For the 59th commencement at Holy Cross College, senior Job Herrmann has been recognized as the valedictorian for the class of 2026.
Herrmann transferred to Holy Cross for his sophomore year, after previously attending Bethel University in Mishawaka.
“I transferred, actually, after my first year at Bethel, and I had a good family friend recommend the idea to me, and I was interested in kind of being involved in the tri-campus community and being involved in more of a smaller private school,” he said. “And so when I got to know Holy Cross College, it really seemed like the perfect fit for me.”
As a business major, he was inspired by his parents, who both pursued similar careers, with his mother in accounting and his father in finance.
He said that at Holy Cross, he was able to encounter professors who challenged students in applying theoretical concepts into real-world scenarios.
“One of the best professors I had, Dr. [Steve] Varela, did a really good job of bringing in challenging real-world problems and having us tackle them hands-on in class, which really caused me to think about business in a different light,” he said.
Outside of the classroom, Herrmann served as president of the business club this year and formerly served as a senator for Holy Cross’ student government association. He said being involved in these organizations helped him understand how to make an impact through leadership experience.
“Being involved in student government helped me get to know the community I was in and helped me to actually be involved in making meaningful changes and understanding how things worked from the inside,” he explained. “And then I kind of took the leadership experience and knowledge I gained there into the business club, where I was able to help actually bring together guest speakers and put together events that helped me further enhance my liberal arts education by bringing in actual real-world experience.”
Following graduation, he will complete an internship with professional services network Deloitte in Grand Rapids, Mich. In the upcoming fall, he will head to the University of Notre Dame for a one-year Master of Science in Accountancy through the College’s Pathways program, which offers Holy Cross students preferential admission into graduate and professional school programs at Notre Dame and several other institutions.
Herrmann advises students at Holy Cross to be involved as much as possible and to volunteer. He also said some of his most transformational experiences at the College included interacting with different professors and being a part of the tri-campus community.
“One thing I would say is always try to get involved in the Holy Cross College community. There’s so many different opportunities and so many great individuals in leadership and faculty that want to be involved in something more for the students,” Herrmann said. “So just as a student going on and trying to serve and help others, even if that means taking 15 minutes of time out of your week, an hour or even something small, just to work towards something.”
On Saturday, he will be delivering the valedictory address for the College, in which he will be discussing Holy Cross’ mission of forming disciples, leaders, citizens and scholars. Herrmann also will highlight the theme of “living a life of purpose.”
