Celebrating the Class of 2026

Butte College celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during its 57th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday evening, welcoming graduates, families, faculty, staff, and community supporters to the college’s main campus for a celebration marked by inspiration, resilience, and pride.

This year, Butte College conferred 1,906 degrees and certificates to 1,563 graduates ranging in age from 15 to 66. The graduating class represented 11 countries, 18 states, and more than 145 cities and towns across California.

The ceremony began with the traditional processional led by Student Senate President Guadalupe Ocampo and Student Trustee Jared Smith, alongside graduating marshals Daniel Hassoun and Carolina Paredes Hernandez, who each maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA during their time at Butte College.

Superintendent/President Virginia Guleff welcomed attendees by recognizing commencement as both a celebration and a new beginning for graduates embarking on the next chapter of their lives. Throughout her address, she reflected on the diverse journeys of the graduating class, noting that “whether it took you two years or two decades, tonight marks a momentous achievement,” and encouraging students to use the knowledge and experiences gained at Butte College to make a meaningful difference in the world.

The evening also featured a performance of the National Anthem by student vocalist Kevin Vang, who earned a degree in music from Butte College. Vang discovered his passion for music production and performance while attending the college and expanded his skills in guitar, piano, singing, and songwriting through the music program.

One of the ceremony’s most memorable moments came during the student address delivered by graduate Alexandra Benson, who earned a degree in health occupations preparation after nearly two decades of working toward her educational goals. Benson shared her deeply personal story of perseverance, hardship, and determination, speaking candidly about overcoming instability, trauma, and setbacks as she continued pursuing her education and future goals. She told fellow graduates that commencement was meaningful “not because we achieved perfection but because we refused to quit,” reminding the Class of 2026 that adversity does not define a person’s future. Benson encouraged graduates to continue moving forward boldly, declaring, “Walking across this stage is nothing, if not tenacious perseverance in the pursuit of bettering oneself.”

Benson also credited Butte College support programs and staff members for helping her stay on track academically and personally throughout her journey. She will attend California State University, Chico this fall to pursue a nursing degree.

During the ceremony, the college also recognized academic excellence among graduates, including 66 students with a perfect cumulative GPA of 4.0. Graduates earning honors distinctions and Phi Theta Kappa members were also recognized for their academic accomplishments.

The annual Teacher of the Year award was presented by Student Trustee Jared Smith to mathematics instructor Scott Giannini for his dedication to student success, educational accessibility, and community engagement. In accepting the award, Giannini thanked students for the recognition and reflected on the joy of teaching, saying the “real highlight” of his work comes from witnessing students experience breakthrough moments in the classroom and supporting them as they build confidence in themselves and their abilities.

As the ceremony concluded, Guleff formally conferred degrees upon the graduating class before students moved their tassels from right to left, officially becoming graduates of Butte College.

In her closing remarks, Guleff encouraged graduates to continue striving for excellence, remain connected to their communities, and remember that they will always have a home at Butte College as part of the Roadrunner family.