Class of 2026 Graduates

Baton Rouge, LA – On May 29, 2026, the LSU Student Union  Theater was filled with energy and accomplishment as the Graduate School of Banking at LSU (GSBLSU) conferred diplomas to its 73rd graduating class. This year’s class included 159 graduates, among them 36 women, representing 15 U.S. states and Mexico.

With this milestone, GSBLSU’s alumni network grows to 17,343 graduates, each having completed one of the most rigorous professional development programs in the banking industry. Over the course of three years, each student completed 10 comprehensive bank study projects and participated in approximately 210 hours of intensive classroom instruction, delivered by industry leaders and top banking educators.

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the newly renamed ‘Woodland Distinguished Performance Award’, formerly known as the Valedictorian Award. The 2026 recipient was Brian Henderson of Hancock Whitney Bank in Gonzales, Louisiana — recognized for his outstanding academic performance throughout the program.

GSBLSU continues to build on its long-standing reputation for shaping the next generation of banking leaders with a curriculum designed to meet the evolving demands of the financial services industry.