Northwood University opened its 2026 Commencement celebration Saturday with a message rooted in optimism, personal responsibility, and the power of individual choice — themes that reflect The Northwood Idea and the University’s mission as America’s Free Enterprise University.
The 9 a.m. ceremony was the first of three Commencement exercises held May 9 to honor the Class of 2026, which includes nearly 600 graduates. Dr. Gabriel Benzecry, Northwood’s David E. Fry Professor of Free Market Economics, delivered the morning address. He encouraged graduates to view their achievement within the broader story of human progress — and to recognize their responsibility to contribute to that progress through their own choices, work, and character.
“Your primary role is not to redesign society from the top down. Your role is to embrace freedom and the opportunity that has been granted to you, to self-actualize, and to pursue virtue,” Benzecry said.
Benzecry reflected on his own journey to the United States as a college freshman, recalling that he struggled early in his studies and even considered leaving economics behind. He told graduates that staying with the discipline ultimately changed the way he saw the world, describing economics as “the science of choice.”
That theme became the foundation of his message: Graduates are entering a world often portrayed through pessimism and oversimplification, but one that has been shaped by extraordinary progress made possible through freedom, enterprise, and the individual pursuit of betterment.
“Free enterprise, personal responsibility, and business transformed the world. During your time here at Northwood, you embraced these values, the same values that inspired the founding of this nation and propelled progress around the world,” Benzecry stated.
Benzecry’s remarks aligned closely with The Northwood Idea, Northwood’s guiding philosophy that emphasizes free enterprise, limited government, individual responsibility, moral law, and earned success. His message also supported the University’s mission to develop free-enterprise graduates who drive global social and economic progress. He encouraged graduates to reject reflexive pessimism, recognize the progress made possible by free enterprise, and take personal responsibility for making their choices count.
“Now, now more than ever, we’re free to choose,” he said. “So, Class of 2026, embrace the blessing and the responsibility of owning your choices and the consequences that come with them.”
The morning ceremony launched a full day of Commencement celebrations at Northwood. Additional ceremonies were scheduled for noon and 3 p.m., with each recognizing members of the Class of 2026 and highlighting leaders whose lives and work reflect Northwood’s commitment to free enterprise, principled leadership and human flourishing.
For more information, visit Northwood University’s commencement page.
