Wenatchee Valley College will celebrate the graduates of 2026 with a nursing convocation in Omak on June 11, a nursing pinning ceremony in Wenatchee on June 18, and graduation ceremonies for both campuses on June 18 and June 20.
The convocation and poster presentation for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) degree graduates will be on Thursday, June 11, at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Omak.
The pinning ceremony for graduates in the associate degree of nursing program is at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at Wenatchee High School. The ceremony will celebrate graduates from both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses.
The Wenatchee campus graduation ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the Town Toyota Center. The Omak campus ceremony is on Saturday, June 20, at 1 p.m. at the Omak Performing Arts Center.
The Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College (ASWVC) have selected Derek Sheffield as this year’s Wenatchee campus commencement speaker. Sheffield teaches in WVC’s English division and is the eighth poet laureate of Washington state (2025-2027). His books include “Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry,” winner of a 2024 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award; “Not for Luck,” selected by Mark Doty for the Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize; “Through the Second Skin,” runner-up for the Emily Dickinson First Book Award; and “Dear America: Letters of Hope, Habitat, Defiance, and Democracy.” A two-time finalist for the Washington State Book Award, Sheffield’s other awards include the Foreword Reviews Indies Book of the Year in Nature Writing and the James Hearst Poetry Prize judged by Li-Young Lee. Sheffield also edits poetry for Terrain.org.
The Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College Omak (ASWVCO) have selected Professor Shannon Rodman as the Omak campus commencement speaker. Rodman is a faculty member at WVC Omak, where she teaches courses in U.S. History, Political Science, and occasionally in Physical Education. She began teaching in 2016 and joined WVC in 2018 as a part-time instructor before earning a full-time tenured position. Rodman is dedicated to helping students develop strong critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze historical sources. She emphasizes active engagement in the classroom, encouraging students to question, interpret, and construct historical arguments. Beyond the classroom, Rodman is involved in campus life as a co-advisor alongside her colleague Tria Skirko of Community Engaged Knights (CEK), supporting student involvement and community connection in Okanogan County. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys competing in powerlifting events and traveling, often exploring the history of the places she visits.
Wenatchee campus graduates and their guests are encouraged to request disability accommodations before June 18 by contacting WVC Student Life at studentlife@wvc.edu or 509-682-6860. An accessible parking area is available to individuals with disabled parking permits and by special permission from WVC Student Life. Accessible seating will be provided, along with ASL and Spanish interpretation.
Balloons and flowers are not allowed in the arena during the Wenatchee campus ceremony. Guests may leave these items at a reception area in the lobby before entering the arena.
WVC and The Town Toyota Center would like participants to be aware that there will be fewer parking spots available at the Town Toyota Center parking lot due to construction. Additional parking is available at Walla Walla Point Park.
Omak campus graduates and their guests may request accommodations by contacting Dean Cal Cross at ccross@wvc.edu or 509-422-7805. An ASL interpreter, Spanish translation, accessible parking, and wheelchair accessible seating will be provided.
Both graduation ceremonies and nursing convocations will be livestreamed on WVC’s YouTube channel.
More information on the graduation ceremonies can be found at wvc.edu/Graduation.
About Wenatchee Valley College
Founded in 1939, Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington and delivers relevant, innovative, and experiential educational opportunities for thriving and healthy communities. Learn more at www.wvc.edu.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. Learn more at www.wvc.edu/publicdisclosure.
Published May 12, 2026
Media Contacts:
Cal Cross, WVC Omak Dean, 509-422-7805, ccross@wvc.edu
Dr. Jennifer Freese, WVC Director of Nursing, 509-682-6662, jfreese@wvc.edu
Iris Rodriguez, WVC Director of Student Life, 509-682-6868, irodriguez2@wvc.edu
Marcine Miller, Executive Director, Public Information Office, 509-682-6582, mmiller2@wvc.edu