Commencement Digital Program
Seventy-ninth Commencement Program
Seventy-ninth Commencement Program
Platform Party
- Dr. Chantae Recasner, President
- Ms. Harriette Bryant, Chair, Board of Trustees
- Mr. Martin Crockroft, Vice President of Instruction
- Mr. Mark Hughes, Trustee
- Mr. Brendon Taga, Vice President of Student Affairs
- Sara Hewson, 10am Class of 2026 Speaker
- Clint Waggoner, 1pm Class of 2026 Speaker
Musical Selections
- Pomp and Circumstance, E. Elgar
- The Star Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key
Prelude and Processional
- Simply Brass Quintet
Faculty Parade Marshals
- Professors Bill Bailey and Katie Baldwin, 10am
- Dr. Bryan Gross and Professor Elisabeth Briggs, 1pm
Land Acknowledgement
- Dr. Caroline Hartse
Presentation of Colors
- Suquamish Warriors Color Guard
National Anthem
- Mr. Rodgie Oliver
Welcome
Master of Ceremonies
- Dr. Brendon Taga, Vice President of Student Affairs
Words of Congratulation
- Ms. Harriett Bryant, Chair, Board of Trustees
- Dr. Chantae Recasner, President
Student Speaker, Class of 2026
- Sara Hewson, 10am
- Clint Waggoner, 1pm
Presentation of President’s Medal Candidates
- Dr. Chantae Recasner, President
- Mr. Martin Cockroft, Vice President of Instruction
Class Roll Readers
- Dr. Bonnie Adams, Professor Elisabeth Briggs 10am
- Dr. Bonnie Adams, Dr. Mirelle Cohen 1pm
Presentation of Degrees
- Dr. Chantae Recasner, President
- Board of Trustees
Recessional
Please remain seated until the Recession is completed. Refreshments follow the ceremony in Building 7 adjacent to PI Square.
Photographs
Photographers are available to take professional portraits in the Student Center (Building 10) prior to the ceremony or near Building 7 following the ceremony.
Academic Regalia
The significance of the regalia is indicated by the sleeves and hoods. The bachelor gown has pointed sleeves, the master gown has long, closed sleeves, and the doctorate gown has bell-shaped sleeves and velvet trim.
The bachelor hood is three feet in length, the master hood is three and one-half feet, and the doctorate hood is four feet. Hoods are lined with colors of the institution from which the individual received his or her degree.
The colored velvet border of the hood which is two inches, three inches, and five inches wide for the bachelor, master, and doctorate degree respectively, indicates the faculty or field to which the degree pertains.
- Accountancy, Business, Commerce: Drab
- Agriculture: Maize
- Arts, Letters, Humanities: White
- Dentistry: Lilac
- Economics: Copper
- Education: Light Blue
- Engineering: Orange
- Fine Arts, Architecture: Brown
- Forestry, Environmental Studies: Russet
- Journalism: Crimson
- Law: Purple
- Library Science, Information Mgmt.: Lemon
- Medicine: Green
- Music: Pink
- Nursing: Apricot
- Optometry: Aquamarine
- Oratory, Speech, Communications: Silver Gray
- Pharmacy: Olive Green
- Philosophy: Dark Blue
- Physical Education, Physical Therapy: Sage Green
- Public Administration, including Foreign Service and Public Policy: Peacock Blue
- Public Health: Salmon Pink
- Science: Golden Yellow
- Social Work: Citron
- Theology: Scarlet
- Veterinary Science: Gray
Special Awards
President’s Scholar (Applies to Associate Degrees Only)
Graduates who have maintained a 3.9 to 4.0 cumulative grade point average may wear gold honor cords. Graduates with a 4.0 GPA are awarded the President’s Medal at Commencement.
Deans’ Scholar (Applies to Associate Degrees Only)
Graduates who have maintained a 3.5 to 3.89 cumulative grade point average in their associate degree may wear silver honor cords.
Phi Theta Kappa
Graduates wearing a gold stole are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Membership is open to students who maintain a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average.
Sigma Theta Tau
Graduates wearing a purple and white cord are members of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate nursing students who demonstrate academic integrity.
Olympic College Foundation honors
Graduates wearing light blue cords are recipients of an Olympic College Foundation scholarship. These scholars worked diligently to earn this honor, demonstrating a commitment to their education and future. These cords serve as a testament to the students who wear them and to the generosity of our donors, whose contributions empower students to achieve their dreams.
Upper level honors
Graduates of the Bachelor Degree programs at Olympic College, with such notation by their name graduate as cum laude “with praise”, magna cum laude “with great praise”, or summa cum laude “with highest praise.” For Olympic College bachelor degrees, the associated GPA for cum laude is 3.5-3.74, for magna cum laude is 3.75-3.89, and for summa cum laude is 3.9-4.0.
Final Section
Final Section
Restroom Locations
- Building 5 walk past elevators to the right of entrance. Restrooms are on the left.
- Building 6 entrance between buildings 5 and 6.
- Building 7 next to elevators on the first floor.
- Building 11 enter from the breezeway at the end of the hallway to the right.
- Building 12 between the stairwells
A special thank you to:
- CORT Party Rentals
- Disability Services
- Gordon Sound
- Kari Owens, ASL Professional
- Katie Wiseman-Lindquist, ASL Professional
- Olympic College Communications
- Olympic College Culinary Arts staff and students
- Olympic College Duplicating Services
- Olympic College Facilities Staff
- Olympic College Foundation
- Olympic College Safety and Security
- Olympic Photo Group
- Port Orchard Florist
- Simply Brass quintet
- Suquamish Warriors Color Guard
- All others who participated in making this celebration a memorable experience.
The 2026 Commencement Committee
- Dr. Jennifer Glasier, Co-Chair
- Mr. Ashtyn Coburn, Co-Chair
- Mr. Richard Barley
- Ms. Wendy Belden
- Ms. Elisabeth Briggs
- Ms. Erin Chung-Hoon
- Ms. Raina Clifford
- Ms. Nora Downard
- Mr. Brandon Giger
- Ms. Veronica Hunter
- Ms. Judie Jose
- Dr. Heather Lukashin
- Ms. Amy McBride
- Ms. Jennifer Pebbles
- Ms. Emma Polaris
- Ms. Mia Serrano
- Ms. Tatiane Simons
- Ms. Traci Stevens
- Dr. Brendon Taga
Final determination of degrees and honors may be contingent upon the grades reported for spring term 2026.
This program does not constitute an official graduation list.
Every effort was made to include correct information
in this program at the time of printing.
Any errors or omissions are sincerely regretted.