Four student speakers to be featured at SDSU spring 2026 commencement

Four South Dakota State University soon-to-be graduates will be featured speakers at the university’s 140th commencement May 9 at First Bank & Trust Arena.

SDSU will have three ceremonies as more than 1,800 students plan to walk across the stage for their degrees.

The student speakers at each of the ceremonies include:

10 a.m. – Haley Mouser

Haley Mouser, Tenstrike, Minnesota, is graduating with her bachelor’s degree in animal science. Growing up on a first-generation, registered Hereford operation, Mouser was highly involved in the National Junior Hereford Association and served on the 2022-25 board of directors. Her passion for cattle and public speaking led her to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, where she was a competitive member of the livestock judging team.

Earning her associate degree in agribusiness, Mouser graduated with honors and was the recipient of the 2024 Hubbard Award of Excellence, the highest honor and scholarship awarded by the Butler Community College Foundation. Upon transferring to SDSU, Mouser continued livestock judging and became involved in many other programs on campus, including the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College, undergraduate research and the SDSU Little International.

Mouser discovered an interest in meat science at SDSU and has directed her path toward human nutrition. She will continue at SDSU in the accelerated human nutrition and dietetics master’s program this fall.

“SDSU has helped me grow as a person in the way that networking and connections mean that much more,” Mouser said. I think at this point in my life, being able to look back and see how all of those connections have propelled me to where I am now, that has been an incredible eye-opening realization.”

2 p.m. – Hannah Moret

Hannah Moret grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa as one of five children, where hard work and community were values she carried with her to South Dakota State University. There, she pursued a degree in elementary education with a minor in biology and will graduate as a member of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College.

Moret was an active and engaged member of the SDSU community throughout her time on campus. She served as a Morale Captain for State A Thon, was inducted into Order of Omega and was involved in both the SDEA Aspiring Educators Club and the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, where she served on the executive council as member development vice president. She was also recognized as a DeVaney Fellow.

Following graduation, Moret will begin her teaching career as a fourth-grade teacher, where she is eager to make a lasting impact on her students.

“One thing I’ll really miss about SDSU is probably all the friends I’ve made, and the professors and the connections. They genuinely care about their students and what’s going on in their lives and where they’re heading, and I’m going to miss it,” Moret said.

“I feel pretty confident in my ability to go make a difference. Through all the field experiences and the classes I’ve been in, I feel equipped with the tools to go down the path to make a difference in other people’s lives, especially my future students.”

6 p.m. – Tricia Serrao

Tricia Serrao is a master’s student in the Department of Biology and Microbiology at South Dakota State University. Originally from Mumbai, India, Serrao moved to Brookings in 2018 to pursue her Bachelor of Science in human biology with a minor in psychology. Over the past eight years, she has become a pillar of the Jackrabbits community, serving as a graduate teaching assistant and a dedicated mentor to her students.

Serrao’s leadership extends across campus. She was named the SDSU Global Ambassador in 2022 and has served two terms as president of the International Relations Council. Her academic excellence and research in microbiology were recently recognized by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, where she received a prestigious award for her work.

“I think just the motivation of contributing toward somebody’s life or science in general has always kept me going,” Serrao said. “I do think I also see people with a different perspective, and I’ve become more understanding than what I used to be.”

As a researcher, educator and advocate for international students, Serrao has dedicated her time at SDSU to building bridges between cultures and scientific disciplines.

“I think the people in the community have been my support system, because I don’t really have my family here. So, Brookings has been my home away from home,” Serrao said.

6 p.m. – Hayden Bentz

Hailing from Rapid City, Hayden Bentz is graduating from the College of Natural Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in human biology with minors in chemistry, microbiology and economics. Bentz is also a graduate of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College.

Bentz played his trumpet with The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band for the entirety of his time as a Jackrabbit, marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and two NCAA Division I FCS National Championships.

Bentz also served two consecutive terms as student body vice president. During his tenure, he assisted in drafting a strategic plan for future spending of the General Activity Fee, provided input on the renovation of First Bank & Trust Arena and lobbied on behalf of student interests in the South Dakota Legislature, ensuring the state continued to provide affordable and quality higher education. Bentz also served as an Admissions Ambassador, showcasing his love for SDSU to prospective students.

“Above everything else, the people of SDSU are what truly makes it such a special institution in higher education,” Bentz said. “To be able to walk around campus … and every single time I walk around being able to recognize somebody and say hi to them. That’s not an experience you get everywhere at a university, and I feel incredibly fortunate that’s something I get every single day here at SDSU.”

Beginning in July, Bentz will attend the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine in pursuit of his Doctor of Medicine.

For more information on spring 2026 graduation ceremonies and activities, go to the graduation webpage.