The countdown to graduation has officially begun. On March 13, the Class of 2026—NYU Shanghai’s final cohort to start at its Century Avenue campus before moving to its current location—inched one step closer to their big milestone and celebrated their 88 Days Countdown.
The day’s schedule was packed, starting bright and early with senior portraits and fitting grad caps and gowns with friends to glamming up for an evening gala which transformed the East ninth floor into a dreamy, disco-themed realm.
Seniors mingled, dined, danced, enjoyed live performances, soaked up encouraging words from leadership, and raised their glasses to toast all they’ve achieved and that inevitable moment of crossing the stage with diplomas in hand.
It was the master vision, coordination, and labor of the Student Commencement Committee (SCC) that truly brought the evening to life. “My focus is on helping shape the senior experience during our final year and making sure students feel supported, celebrated, and connected with one another as we approach graduation,” said Senior Class Representative and SCC committee head Adriana Gimenez Romera ’26.
Fostering a sense of reconnection among senior students was an important mission for the SCC, who as senior students themselves, reflected on the uneven journey of their class: starting their first year at Century Avenue during the pandemic, navigating charter flights, moving to a brand new campus, parting ways as juniors to study away around the globe, and finally finding time to catch up with each other some odd 88 days before starting anew.
As the evening commenced, seniors enjoyed a buffet dinner, two signature mocktails, and icebreakers. As the night went on, they danced to a DJ set and watched a senior memory slideshow—playing back nostalgic scenes of their past four years.
In his remarks to the Class of 2026, Chancellor Tong reminded students to take advantage of their remaining time on campus. “You will have less than 88 days on campus…but it’s a good way for you to make up for something you missed over the past four years,” he said. “I would encourage you to do your best to enjoy campus life in the last weeks.”
Vice Chancellor Lehman followed up by asking seniors to reflect on how NYU Shanghai would play a part in their lives ahead.
“I want to encourage you to say, ‘NYU Shanghai will be a continuing part of my identity next year, five years from now, twenty-five years from now’,” he said. “While you were here, you became a different person,...and I hope that during the next two months you'll think about which of those ideals and values really matter, and which ideals and values you'll want to be sure you carry forward.”
Provost Bei Wu, participating in her first ever 88 Days celebration, reminded the seniors that their four years at NYU Shanghai will stay with them for a lifetime.
“These kinds of friendships that you establish here are most likely to last for the rest of your time, and what you’ve learned in your undergraduate time will have a profound impact on the rest of your life,” she said. “Regardless of whoever you become or wherever you are, may your success be our success and may our success also become your success.”
The evening was full of heightened emotions for the seniors. "It just feels not too long ago that COVID happened…so I think that took a lot from our experiences,” said Lily Blair ’26. “I'm just so excited for everyone, and I don't know where life is going to take us next."
At exactly 20:26, the entire Class of 2026 counted down together to mark the official 88 days until graduation—surrounded by bubbles.
Adriana said seeing her classmates pause to enjoy themselves and make the most of their final moments at school has been rewarding, given how busy senior year is as everyone balances graduate school applications, interviews, capstone projects, internships, and bucket list travels.
That’s why moments like the 88 Days Countdown matter—seniors have a chance to reflect on their friendships and the experiences that have shaped them while building up excitement for what’s ahead. And it’s just one of a series of events organized by the Student Commencement Committee leading up to graduation, from an exclusive seniors-only yoga session to a Senior Sunrise event where a group gathered for breakfast, movies, and a chance to sign each other’s special edition class T-shirts.
Upcoming events by the SCC include alumni talks, a pickleball event, a senior brunch, a skating outing, and the Senior Sunset camping trip. “In a way, it brings our final semester and our time at NYU Shanghai full circle, symbolizing both the beginning and the closing of our final chapter as students,” Adriana said.