Students and their families cross the street outside of Van Andel Arena
before commencement May 1.
Image credit - Simon Zwart
GVSU in photos: Celebrating Laker graduates at May 2026 Commencement
May 5, 2026
Soon-to-be graduate Nia Yost waits outside Van Andel Arena in the wind
before the afternoon Commencement ceremony on May 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Friends and families greet recent graduates to give them flowers,
balloons and stuffed animals after the Saturday afternoon Commencement
ceremony at Van Andel Arena on May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Lakeesha Dorkins, left, hugs her daughter, Destini Dorkins, after she
received her degree in human resource management during Saturday
morning’s Commencement ceremony May 2. “Her faith is her strength,” her
mother said about her daughter. “She inspires me and we are forever proud.”
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Wrapped in an embrace, a recent graduate poses for a photo during the
Saturday morning Commencement ceremony May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Friends and families greet recent graduates to give them flowers,
balloons and stuffed animals after the Saturday afternoon Commencement
ceremony at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
From left, Jacyln Brubaker hugs Avery Howe, who graduated with a
bachelor of science in allied health sciences during Commencement at Van
Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey
A soon-to-be graduate shares a hug with a family member before the
Commencement ceremony begins at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
Amelia VanWyck hugs their grandmother, Lori Boza, left, after VanWyck
received a bachelor of fine arts degree during Saturday afternoon’s
Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Student speaker Dallas Matthews talks with Mark Schaub, Brooks College
of Interdisciplinary Studies dean, inside the robing room before
Commencement at Van Andel Arena on May 1. Also pictured is B. Donta
Truss, vice president for Enrollment Development and College Futures.
Image credit - Cory Morse
“I’m just a bug girl. I paint a lot of bugs,” said Mattee DeMott as she
headed into Saturday afternoon’s Commencement wearing a mortar board
decorated with bugs. DeMott received a bachelor of fine arts degree May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Joslyn Williams, who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education,
takes a selfie with her mother outside Van Andel Arena before
Commencement on May 1.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Family members try to get the attention of a graduate as they recess
from Saturday afternoon’s Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Members of the Senior Leadership Team, including Jenny Hall-Jones, vice
president for Student Affairs, take part in the afternoon Commencement
ceremony at Van Andel Arena on May 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Soon-to-be graduates listen to the Commencement speakers during the
Saturday morning ceremony held at the Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Soon-to-be graduates take part in the afternoon Commencement ceremony at
Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Graduates take a selfie together as they recess out of Saturday
morning’s ceremony.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Jacob North, a finance major, waves to his loved ones in the crowd
during Commencement at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey
Annah Stang hugs Katie Perschbacher from the Dean of Students office,
left, after Stang earned a degree in marketing during Saturday
afternoon’s Commencement on May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Emily Nevin shares a moment with Nevin’s father, Thomas Nevin, after
walking the stage to receive a degree in natural resources management
during the Saturday afternoon Commencement at Van Andel Arena on May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Student Commencement speaker Sarah Dudinetz embraces Vice President for
Student Affairs Jenny Hall-Jones during the afternoon Commencement
ceremony on May 2.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Student speaker Dallas Matthews addresses the audience during
Commencement at Van Andel Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is hooded by Provost Jennifer Drake,
right, and his wife, Janet Hill, while receiving an honorary degree
during Commencement at Van Andel Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Delia Gale is conferred a master of business administration during the
university's morning Commencement on May 2.
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, center, talks with student Commencement
speaker, Elaina Marcum, right, before Wozniak gave the Commencement
address at Van Andel Arena on May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Founder of Epic Systems Judith R. Faulkner is hooded by Provost Jennifer
Drake and Tina Freese Decker, CEO of Corewell Health, left, while
receiving an honorary degree during Commencement at Van Andel Arena on
May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Student Commencement speaker Elaina Marcum addresses the crowd. Marcum
graduated with a master’s degree in recreational therapy.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
President Philomena V. Mantella speaks during Commencement at Van Andel
Arena on May 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Graduates react while they walk past the stage after receiving their
diplomas during the Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Business and marketing graduate Liam Boppel’s family, including his
mother, center, erupts in cheers as Boppel crosses the stage during the
Saturday morning Commencement May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Sociology graduate Bwana Miller dances on the stage during the afternoon
Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena on May 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
Avery Howe, who graduated with a degree in allied health sciences,
excitedly holds up her diploma while walking across the stage during
Commencement at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Eliana McGlinchey
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
Image credit - Cory Morse
Paige VanStee raises her rings while crossing the stage during
Commencement at Van Andel Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
A graduate reacts while walk past the stage after receiving their
diploma during the Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Cory Morse
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
Image credit - Macayla Cramer
Image credit - Ashley Streeter
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Image credit - Cory Morse
Education graduates turn their tassels during Commencement at Van Andel
Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
Vice chair of Faculty Senate and professor of accounting, Anne Sergeant,
peps up the graduates as they recess out of Saturday morning’s
Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena May 2.
Image credit - Kendra Stanley-Mills
Graduates wait their turn to walk past the stage after receiving their
diplomas during the afternoon Commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena
on May 2.
Image credit - Cory Morse
From left, Camille Lafluer, Abagail (Bee) Scannel and Katelyn Schuler
pose with confetti during Commencement at Van Andel Arena on May 1.
Image credit - Emily Riddle
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