For the 2025-2026 annual year, which runs summer 2025, fall 2025 and spring 2026, Virginia Western welcomed 1,041 people to its growing alumni network. These students earned a total of 1,304 awards.* 

More than 400 graduates attended Virginia Western’s 60th commencement, held Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Berglund Center in Roanoke. The ceremony honored graduates who completed their degrees and certificates during fall 2025 and spring 2026, as well as students projected to complete during the summer 2026.

Dr. Laura Treanor presided over her first Commencement ceremony as President of Virginia Western. “Each graduate seated before us represents determination, sacrifice, resilience, and hope for the future,” she said. “We gather not only to recognize academic achievement, but also to celebrate the journeys, challenges, and accomplishments that have brought our graduates to this important moment.” 

Three Virginia Western students participated as speakers in Commencement events. 

Maureen Arthur, a 2026 graduate who received an Associate of Science in Business Administration, addressed graduates before the ceremony as Student Rehearsal Speaker. Hagar Atef Youssef, a 2026 graduate who received an Associate of Science degree in Science, was Student Welcome Speaker during the ceremony, and Demetrice Peerman-Forrest, a 2026 graduate who received an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services, gave the keynote address. 

Read more from their speeches and see a gallery of photos.

* Spring 2026 awards have not yet been conferred; a graduation application query was used to provide Spring 2026 graduate demographics. Official AY 2025-26 graduate data will be available in summer 2026.