UW Tacoma Convocation welcomes new and returning Tacoma Huskies to campus

Under crisp autumn skies, with sunshine filtering through the trees and purple and gold on full display, Convocation, the University’s annual back-to-school celebration – part block party, part resource fair – opened the 2026–2027 academic year.

Following a performance by the Tacoma-based Lincoln High School drumline, the speaking program included welcoming messages of support from several university leaders, including Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Mentha Hynes-Wilson, Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Andy Harris, as well as Associated Students of UW Tacoma (ASUWT) President Terrell Stalworth.

David Sway-La Cougar Duenas, a UW Tacoma alumnus and member of the Puyallup Nation, offered a traditional song of strength and wished the students well, saying, "I wish the best for you in your endeavors and your studies, and that it takes you — career-wise, family-wise, friend-wise — somewhere that you really want to be. I hope that you see that vision for yourself."

Chancellor Lange welcomed students and shared four attributes that define the Tacoma Husky experience:

• Tacoma Huskies rise with the community, growing alongside the city and region.
• Tacoma Huskies create opportunities, drawing from lived experiences to see possibilities where others might see barriers.
• Tacoma Huskies value every voice, seeing differences as strengths and opportunities to learn and connect
• Tacoma Huskies turn knowledge into impact, taking pride in serving something bigger than ourselves.

“Being a Tacoma Husky means you’re part of a community that believes in you, challenges you, and celebrates you,” Lange said. “And we are so glad you’re here.”

Tables hosted by departments across campus connected students to academic programs, food resources, affinity centers and more. From the Center for Student Involvement to the Office of Indigenous Engagement and from the University YMCA Student Center to the Office of Global Affairs, students were introduced to many opportunities to get involved and make connections.

The first day on a new campus can be intimidating, especially for students returning to school after years away. Questions can weigh heavily: Where do I fit in? Who am I here?

Stalworth captured the feeling while speaking to fellow students: “Three hundred and sixty-five days ago, when I was standing in this crowd, I was scared.”

Reflecting back, he said, “What separates who I was one year ago and the person standing in front of you today wasn’t a lack of fear. It was the choice to act in spite of it.”

Stalworth closed the program by reminding the crowd that we are often our own barrier. He shared that although he was scared on his first day on campus, he acted anyway: attending events, joining clubs, taking on a leadership role and finding his community.

He challenged the crowd to do the same.

As students took their first steps of acting anyway, Chancellor Lange’s parting words lingered: “You belong here at UW Tacoma. We believe in you, we’re excited to see what you’ll accomplish and we are all here to help you cross the finish line.”

Relive the excitement — watch a recording of UW Tacoma's 2026 Convocation.