The Future is Scarlet: Class of 2026
5/17/2026
Rutgers University will host the 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 17, the 260th anniversary for the State University of New Jersey. Many of those in attendance will reflect on their time ‘On the Banks,’ marking personal milestones and academic achievements. For a special group of newly minted alumni, it will signal the culmination of their collegiate athletic careers as Scarlet Knights.
Several graduating members of the Class of 2026 shared their perspective representing Rutgers Athletics and how their time as Scarlet Knights has forever shaped them.
Go RU!
Jordan Thompson
Football
Major: Sport Management (BS); Masters in Supply Chain Management
Why Rutgers: I’m from Jersey and always wanted to play for my home state, plus my mom ran track here.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: Every Blackout game, playing in that environment is unmatched.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: Time management is one of the best skills to have in life.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Enjoy every moment, you will miss it when it’s gone.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: I was able to finish with my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and I learned a lot of life skills playing football.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: My teammates.
Future career aspirations: Starting my own business or being around sports in any way.
Justin Lawler
Men’s Lacrosse
Major: Criminal Justice
Why Rutgers: I chose Rutgers because of the vicinity to home and the opportunities to succeed both athletically and academically.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: The bus rides to and from away games playing family feud or 20 questions passing time with my teammates.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: I would tell my freshman self to never give up no matter how hard it gets and continue doing what others won’t in order to get what you want and be a leader by example at all times.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Motivation comes and goes but discipline to the process and the details will always allow you to succeed when your ready. Fall in love with the process and be detached from the outcome and everything will work out.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: I’m going to miss the people that made my Rutgers experience so enjoyable from every class. I gave some of the upperclassmen their tours of campus and to become friends and teammates with them was a full circle wholesome moment.
Future career aspirations: I commission into the U.S. Army in May and I’m planning to finish my master’s this summer and then I head down to Georgia for Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course.
Paige Floriea
Track and Field
Major: Communication and Labor & Employment Relations
Why Rutgers: I chose Rutgers because of the coaching staff here. I have never met college coaches who care so much about their athletes.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: Making it to Nationals for the first time. When I realized I made it out of the NCAA East Regional, it was the happiest moment. I was so proud that all my hard work that season had paid off.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: I would tell my freshman self that it always gets better. Keeping my head up every day to know there are better things coming soon.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Be open to every opportunity that comes your way. This will ensure you make the best of your four years.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: My time as Rutgers has made me a better person. I have become happier, healthier, and a more complete person since being here.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: What I will miss most is being part of something bigger than myself.
Future career aspirations: My career aspiration is to work in collegiate athletics in operations.
Allie Post
Women’s Soccer
Major: Finance
Why Rutgers: I chose Rutgers because it had everything I was looking for. Strong academics, a really good support system for student-athletes, and it’s close to home. Being New Jersey bred, there’s also a lot of pride in representing Rutgers and playing for my home state. It just felt like the best place to grow both on the field and in the classroom.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: My greatest Rutgers memory was our Big Ten Tournament semifinal penalty shootout victory versus USC. It went into double overtime and ended in PKs, and getting the win in that kind of game was something you dream of. It was played at the MLS stadium in St. Louis which made it even more surreal. What stood out most, though, was sharing it with my teammates. We put in a lot together over the season, and to come through in that environment and situation made it really meaningful. It's genuinely not just my greatest Rutgers memory, but one of my greatest memories period.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: I’d tell her that there’s so much more to the experience than soccer. At the time, everything felt like it revolved around performance and playing, but over the years I realized how important it is to build a life beyond the game. Some of the most meaningful parts of my time at Rutgers came from the relationships I built, the leadership opportunities I stepped into, and the experiences I had outside of soccer. I’d tell myself to stay invested in my sport, but not let it be everything. Take advantage of the people around you, focus on growing as a person, and trust that the rest will fall into place.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: It’s simple: trust the process. Work hard and have fun. Enjoy it because it goes by fast.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: It has shaped me into the person I am today in ways that go far beyond the field. Being a Division I athlete in the Big Ten taught me lessons I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else, especially around hard work, discipline, and leadership. It also taught me how to build strong relationships with teammates, adults and classmates. Overall, it pushed me to grow in every aspect of my life.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: My teammates. My best friends came from being part of a team environment and a lot of that was built through the hard days. You take it for granted at the time, but I will genuinely miss the days where we were pushing ourselves and each other, putting our bodies on the line, and working toward something bigger than ourselves. Being surrounded by a group of incredibly hardworking girls and going through that grind together is what made those relationships so strong, and that’s what I’ll miss the most.
Future career aspirations: I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do long term. I studied finance as an undergrad, but this fall I’ll be moving to England to pursue my master’s in marketing and play for Durham University. I want to find a way to combine my career with something I’m really passionate about. Right now, my dream company would be ESPN, working in a sports marketing role focused on women’s sports where I can help increase visibility and grow viewership.
Liam Tilton
Men’s Cross Country
Major: Finance and Supply Chain Management
Why Rutgers: I chose Rutgers mostly because of family. I grew up in Highland Park, my parents met while running for the track team at Rutgers, and both my older brothers graduated from Rutgers. My oldest brother Peter ran on the team here for a bit as well and my middle brother was the captain of the crew team at Rutgers.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: There’s too many to choose just one but all the good ones stem from the people here. Traveling to new places, sharing meals and getting better with teammates. But if I had to pick one, 2025 NCAA Cross Country Regionals was special to me. To see real progress, team pride, and selfless running was awesome.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: Be ambitious but don’t let everything be serious. Also don’t be afraid to fail and make sure to learn when you do so.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Find direction early and a good group of people. Along with that, have pride in representing the University because it’s a privilege to do so.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: I don’t think I’ll fully know how Rutgers has impacted me until I’m officially out of it, but I’d say primarily finding what my strengths and weaknesses are as a person and the friendships I’ve cultivated.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: I’ll miss competing with a team most. There’s something special about celebrating success or working to get better from failure with the help of a group. Also, the dining hall.
Future career aspirations: A career aspiration of mine is to find my way back to working in the sports and the running industry in any capacity. Now I view that as working within operations, finance or the supply chain department of a large footwear company. But I know that my aspirations will evolve with time.
Ashley Arnold
Field Hockey
Major: Public Health
Why Rutgers: I came to Rutgers as a transfer my junior year, and I am beyond grateful that I made that decision. After spending the day with the coaching staff and meeting many of the girls on the team, I could immediately tell that the culture was family-oriented and that the support system was unmatched. Academically, Rutgers gave me the opportunity to study Public Health, thrive in the classroom, and ultimately be inducted into the Student-Athlete Honor Society. Athletically, Big Ten sports are no joke, and I knew I wanted to compete at the highest level. Having the opportunity to play the sport I love alongside such driven and like-minded people made Rutgers an easy choice. Rutgers is also in an incredible location. I loved that I could go home for a weekend, catch an Eagles game, or head into the city with my teammates when we had free time.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: It is hard to pick just one! One of my greatest Rutgers memories was beating Ohio State twice during my junior year, both times as the underdog. The second win came during the Big Ten Tournament, which allowed us to advance to the second round. It was such an incredible experience to play high level hockey and prove that we were a truly competitive team to never take lightly. Some of my other favorite memories come from the locker room with the girls before and after practices and games. We have a tradition where we write shoutouts to one another to recognize achievements, whether they are big or small, hockey related or not, funny or serious. It is such a fun tradition, but it also brings us closer as a team and gives us the chance to celebrate each other.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: There will be days when you feel tired and are tempted to just go through the motions, but being in that position is a privilege you earned. You earned your role on a Division I team and you get the chance to be part of an incredible group of girls who are highly competitive and coaches who push you to become better every day. So, buy into it. After a hard practice, you still get to spend time with your best friends and enjoy being a student, and that is something you should never take for granted.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Work hard, play hard! College is all about balance. Show up every day with a positive attitude and give 100% of whatever you have to give that day. Get your schoolwork done, take care of your responsibilities, and then make sure you have fun outside of school and sports too. Rutgers is an incredible place with so much to offer. You just have to do your part and take advantage of every opportunity in front of you.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: It has proved to me that I can do hard things and accomplish anything I set my mind to. Transferring was scary at first, but it ended up being the best decision of my life. Because of that, I will always encourage people to make a chance if they know they are not truly happy where they are. At Rutgers, I was able to graduate Summa Cum Laude, earn academic recognition and set myself up for a graduate school scholarship this fall at a great institution. I learned that I thrive in fast paced environments, that I never want to become complacent even after success, and that my standard for work ethic has grown so much. I can confidently say that Rutgers changed me for the better and helped shape me into someone who is ready for success in whatever career path I choose.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: Without a doubt, my teammates are what I will miss most about Rutgers. They have become like sisters to me, and there was not a single day when I did not want to spend time with them. Even on our off days, we would somehow still end up together, even if we were just sitting on the couch. I am incredibly grateful for these girls, the memories we made, and the bond we will always have. I would not trade that for the world.
Future career aspirations: My next step is earning my MBA at Penn State this fall. I know I will have a ton of opportunity to network during my time as a grad student and I am excited to see what doors open after graduation!
Daniel Duncan
Track and Field
Major: Masters in Business and Science
Why Rutgers: One of the best mixes of athletics, academics, and opportunity in the country.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: Hanging out with my teammates in and out of practice!
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: You were right.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Take advantage of all the amazing opportunities, programs, and people who are here for you your success.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: I was able to train both my body and mind for both sport and life afterwards. It has been a blessing.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: The people here are truly exceptional. I will miss every single one of them.
Future career aspirations: Environmental Consulting at one of the largest engineering firms in the world.
Mai Nguyen
Tennis
Major: Exercise Science
Why Rutgers: I chose Rutgers because of Coach Hilary. She was one of my favorite coaches to talk to during the recruiting process, and she made me feel at home right away on my visit. Going north for school was never on my radar, but COVID opened a lot of unexpected doors for me, and choosing Rutgers ended up being one of the best decisions I could have made.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: My favorite Rutgers memory on the court was beating Oregon 4–3 in our Big Ten opener my junior year. It was an incredible team moment and it displayed Rutgers' heart and pride. Off the court, my favorite memories are the everyday little moments spent with teammates and staff, whether it was traveling, training, or just bantering.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: I would tell my freshman self to not take life so seriously and to trust that everything will work out exactly the way it’s supposed to. Enjoy the moment more and don’t stress over things that you won’t even remember in the long run.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Don’t be afraid to open up and build relationships with your teammates, coaches, and staff. These connections will be what you remember and value the most. They will support you through all the ups and downs of your journey.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: It has shaped me into the person I am today, teaching me more about myself than I ever expected. It taught me discipline, resilience, and important life lessons that I’ll carry with me into the next chapter of my life. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience and for everyone who made it so meaningful.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: I’ll miss the people the most. So many of my favorite memories come from conversations and everyday interactions with my teammates, coaches, and staff. They created such a supportive environment and made Rutgers feel like a home away from home.
Future career aspirations: In the fall, I will be attending Anesthesia school at VCOM-Carolinas to become an Anesthesiologist Assistant.
Emma Baeyens
Women’s Cross Country
Major: Psychology (BA); Master in Social Work
Why Rutgers: I chose Rutgers for many reasons. I really wanted to be close to home and be able to represent the state of New Jersey. Rutgers also had both the athletic environment I wanted as well as the academic programs I wanted to major in. I remember coming to Rutgers during my senior year of high school and falling in love with all the different campuses. I knew I could make this my home one day.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: My greatest Rutgers memory was during my freshmen year when I was at the Rutgers versus Purdue game. We had a recruit and the student section was completely full, so we were standing close to the court during the game, and were able to rush the court when we won!
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: Embrace the journey. I truly never really understood how fast the past five years would fly by until right now as I am finally graduating and moving on. I would just remind myself to enjoy the moment and appreciate all the memories and friendships I would make during my time at Rutgers.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Take advantage of all of the opportunities that Rutgers has to offer. At such a large school, it might be scary and overwhelming at first, but there are so many opportunities for students to be a part of, regardless of interests.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: Rutgers has really shown me the definition of community. Through my team and peers, I have been able to build myself a community at Rutgers. My experience at Rutgers has also emphasized the importance of giving back to my community through different volunteering and service opportunities.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: I will probably miss my teammates and coaches the most. I am surrounded by so many uplighting and supportive people during my five years here, who have helped me become a better person and athlete, and I could not be more grateful. Even though I will still be able to run after my time at Rutgers is over, I don’t know if I’ll ever have the support that I currently do again.
Future career aspirations: After graduating with my Masters of Social Work, I am hoping to pursue a career in the mental health field working with children and adolescents.
Luke Koenig
Men’s Golf
Major: Labor & Employment Relations
Why Rutgers: Rutgers was the best opportunity to get a valuable degree and be around great teammates and coaches everyday.
Greatest Rutgers Memory: The Big Ten Championships in Oregon was an incredible week and a memory I’ll never forget. Everyone in the lineup played well and we had the best finish in program history that week.
As a graduate, what is something you would tell your freshman self: I would tell my freshman self to embrace the ups and downs.
What advice would you give to future Scarlet Knights: Be patient with themselves and make the most of your time with your teammates.
How has your time at Rutgers impacted you: It has impacted me a lot on and off the course learning how to be a better player and leader.
What will you miss the most about your time at Rutgers: I’m going to miss team trips to different places around the country for tournaments or training trips.
Future career aspirations: I hope to play professional golf.
