Whitman College Prepares for 2026 Commencement Weekend

Whitman College graduates in the Class of 2026 will soon mark a significant milestone in their lives, crossing the stage in front of Memorial Building at Whitman College’s 140th Commencement Ceremony. On Sunday, May 24, more than 300 scholars majoring in disciplines from across the college’s three academic divisions will graduate from Whitman. Professors, classmates, friends and family will gather to celebrate this joyous occasion. 

Baccalaureate: A Time to Reflect

One of Whitman’s annual traditions leading up to commencement is a Baccalaureate ceremony. Hosted by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Baccalaureate is an hourlong celebration featuring music from graduating Music majors and personal reflections from a wide range of religious traditions, including humanist or nonreligious perspectives. 

The 2026 Baccalaureate will take place on Saturday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. in Cordiner Hall. The theme for this year, “Becoming”—inspired by the life and work of Michelle Obama—frames this time as a moment of transition for the graduating students. 

“‘Becoming’ aligns deeply with Whitman’s liberal arts ethos and our commitment to whole-person formation,” says the rev. seigen johnson, Interfaith Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life. “It creates a space for interfaith reflection, secular wisdom and diverse narratives.”

At the Lectern: Gwendolyn Trice

The 2026 commencement speaker will be Gwendolyn Trice, Founder and Executive Director of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center (MHIC) in Enterprise, Oregon, which celebrates the rich history of African American, Indigenous and immigrant loggers in the Pacific Northwest.

A visionary educator, Trice has developed a wide range of heritage projects benefitting the collective understanding of race, land and survival in the Pacific Northwest. At MHIC, she has welcomed Whitman’s Semester in the West program; the Land, Water, Justice course; and the Reimagining Maxville project. Trice has also made several on-campus appearances for classroom visits and lectures, and in Spring 2024, she brought MHIC’s traveling “Timber Culture” exhibit to Maxey Museum.

“I was overjoyed when President Bolton asked me to be a speaker for the 2026 commencement ceremony,” says Trice. “I thought back on the programs I’ve been fortunate to participate in with students, the faculty members that I’ve had the pleasure to work with, and I come away from each experience changed, more grounded by the exploration of our spaces, experiences, and stories and rigorous honesty in looking at our shared histories.”

Student Speaker: Tenzin Uden ’26

Each year, one senior is selected to say a few words to their class at commencement. This year, the senior speaker will be Tenzin Uden ’26, an Economics and Computer Science double major from Bhutan. While at Whitman, Uden worked as an Annual Giving Ambassador, Student Career Advisor, Tutor at the Academic Resource Center and a Finance Committee member for the Associated Students of Whitman College. She was also part of the South Asian Students Association, Badminton Club and occasional soccer pickup games. She plans to pursue a career in technology and consulting after graduation. 

Class Banner

The Class of 2026 banner was designed by Sascha Wells ’26, an Economics major and Art minor from Ashland, Oregon. While at Whitman, she served as Captain of the women’s tennis team, President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and worked in the Communications office as well as the fitness center. 

Commencement Viewing Options

Friends, family and community members are invited to attend the 2026 commencement in person on Sunday, May 24. Tickets are not required to attend. Seating is first-come first-served on the south lawn in front of Memorial Building. Parking is limited and a portion of Boyer Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic. A livestream of the 2026 Commencement ceremony will also be available to watch, begining with the processional at 10:50 a.m. The event is expected to last about two hours.