Student Voices Take the Stage at Commencement 2026

Following a competitive audition process that required candidates to deliver a three-to-five-minute speech before a panel of students, faculty and staff, Jason McGettrick ’26 and Elizabeth Linehan, M.Ed. ’26, have been selected as the student speakers for Commencement 2026. They will join Leo J. Meehan III ’75, president and chief executive officer of W.B. Mason Company, Inc., in addressing graduates at the ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

As they finalize their remarks in the coming weeks, McGettrick and Linehan recently reflected on their Stonehill experiences, shared what they believe makes an impactful speech and offered insights into their futures. 

Undergraduate Speaker Jason McGettrick ’26 

McGettrick, who hails from Plymouth, Massachusetts, is a computer science major with minors in computer engineering and communication. During his time at Stonehill, he served as co-president of the Association of Computing Machinery, a member of the Student Alumni Association, a member of Best Buddies, a learning assistant for the Department of Computer Science and a peer tutor in the MacPháidín Library. 

This won’t be your first time giving a Commencement speech, will it?

It won’t. I gave a speech when I graduated as valedictorian from Plymouth North High School. 

Why did the prospect of speaking at another graduation ceremony appeal to you?

I like writing speeches. I also have a lot of fun speaking in public, which might sound odd to people. And one of my favorite things to do is to try to motivate others, especially people who I care about. All those things considered, I figured, why not go for it?

What lessons did you learn from speaking at your high school graduation that you will apply to this upcoming experience?

I’ve come to realize that incorporating humor into a speech is an important part of connecting with the audience. Also, motivation is critical to delivering a good Commencement speech because you’re helping send graduates off to the rest of their lives.

Without spoiling it, what lessons do you hope the audience will draw from your upcoming speech?

I want people to take away how important it is to be mindful. We spend so much time thinking about everything but the present that we really miss out on the amazing things that happen in our day-to-day lives.

What’s next for you after Commencement?

I recently accepted a job at General Dynamics Mission Systems as a junior software engineer. I’ll be starting sometime around August. Step one is enjoying my summer break; then step two is getting to work.

Graduate Speaker Elizabeth Linehan, M.Ed. ’26 

Linehan currently lives in Brighton, Massachusetts, and works as a behavioral therapist and career strategies teacher at Newton North High School. She will graduate from Stonehill with a Master of Education in Special Education, 5–12 degree. She previously completed undergraduate studies at Endicott College.

Why did you choose to pursue a graduate degree at Stonehill College?

My brother, Kevin Linehan '08, is also a graduate of Stonehill, and he has always spoken so highly of the school, so I was very familiar with the campus and Easton in general.

Beyond that, the school where I currently work, Newton North High School, sent an email about the graduate opportunities available through the Stonehill in Boston weekend master’s degree program, which is run out of Brighton. At the time, I had just moved to that area, so it felt like a sign that I should apply.

How will receiving a graduate degree from Stonehill impact your career?

I’m so passionate about working with students. I’ve been in this field for 16 years. I’m committed to improving myself so that I can become the best educator possible and support my students in meaningful ways. This degree has helped me achieve that goal. 

Why were you interested in pursuing the Commencement student speaker opportunity? 

I loved my degree program. I learned so much from faculty like Rebekah Louis, Patricia Mason, Jennifer Bryson, Brittany Claiborne-Naranjo and Elizabeth Llorca. I really wanted to find a way to thank them. This provides me with an opportunity to do that. The same goes for the people in my cohort, who became like my second family. Overall, I really wanted to share how meaningful my experience in the program was.

What do you think makes a good graduation speech? How will you try to implement those qualities in your own speech during Commencement?

Making your speech personal is important. I’ve tried to personalize my speech to the people in my cohort with whom I’ve spent the past year and a half, while also recognizing the experiences of everyone else who will be at Commencement. 

Speaking from the heart is also valuable. It was easy for me to write this speech for that reason. When you’ve had a meaningful experience, it’s easy to talk about.

What about Commencement are you most looking forward to?

I think I’m most excited about being there with everyone from my cohort and celebrating this milestone as a group because we really did work through it all together.

Join us for our Commencement livestream on Sunday, May 17, to watch Jason and Elizabeth deliver their remarks (the video will be available here). The full text of their speeches will be available on our website following the ceremony.