Commencement and Graduate School Program

Living caption is available on your mobile device for this ceremony. Visit commencement.vt.edu/captions/graduate.

3 p.m., Wednesday, May 13

Academic Processional

The National Anthem
Mary Stanford Austin
B.A. in Vocal Performance, B.A. in Spanish, Class of 2026

Greetings
Timothy D. Sands
University President

Julie Ross
Executive Vice President and Provost

Speaker Introductions
Aimée Surprenant
Dean, Graduate School

Graduate Student Remarks
Varshini Anandha Nehru
Master’s in Computer Information Technology

Prescott Vayda
Ph.D. in Geosciences

Reflections
Aimée Surprenant

Presentation of Candidates and Conferral of Degrees
Aimée Surprenant and Timothy D. Sands

Reading of Names
Joseph Merola
Professor, Department of Chemistry

Message from Faculty
Justin Lemkul
Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry

Closing Remarks
Aimée Surprenant

Recessional

Living caption is available on your mobile device for this ceremony. Visit commencement.vt.edu/captions/university.

8:30 a.m., Friday, May 15

Posting of Colors
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Color Guard

The National Anthem
Mary Stanford Austin
B.A. in Vocal Performance, B.A. in Spanish, Class of 2026

Greetings and Introduction of Student Speakers
Timothy D. Sands
University President

Message from Class of 2026 Class Officer
Shirin Mohammandian
Class Officer, Class of 2026

Announcement of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Tom Wamsley
Senior Vice President, Advancement

Jerry Hulick ’73
Sarah Franklin ’97

Introduction of commencement speaker
Timothy D. Sands

Graduation Address
Abigail Spanberger
Governor of Virginia

Announcement of the University Distinguished Achievement Award recipient and Ut Prosim Medal recipient
Timothy D. Sands and Nancy Dye

Jean Dickinson Gibbons Fielden ’62
Preston M. White ’63

Conferral of Degrees
Julie Ross
Executive Vice President and Provost

College Deans

Student Reflections
Darwin Otchere
Class Officer, Class of 2026

Greetings from the Alumni Association
Keith Stemple ’95
President, Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors

Recessional

Commencement Speaker
Gov. Abigail Spanberger

Gov. Abigail Spanberger is Virginia’s 75th Governor. Previously, she represented Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms.

Spanberger began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer — working money laundering and narcotics cases. She then joined the CIA, where she worked undercover her entire time at the Agency as a case officer. Both at home and abroad, Spanberger collected intelligence, managed assets, and oversaw high-profile programs to combat terrorism. 

Spanberger grew up in Henrico County, Virginia and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. She and her husband Adam are the proud parents of three school-aged daughters.

Ut Prosim Medal
Preston M. White ’63

Preston M. White has built a life and career shaped by hard work, service, and a lasting commitment to education. After studying building construction at Virginia Tech, he founded Century Concrete, Inc., growing it into a major business serving multiple cities. 

White has remained closely connected to Virginia Tech through his service on the Board of Visitors, and his continued support of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. He and his wife, Catharine, have helped create opportunities for students through scholarships and endowed support for faculty, strengthening the program for future generations.

White’s service and leadership have earned him recognition in the industry. His work reflects the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) not only in what he has built, but in the people and communities he supports.

University Distinguished Achievement Award
Jean Dickinson Gibbons Fielden ’62

Jean Dickinson Gibbons Fielden, professionally known as Jean Gibbons, is a pioneer for women in statistics. As the second woman to receive a doctorate in statistics from Virginia Tech, she has spent her career shaping the field for those who follow in her footsteps. 

Gibbons’s work has earned her national recognition. She was elected a Fellow of the American Statistical Association at age 34, and authored Nonparametric Statistical Inference, a foundational text in the field. 

She continues to be a champion of statistics and a dedicated supporter of Virginia Tech, making the single largest pledge to the Department of Statistics. Her generous support helps the university recruit outstanding doctoral students and strengthens the role statistics plays in addressing complex challenges.

Alumni Distinguished Service Award
Jerry Hulick ’73

Jerry Hulick spent more than 50 years in the financial services industry, retiring in 2004 as General Agent of The Washington Group of MassMutual. Upon retiring, he founded The Washington Group Special Care Planning Team, helping individuals with special needs, their families, and caregivers develop financial strategies and long-term plans.

A nationally-recognized advocate for the special needs community, Hulick has spoken at conferences and forums across the country and has worked with organizations on issues related to planning, disability inclusion, and employment. His work has connected families with resources and a network of professionals equipped to address a wide range of needs.

Hulick has remained connected with Virginia Tech, serving on the Virginia Tech Foundation Board and supporting the College of Science and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. His service and leadership make a difference in the lives of others and within the Virginia Tech community.

Alumni Distinguished Service Award
Sarah Franklin ’97

Sarah Franklin is the chief executive officer of Lattice, where she leads the company’s work supporting people and performance in the workplace. With more than 25 years in technology, she has held leadership roles across startups and global enterprises, building teams and driving innovation.

Recognized by Business Insider as a “CMO to Watch,” Franklin has also worked with industry and higher education leaders through the Business-Higher Education Forum to examine workforce trends and future talent needs. Her work reflects her commitment to helping organizations better prepare and support the next generation.

The following information, digested from “An Academic Costume Code and Ceremony Guide” prepared by the American Council on Education, may prove helpful in identifying the costumes you will see in the Commencement Procession.

When American colleges and universities desired to adopt some suitable system of academic apparel many years ago, a conference held at Columbia University in 1895 made up of representatives from various institutions drew up a “By-Law Regulation, or Statute” for the establishment of a suitable code of academic dress for colleges and universities in the United States. This code, with modifications made in 1959, is still in force; the costumes and colors, trimmings, and patterns you will see are all traditional and interpret both degree and the field of learning. The bachelor’s gown, designed to be worn closed, has pointed sleeves; the master’s gown, which may be worn open or closed, has an oblong sleeve open at the wrist which hangs down in traditional manner. The rear part of its oblong shape is square cut and the front part has the arc cut away. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves. It may be worn open or closed. Bachelor’s and master’s gowns are untrimmed. Doctor’s gowns are faced with black velvet with three bars across the sleeves; or the color of velvet may be that which is distinctive of the degree, agreeing with that of the edging of the hood. The colors you will see in the hoods and gowns of our faculty represent the various fields in which the degrees were taken. A few are:

• Accountancy, Commerce, Business: Drab (Yellow-Brown)
• Agriculture: Maize (Pale Yellow)
• Architecture: Blue-Violet (Purple)
• Arts, Letters, Humanities: White
• Economics: Copper
• Education: Light Blue
• Engineering: Orange Natural
• Resources: Russet (Rust)
• Philosophy: Dark Blue
• Veterinary Medicine: Gray
• Science: Bright Gold (Golden Yellow)

The hoods, differing in length for the three degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s), are lined with the official colors of the university or college conferring the degree, usually with one color forming a chevron pattern over the other (for example, orange and maroon for Virginia Tech). Hoods are edged and bound with velvet of the color appropriate for the degree. You will see in our procession many edged with dark blue for doctor of philosophy. Mortarboards are the approved headgear. Tassels are worn on the right side prior to receiving a degree and on the left side after the degree has been conferred. The tassel may be of gold if the holder has a doctor’s degree.

Among the bachelor’s candidates, honor students are distinguished by special sashes in white.

Class of 2026 Logo and Motto

Minuar ut augeant (Become less so that others may become more)

Class of 2026 Officers

• President: Kayla Moten
• Vice President: Helena Alemu
• Secretary: Alli Jones
• Treasurer: Nhi Truong
• Cadet Member-At-Large: Darwin Otchere
• Female Member-At-Large: Hennessy Chanthavisouk
• Male Member-At-Large: Quinton Dagner
• Class Member-At-Large: Suhjin Kwak

Class of 2026 Class Ring

Board of Visitors

• Mr. John Rocovich, Rector
• Dr. Rosa Atkins
• Mr. Edward Baine
• Dr. Nancy Dye
• Mr. Theodore Hanson
• Mr. William Holtzman
• Ms. Starlette Johnson
• Mr. Ryan McCarthy
• Mr. Jim Miller
• Mr. Robert Moser
• Mr. J. Pearson
• Mr. Mehul Sanghani
• Ms. Margaret Ann Smith
• Ms. Jeanne Stosser
• Dr. Justin Lemkul, Faculty Representative
• Dr. Marlena Lester, A/P Faculty Representative
• Ms. Amber Hagan, Staff Representative
• Ms. Katherine Drinkwater Gregg, Graduate Student Representative
• Mr. Thomas Feely, Undergraduate Student Representative