Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s College will hold its 119th Commencement ceremony on May 10, 2026, in celebration of graduates in the Class of 2026.
The graduates, faculty, and administration will process through campus about 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony, led by bagpipers from Matthew Brouard Music. The ceremony will then begin promptly at 10 a.m. in the Ross Sports Center.
More than 300 students will receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees or recognition for completing a graduate certificate program during the ceremony. The graduates represent approximately 27 states or U.S. territories and 11 countries.
Several graduates will offer remarks during the Commencement, including:
- Joelle Kayse Cameron of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, will deliver the undergraduate Senior Address.
- Hayley Elizabeth Jensen of Washingtonville, New York, will deliver the Graduate Address.
The Commencement Address will feature remarks from Shabana Basij-Rasikh, co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan, and an internationally recognized advocate for girls’ education. Basij-Rasikh's own experience as a child under the Taliban – risking her life for a chance to learn – has fueled her work through SOLA and its online academy, SOLAx, which reaches girls still inside Afghanistan and around the world. She will receive an honorary degree from the College during the ceremony.
Two Saint Michael’s College alumni will also be recognized with honorary degrees:
- Donald R. “Don” Dion, Jr., Esq. ’76 — Investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former Saint Michael’s College trustee.
- Richard E. “Rich” Tarrant ’65 (posthumously) — Entrepreneur, philanthropist, former trustee, and one of the most celebrated athletes in Saint Michael’s College history.
Those interested in watching the Commencement ceremony but do not have a ticket for admission can watch the event livestream in the McCarthy Arts Center. The livestream and a full program will also be available at smcvt.edu/commencement.
About Saint Michael’s College
Saint Michael's College, founded in 1904 on principles of social justice and leading lives of purpose and consequence, is a selective, Catholic college just outside Burlington, Vermont, one of the country's best college towns. Located between the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, our closely connected community guarantees housing all four years and delivers an internationally respected liberal arts education, preparing students for fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. Young adults here grow intellectually, socially, and morally, learning to lead with empathy and professionalism, and to be responsible for themselves, each other, and their world.
COLCHESTER, VT — Saint Michael’s College www.smcvt.edu
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