More than 9,000 Sacramento State students graduate in record-setting class
Sacramento State graduates reflect on AI and the future of work
MILESTONE THIS WEEK AS THEY PREPARE TO STEP INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER. AN EXCITING TIME FOR THEM. GRADUATION IS UNDERWAY AT THE GOLDEN ONE CENTER IN KCRA 3’S. DUBLIN CORTEZ IS THERE. THIS IS THE LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS IN STATE HISTORY. A LOT OF STINGERS. IT IS. IT’S THE LARGEST GRADUATION CLASS FOR THE SCHOOL FOR ITS NEARLY 79 YEARS THAT IT’S BEEN FOUNDED. WE’VE BEEN. MY GAME THAT I’M PLAYING IS WHO’S THE LOUDEST PARENT CHEERING ON FOR THEIR CHILD. BUT THE SCHOOL IS EXPECTING MORE THAN 9000 STUDENTS TO GRADUATE. THAT’S AN 11% INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR’S GRADUATION CLASS. WE’RE CURRENTLY AT THE SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATION, MATH AND SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING SCHOOLS, BUT WE’VE HEARD A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS FROM STUDENTS. THEY’RE EXCITED FOR THIS NEW CHAPTER, FOR WHAT IT BRINGS. THEY’RE ALSO A BIT NERVOUS FOR THE FUTURE, BUT IT’S ALL IN GOOD FAITH BECAUSE FOR FOUR YEARS THEY’VE BEEN PRACTICING. THEY’VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, GOING TO SCHOOL, HAVING DEADLINES, AND NOW ALL THAT IS OVER AND NOW IT’S TIME TO HIT THE REAL WORLD. SO ALL THOSE THINGS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RECORD NUMBER OF SACRAMENTO STATE STUDENTS ARE CELEBRATING A MAJOR MILESTONE WITH THE UNIVERSITY EXPECTING 9170 GRADUATES THIS YEAR, MAKING IT THE LARGEST GRADUATION CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY. COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES ARE HAPPENING THROUGH SATURDAY AT GOLDEN ONE CENTER, WITH STUDENTS CROSSING THE STAGE IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. SAC STATE LEADERS SAY MANY OF THIS YEAR’S GRADUATES OVERCAME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, WORKED WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL. THAT’S A BIG COMMON ONE, AND SOME ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE. WE’RE EXCITED, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE HOLDS SO MUCH. I JUST GOT A JOB. PRAISE GOD AND JUST YEAH, IT’S AWESOME. I JUST GOT HIRED AT A GREAT COMPANY, PART OF BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, DOING UNDERWRITING, UNDERWRITING IN PROFESSIONAL LINES. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IT MAKES YOU REALLY PROUD WHEN YOU SEE YOUR GRANDKIDS COME UP LIKE THAT, AND THEY’RE DOING WELL AND THEY’RE SO UPRIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST GOOD PEOPLE MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. IT’S SUCH AN INSPIRING MOMENT, HONESTLY, TO HEAR THESE PARENTS, THESE STUDENTS COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THIS ONE MOMENT, RIGHT? IT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN A PERSON’S LIFE. THESE GRADUATIONS WILL CONTINUE UP UNTIL TOMORROW WITH THE HEALTH AND SCIENCES. I BELIEVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GRADUATION TOMORROW, AND THE COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES TOMORROW HERE AT GOLDEN ONE CENTER IN SACRAMENTO. DOZENS OF CORTEZ KCRA NEWS. IT’S AN EXCITING TIME, AND I’M JUST CURIOUS. THESE GRADS, THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. WHAT ARE THEY TELLING US ABOUT THEIR PLANS? YEAH, I MEAN, A LOT OF MIXED ANSWERS. I THINK THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE DISCUSSION WHEN DISCUSSING WITH STUDENTS WAS, HOW DO YOU EXPECT THIS NEXT CHAPTER? FOUR YEARS OF STUDYING. NOW YOU GOT TO APPLY IT TO THE REAL WORLD. A LOT OF THEM EXCITED. WE GOT ON THE SUBJECT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. I SPOKE WITH A BUSINESS STUDENT. HE ACTUALLY WELCOMED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. HE SAYS THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT HIS JOB WITH THE NEW PROGRAMING. IT COULD ACTUALLY DEVELOP NEW CAPABILITIES THAT IT COULD USE OTHERS A LITTLE MIXED ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BUT THE OVERALL SENTIMENT IS A NEW CHAPTER, A NEW START TO LIFE. AND I THINK A L
More than 9,000 Sacramento State students graduate in record-setting class
Sacramento State graduates reflect on AI and the future of work
Updated: 6:54 PM PDT May 22, 2026
More than 9,000 Sacramento State graduates filled Golden 1 Center on Friday as the university celebrated the largest graduating class in its nearly 80-year history.Sacramento State projects 9,178 graduates for the 2025-26 academic year, an 11% increase from last year and about 900 more graduates walking across the stage. University officials said roughly 44,000 graduates and guests were expected to attend the two-day commencement celebration.“Commencement is more than a ceremony. It is a reflection of our students’ growth, resolve and dedication throughout their academic journey,” Sacramento State President Luke Wood said in a statement.For graduates, the moment marked the end of years of sacrifice and hard work.“No more assignments, no more deadlines. It’s just awesome,” graduate Karina Mois said.Others reflected on entering a rapidly changing workforce shaped by artificial intelligence. Zaid Sharif, who graduated with a degree in management information systems for business, said artificial intelligence could create opportunities instead of fear.“A lot of people look at it as a negative, but I feel like it’s a positive and could actually help out a lot in jobs,” Sharif said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
More than 9,000 Sacramento State graduates filled Golden 1 Center on Friday as the university celebrated the largest graduating class in its nearly 80-year history.
Sacramento State projects 9,178 graduates for the 2025-26 academic year, an 11% increase from last year and about 900 more graduates walking across the stage. University officials said roughly 44,000 graduates and guests were expected to attend the two-day commencement celebration.
“Commencement is more than a ceremony. It is a reflection of our students’ growth, resolve and dedication throughout their academic journey,” Sacramento State President Luke Wood said in a statement.
For graduates, the moment marked the end of years of sacrifice and hard work.
“No more assignments, no more deadlines. It’s just awesome,” graduate Karina Mois said.
Others reflected on entering a rapidly changing workforce shaped by artificial intelligence. Zaid Sharif, who graduated with a degree in management information systems for business, said artificial intelligence could create opportunities instead of fear.
“A lot of people look at it as a negative, but I feel like it’s a positive and could actually help out a lot in jobs,” Sharif said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel