BRIDGEWATER, VA: (Rocktown Now) – Bridgewater College celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its 146th Commencement ceremony on May 2, conferring degrees on 315 undergraduate students and 26 graduate students. President Dr. David W. Bushman formally awarded the degrees and welcomed graduates and their supporters, highlighting the vital role families, friends, faculty and staff played in each student’s academic journey. The ceremony began with a call to order by Grand Marshal Dr. Elizabeth MacDougall and featured multilingual invocations delivered by students and campus leaders, reflecting the College’s cultural diversity and inclusive community.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers underscored themes of curiosity, perseverance, gratitude and shared responsibility. Trustee Board Chair D. Bruce Christian P’06 encouraged graduates to remain open to learning and new possibilities, while Alumni Association President Amanda Graziano ’95 welcomed them into Bridgewater’s alumni network of more than 15,000 members, emphasizing the lifelong connection graduates share with the institution. Graduate speaker Stacey Bandell M’26 spoke candidly about balancing school, work and family as a non-traditional student, thanking faculty and staff for their understanding and support. Senior Class President Mackenzie Buckley ’26 reflected on the deep sense of community built during students’ time at Bridgewater and presented the Class of 2026’s gift, a contribution to the Ernie Fund to support an обновed College mascot.

Student recognition remained a central focus of the ceremony. Kristopher Schultz ’26, recipient of the Bridgewater College Founder’s Award, challenged his classmates to live out the values symbolized by the Eagle mascot—excellence, accountability, grit, leadership and empowerment—by rising above distractions and acting with intention. A musical performance by Charles Hale V ’26 added a reflective note before the keynote address by Robert Newlen ’75, acting librarian of Congress and recipient of the BC President’s Medal. Speaking on the theme “It’s Your Story,” Newlen encouraged graduates to pursue joy, embrace unexpected paths, value friendships and extend grace to themselves through life’s setbacks.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of academic excellence and program accomplishments.

Among undergraduate graduates, 146 earned bachelor of arts degrees and 169 earned bachelor of science degrees, with significant numbers achieving cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude honors. Bridgewater College also celebrated graduates from four master’s programs, spanning digital media strategy, nonprofit management, athletic training and human resource management. Together, the ceremony honored individual achievement, academic rigor and the collective spirit of the Bridgewater community, formally welcoming the Class of 2026 into the College’s growing alumni family.