Jake Thibeault ’26 to Address Babson’s Undergraduate Commencement

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Eric Beato

Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.

May 1, 2026

Jake Thibeault gestures while speaking at the awards ceremony

Jake Thibeault ’26, who recently received an Excellence in Accessibility & Inclusion Award, will be the undergraduate student speaker at Babson’s Commencement ceremonies May 16. (Photo: Kyle Soule)

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Jake Thibeault ’26, an inspirational speaker who often shares his story as a hockey player who was paralyzed in an on-ice collision, will deliver the student address at Babson College’s Commencement on May 16.

Christelle Brandt MBA’26 will be the graduate student speaker at Babson’s Commencement.

Thibeault will address his fellow graduates in the Class of 2026 at Babson’s undergraduate Commencement ceremony, which will begin at 9:45 a.m. at the Upper Athletics Fields on the College’s Wellesley campus.

The ceremony also will feature an address from C. Dean Metropoulos ’67, MBA’68, executive chairman and CEO of the family-owned investment firm Metropoulos & Co. and minority owner of the New England Patriots. The graduate ceremony, scheduled for 2:45 p.m., will feature Adriana Cisneros, CEO of global enterprise Cisneros, and Christelle Brandt MBA’26, founder of plant-based dairy venture Chimera Craft.

“I am absolutely honored,” Thibeault said. “Babson means the world to me, and I am forever in debt to what this place has provided me with.”

An Inspiring Journey

Thibeault, a highly regarded high school hockey player, began his Babson journey in summer 2021 on a campus recruiting visit with ice hockey coach Jamie Rice ’90, P’28 ’29.

Less than a week later, while playing for his club hockey team in a Labor Day tournament, Thibeault was hit awkwardly and crashed headfirst into the boards. “It was a clean hit,” Thibeault said, “just two players going full speed.” But he sustained two broken vertebrae and was left paralyzed from the waist down. Nine months later, he graduated from Milton Academy, walking, with the help of leg braces and a walker, across the Commencement stage to complete his senior year.

‘MORE THAN HOCKEY’: Read more about Jake Thibeault ’26 in Babson Magazine.

In August 2022, Thibeault started as a first-year student at Babson, embraced by Rice and the entire hockey team. He quickly became a central figure on campus, combining his commitments to academics, the hockey team, and his physical therapy at Journey Forward in Canton, Mass., with the goal of walking again.

“Jake is an amazing young man who embodies the best qualities of our program; loyalty, dedication and a no-quit attitude,” Rice said. “He possesses relentless positivity, an immeasurable love of his teammates, and courage beyond measure.”

Thibeault credits the College community, the hockey team, and his roommates—Charlie Andriole ’26, Ryan Murphy ’26, Cam Joslin ’26, and Tommy Rooney ’26—for their constant support. “They have been a huge help always by living with me,” he said.

COMMENCEMENT 2026: Learn more about Babson’s ceremonies May 16.

During his time at Babson, Thibeault was the subject of a short documentary film produced by the Jack Trottier Foundation to provide awareness of spinal cord injuries. The documentary was narrated by actor Mark Wahlberg, who befriended Thibeault in the days following his accident.

Last fall, Thibeault, a Fitchburg, Mass., native, was honored during a season-opening hockey series between Babson and Fitchburg State University. Both teams wore special jerseys in support of Thibeault, and the home-and-home series raised money for the Thomas E. Smith Foundation. Thibeault serves on the board of directors of the foundation, a catalyst for transformative change in the lives of individuals living with spinal cord injury and paralysis.

Excellence in Accessibility & Inclusion Awards

Thibeault also was one of the four graduating students to receive Excellence in Accessibility & Inclusion Awards at a recent Babson ceremony. Thibeault was joined at the ceremony by Rice, and his parents, Michael Thibeault P’26 and Tracy Thibeault P’26.

Thibault also presented one of the other awards to Andy Moutinho, senior director of operations, Facilities Management, who is retiring at the end of the year. The award recognizes Moutinho’s significant support in ensuring that Thibeault’s on-campus living and social experiences were accessible.

The other recipients of Excellence in Accessibility & Inclusion Awards were:

Thomas Thermidor ’26, who recently had a successful kidney transplant, worked in collaboration with Health Services and Accessibility Services, which played a key role in supporting his academic inclusion and success.
Derek Gawrys MBA’26, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has made a substantial impact on the Babson Veterans Club. He also has built strong relationships with faculty and staff, helping to ensure equitable access for students who are veterans.
Jolie Wyatt ’26, a former president of the Student Government Association, champions inclusive practices, leads meaningful outreach initiatives, and actively promotes equity among peers. Hear more from Wyatt on Babson’s podcast, “From Problems to Possibilities: Entrepreneurial Leadership in Action.”
Associate Professors Kerry Gibson and Jon Dietrick demonstrated exceptional dedication to inclusive teaching practices, which strengthens students’ sense of belonging and the College’s broader institutional mission.
The Department of Health Services supports inclusive practices by ensuring all students have equitable access to comprehensive, high-quality care.