APRIL 24–25, 2026
2026 WGU Commencement in New York
Morning Ceremony –
2026 WGU Commencement in New York
(Spanish) Morning Ceremony –
2026 WGU Commencement in New York
Afternoon Ceremony –
2026 WGU Commencement in New York
(Spanish)Afternoon Ceremony –
2026 WGU Commencement in New York
Morning Ceremony Graduate Speakers
Divine Oshideko
DivineOshidekois an Enterprise Product Delivery Coach, Transformation Leader, and host ofTrybeTalk, a leadership and transformation platform focused on connectinggood ideaswith good people to drive meaningful impact. With extensive experience leading agile transformations and coaching teams across industries, he has contributed to major initiatives and policy development within multiple Fortune 100 organizations. Divine is passionate about fostering environments where innovationthrivesand individuals feel empowered to grow.
Originally from Nigeria, Divine’s journey to the United States is rooted in resilience, courage, and continuous growth. After navigating work environments that lacked psychological safety, he chose to redefine his path through learning, leadership, and purpose. Recently, he earned his Master of Science in Information Technology Management from Western GovernorsUniversity,a milestone that marks a full-circle moment in his personal and professional transformation. ThroughTrybeTalkand his work, Divine inspires others to lead with compassion, create safe and empowering spaces, and use their journey as a platform to uplift those around them.
Regina Myers
Regina Myers is a nurse withnearly 16years of experience serving her community. She began her nursing career after earning an associate’s degree in nursing at age 33 and later returned to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing.
She plans to continue her education to become a nurse practitioner, building on her experience in patient care and her commitment to improving lives of those in need.
Regina isan alumnusof the Silver Foxes, where she serves as corresponding secretary. A mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, shehopes to leave a lasting impact on her family and community through her work and service.
Afternoon Ceremony Graduate Speakers
Monica Vargas
Monica Vargas is a first-generation graduate earning a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Governors University. She serves as a sixth-grade math teacher at Jenks Middle School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where she has taught for six years.
Monica pursued leadership after experiencing both the impact of supportive administrators and the challenges of disconnect within educational systems. She is committed to bridging gaps between students, teachers and leadership, and to addressing policies that create barriers to success.
During her undergraduate studies, Monica experienced the loss of her mother and faced her own battle with cancer. She remained committed to her education, drawing on those experiences to shape her approach to teaching and leadership.
After graduation, Monica plans to pursue a leadership role within her district and will continue serving the Pawtucket community. She is focused on supporting students and contributing to a more equitable and connected education system.
Shawnette Jones
ShawnetteJonesis a dynamic leader withmore thana decade of experience in operations and management. She serves as theSocial Media GovernanceandCompliance Lead at Vanguard,where she navigatescomplex regulatoryenvironments.She alsoserves as the National Operations Officer for Sigma Chi Psi Sorority, Inc., overseeing the organization's operational frameworkand advancing its mission of sisterhood.
An entrepreneur, Shawnette isthe founder andCEO of Stay Fabulous Consulting,where sheadvisessmall businesseson strategy and alignment, and leadsStay Fab Travel,a venture focused oncuratedluxurytravelexperiences.She is also the founderof Under Her Brim, a platformthat supports survivors of domestic violence and fosters dialogue around women’s issues.In addition, she serves on the boards of two organizations, supporting local and communityinitiatives.
Shawnette earned a Bachelor of Science inbusinessmanagementfrom Western Governors University.A Pennsylvania resident, sheis a proudmother and grandmotherwho enjoystravel,golf, andPhiladelphiasports,Go Birds!Shebelieves leadership and lifelong learning go hand in hand and iscommittedto empowering others at every stage of life.
National Anthem Singers
Catherine Gilman
Catherine Gilman serves asBranchDirector andTrainer for the Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County, where she supports youth development by helping children build essential life and social-emotional skills and mentoring staff. She is committed to empowering young people and developing future leaders in youth development.
Catherine earned amaster's degree in educational technologyandinstructionaldesign from Western Governors Universityand alsoholds a bachelor's degree from the university.She studied vocal performance at Pacific Lutheran University, where her lifelong passion for music began.
She is honored to perform the national anthem at this year's commencement ceremony andthanksher family for their unwavering love and support, especially her husband, whose encouragement made this achievement possible.
Haniyah Bey
Haniyah Bey is a multidisciplinary artist from New Jersey with a focus on music, visual art, fashion, dance, and songwriting. She is also the owner of Arabella Adornments, where she designs and handcrafts crochet pieces.
Haniyah served as alumni trustee representative on her alma mater’s board of trustees and was recognized as one of the “Class of 2025 30 Under 40 Black Leaders of South Jersey” by Front Runner New Jersey. She is pursuing a career in video game design and is committed to creating better representation for minorities, including Muslim women.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in IT management from Western Governors University, graduating on an accelerated timeline after completing high school at 15 and community college at 18. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and cat, Twyla.
Honorary Degree Recipients
Jay Timmons
President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers
Jay Timmons is president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, the largest manufacturing association in the United States and the most influential voice for the13 million menand women who make things in America.
One of the longest-serving trade association CEOs in the country, Jay is a trusted leader among business and political circles alike—widely recognized for helping manufacturers achieve the policy wins that have shaped the American economy over the past decade. Under his leadership, the NAM has doubled in size and delivered landmark victories, including historic tax reform, regulatory modernization, landmark investment in infrastructure and reshaped theperceptionof manufacturing and manufacturing careers in the U.S.
Jay has also built the NAM into a full-scale platform for the industry, expanding legal advocacy, strengthening its voice in the courts and the public square, and advancing workforce programs that are now national models. As chair of the Manufacturing Institute, he has led efforts to close the skills gap and connect more Americans with careers in modern manufacturing.
Jay’s leadership is grounded in the NAM’s founding values: free enterprise, competitiveness, individuallibertyand equal opportunity.
Deborah Quazzo
Managing Partner, GSV Ventures
Co-founder, ASU+GSV Summit
Deborah Quazzo is the Managing Partner of GSV Ventures, a venture fund investing in education and workforce skills technologies that are disrupting the $7 trillion global sector. The fund invests globally - primarily in the US and India. Ms. Quazzo has been named to Insider's list of top 100 seed investors three times. In addition, she is co-founder of the ASU+GSV Summit, the preeminent gathering of leaders in education and workforce skilling. Now in its 17th year, the ASU+GSV Summit celebrates innovations and innovators, and attracts over 7,000 leaders from "PreK to Gray" education and workforce skills. Ms. Quazzo serves on the boards of Ascend Learning, Degreed, Dreamscape Learn, Ellucian, Kyron Learning, Turnitin and Uplimit. She is a member of the board of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She serves on the GEMS Global Schools Prize Council and The Dean's Leadership Council Advisory Committee at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Deborah graduated cum laude with a BA in history from Princeton University in 1982 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987. She and her husband Stephen live in Chicago and have three children and three grandchildren.
Alumni Celebration*
Friday, April 24, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 pm
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th St, Corona, NY 11368
Commencement*
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Morning Ceremony
Graduate Check-in: 8:30 am
Ceremony start: 9:30 am
Afternoon Ceremony
Graduate Check-in: 12:30 pm
Ceremony start: 1:30 pm
UBS Arena
2400 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont NY, 11003
*Details Subject to Change
Have questions? Ask Cappy!
Text "Hi" to1-866-670-0697 or scan the QR code below:
RSVP Closed
Additional Information
New York Deadlines:
- RSVP
Deadline: Closed - Graduate Speaker Application
Deadline: Closed - Anthem Singer Audition
Deadline: Closed
- Cap & Gown Ordering
Deadline: Closed
New York Details:
Learn More About Commencement Day
Watch this video to see what a typical in-person commencement day looks like for a graduate.
Parking
Parking at UBS arena is $25 per vehicle, UBS Arena is a cashless venue.
Bag Policy
Details Coming Soon
Alumni Celebration in New York
Kick off your commencement weekend with this exclusive alumni celebration in honor of our graduates!
All graduates attending the 2026 WGU Commencement in New York are invited to join us for the Alumni Celebration at the New York Hall of Science!
This family-friendly, come-and-go event is free to attend, and we encourage graduates and guests to dress in business attire.
At the celebration, you can:
- Free professional portraits(graduates only): Elevate your LinkedIn profile with a free professional portrait- courtesy of WGU!
- Meet with local employers for career opportunities.
- Reconnect with Alumni in your area.
- Visit our affiliated partnership booths to receive career advice, purchase WGU swag, pick up your WGU Philanthropy Cord, and more.
- Take photos in our social photo booth and share using #WGUgrad.
- Meet Sage the Night Owl
- Enjoy light appetizers, refreshments, and self-pay bars.
- Hit the dance floor or play family-friendly games with a fun WGU twist.
Come for the networking, stay for the fun.
*Please note: 2026 New York graduates are allowed to bring up to six (6) total guests.
Date:April 24, 2026
Time:6:00 - 9:00 pm
Location:
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th St, Corona, NY 11368
Contact Information
91Ƭ Alumni Celebration contact:alumnievents@wgu.edu .
91Ƭ Alumni Celebration accessibility:alumnievents@wgu.edu
91Ƭ Commencement questions:commencement@wgu.edu
Parking Information
Parking will be available, but limited, on-site at the New York Hall of Science at a first come first served basis. While parking is complimentary, please inform the attendant upon arrival that you are attending the private WGU Alumni Celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Commencement Ceremony FAQs
- Ceremony Participation and RSVP FAQs
- Regalia FAQs
- 91Ƭ Philanthropy Cord FAQs
- Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs
- Graduation Application and Diploma FAQs
Commencement Ceremony FAQs
A commencement guidebook with check-in details, parking, maps, and more will be loaded onto the and emailed to each graduate two weeks prior to the ceremony.
When registering for a commencement weekend, a graduate may choose the ceremony time that fitstheir needs bestas long asthe event has not reached capacity.All options can be seen at the event-specific registration link.
All schools willparticipatein each ceremony.
Due tovaryingspace limitations, Alumni Celebration and Commencement guest countpoliciesare different.Please refer to the specific guest count policy on the weekend-specific pagefor further information.
AlumniCelebration:
Guest capacitiesare implemented at alumni celebration events to accommodate as many graduates as possible while allowing everyone to enjoy the festivities with their loved ones.Guest capacities may be adjusted based on venue size and availability.
For the alumni celebrations in New Orleans, New York, Louisville, and Minneapolis graduates are invited to bring up to 6 guests.
For the alumni celebrations in Seattle, Atlanta, andAnaheim,graduatesare invited to bring up to 4 guests.
Commencement:Guests are recommended to bring up to 8 guests to ensure our eventdoesn’treach venuecapacity.
Tickets are notrequiredto enter thecommencementceremonies in New Orleans, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Anaheim.
Tickets will berequiredforthecommencement ceremoniesinElmont, New York at UBS Arena,Atlanta, Georgia at Gas South Arenaand in Seattle, Washington at Climate Pledge Arena.Event-specific ticketing information will be provided8 weeksprior to the event.
The names of graduates who physically attend an in-person commencement will be read as they cross the stage. All Virtual Commencement participants’ names will be read during the Virtual ceremony.
No. Graduates are called to the stage by schools and not in alphabetical order.
Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates andpreciseschedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.
*This may be adjusted according to venue requirements.Additionalinformation will be included in the Commencement Guidebookand on the event-specific website.
You can watch the commencement ceremony on the at any point after the start of the ceremony.
The commencement photos will be available approximately 2-3 weeks after the ceremony. Those photos will be available for viewing at
Did you know that WGU Alumni have access to hundreds of discounts? Log in to to search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.
Ceremony Participation and RSVP FAQs
There is not a time limit on when a graduate may walk in a commencement. Graduates may only participate in one commencement ceremony per degree program completed.
Generally,commencementceremonieslastapproximately90 minutes.
Yes,ceremonies have capacitylimits. Wesuggest that yousubmitan RSVP to your desired ceremony as soon as you are eligible.
Please review the located in the student handbook, which outlines student eligibility to attend commencement. If you have additional questions, you can contact the Commencement Office at commencement@wgu.edu.
Graduates who wish to participate in an in-person or virtual commencement ceremony must meet eligibility requirements and register for their desired event.
Eligibility Guidelines
- Students must have submitted their Graduation Application for the completion of their degree program OR
- Students must have only their final course remaining, such as capstone or final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or demonstration teaching.
- Students who meet the above final course requirements may submit an email tocommencement@wgu.edu with "Final Course" in the subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.
- Once eligibility has been confirmed the student or graduate MUST submit an RSVP via the commencement .
If you don’t currently meet either of these requirements, wait to RSVP until one of the requirements is met.
No, the graduation application process is separate from submitting a RSVP to a Commencement Weekend. If the Commencement Office has granted a final course exemption and you have RSVP’d to your desired ceremony you do not have to have your graduation application submitted to walk at Commencement.
Yes. The ceremony RSVP form is a separate process from the graduation application. The completion of the ceremony RSVP form reserves your seat at commencement and generates yourinformation on aname readingcardforthe announcer.
After a graduate submits the ceremony RSVP form, a confirmation email is automatically sent to the email address listed on the completed RSVP form. Please check your junk inbox. If you do not see a confirmation email for your ceremony RSVP, please contact us at commencement@wgu.edu with additional questions.
No. Once registration has closed, no late additions, including day-of(walk-up)will bepermitted.Registration for allin-personcommencement events ends one month prior to the event date, and registration for virtual ceremonies ends
No. As of January 2022, a graduate may participate in one ceremony per degree, either a virtual or in-person ceremony.
AStagePassisa digital QR codeissued to each graduate registered for an in-personceremonythe week of commencement.Itcontainsthe information that willbe displayedon the screen as your name isread,and you cross the stage.To access theirStagePassat the ceremony, graduates will need their phone with them at graduate check-in and as they cross the stage.
YourStagePasswill be emailed to youon Monday andFriday,the week ofthecommencementweekend.If you do not receive it, please contact the Commencement Office atcommencement@wgu.eduwith the subject line, “StagePassNot Received”.
We will send commencement updates to the email address you entered on your RSVP form.
Regalia FAQs
91Ƭ works withofficial regalia vendorBalfour(caps, gowns, tassels, hoods,stoles). Ordering willopen at the end of 2025for all 2026ceremonies.Regalia ordering can be found.
For bachelor’s degree, post-baccalaureate teacher programs, or endorsement preparation program (English Language Learning), you should order a cap, bachelor's gown, and tassel.
For those earning a master's degree or endorsement preparation program (Educational Leadership), you should order a cap, master's gown, tassel, and a master's hood.
Clickto see a tutorial on how to wear your cap & gown the day of commencement.
The following master’s hoods are available for purchasefromour regalia vendorBalfour.
Education -Blue
Business (all MBAs) -Drab
Technology -Gold
Nursing –Apricot
Integrated Healthcare Management -Salmon
Master of Health Leadership -Sage green
91Ƭ works withofficialcommencementgoods vendorBalfourforadditionalcommencement goods and announcements. Visit them at https://www.balfour.com/wgu to see theirselection.
Prior to the conferral of degrees, bachelor's degree graduates weartheirtassel on the right while master's degree graduates wear their tassel on the left for the entire commencement ceremony.
A graduate should wear academic attireappropriate tothe awarded degree. The master's gown differs from a bachelor's gown. If you already have a cap and tassel, you can order amaster'sgown as an individual item onour commencement vendor’s website.Please note that the academic attire for a master's graduate includes a cap, tassel, master's gown, and hood.
Yes, WGU graduates affiliated with an honor society may wear society pins or honor cords/sashes/stoles torepresenttheir academic achievements, affiliations, or identityon their gowns.
Teacher graduates affiliated with the WGU chapter of theinternational honor societyof Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) may order honor cords at.
Graduates who are members of The National Society of Leadership andSuccessmay wear honor cordsindicatingthis affiliation.
91Ƭ graduates who are veterans or active-duty military will be provided with a military honor cord. For virtual commencements, cords will be shipped to the address provided on their RSVP. For in-person commencements, cords will be picked up atthe Alumni Celebration or at Commencementduringgraduate check-in. On your RSVP form, please mark that you are a veteran or active duty.
Graduates arepermittedto decorate theirgraduationcaps. Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap for commencement:
91Ƭ does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in WGU’s sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard another’s copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.
91Ƭ Philanthropy Cord FAQs
The WGU Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord for graduates to wear with their cap and gownatCommencement. ThePhilanthropyCord isaphysical symbol of a graduate’s commitment to WGU,and,more importantly,supports aphilanthropiclegacy that will last for future generations of WGUstudents.
- Mail:If you order more than four weeks prior to your commencement ceremony, we will mail your cord to you at the address you specify. Alternatively, you may elect to pick up your cord in-person.
- In-Person:Visit the91Ƭ Advancement tableat your commencement site (Check-in or Alumni Celebration).
- Virtual:We will mail your cord to the address provided during your donation.
100% of your gift goes to theNight Owl Scholarship Fund, which provides direct financial assistance to WGU students who need a final boost to finish their degrees.
For in-person commencements,you may choose to have yourPhilanthropyCordmailed to you orpickedupat Commencementby visiting the WGU Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in beforeCommencement.
For virtual commencements,PhilanthropyCords will be mailed prior to the ceremony date.
91Ƭ Advancementis dedicatedtoattracting,allocating, and putting dollars toworkso more students have access to an affordable, quality education.Weprovidea meaningful way for alumni, donors, and partnersto “pay it forward” and invest in the future of education.
ASustaining Supporteris a donor who provides ongoing impact through a recurring gift. For as little as$3 a month, you can help ensure that the "bridge" to graduation remains open for every student who follows you.
Yes! Every dollar helps remove barriers for students. Whether it is a one-time gift or a recurring monthly contribution, your generosity directly impacts student success.
Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs
Yes, students may send an email torecords@wgu.eduwith the family member's full name, relationship to the student, and foreign address. Once provided, the Records Department will prepare documentscontaininginformation about the commencement and student's earned degree. These prepared letters will then be sent to the student toforwardthem to the correct parties. It may take 5-10 business days for the letters to be mailed to the student.
91Ƭ works withofficialannouncements andcommencementgoodsvendorBalfour. Ordering will open at the end of 2025for all 2026ceremonies.
Announcements can be foundonBalfour
Graduation Application and Diploma FAQs
Visit thein the student handbook for the most current information on how to apply for graduation.
Visit the in the student handbook for the most current information on how to receive your diploma.
No, please leave your diploma at home.You will receive a complimentary diploma cover at the end of the commencement ceremony.
