When Sophia Cáceres ’26 takes the stage at Commencement this Sunday, she hopes to capture the intellectual curiosity and sense of community that have defined her Swarthmore experience while also acknowledging the uncertainty that she and her classmates are facing as they enter postgrad life.

“I hope to celebrate what it means to be a Swattie, while also addressing the immense pressures that face us as we enter this new chapter of our lives,” says Cáceres. “These pressures include a competitive job market; higher application rates for graduate, law, and medical schools; and an increasingly violent and unstable world stage.”

A Spanish and religion major from Smyrna, Ga., Cáceres was selected by her peers and the College Commencement Committee to deliver this year’s student Commencement address.

Cáceres has spent much of her time at Swarthmore building connections across campus through athletics (as a member of the women’s swim team), academics, and mentorship. She also served as an Inclusive Excellence Fellow during the 2023–24 academic year and works as a Senior Admissions Fellow, a role that has allowed her to connect with prospective students and families while reflecting on her own College experience.

“Throughout my time in Admissions, I realized just how unique Swarthmore is,” she says, “especially with respect to our intellectually curious and community-oriented student body.”  

In addition to her work in Admissions, Cáceres has served as a Spanish tutor and pursued opportunities that combined her academic interests with creative exploration. Through the Arthur Obermayer ’52 International Summer Internship funding grant, she traveled to England to participate in a one-week creative writing course at the University of Cambridge.

Many of Cáceres’s favorite Swarthmore memories center on the friendships and camaraderie she nurtured through athletics and everyday campus life. One moment, following the Garnet’s conference championship victory during her sophomore year, stands out.

“I will never forget the feeling of jumping in the pool with my teammates after our men and women won our conference championship my sophomore year,” she says. “It was one of the most magical, gratifying experiences of my life. And I’m so honored to have spent four years with a group of such hardworking, academically passionate student-athletes.”

She also treasures quieter moments spent with friends in Kohlberg Hall discussing classes, life, and everything in between.

“I’ll miss the long afternoons spent in Kohlberg with my humanities pals and the kind Kohlberg Coffee Bar staff,” says Cáceres. “Sipping a cortado while chatting about anything but the work we actually have to do has been a highlight of my Swarthmore experience.”

As she prepares to address her classmates at Commencement, Cáceres hopes that her remarks will offer encouragement and perspective as graduates navigate an increasingly complex world.

“How we navigate both personal and global changes matters,” she says, “and I hope to offer some words to help guide us as responsible stewards while we move forward into life after undergrad.”