Northwood University Celebrates Class of 2026 with Messages of Hope, Responsibility, and Freedom
Northwood University celebrated the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 9, during a full day of commencement ceremonies that honored nearly 600 graduates and featured messages rooted in freedom, personal responsibility, earned success and principled leadership.
The day opened with remarks from Northwood University President Kent MacDonald, who offered a commencement message centered on hope — not as a vague ideal, but as a reflection of the character and potential he sees in Northwood graduates.
He described Northwood graduates as clear thinkers, steady leaders and people of character who understand that freedom is not only a privilege, but a responsibility, and that free enterprise is not simply about profit, but about service and building something of value for others.
“These graduates understand the power of free people and free markets and personal responsibility,” MacDonald said. “And in some ways, most importantly, these graduates have come to understand through their journey here at Northwood that success in life does not come from a university credential. Like your parents and grandparents, these graduates understand that success must be earned.”
“They know these values well because here at Northwood, there is something that we call The Northwood Idea,” MacDonald added, referencing Northwood’s guiding philosophy that emphasizes free enterprise, limited government, individual responsibility, moral law and earned success.
He told graduates that The Northwood Idea will continue to travel with them as they lead teams, start companies, serve in uniform, participate in public life and contribute to their communities.
“As you leave the ceremony today, feel confident in bringing The Northwood Idea into every room that you enter,” MacDonald said. “Compete with courage, humility, and confidence. Keep your promises. Treat people — and I mean all people — with dignity. Care for your friends and love your family well.”
MacDonald’s message was shaped by a question he was asked recently: “As president of America’s Free Enterprise University, what’s your hope for America this year?”
His answer, he said, was simple: “My hope is that the country has more Northwood graduates in the years ahead. I often say, when I’m speaking publicly, the country needs more Northwood University, and I believe that.”
The 9 a.m. ceremony featured keynote speaker Dr. Gabriel Benzecry, Northwood’s David E. Fry Professor of Free Market Economics. Benzecry encouraged graduates to embrace freedom, personal responsibility and the opportunity to contribute to human progress through their own choices, work and character. His remarks highlighted free enterprise, individual choice and the responsibility that comes with freedom.
“Your primary role is not to redesign society from the top down. Your role is to embrace freedom and the opportunity that has been granted to you, to self-actualize, and to pursue virtue,” Benzecry said.
Northwood continued its commencement celebration at noon by honoring Rita Case, president, CEO and owner of The Rick Case Automotive Group, with an honorary doctorate. Case leads the largest U.S. auto retail group owned and operated by a woman and has earned national recognition for her leadership in the automotive industry. Her career and service reflect entrepreneurship, resilience, customer focus and the values Northwood works to instill in students.
The day concluded with a 3 p.m. ceremony featuring Mary Kissel, executive vice president and senior policy adviser at Stephens Inc. Kissel’s career has spanned journalism, finance, public service, and global affairs. She has advised political leaders, Fortune 500 CEOs, and institutional investors on geopolitics, markets, and strategy, and previously served as senior adviser to the U.S. secretary of state. She also received an honorary doctorate. In her address, she encouraged graduates to recognize the extraordinary opportunity they have as citizens of a free nation and as graduates of a university rooted in free enterprise.
“I have spent my life, my career, supporting free markets and free people, and I want to talk to you today about how fortunate we are to live in this country at this moment in time,” Kissel said. “Northwood, the Class of 2026, you are poised to prosper.”
Kissel acknowledged that graduates are entering a world marked by political division, rapidly changing technology and global instability. But she urged them not to be intimidated by the moment.
“My message to you today is: Don’t worry. Embrace it. You have your freedom. You are free,” Kissel said. “Freedom is the ultimate competitive edge in life when coupled, as President MacDonald said, with hard work. It is what makes our nation unique, and the envy of the world, as we celebrate our 250th year.”
Drawing from her experiences in Russia and Hong Kong, Kissel contrasted life in free societies with life under communist and authoritarian regimes. She recalled witnessing post-Soviet Moscow begin to open to Western investment and culture, and later seeing Hong Kong residents defend the freedoms that distinguished their city from communist China.
“The moral here is that like the Russians, the Hong Kongers did not want to be more like communist China,” Kissel said. “They wanted to be more like us. More like you. Free.”
Kissel closed by connecting the graduates’ future opportunities to The Northwood Idea.
“I believe that you will, because you are grounded in The Northwood Idea — the idea that freedom and liberty and success will be rewarded,” Kissel said. “So get out into the world. Seize these opportunities in your future. Keep building this great nation. And remember: Your ultimate advantage is freedom. The free markets, free people and all of your hard work.”
Together, the three ceremonies allowed Northwood to recognize graduates across academic programs while highlighting the institutional strengths that define America’s Free Enterprise University. For more information, visit northwood.edu.