# 2026 Harvard Statistics Commencement Highlights June 02, 2026 On Thursday, May 28, the Statistics Department community gathered in the Maxwell Dworkin Second-Floor Lounge to honor the exceptional achievements of our newest alumni. The room was filled with energy, pride, and celebration as graduates, alumni, faculty, staff, family, and friends came together to mark this special milestone. The afternoon provided a wonderful opportunity to mingle, reminisce on shared academic journeys, and send our graduates off into the next chapter of their lives and careers. ## Event Highlights - **Warm Welcome & Faculty Tributes:** The formal program kicked off at 4:45 p.m. with opening remarks from Senior Director of Education Joe Blitzstein. This was followed by moving advisor and faculty tributes dedicated to our PhD graduates, celebrating their research and contributions to the department. - **Departmental Awards:** We recognized student excellence by presenting the Senior Concentrator Prize to Leo Vanciu and the Concurrent Master's Prize to Emma Finn and Samuel Hwang, and awarding the Dempster Award to Xiaodong Yang and Nathan Cheng. - **Toasts to the Future:** The community raised their glasses in a series of celebratory toasts by Joe Blitzstein and Director of Master's Study and Joint Director of Graduate Studies Mark Glickman, honoring the hard work, resilience, and unique spirit of the Class of 2026. - **Capturing the Moment:** The festivities moved outside as graduates and faculty posed on the lawn in front of Pierce Hall for group photos. Congratulations to all of our graduates! We look forward to seeing where their talents lead them and hope that they stay in touch. ![2026 PhD Graduates with Faculty](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/2026%20PhD%20Graduates%20with%20Faculty%20on%20commencement_website%20.png?itok=u5uAQ8nj) 2026 PhD Graduates with Faculty. ![2026 Concentrator Graduates](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/2026%20Concentrator%20Graduates_Commencement.png?itok=BkpfGZA3) 2026 Concentrator Graduates. ![2026 AM Graduates ](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/2026%20AM%20Grdauates%20_Commencement.png?itok=GmuA3uu_) 2026 Master's Graduates. ![Emma Finn receives Concurrent Master's Prize from Mark Glickman](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/a89e2ede-4d6a-4299-bfd5-435c7ecccfea-EmmaFinn_0.jpg?itok=ZR0rhI_W) Emma Finn receives the 2026 Department of Statistics Concurrent Master's Prize. ![Samuel Hwang Receives Award](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/Samuel%20Hwang%20recieves%20award.png?itok=p7yf_RIN) Samuel Hwang receives the 2026 Department of Statistics Concurrent Master's Prize. ![Leo Vanciu Receives Award](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/Leo%20Vanciu%20recieves%20award.png?itok=i0WOKbIZ) Leo Vanciu receives the Department of Statistics Senior Concentrator Prize. ![PhD Gradute Ritwik Bhaduri receiving remarks from Lucas Janson](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/IMG_0368.jpeg?itok=Pn-f1h3N) PhD graduate Ritwik Bhaduri with Prof. Lucas Janson. ![PhD Graduate Johann Gaebler receiving remarks from Mark Glickman](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/IMG_0380.jpeg?itok=PQfrGLYk) PhD graduate Johann Gaebler with Prof. Mark Glickman. ![PhD Graduate Longlin Wang Receiving remarks from Kosuke Imai](/sites/g/files/omnuum10116/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-06/IMG_0374.jpeg?itok=46y8TmKJ) PhD graduate Longlin Wang with Prof. Kosuke Imai. See also:- [ Featured Awards ](/news-type/featured-awards) - [ Undergraduate News ](/news-type/undergraduate-news)