May 2026 Commencement: Wishing Our Class of 2026 the Best in the Journey Ahead
With the arrival of warm weather and the end of another Spring Semester, members of the York College of Pennsylvania community come together to celebrate more than 500 students who will be receiving their degrees in two ceremonies held in the morning and afternoon.
York College of Pennsylvania is proud to announce that today, May 9th, 2026, more than 500 students officially graduated at the Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony. After years of hard work and dedication, the newest alumni of York College gathered at the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center and received their diplomas.
Continuing the tradition of the previous year, two ceremonies were held for the different schools that would be walking across the stage. The morning ceremony recognized students graduating from the School of the Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, and the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology. The afternoon ceremony acknowledged the achievements of the graduates of the Graham School of Business and the Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Meyers School of Nursing and Health Professions.
Among the May graduates, 90 students who will graduate and have their degrees conferred in August joined them in the commencement activities. It was truly a time for members of the community to come together and celebrate the students who worked hard to achieve their goals.
The ceremonies began with a welcome address from York College President Dr. Thomas D. Burns. During his opening remarks, he congratulated the Class of 2026 on reaching this momentous occasion and welcomed family, friends, staff, and special guests, including York City Mayor Sandie Walker.
“Graduates, your time on campus has been one of living, learning, and growing—a shared journey in a community that you have helped nurture, and has, in turn, helped nurture you as well,” Dr. Burns said. “Today marks the culmination of that journey, but it is also the beginning of a new chapter. As you prepare to leave this campus, you are ready to embrace the challenges, opportunities, and adventures that await you.”
Dr. Burns also took the time to announce outstanding faculty members retiring from York College: Dr. Scott Hamilton, PH.D, P.E., F.ASCE, Professor of Civil Engineering; Vickie L. Kline, Systems Faculty Librarian and Associate Professor; Jeffrey Schiffman, B.A., Audio & Radio Production Instructor and WVYC Radio Station Manager; and Dr. Zehao Zhou, Information Services Librarian and Faculty Librarian.
Representing the Class of 2026 in the morning ceremony was Jordyn Cox-Pemberton ‘26, a Civil Engineering Major. In her speech, Jordyn acknowledged that many students entered York College at different stages of their lives, with some exactly what they wanted to do, while others changed their minds or were still figuring things out. Ultimately, life is about growing and figuring out our path forward by trying and taking chances, even on unfamiliar roads.
“You discovered what excites you, what challenges you, and who you are,” Jordyn said. “Because the real mistake isn’t trying something and realizing it wasn’t for you. The real mistake is never trying at all — and spending the rest of your life wondering what might have happened if you did.”
“So try the things that excite you. Try the things that challenge you. Try the things that might not work out. Because every time you try, you expand what’s possible — not just for yourself, but for the people watching you and the people who will come after you.”
For the afternoon ceremony, Finance major Marianna Lally ‘26 spoke to the graduating class. She expressed the importance of leadership, especially as students enter a world that will challenge them. Even though everyone’s path will be different, they will often call upon individuals to use everything they have learned and experienced to make a meaningful difference in the world and the lives of others.
“It’s not only about the positions we hold. It is about the choices we make when others are watching, and when no one is watching at all,” Marianna said. “Moments like that happen when people choose to step forward, take responsibility, and believe that progress is possible even when the path ahead is uncertain.”
“So as you leave York College of Pennsylvania and step into whatever comes next, remember this: There will be moments when the path forward is not obvious. Moments when the answers are not clear. And when those moments arrive, someone will need to step forward. And in this graduating class, we are the leaders those moments will call for.”
Michelle Hudson Shellenberger '89, Director of Alumni Relations, also spoke at both ceremonies. After welcoming the Class of 2026 as new members of the Alumni Association, she emphasized to graduates that the Spartan family will always be cheering them on and that their memories of their time on campus should shape them and their path ahead.
“As you walk out of these doors today, don’t just carry a diploma—carry the pride of everything you’ve built here,” Shellenberger said. “Go make your mark on the world, keeping our motto close to your heart. Remind the world that "To Serve is to Live" by making a positive impact in every community you enter.”
Dr. Burns returned to the stage to announce the recipients of two faculty awards. The 2026 YCP Presidential Award for Teaching and Mentoring Excellence was awarded to Dr. Kimberly Kode Sutton, Chair of the Education Department and Associate Professor of Education, and the 2026 Presidential Award for Community Engagement was awarded to Dr. Jennifer N. Engler, Chair of the Psychology Department and Professor of Psychology.
This year, the May 2026 Commencement Address was delivered by Bryce Johnson ‘11, Senior Vice President of Football Administration/Senior Personnel Executive at the Atlanta Falcons. In his speech, Johnson shared his career journey and how many of the small decisions he made along the way fed into larger ones that aligned with his preferences for his career path. Something that allowed him to pursue what he was passionate about, and that the graduates have been slowly doing as well.
Uncertainty will most likely be part of every course graduates take once they leave college, but with every decision they make, they have the opportunity to shape what their futures look like. It may be daunting, but there is value in staying true to yourself.
“There are no obvious answers in how to approach any of those decisions, but you are sitting here because you were able to do all of it by following your instincts to align your reality with your preferences,” Johnson said. “The blueprint you’ve been following that I mentioned earlier was mostly designed by you.”
“So while you’ve spent the last few years taking exams, writing papers, and completing courses, the most important piece of knowledge that you will leave York College with is knowledge about yourself. So I encourage you to spend time reflecting on that knowledge so that you can use it as wisdom in all of your future decisions.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! The faculty, staff, and community at York College wish our graduates all the best, and we look forward to seeing where they go next!
