American University Washington College of Law celebrated the Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16, honoring graduates entering the legal profession at a pivotal moment for democracy, justice, and the rule of law.

Delivering the commencement address was U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, former AUWCL constitutional law professor, and co-founder of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.

Returning to a campus where he taught for 25 years, Raskin reflected on his long history with AUWCL and challenged graduates to recognize the responsibility they now carry as lawyers.

“Every part of the Constitution just sits there on paper, waiting for a citizen or lawyer to come along and make it real,” Raskin told graduates. “The law in 2026 will only be as strong as your understanding of it, your physical and mental energy to engage with it, and above all, your moral and existential courage to fight for it.”

Throughout his remarks, Raskin emphasized that law is not self-executing and urged graduates to become active defenders of justice, constitutional democracy, and freedom.

Interim Dean Heather Hughes reminded graduates that AUWCL was founded by women during the fight for enfranchisement and has spent 130 years preparing advocates committed to justice and the rule of law.

“The rule of law lives in people,” Hughes said. “It is an abstract concept that becomes real through the actions of people committed to law-based values.”

Hughes encouraged graduates to rely on one another throughout their careers and welcomed them into AUWCL’s more than 22,000-member alumni community, emphasizing that the relationships formed at AUWCL would continue to inform and inspire them long after graduation.

During the ceremony, Hughes also recognized retiring faculty members Brenda V. Smith, Professor Emerita; Adeen Postar, Law Librarian Emerita; and Stephen Wermiel, Professor of Practice Emeritus for their scholarship, teaching, and service to generations of AUWCL students.

American University President Jonathan Alger encouraged graduates to lead with curiosity, humility, and ethical judgment as technology and artificial intelligence continue reshaping society.

“Let technology be a tool, but never a substitute for judgment, ethics, or human connection,” Alger said.

This year’s student speaker, Nicholas Menacho-Foronda, Student Bar Association president and a first-generation law student, delivered deeply personal remarks reflecting on family, sacrifice, resilience, and the meaning of opportunity.

The son of Bolivian immigrants, Menacho-Foronda shared memories of growing up with parents who worked long hours while building a better future for their family. He spoke about lessons learned from his father while working construction jobs together and the sacrifices that made his legal education possible.

“My name doesn’t matter,” Menacho-Foronda said. “Because today, I stand here not just as one person, but as a story many of us share. A story about being first.”

Reflecting on the journey of the Class of 2026, Menacho-Foronda described AUWCL as a “modern odyssey,” where students arrived “on the beaches of uncertainty,” navigated challenge after challenge, and ultimately found community and purpose.

“This school didn’t just create lawyers,” he said. “It created heroes. People who care, people who fight, and people who lead.”

He also challenged graduates to remain connected to future AUWCL students and support those who follow.

“There will come a day when a WCL student will reach out asking for help,” Menacho-Foronda said. “Lift them up. Answer the call for aid.”

The ceremony celebrated graduates across AUWCL’s JD, LLM, SJD, MLS, and certificate programs and marked their transition from students to alumni, advocates, and future leaders.

As graduates crossed the stage and turned their tassels, the ceremony reflected both the culmination of years of study and the beginning of new journeys dedicated to service, leadership, and justice.

Raskin closed with a reminder that protecting democracy and strengthening the rule of law now rests with the next generation of lawyers.

“Stand on the side of justice rather than on the side of power if they come into conflict,” he told graduates. “When everything was hopeless, my dad used to say, ‘You’re the hope.’ I see a lot of hope out there today.”

Check out the 2026 gallery.