MONTPELIER — The Community College of Vermont (CCV) will hold its 2026 commencement ceremony at Norwich University’s Shapiro Field House in Northfield, Vermont on Saturday, June 6. The ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. Nearly 500 students will be awarded associate degrees.
The College is pleased to announce that this year’s keynote speaker is Will Eberle, founder of Mission Driver Consulting and executive director of Alyssum, a peer-based mental health respite program. Eberle, whose own higher education journey began at CCV, is a human services leader who has dedicated his career to uplifting Vermont’s most vulnerable citizens.
The student speakers for the Class of 2026 are Darrell Martin and Briana Samaniego. At 79, Martin is the eldest member of the Class of 2026. He is a military veteran who will earn a degree in liberal studies. Samaniego is graduating with a degree in STEM studies and plans to continue her education to study biomedical engineering.
The Community Service Award will be given to Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation. VCF has partnered with CCV to open doors to higher education, most notably through initiatives that support veterans and military-connected students, multilingual students and Vermonters who are incarcerated. Smith has also championed opportunities for Vermont high school students to access college and career pathways.
The College will recognize three faculty members for their commitment to teaching and learning excellence and their many contributions to their CCV classrooms. Patti Cook, Sylvia Puglisi and April Zajko will receive this year’s Teaching Excellence Awards.
CCV President Joyce Judy will officiate the event. Governor Phil Scott will address the Class of 2026, and members of the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees and state lawmakers will be in attendance.
