Countdown to Commencement 2026
Your one-stop shop for all pre-graduation activities and informationCommencement is right around the corner, and the next few weeks are full of fun celebrations, traditions, and final assignments for the Class of 2026. This year’s ceremony will be held Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. on Tate Lawn.
Information about the full weekend schedule, inclement weather plan, and graduation requirements can be found on the Commencement webpage, but this page is your one-stop shop for all the events and information for the run-up to the big day.
Commencement Checklist
- Pick up your regalia: Cap and gown orders are available for pick-up in the Office of the Registrar, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Regalia orders for December graduates, online and distance learning graduates, and graduate students were mailed to the home address on file at the beginning of April.
With questions, contact the Office of the Registrar.
- Return your textbooks: The deadline for returning textbooks on campus is Wednesday, May 13. Students who are unable to return textbooks by this deadline must follow the instructions for the mail-in textbook return process before the final deadline of Wednesday, May 20 to avoid incurring a charge to their student account.
For information about on-campus textbook return windows and instructions for returning textbooks by mail, visit the Textbook Rentals webpage.
Meet the Graduates
Saige Jones
Senior Pre-Veterinary Medicine major Saige Jones always knew she was interested in pursuing a career working with animals, but it wasn’t until she traveled across the country—from California to Banner Elk—for college that her goals came fully into focus.
Jedda Levy
If one activity has defined senior Jedda Levy’s time at Lees-McRae, it might be catching snakes. The Wildlife Biology major has dedicated much of her last four years to conducting research in the Elk Valley Preserve about snake fungal disease.
Matthew Bonestell
Senior online Criminal Justice major Matthew Bonestell had been working in law enforcement for seven and a half years before deciding he wanted to earn his bachelor’s degree. Now he’s graduating with a degree that will boost his career and his non-profit.
Jamari Russell
Russell is a Business Administration major earning a specialization in Marketing, and he has had plenty of hands-on experience through his work-study position in the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Peter Wallace
Wallace is a double-major earning degrees in Wilderness Medicine and Rescue and Outdoor Recreation Management. These programs, combined with his minor in Ski Industry Business and Instruction, have prepared him for a career in the outdoor industry.
Terri Williams
Williams has worked in the classroom as a teaching assistant for nearly a decade but has always wanted to lead her own class. Once she graduates from the college’s online Elementary Education program, that dream will become a reality.
Ben Luna
Luna is an athlete on the college’s cycling team, but the Exercise Science major’s passion for the sport goes beyond competing. He has helped research and develop the college’s first-ever lab for conducting biometric testing with high-performing athletes.
Pati Vedia Sanchez
At the intersection of her major and her sport, Sanchez has forged a path all her own. The Communication Arts & Design major and tennis player creates visual storytelling about the sport she has loved since childhood.
Ceremonies, Awards, and Events
100 Days Until Graduation
The official countdown to Commencement kicks off each January with the annual 100 Days Until Graduation event. Featuring career readiness advice, professional headshots, and lots of networking, this event gets graduates thinking about their careers and futures.
Honors and Awards
Each year, the college’s Honors and Awards ceremony recognizes dozens of students, faculty, and staff for their accomplishments throughout the academic year. From academic achievement to acknowledgements of community service, the 67th annual Honors and Awards ceremony celebrated the best of the Lees-McRae community throughout the 2025–26 year.
Alpha Chi National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Nine students were inducted into the 2026 cohort of Alpha Chi National Honor Society, which honors students who meet a rigorous academic standard.
