CPTC’s Biggest Send-Off Ever for the Class of 2026
Clover Park Technical College Celebrates the Class of 2026
by Marcia Wilson
Nearly 800 graduates crossed the stage at the Tacoma Dome on the evening of June 9, celebrating their achievements as members of Clover Park Technical College’s Class of 2026. An estimated crowd of around 6,000—family, friends, faculty, staff, and community supporters—filled nearly every seat to honor the graduates who had earned degrees, certificates, and credentials, making it the largest commencement event in recent memory.
Among the Class of 2026 are the first graduates from the Eastside Training Center (ETC), which opened in January 2025. The accomplishments of ETC graduates highlight the strong interest in—and growing demand for—accessible career and technical education, particularly among residents from historically underserved and underrepresented communities.
Commencement marks an important milestone not only for graduates, but also for the community that supported them throughout their educational journeys. Faculty members joined the processional, and dozens of staff worked behind the scenes to ensure a smooth event and create a memorable experience for graduates and their guests.
Ceremony Highlights
President Dr. Joyce Loveday greeted graduates with heartfelt remarks:
“This evening, we gather to celebrate something truly remarkable—and that goes beyond your completion of a program of study. It reflects the courage, persistence, and heart that each of you brought to this moment. As president of Clover Park Technical College, I have the privilege of seeing the best of our community every day. But nothing compares to what I see as I look out across this room. I see the future of our region here.”
Students also played key roles in the ceremony. Whitney Morgan, a 2026 graduate of the Esthetic Sciences program, opened the event with a rafter-raising rendition of the National Anthem.
Student speaker Anna Choi, a 2026 Nursing graduate, reflected on the shared experiences of the class and inspired her peers as they prepared for the next phase of their lives:
“Before I begin, I want to start with a moment that many of us know too well: that moment when we doubted ourselves,” Choi said. “We looked at something that felt impossible and wondered if we had anything left to give—but something inside us whispered, ‘Not yet.’ And that whisper is what brought us here today.”
She concluded with hope for the future:
“We all came from different places, but we share one truth: this journey was hard, and we didn’t give up. Clover Park Technical College didn’t just give us an education—it gave us wings. Now we’re ready to fly into new careers, new opportunities, and new chapters we once only imagined.”
Pomp and Circumstance, Pride and Gratitude
For many faculty and staff members, commencement is one of the most meaningful events of the year.
“I have had the opportunity to participate in CPTC’s commencement ceremony in a number of ways over the last quarter-century: as a faculty member cheering on graduates, an administrator celebrating both students and the faculty and staff who supported them, and as a graduate name reader,” said Michelle Hillesland, Dean for Instruction. “In all of those roles, and through all of those years, the commencement ceremony has always filled me with gratitude and pride—pride in our students, who stepped outside their comfort zones and took courageous steps to change their lives.
“It is wonderful to see that pride on their faces as they receive their awards and share their accomplishments with family and friends. And I’m grateful to be part of that journey and to work alongside the talented and dedicated people who make it possible.”
As graduates crossed the stage and celebrated with loved ones, they joined thousands of CPTC alumni who have transformed their lives through education, training, and perseverance.
Facts and Figures about the Class of 2026
- There are 1167 graduates in the Class of 2026.
- Graduate ages range from 17 to 70.
- The average age is 31. The median age is 27.
- 54% of this year’s graduating class is female.
- Graduating students of color represent 65%.
- Graduating students with prior higher education experience is at 35%.
A Modern Ceremony Infused with Tradition
One of the most recognizable elements of commencement is the academic procession, led by colorful banners known as gonfalons. These vertical flags, displayed during the ceremony, represent Clover Park Technical College and its various Schools.
Gonfalons – often shield-shaped banners suspended from a crosspiece atop a pole – originated in medieval Italy, when many people were unable to read. As literacy expanded during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, gonfalons became enduring symbols of educational institutions. Today, colleges and universities around the world use them to identify and lead academic processions.
At CPTC, faculty marshals serve as gonfaloniers, carrying the gonfalons during the procession while graduates from each School follow behind, proudly representing their programs and fields of study.
Congratulations to the Clover Park Technical College Class of 2026!
Watch, Download, Print, Connect
- Watch the ceremony: A recording of the commencement ceremony is available on CPTC’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CloverParkTech. Skip to 44:58 for the start of the procession.
- Download event photos: Professional photos from the ceremony will be made available as soon as they are provided by the photographer. This post will be updated with a link when the photos become available.
- View and print the booklet: www.cptc.edu/2026-program
- Join the CPTC Alumni Group on LinkedIn
- Update your contact info to stay in touch with CPTC
