Brigham Young University's annual Unforum on April 14 featured the 2026 academic year’s accomplishments through performances, awards and addresses from colleges across campus, centered on the theme "Gifts of Light" in honor of the 150th anniversary of BYU.
The event started with BYUSA president Caleb Rogers welcoming students to the Unforum and recognizing the many talents of every BYU student in each college and program that make the university special.
”Each of your stories adds to the light that BYU has shared with the world for 150 years,” Rogers said. “Thank you for making this an unforgettable sesquicentennial year.”
Abigail Hopper, the student body president for the 2026-27 school year, introduced herself and shared that the theme of her campaign is to cultivate belonging among students as each person puts effort into reaching out to others.
“Be the one. Be the one to invite. Be the one to include, and be the one to love,” Hopper said. “Meaningful change on campus doesn’t come from one big moment. It comes from small intentional choices made by students like you every single day.”
Throughout the Unforum, students watched videos showcasing the diversity of talent and accomplishments across all the colleges at BYU and how each college contributed to the theme of bringing light to the world.
Students watched performances from various BYU groups, including BYU Mountain Strings with the International Folk Dance Ensemble dancing along with them, Battle of the Bands winners “The Filibusters,” Living Legends, Cosmo and the Dunk Team.
The event also took the opportunity to recognize the winners of the Brigham Awards, where the campus community nominates individuals who show charity and consistent and quiet service to those around them.
The Unforum ended with a special address by President C. Shane Reese, where he expressed his amazement at all the accomplishments the students and faculty have made to contribute to the sesquicentennial celebration.
He also mentioned that the Christmas tree lighting that happened for the first time in December should be a new tradition, passing the idea to the Student Life vice president.
He congratulated the students for all the service they put into the year, and said it created meaningful momentum for the university.
“The thing about momentum is it’s just an idea,” Reese said. “It’s just something that is a feel good thing until we do something with that momentum.”
Reese invited students to find ways to take the momentum of this 150th year and find ways to use it in their own lives.
“Do something outside of your comfort zone,” Reese said. “Find someone who has a need … be that miracle in someone else's life.”
He said that as students try to look within themselves to figure out how to carry this momentum beyond just the 150th year celebration, to remember that each student has potential.
“You’re so much better than even you realize you are,” Reese said. “One of the great gifts of being president of Brigham Young University is I’ve been granted eyes to see each one of you. Not as you are today, but as you can become.”
