Friday, May 1, 2026 11:00 AM EST
Commencement Ceremonies
Thanks for celebrating the graduation of the Southern Virginia University Class of 2026 with us.
We are honored to welcome David W. Checketts as our 2026 Commencement Speaker.
David W. Checketts is a sports entertainment executive with a career spanning over four decades. He has been the catalyst for success of some of the most iconic brands in sports and entertainment.
Tune in to our commencement livestream on May 1 at 11 a.m. to hear from Mr. Checketts and other University speakers.
Commencement Livestream
Commencement Livestream
Link to video stream will be added closer to the commencement date.
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Order of Exercises
Processional
Administration and Official Guests
Faculty
Class of 2026
Welcome
Samuel Hirt, Interim Provost
Hymn
“Amazing Grace”
Invocation
Carter Johnson, Class of 2026
Opening Remarks and Introduction of Speakers
Samuel Hirt, Interim Provost
Valedictorian Address
Emma Farnsworth, Class of 2026
Address
Dave Checketts
Conferral of Degrees
Bonnie H. Cordon, President
Samuel Hirt, Interim Provost
Sarah Maitland, Associate Provost
Todd Brotherson, Interim Associate Provost
Closing Remarks
Bonnie H. Cordon, President
Music
“Shenandoah”
American Folk Song, 19th century
Benediction
Sara Malmstrom, Class of 2026
Music
“Pomp and Circumstance”
Composed by Edward Elgar, 1857–1934
“Amazing Grace”
“Shenandoah”
American Folk Song, 19th century
Conductors
Dr. Jakob Hofer – Quartet
Dr. Benjamin Gaughran – Choir
String Quartet
Kira Follo, violin I
Camille Wagenman, violin II
Kasudie Burton, viola
Lauren Vestel, cello - Open dropdown
Graduates
Benjamin James Agnew
Paige Victoria Anderson
Parker Arnold
Henry J. Audette III
Kayla Marie Autry
Sophia Barbara Badell
Jude William Ballstaedt
Blake Ryan Beardall
Courtney Beck
Eve Madison Beckstead
Emma A. Stone
Ira Jordon Biggs
Cambridge David Bingham
Erica Elizabeth
James Bisaillon
Natalie Ann Blaser
Caden Bloxham
Nathan T. Brady
Janet Qiumeng Brame
Ethen Butt
Carson Bybee
Oliver Byrd
Helen Candland
Mattison Alice Christensen
Antonio Cooper Jr.
Matthew Elliott Cox II
Sydney Crandall
Tommy Cruz
Malia Jean Stauffer
Marco Antonio Davis
Linnea De Souza
Lydia Delich
Ainsley Doty
Maycee Ninette Dryden
Scott DuPaix
Sidnee Edwards
Hailey Elizabeth Mecham
Kira La Perlle Farley Chandler
Emma Elsie Farnsworth
Ryan Farris
Jacob Andrew Feldman
Banei Fields
Elina Fisher
Aysia Noelle Foster
Lauren Amanda Madsen
Remly Ryan Fry
Gracie Leigh Fulton
Hailey Gadd
Ikia Solomon Garcia
Joaquin Jugo Garcia
Robert Zackary Geertsen
Taylor Staley Giles
Seth Gillins
Paysen Mackenna Grandy
Davis P. Grant
Donavon J. Green
Katie Marí Griggs
Samara Grimes
Amy Jo Haacke
Clay Cameron Haacke
Madelyn Hahn
Emmalee Gabrylczyk
Matthew Quinn Hale
Nathaniel Dalton Hall
Abigail Dawn Hansen
Andrew Isaac Hatch
Kyle James Hedden
Jamie Horne
Carson Scott Howard
Kathryn Howe
Kaia Hoyt
Brianne Hudson
River Jackson
Carter Johnson
Nicholas Ryan Johnson
Tillman Johnson
Charlotte Jones
Dawson Jones
Brynnly Kenna Julian
Ruth Hazel Kempler
Traejen J. Kingston
Porter Kinne
Emily Martha Lambert
Bryce Lampert-
Elise Marie Smith Larsen
Tate Lewis
Seth James Lloyd
Brooklynn Ludgate
Helena Mélisse Lund
Jenna Mack
Justice Mack
Sara Malmstrom
Marisa Marvel
Isaiah Zion Maxey
Aaron Daniel Miller
Lewis Francisco Miller
Courtney Montes
Morgan Montgomery
Lynn W. Morgan
James Michael Morris
Agishe Elvis Mulume II
Matia Murray
Addison Kate Newman
Coleman Oettli
Rachel Melissa Branske Facchino Olsen
Daisyanette Oviedo Maldonado
Courtney M. Pack
Caleb J. Palmer
Jackson T. Pancheri
Ellie Patterson
Graycie Pectol
Michael David Peebles
Brady Anthony Peek
Charles Andrew Price
Avery Nicole Prout
Carol Prows
Francisco Ramirez
Cori Reinsch
Sydney Richards
Jasmine Rios
Ashley Robbins
Jemaar Joe Robinson
Mariella Faith Rodriguez
Maria Savvun
Mason Scott Schlensker
Quinn Shupe Foulger
Abigail Simister
Benjamin Simister
Abigail L. Snyder
Colton Sorensen
Benjamin C. Steiger
Robert Allen Stempin
Jocelyn Ann Stewart
Kylee Rea Stewart
Jackson McRae Stone
Dawn Sudweeks
Ruth Sumner
Nicholas Taggart
Tyrek Deshawn Talley
Hannah Clyde Taylor
Paige Thompson
Lauren Elizabeth Threet
Ashley Torgesen
Mealofamailelagifololelaiititi Torres
Lincoln Trapp
Porter Martin Trapp
Elizabeth Ursenbach
Jacob A. Utterback
Laci Utterback
Leigh-Anne Amasone Verburg
Sadie Ford
Ethan S. Ward
Jireek Washington
Lydia Wells
Halle Trieste Western
Hope Gloria Williams
Levi Glenn Williams
Jenasie Winterton
Samantha Faye Young
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Awards & Recognitions
Academic Honors
Latin Honors
Latin honors are noted on the transcripts of students who have completed all requirements for graduation, earned at least sixty credit hours at Southern Virginia, and achieved the following cumulative grade-point averages:
3.95–4.00, summa cum laude (“with highest praise”)
3.85–3.949, magna cum laude (“with great praise”)
3.70–3.849, cum laude (“with praise”)
Valedictorian (gold cord)
Cumulative grade-point average 4.0
Emma Farnsworth
Salutatorian (gold cord)
Cumulative grade-point average 4.0
Jacob Feldman
Cumulative Grade-point Average 4.0 (gold cord)
Emma Farnsworth
Jacob Feldman
Maycee Dryden
Elina Fisher
Gracie Fulton
Ashley Robbins
Abigail Snyder
Jocelyn Stewart
University Honors (antique gold cord)
Completion of the Honors Program and Honors Thesis
Parker Arnold
Courtney Beck
Abigail Hansen
Aaron Miller
Marisa Marvel
President’s List for Two or More Semesters
Semester grade-point average in the top ten percent of current students
Cambridge Bingham
Janet Brame
Helen Candland
Mattison Christensen
Maycee Dryden
Rachel Facchino
Emma Farnsworth
Jacob Feldman
Elina Fisher
Aysia Foster
Gracie Fulton
Emmalee Gabrylczyk
Abigail Hansen
Jamie Horne
Kathryn Howe
Kaia Hoyt
Tillman Johnson
Porter Kinne
Jenna Mack
Lauren Madsen
Sara Malmstrom
Aaron Miller
Ellie Patterson
Charles Price
Sydney Richards
Jasmine Rios
Ashley Robbins
Maria Savvun
Abigail Simister
Abigail Snyder
Malia Stauffer
Jocelyn Stewart
Dawn Sudweeks
Lauren Threet
Lydia Wells
Halle Western
Samantha Young
Provost’s List for Four or More Semesters
Semester grade-point average at or above 3.5
Benjamin Agnew
Parker Arnold
Courtney Beck
Cambridge Bingham
Janet Brame
Helen Candland
Kira Chandler
Mattison Christensen
Marco Davis
Linnea De Souza
Lydia Delich
Ainsley Doty
Maycee Dryden
Rachel Facchino
Emma Farnsworth
Jacob Feldman
Elina Fisher
Aysia Foster
Quinn Foulger
Gracie Fulton
Emmalee Gabrylczyk
Hailey Gadd
Robert Geertsen
Taylor Giles
Katie Griggs
Amy Jo Haacke
Madelyn Hahn
Abigail Hansen
Andrew Hatch
Jamie Horne
Kathryn Howe
Kaia Hoyt
Porter Kinne
Elise Larsen
Tate Lewis
Seth Lloyd
Jenna Mack
Lauren Madsen
Sara Malmstrom
Isaiah Maxey
Aaron Miller
Courtney Montes
Morgan Montgomery
Addison Newman
Coleman Oettli
Courtney Pack
Caleb Palmer
Ellie Patterson
Graycie Pectol
Charles Price
Sydney Richards
Ashley Robbins
Maria Savvun
Abigail Simister
Benjamin Simister
Abigail Snyder
Malia Stauffer
Benjamin Steiger
Robert Stempin
Jocelyn Stewart
Emma Stone
Dawn Sudweeks
Ashley Torgesen
Elizabeth Ursenbach
Jacob Utterback
Laci Utterback
Lydia Wells
Halle Western
Jenasie Winterton
Samantha Young
Barrus Scholars (green cord)
Excellence in the Liberal Arts
Aaron Miller
Leigh-Anne Verburg
Chi Epsilon Omega (purple & gold cord)
Business Honor Society
Benjamin Agnew
Kira Chandler
Lydia Delich
Rachel Facchino
Amy Jo Haacke
Abigail Hansen
Andrew Hatch
Porter Kinne
Matia Murray
Graycie Pectol
Charles Price
Sydney Richards
Maria Savvun
Benjamin Simister
Abigail Snyder
Ashley Torgesen
Jacob Utterback
Lydia Wells
Omicron Delta Kappa (white, black & light blue cord)
National Leadership Honor Society
Rachel Facchino
Aysia Foster
Robert Geertsen
Lauren Madsen
Marisa Marvel
Graycie Pectol
Jasmine Rios
Ashley Robbins
Jocelyn Stewart
Jacob Utterback
Leigh-Anne Verburg
Phi Alpha Theta (red & light blue cord)
History Honor Society
Courtney Pack
Porter Trapp
Phi Kappa Phi (blue & gold medallion)
All-Discipline Honor Society
Janet Brame
Maycee Dryden
Emma Farnsworth
Jacob Feldman
Elina Fisher
Gracie Fulton
Abigail Hansen
Sarah Malmstrom
Aaron Miller
Charles Price
Sydney Richards
Ashley Robbins
Abigail Simister
Abigail Snyder
Halle Western
Samantha Young
Phi Sigma Tau (white & purple cords)
Philosophy Honor Society
Taylor Giles
Helena Lund
Psi Chi (navy & silver cord)
International Psychology Honor Society
Helen Candland
Jenna Mack
Sara Malmstrom
Morgan Montgomery
Ashley Robbins
Laci Utterback
Sigma Delta Pi (red & gold cord)
Spanish Honor Society
Parker Arnold
Jacob Feldman
Madelyn Hahn
Lauren Madsen
Jasmine Rios
Lauren Threet
Leigh-Anne Verburg
Sigma Tau Delta
National English Honor Society
Caleb Palmer
Leigh-Anne Verburg
Graduation Distinctions
Leader-Servant Graduation Distinction (crimson & gold medallion)
Completed 100 hours of community service, including a capstone project
Lauren Fowler-Madsen
Traejen Kingston
Elise Larsen
Marisa Marvel
Ellie Patterson
Cori Reinsch
Martha Bakkemo Loyalty Award (Jefferson Cup)
Exceptional loyalty to Southern Virginia University
Aysia Foster
Caleb Palmer
Pioneer Award (Jefferson Cup)
Honors Leadership and Lasting Legacy
Taylor Giles
Institute Graduates (white cord)
Church Educational System
Sophia Badell
Cambridge Bingham
Caden Bloxham
Janet Brame
Carson Bybee
Helen Candland
Linnea De Souza
Rachel Facchino
Emma Farnsworth
Emmalee Gabrylczyk
Brynnly Julian
Sara Malmstrom
Marisa Marvel
Matia Murray
Addison Newman
Caleb Palmer
Ellie Patterson
Graycie Pectol
Charles Price
Sydney Richards
Abigail Simister
Jocelyn Stewart
Emma Stone
Elizabeth Ursenbach
Jacob Utterback
Levi Williams
Samantha Young
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Campus Map
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Lodging, Dining & Activities
As one of the most beautiful times to visit the Shenandoah Valley, we recommend all visitors review the below recommendations for lodging, dining, and activities.
Local Businesses & Deals
Straws
2047 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Family-friendly soda shop in downtown Buena Vista offering mixed drinks, snacks, and games.
The BeeVe: Sweet Souvenirs
2037 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Ice cream, soda, and souvenir shop. New merchandise designs, ice cream flavors, and sales will be available during graduation week.
Katana: Sushi and Hibachi Express
1913 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Authentic Japanese sushi and hibachi restaurant with dine-in and takeout options.
Vinyl Cuts
2159 Magnolia Ave., Buena Vista, VA
Gift shop specializing in custom cut shirts, banners, and signs.