In commencement address, Richmond artist encourages Honors Class of 2026 to take fear of failure head-on, bridge divisions
Richmond artist and gallery owner Ed Trask told the Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College class of 2026 that fear is a given, but it should not get in their way as they pursue their next chapters after graduation.
“You can’t let your fear of failure get in your way,” Trask said during his commencement address. “Your journey is fueled by your faith in yourself and supported by your friends and your family.”
The Honors College bestowed honors to 194 graduates at its Spring 2026 commencement ceremony last Thursday, May 7 at the Siegel Center on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus.
Honors students represented nearly every college on VCU’s academic campus: the College of Engineering, the College of Humanities and Sciences, the College of Health Professions, the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, the School of the Arts, the School of Business, the School of Nursing and University College.
Trask challenged graduates to take the tools they have learned at VCU and apply them to the bigger problems facing our society.
“You have to bridge divisions,” Trask said. “You all have the means to steer this ship straight.”
You have to bridge divisions...You all have the means to steer this ship straight.
Honors graduate Harrish Ganesh served as the student commencement speaker. In his speech, Ganesh encouraged Honors graduates to work passionately and pursue good in their careers and day-to-day lives, and never stop their pursuit of knowledge.
"Education is life itself," Ganesh said.