OSCON 2026 was equal parts energizing, exhausting, and incredibly meaningful, and I would do the 7am setup shifts all over again if I could.
The conference days were busy and started early. The behind-the-scenes work was a constant cycle of movement, coordination, and teamwork, from transporting carts between Gelman Library and the USC to managing the lunch service under the amazing leadership of Program Coordinator Rosemary Pauley and Assistant Dean Robin Delaloye. However, these moments of teamwork were just as unforgettable as the main events on stage.
At the heart of it all was the community.
One of the best parts of the event was the tabling area. It offered attendees a much-needed opportunity to slow down, connect, and engage in hands-on activities like creating art. This focus on participation, rather than just passively receiving information, brought community and energy to the conference. Though many of our attendees were familiar with open source, I always love getting to share opportunities with students to have their work and research be recognized.
'My favorite part of OSCON was connecting with such an enthusiastic and welcoming community of open-source contributors and activists.'
Nouha Elyazidi
OSPO Marketing and Communication Graduate Student Ambassador
What stood out most, though, were the conversations.
Throughout the conference, I had the opportunity to interview attendees, volunteers, and speakers. Each conversation offered a different perspective on why open source matters and what brings people into this space. Some spoke about collaboration, others about accessibility or innovation—but across the board, there was a shared sense of purpose. Open source isn’t just a technical framework; it’s a community people actively choose to be part of every day.
From left to right: Sunil Shah, Nouha Elyazidi, Rosemary Pauley, Jood Alfadhel, and Mia Diewald.
'OSCON was an incredible experience! I had the opportunity to speak with a variety of contributors, and through these conversations, presentations, and panels, I truly saw how open source is making a positive impact in our world!'
Jood Alfadhel
OSPO Technical Projects Undergraduate Student Ambassador
'My favorite part of OSCON was listening to the keynotes, regular presentations, and lightning talks from different backgrounds of people, and discovering what the community is building with all the open source tools available.'
Sunil Shah
OSPO Technical Projects Graduate Student Ambassador
From an ambassador's perspective, the experience was especially meaningful.
Getting on stage and sharing my journey as someone outside of the traditional tech field was a moment I’ll never forget. Open source can sometimes feel like an insider space, but moments like OSCON go to show that there is room for everyone. Being able to speak to that and to represent a path into the community that isn’t always visible felt incredibly important. OSPO Program Coordinator, Rosemary Pauley, shared:
'It’s really inspiring to be welcomed into a community of genuinely excited and passionate people. Though I’ve organized OSCON for the past two years, I am still in awe of the work that contributors take on, simply because they believe in their project and they believe that open source benefits humanity as a whole.'
Rosemary Pauley
OSPO Program Coordinator
It was also inspiring to watch my peers, Jood and Sunil, take the stage and share the projects they’ve been building throughout their ambassador term. Seeing their work come to life—and being able to cheer them on—was a reminder of just how much growth can happen in a short period of time when people are given the right support and platform.
OSPO Student Ambassador Mia Diewald presented a lighting talk on her experience as a non STEM member of the open source community.
OSPO Student Ambassador Sunil Shah presented his lightning talk: Open Source and its Learnings.
OSPO Student Ambassador Jood Alfadhel presented her lightning talk and hard work: Exploring Open Source at GW: The OSS Discovery Tool
OSCON 2026 wasn’t just a great conference. It was a collective effort of early mornings, heavy lifting, creative moments, and meaningful conversations all coming together to create something bigger than any one person could’ve ever managed alone.
And that’s exactly what open source is all about.