A Celebratory Sendoff: UIC Business Commencement Spring 2026 Featuring Keynote Speaker Stuart Handler
On Friday, May 8, the UIC College of Business Administration proudly celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 at our Spring Commencement ceremony, a day filled with pride, reflection, and inspiration as graduates, families, faculty, and friends gathered to mark this significant milestone.
A Memorable Keynote Address
We were honored to welcome Stuart Handler as this year’s Commencement keynote speaker. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TLC Management Co., he has built an award-winning, full-service leasing and property management firm known for its excellence and impact. His presence elevated the ceremony, and his message left a lasting impression on our graduates as they prepare to embark on the next chapter of their professional journeys.
His address struck a powerful balance between candor and encouragement, offering practical, experience-driven insights that resonated deeply with our graduates. Several themes stood out as particularly impactful:
I don’t know how you teach grit, but I know you must have it if you want to succeed in business.
I have overcome many failures and obstacles in my life. I have been knocked down many times but never failed to get up and try again… Always get up and try again.
Your journey through life will not be a straight line; it will be winding and surprising. It will have twists and turns, failures and successes. It will be your unique journey.
Stuart Handler's reflections
In one of the ceremony’s most moving moments, Stuart invited graduates to reflect on their personal and family journeys—recognizing first-generation college students from immigrant families and honoring the pride of those who supported them. He emphasized the lasting impact of immigrant contributions, reminded graduates that they carry forward their families’ hopes and aspirations, and underscored his enduring connection to UIC and his commitment to expanding opportunity.
He shared that one of his proudest accomplishments is establishing and endowing UIC’s real estate program, the Stuart Handler Department of Real Estate, creating opportunities for Chicago students—many from immigrant families—to access strong careers, build wealth, and invest in their communities
Together, his reflections reinforced a powerful theme: resilience, purpose, and the drive to create opportunities for others.
The ceremony was further enriched by a student address from Quinn Basta, who captured the spirit of the Class of 2026 with authenticity and pride. Quinn served two terms as a student trustee, president of the Business Student Advisory Board, chief of staff for the Undergraduate Student Government, and president of the Portfolio Management Team. Quinn reflected on the perseverance and diverse paths that led graduates to this moment, expressed gratitude to the community that supported them, and encouraged classmates to stay connected, give back, and move forward together guided by authenticity, character, and a shared commitment to lifting others.
As we reflect on this year’s Commencement, we are reminded of the remarkable determination and talent embodied by our graduates. The Class of 2026 leaves UIC Business equipped not only with knowledge and skills but also with the resilience, perspective, and sense of responsibility emphasized throughout the ceremony.
Congratulations to the UIC Business Class of 2026. We are immensely proud of you and look forward to all you will accomplish.
Keynote Speech Highlight
Stuart Handler’s Keynote Speech (introduction begins 36:00)
“I now want to leave you with some final words. I am going to channel Johnny Cash, the wonderful, late Country music singer, to help me. The music is from his song “The Man Comes Around”. Except for a few lines, the lyrics are mine. They sum up my sentiments and aspirations for you, so listen carefully. Don’t expect Bad Bunny. Remember, I am the tortoise. Here we go.
I saw the man…at his desk.
I sat down. I was scared.
He shook my hand and said:
Welcome. Don’t be afraid.
We all started out the same way.
There’s a man going around takin’ names
He knows whether you’re good or whether you’re bad.
He knows whether you’ve followed the golden rule,
He knows whether you’re happy or sad.
When the man comes around.
Wake up with a purpose, wake up with an aim.
Wake up to the privilege of living,
Wake up to the privilege of giving,
Get on the field, get into the game.
Wake up with something important to do,
and you’ll never be the same.
There’s a man going around.
He knows whether you’re honest,
Or whether you’re corrupt,
He knows whether you’ve treated people fairly,
Or treated them with disregard,
Judgment is tight, so don’t get stuck.
See the credit cards swiping.
See the sales mounting.
Bankers lurking nearby,
pouncing if there’s a miscounting.
There’s a plan for everyone, an invisible hand in what you do,
Work to achieve your destiny, failures happen along the way,
Get up and fight another day.
Your fate was already sealed,
Your destiny is up to you.
The recruiters are looking for skills to uncover.
A job is waiting.
It’s you or another.
Make a good living, leave a good legacy,
Pay forward to others that follow,
And your name will never ring hollow,
when the man comes around.
Don’t take up time and space,
Don’t walk around losing face,
Self-respect and pride,
is something to treasure,
and something you can never hide.
The recruiters are looking for skills to uncover.
A job is waiting.
It’s you or another.
Go after it with confidence,
with determination and zeal.
A large tree starts with a small seed,
And grows into one with appeal.
So, wake up with a purpose, wake up with an aim
Wake up to the privilege of living,
Wake up to the privilege of giving,
Get on the field, get into the game,
and you’ll never be the same.
Wake up with a purpose, wake up with an aim
Lack of trying has nobody but yourself to blame.
And the man stood up, clasped my hands in his,
and said, be focused, be prepared, be new,
and your destiny will find you.
Don’t be afraid. We all started out the same way.
Go to work, enjoy the work
and have a prosperous day.”