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Harrison Ford delivered an inspiring commencement address to Arizona State University’s record-breaking class of 2026 on May 11. The legendary actor received an honorary Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters for his decades of conservation work and global cultural influence through film.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Graduates: Over 22,600 students earned degrees at Arizona State this spring, the largest class in university history.
- Honorary Honor: Ford received a Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters recognizing his acting career and conservation mission.
- Key Quote: “Go change the world” was Ford’s final message to the graduates at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
- Ceremony Size: More than 14,000 undergraduate students attended the May 11 commencement ceremony.
The Icon’s Powerful Message to Arizona’s Young Leaders
Harrison Ford opened his speech by reflecting on his own college journey, revealing that his grades were slipping and he initially discovered acting almost by accident. He told the graduates that he took a drama course seeking an easy A, only to discover his true calling. “I had found my fit,” Ford said, describing how theater became his community. The actor worked as a carpenter for 15 years before landing small acting roles that eventually built toward his breakthrough with “Star Wars.”
Ford emphasized a crucial distinction for the crowd: passion brings joy, but purpose brings meaning. “Passion gets you out of bed in the morning,” he explained, “but purpose allows you to sleep at night.”
Harrison Ford receives honorary degree at Arizona State commencement
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From Hollywood to Conservation: Finding Purpose Beyond Fame
Ford revealed how he found his deeper purpose in the late 1980s while living in Wyoming. He met the founders of Conservation International and joined the organization’s board of directors in 1991. Rather than becoming a figurehead, Ford committed himself to actual conservation work. He emphasized the gravity of environmental degradation, stating: “Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature to survive.”
The acclaimed actor urged the class to extend social justice, respect and elevate Indigenous communities being marginalized, and recognize that cultural change is essential alongside new science and policies. His three decades of conservation leadership demonstrated that lasting impact requires sustained commitment, not just celebrity endorsement.
Leadership and Power: What Moves the Needle
Ford delivered a table of concrete ways the graduates could make meaningful contributions to society:
| Leadership Action | Impact on Change |
| Build something new | Create solutions that didn’t exist yesterday |
| Stand up for others | Advocate for those without a voice |
| Unite people | Bring together those not communicating |
| Harness your generation’s power | The world will have to listen and accommodate you |
“Your generation has far more power than you may realize,” Ford stated. “And if you harness that power, if you find your leadership, your issues, your voice, the world will not be able to ignore you.”
“Build something that didn’t exist yesterday. Stand up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves. Bring people together who weren’t talking before. That’s leadership. That’s what moves the needle.”
— Harrison Ford, Actor and Conservationist
A Record-Breaking Class Takes Flight into the Future
ASU’s spring 2026 graduating class represents a historic milestone with 22,631 total graduates, making it the largest cohort in the university’s history. The class includes 14,258 on-campus students and 8,373 online learners, with more than 2,000 military-affiliated graduates. The university highlighted that ASU ranks number 2 among public U.S. universities in graduate employability, positioning these students for success in high-demand fields including teaching, nursing, and microelectronics. President Michael Crow also emphasized that this generation carries the responsibility to advance democratic ideals and strengthen the nation’s future.
Ford’s commencement remarks resonated deeply with the scale of this achievement, recognizing that 22,631 young professionals are now entering the workforce with the tools and determination to reshape their communities.
What Does Success Look Like for This Determined Generation?
The commencement ceremony also featured remarks from philanthropist and businessman Howard Graham Buffett, who received an honorary doctorate for his humanitarian and conservation work. Buffett challenged graduates with a simple daily test: “When you get out of bed every morning and think about what to do that day, would you be proud if your neighbors and friends and family read about what you did in the newspaper?” He also advised graduates never to fear changing their minds when they encounter new information or perspectives.
Ford’s final charge to the graduates summed up the evening’s spirit. He told them that passion and purpose together create momentum, and that their time is now to build, lead, and transform the world around them with intention and courage.
