Clark College Celebrates The 90th Graduating Class Of 2026 (Photo) - 06/19/26
More than 2,800 Degrees and Certificates Conferred to Clark’s Graduates
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark College proudly honored its 90th graduating class at the 2026 Clark College Commencement ceremony on Thursday evening, June 18, at the Cascades Amphitheater. Nearly 700 graduates crossed the stage, as family, friends, faculty and staff gathered to cheer and celebrate their achievements.
In total, 2,816 graduates were recognized for completing educational milestones, including bachelor’s and associate degrees, professional certificates, high school diplomas, and GEDs. The college awarded just as many degrees and certificates—reflecting a 49% increase in total awards over 2025 and underscoring Clark’s expanding impact on the regional workforce and educational attainment.
“We all know the critical role community colleges play,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “They are the front door to higher education for millions. Almost 40% of all undergraduates in this country are enrolled at a community college. Serving more than 10 million students a year, community colleges are nothing short of a force in this nation. Clark College is part of that force."
2026 COMMENCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
A total of 2,816 degrees and certificates were conferred, with the same number of graduates recognized—future leaders, workers, and scholars in our community.
This translates to the following:
- 1,634 Associate degrees awarded, including 1,319 direct transfer degrees for students continuing at four-year universities
- 1261 career-technical graduates earned workforce-ready degrees or certifications
- 126 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees awarded in Applied Management, Cybersecurity, Dental Hygiene and Human Services
- 458 Running Start students earned both their high school diplomas and Clark credentials
- 946 professional certificates of proficiency, achievement, and completion were conferred
- 80 graduates earned high school diplomas through Clark’s programs
2026 Degrees and Certificates conferred included:
- Bachelor of Applied Science degree
- Associate in Arts degree
- Associate in Fine Arts degree
- Associate in Science degree
- Associate in Applied Science degree
- Associate in Applied Technology degree
- Certificate of Proficiency
- Certificate of Achievement
- Certificate of Completion
- High School Diploma; and General Educational Development (GED) Completion
STUDENT HONORS AND SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Graduating Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All Washington Academic Team Honorees for two-year colleges, selected for demonstrating academic excellence and community service:
- Lindsey Quiroz — Associate in Arts degree. Lindsey will continue at Clark as part of the nursing program.
- Noah Shular — High school diploma and Associate in Arts degree. Noah plans to attend the University of Washington to study pre-law.
2026 Community College Presidential Scholarship Award Honorees
Clark College is proud to announce Camille Villaneuva as the recipient of the 2026 Community College Presidential Scholarship. Awarded to a Clark College graduate who is transferring to a four-year institution, the $15,000 award provides the equivalent of two years of in-state tuition towards their bachelor’s degree. The annual award’s recipient must demonstrate leadership potential, a commitment to community service, and academic achievement. This year, the scholarship was generously funded by the Clark College Foundation.
About Camille Villaneuva:
Graduating with an associate in science degree in electrical engineering, Villaneuva exemplifies academic excellence, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to service. After moving to the United States from the Philippines, Camille navigated the challenges of learning English as her second language while balancing her studies in engineering, a field where women are often underrepresented. She served as an event coordinator for Clark’s Activities Programming Board, is an active member of MESA(Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement), and volunteers with the Penguin Pantry. Villaneuva hopes to advocate for women in STEM and use her engineering skills to improve the lives of people with disabilities. She plans to continue her studies at Portland State University.
Thanks to the generosity of Clark College Foundation, the Presidential Scholarship taskforce selected two other recipients ($1,500 scholarship each):
Alijah Machida — Alijah is the ASCC student union president during the 2025-26 academic year. He graduated with an Associate of Science and plans to study civil engineering at Washington State University in Pullman.
Katherine Tisdale — Katherine is a Running Start graduate and earned both her high school diploma and an Associate of Arts with a concentration in psychology. She plans to continue her studies at Washington State University in Vancouver.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS
- Dr. Karin Edwards, Clark College President
- Marilee Scarbrough, Clark College Board of Trustees Chair
- Avreet Kaur Dhami, graduating student speaker, Associate in Applied Technology with a concentration in Computer Science
- Cydney Topping, Professor of English and 2025-26 Exceptional Faculty Award recipient
Graduates received parting words of inspiration from this year’s speakers.
Dr. Edwards reminded graduates:
“By betting on yourself, you didn’t just change your own life; you began changing this community. You are not here to simply inherit the future; you are here to build it. Wherever your path leads, lead with humanity. Care for the people around you—and care for yourself—and leave every place you frequent better than you found it. Reach back and help someone else up.”
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Marilee Scarbrough, encouraged the Class of 2026:
“As you have demonstrated during your time at Clark, courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving forward anyway. Your education at Clark has prepared you for your next leap. Take that step with the strength, courage, and persistence that you developed at Clark.”
Exceptional Faculty award recipient and speaker, Cydney Topping shared:
"Most people don't walk confidently through life with a perfectly written manuscript. We are all figuring it out as we go. So don't worry about the pressure to have a clear plan. What matters most is finding the courage to just say yes, even in the smallest moments."
ABOUT CLARK COLLEGE
Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington’s largest public institution of higher education. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education. This public community college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor’s and associate degrees; professional certificates; high school diplomas and GED preparation; and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves almost 10,000 students, including high school students, veterans, displaced workers, multilingual and mature learners. About three-quarters of its students are the first in their families to attend college.
Clark College’s main campus is located in Vancouver’s Central Park, with classes also held at Washington State University Vancouver, Columbia Tech Center, and the new Advanced Manufacturing Center in Ridgefield, Wash.
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