University News

WIU Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend May 15-16

May 8, 2026

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Ceremonies recognizing the academic and personal accomplishments of Western Illinois University students and alumni will be held Friday-Saturday, May 15-16, in Macomb.

A total of 1,334 students are eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies, including 807 undergraduate students, 66 of whom are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program; 437 master's level graduate students; and five students earning doctorates in Educational Leadership. Doctoral graduates include Terri-Anne Bynoe (Needham, MA), Darin Thomas Dunphy (Colona, IL), Christopher Darren Janssen (Avon, IL), Daniel Kerney (Bloomington, IL) and Antonia B. Laurent-Goodman (St. Lucia, FN). Additionally, 16 post-baccalaureate certificates will be awarded.

Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend Schedule:

Friday, May 15, Western Hall, Macomb
5 p.m. Graduate Ceremony (College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business and Technology; College of Education and Human Services; College of Fine Arts and Communication; Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs; School of Law Enforcement & Justice Administration [Public Safety Administration])

Saturday, May 16, Western Hall, Macomb
9 a.m. Undergraduate Ceremony, (College of Business and Technology; General Studies; School of Law Enforcement & Justice Administration)
1:30 p.m. Undergraduate Ceremony, Western Hall, Macomb (College of Arts and Sciences; College of Education and Human Services; College of Fine Arts and Communication)

A list of majors included in each college can be found here: Undergraduate Majors by College.

Ceremony Live Streams

Western Illinois University provides live-streaming video of the commencement ceremonies held at the Macomb campus. The live feed will be available approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each ceremony on WIU's YouTube channel.

Distinguished Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Award, established in 1973, recognizes alumni who have brought credit to the University and themselves through exceptional professional accomplishments and meritorious service to ensure the continued excellence of WIU and through service to their communities at the national, state or local levels. The award will be presented to two WIU graduates during the spring 2026 commencement exercises.


David L. Harlow, a 1982 Law Enforcement & Justice Administration graduate, retired after nearly 35 years with the United States Marshals Service, where he rose through the ranks to serve as acting director from 2015 until his retirement in 2018. Throughout his career, he played a key role in establishing major initiatives and served under both Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump. Harlow will share remarks during the 9 a.m. ceremony.


Shelly M. Russell, a 1997 graduate of the Board of Governors Degree program (now General Studies), has served as chief executive officer of Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa since 2014. Through her more than four-decade career in healthcare, Russell has served communities in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. As CEO, Russell has led significant expansion efforts to improve access to care in rural communities. Russell will share remarks during the 1:30 p.m. ceremony.


For more information on the 2026 Distinguished Alumni, visit go.wiu.edu/4dbIByP.

Flags

Displayed in the arena are the flags of 36 nations representing students in today's graduating class at Western Illinois University. The flags represent the following countries: Antigua, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Columbia, Dominica, Egypt, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea – Bissau, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Sierra Leone, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sweden, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vietnam, the United States. Western Illinois University was home to students from 58 countries during the Spring 2026 semester.
Gonfalons

Gonfalons, which are banners hung from a crossbar on poles, made their inaugural appearance in the Fall 2009 Commencement ceremonies. Gonfalons for Western Illinois University, the School of Graduate Studies and each of the four academic colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Technology, Education and Human Services, and Fine Arts and Communication as well as the Centennial Honors College and University Libraries, will be included in the ceremony.

Photos

Photographs of each graduate will be taken as they receive their diploma cover. Proof sheets will be mailed from Western's Center for Photography and Design Production to each graduate, with instructions for ordering photos.

Open Ceremonies; ADA Requests

WIU-Macomb Ceremonies are open to family and friends of the graduates. Tickets are not required; seating is on a first come basis. Doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony. An interpreter will sign each ceremony and assistive listening devices will be available to the public at the information table in the north lobby of Western Hall. There are a limited number of disability seats and individuals in need of special accommodations for the ceremonies should contact Western's Student Development and Success Center office at (309) 298-1884. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Visit wiu.edu/commencement for more information.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing