Milwaukee School of Engineering will hold its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the Kern Center, 1245 N. Broadway.  A total of 550 students will receive their bachelor’s or master’s degree during two ceremonies: at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Visit msoe.edu/commencement for ceremony details.

Student Speakers

Adrian Manchado will be the student speaker at the morning ceremony. Manchado will graduate with high honors and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. During his time at MSOE, he was a University Innovation Fellow and as such, developed a new course that will be part of the MSOE curriculum in Fall 2026; competed in the Rosie Supercomputer Super Challenge (taking 3rd place in 2025 and earning Honorable Mention in 2026); was a data science intern at the Direct Supply Innovation and Technology Center; and was a member of the Men’s Soccer Team earning the Scholar Second Team All-American Award and Scholar First Team All-Region Award from the United Soccer Coaches. Manchado also is pursuing a Master of Science in Machine Learning from MSOE.

Brooke Stanley, recipient of the 2026 Fred Loock Outstanding Student Award, will be the student speaker at the afternoon ceremony. Stanley is graduating with high honors and will receive a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. While a student, she founded the MSOE Premedical Society; was part of the pilot program with MSOE and the Medical College of Wisconsin that ultimately resulted in a new Bachelor of Science in Health Innovation degree; and was team captain of the MSOE Women’s Rowing Team. After graduation, Stanley will attend medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Keynote Speaker

Kathy Henrich will deliver the keynote address during each ceremony. Henrich is a board director and leader in AI and tech‑driven economic development, known for building cross‑sector partnerships that prepare regions, organizations, and individuals for the future of work.

As the inaugural CEO of the MKE Tech Hub Coalition, Henrich built and scaled a startup nonprofit into a regional engine for tech‑powered economic growth. Under her leadership, the organization grew from 5 to more than 140 members, launched initiatives that strengthened talent pipelines, accelerated innovation, and contributed to Southeast Wisconsin’s tech workforce growing at twice the national rate.

Henrich’s influence extends nationally. She has served on the Board of the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and represented Wisconsin on the National Talent Collaborative, advancing strategies that strengthen America’s tech and talent competitiveness. In 2024, she served on Wisconsin’s Legislative Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, helping shape policy recommendations that balance citizen protection with innovation.

Earlier in her career, Henrich held executive roles at IBM, leading $500M+ business units across sales, partnerships, and marketing. She later earned a master’s degree in workforce and talent development from LSU, specializing in preparing organizations and workers for the AI era, and applied this expertise at Accenture to guide clients through technology‑enabled talent transformation.

Today, Henrich serves on the boards of M3 Insurance, Nassco, and the Change the Air Foundation. She invests her energy in scaling missions that matter, leveraging her background in technology leadership, ecosystem building, and nonprofit growth to help organizations navigate the opportunities and responsibilities of the AI era.