William Peace University
A livestream is available on the university's YouTube page.
Meredith College
The commencement speaker was Valerie Bauerlein, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
Shaw University
Edwina Findley Dickerson, an award-winning actress, was the 2026 commencement speaker.
Campbell University
Commencement ceremonies were held between May 7 and 9. Visit Campbell's website for more information.