Another cohort of Bobcats turn their tassels at Commencement 2026
Under blue skies and sunshine, the sound of bagpipes rang out across Tate Lawn as the Class of 2026 celebrated the completion of their bachelor's and master's degrees in a Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9. 267 students graduated surrounded by peers, loved ones, faculty, and staff who had supported them along the way.
Another group of supporters shepherded the Class of 2026 on their journey from students to alumni, the Golden Graduates. In a tradition begun at last year’s Commencement ceremony, alumni marking their own 50-year graduation anniversary don golden robes and lead the procession of the graduating class. 12 Golden Graduates from the Classes of 1975 and 1976 participated in this year’s ceremony.
The Class of 2026 is leaving behind a legacy of their own as they become alumni during one of the eras of the most growth and forward-thinking energy in the college’s history. The growth of the college, and of the graduates as they step out into the world, was echoed in a gift each student received, an evergreen sapling.
“These saplings have roots of their own, and those roots provide the foundation for their continued growth. Without those roots, the plant cannot stand tall or thrive,” King said. “As you plant these saplings and nourish them, remember the roots that you established here at Lees-McRae. You and your sapling both leave here today ready to reach your greatest potential.”
President Lee King welcomed the graduates and guests before announcing the recipients of this year’s H.C. Evans Jr. Fidelity Awards. Recipients of this award have been nicknamed “Mr. or Ms. Lees-McRae College” for their demonstration of academic excellence, campus citizenship, leadership, and service to the college and community.
This award is named for the college’s ninth president, and recipients are selected by their peers and endorsed by the college’s faculty and administration. Each year a graduate from both the main campus and Online and Distance Learning (ODL) programs is chosen for the award.
This year’s main campus recipient of the H.C. Evans Jr. Fidelity Award was Pre-Veterinary Medicine major Soleil Correa. Throughout her time at Lees-McRae, Correa served as an Orientation Leader and senior class president, worked in The Exchange, and was the co-captain of the college’s conference championship-winning cheerleading team.
“Everyone who was asked to describe her mentioned her positive attitude and her infectious joy. As a member of the Honors Program she demonstrated her academic prowess, skills that we know she will continue to put to use as she has been accepted to St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine.”
— King while presenting Correa with the H.C. Evans Jr. Fidelity Award.
The winner of the H.C. Evans Jr. Fidelity Award from the college’s ODL programs was Human Services major Lakisha Lipscomb. Lipscomb not only succeeded academically, graduating Magna Cum Laude, but she balanced her academic responsibilities with full-time work as a peer support specialist, outreach specialist, and site manager at Integrated Care of Greater Hickory.
“Her dedicated service to individuals, groups, and families in her community was noted by her faculty as the perfect embodiment of both the principles of Lees-McRae and her profession.”
— King while presenting Lipscomb with the H.C. Evans Jr. Fidelity Award.
A representative from both the main campus and ODL programs also addressed their peers with Commencement speeches following the conference of degrees. Business Administration major Sandra Mason and Online Criminal Justice major Matthew Bonestell were this year’s speakers.
Both graduates are active members of their respective communities. Mason is an athlete on the college’s conference championship-winning women’s basketball team and a member of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, a college leadership organization where she has done work to support student-athletes through burnout and struggles with identity. Bonestell is a law enforcement officer with Cornelius Police Department and operates a non-profit that builds community and support among first responders.
“After today we step into a world that is waiting, not for perfection, but for purpose. If these past four years have taught us anything, it’s that we already have what we need. We’ve been shaped by a community, strengthened by challenges, and supported by people who believed in us when we struggled to believe in ourselves. So, Class of 2026, as we move forward, carry the lessons, the resilience, and the faith. The world is waiting. Now it’s our turn to step into it and make history.”
— Business Administration major Sandra Mason ’26
“Graduating as an online student carries a unique sense of pride. The coursework required independence. Learning at home required us to create structure in our own lives. We didn’t just meet expectations; we redefined what success could look like on our own terms. In doing so, we prepared ourselves for a world that is constantly changing. A world that demands flexibility, digital fluency, and an ability to learn continuously.”
— Criminal Justice major Matthew Bonestell ’26
While their peers were celebrating on Tate Lawn, a group of six graduating student-athletes on the college’s cycling team competed in the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin.
In celebration of the graduates’ success, both at the championships and in the classroom over the last four years, faculty, staff, and loved ones gathered for a special Commencement ceremony on Pinnacle Deck on Tuesday, May 12.
