Spring Commencement 2026 is officially in the books, and just like that, more than 3,600 graduates are now part of the West Virginia University alumni family.
Over the weekend, the Coliseum was filled with proud families, excited graduates, and plenty of emotions as students crossed the stage and turned their tassels after years of hard work in Morgantown. For the Class of 2026, it marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, this time as WVU alumni.
Commencement weekend always brings a special energy to campus. Woodburn Hall becomes the backdrop for hundreds of family photos, restaurants and sidewalks fill with visitors, and graduates spend one final weekend together before heading off in new directions across the country.
Even as things change, one thing stays the same: the strength of the Mountaineer family.
As graduates exited the Coliseum, members of the Alumni Association staff welcomed them with a WVU Alumni pin, a small reminder that while their student years may be over, their connection to WVU is just beginning.
Many graduates also got an early welcome into the alumni family during GradFest last week, where members of the Class of 2026 picked up their first WVU Alumni t-shirt, let us know where they’re heading after Commencement, and claimed their complimentary two-year membership to the WVU Alumni Association.
For many new alumni, Commencement is equal parts celebration and goodbye. It’s the last time living in the routines that defined their years in Morgantown, from walks across campus to late nights studying, game days with friends, and all the little moments in between that end up meaning the most.
For alumni reading this, those memories probably feel familiar.
Every Mountaineer carries a different WVU story, but the connection to this place has a way of lasting long after graduation day. It’s what keeps alumni connected through chapter events, mentorship, volunteer service, networking opportunities, and shared pride in the Flying WV.
Now, the Class of 2026 becomes part of that story too.
These newest alumni will carry their WVU experiences into communities and careers across the country, and we’re proud to welcome them into a network of Mountaineers that spans generations.
To the Class of 2026, congratulations on this incredible accomplishment. Thank you for the role you’ve already played in the WVU story, and remember that wherever life takes you next, you’ll always have a home within the Mountaineer family.
Let’s Go!
Kevin Berry ('94, '95)
WVU Vice President of Alumni Relations
CEO of the WVU Alumni Association, Inc.