Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
On Saturday, May 23, 2026, Western State College of Law celebrated its 56th Commencement Ceremony at the City National Grove of Anaheim. The event recognized our extraordinary graduates whose hard work, resilience, and commitment brought them to this milestone, with family, friends, faculty, staff, and mentors in attendance. It was a defining moment not only for the Class of 2026 but for the enduring legacy of Orange County’s oldest law school as it enters its 60th anniversary.
A Celebration of Community and Support: The Tradition of Hooding
The heart of the ceremony centered around Western State’s deeply cherished tradition: the personal hooding of each Juris Doctor candidate. Graduates took the stage to be hooded by their loved ones, mentors, and the foundational pillars who supported them through the grueling late nights and intense final exams of their law school journeys.
The visual of families, partners, children, and mentors joining graduates on stage perfectly encapsulated Western State’s mission, proving that while law school is an individual pursuit, it is ultimately a community achievement.
Words of Wisdom from The Honorable Elizabeth G. Macias
This year’s commencement address was delivered by The Honorable Elizabeth G. Macias, who brought a powerful and grounded perspective to the ceremony. Judge Macias offered the graduating class an invaluable roadmap for the immediate and long-term future.
Her keynote address focused on three essential pillars:
- Conquering the Bar
- Welcome to the Profession
- Launching Legal Careers
A Heartwarming Induction: James G. Randall Enters the Western State Hall of Fame
Beyond academic honors, the afternoon featured an incredibly special moment that brought the entire room to its feet. Western State proudly welcomed its newest Hall of Fame inductee, Alumnus James G. Randall, Class of 1980.
To generations of Western State students, Randall is affectionately known as “The Hot Dog Guy.” For the past 20+ years, Randall has returned to campus twice a year with his family, including his son William, who is also a Western State alumnus, to personally grill and serve hot dogs to the entire student body. His legendary biannual tradition has served as a beacon of comfort, stress relief, and morale for thousands of future lawyers.
His induction celebrates a lifetime of loyalty, demonstrating that legal excellence is measured not just by billable hours or landmark verdicts, but by an unyielding spirit of giving back to the community.
A Legacy of Leadership: Honoring Dean Marisa S. Cianciarulo
In addition to celebrating the graduating class, the ceremony paused to recognize a monumental figure in the Western State community, outgoing dean, Marisa S. Cianciarulo. To honor her profound impact, the college of law announced the creation of the Marisa S. Cianciarulo Stewardship Award. Throughout her tenure, Dean Cianciarulo served as an exceptional custodian of the institution’s reputation and future, navigating with grace, strength, and visionary leadership. The inaugural award was presented to graduating student Jason Ruiz, who spent his time at Western State leading with compassion, humility, and grace as the president of the Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA).
In a deeply moving tribute, the faculty and staff of Western State College of Law awarded Dean Cianciarulo an honorary degree, which was proudly presented to her on stage by her family. This milestone permanently cements her legacy and expresses the collective gratitude of the college of law for her fierce dedication to institutional growth and student success.
Stepping Into a Legacy of Excellence
The Class of 2026 steps out into a legal landscape where Western State’s reputation continues to soar on a national level. Over the past year, the institution has secured massive milestones, including:
- Recognition as a Best Law School by The Princeton Review for 2025
- Continued status as a Top Law School by LA Times Studios for 2025 and 2026.
- National accolades as one of the country’s Most Diverse Law Schools for 2025 by preLaw Magazine, as well as being recognized as a top school for Business Law and Criminal Law for 2025-2026.
As the ceremony concluded, graduates smiled through tears of joy as they walked out of the City National Grove of Anaheim as change leaders.
Congratulations to the Western State College of Law Class of 2026!
Want to look back at the best moments? Click here to view our 2026 Commencement Photo Gallery or watch the full livestream replay on our official YouTube channel.