WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. —West Liberty University held its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9, in the Academic, Sports, and Recreation Complex (ASRC), awarding degrees to 310 undergraduate and graduate students.
The ceremony was the first for the University’s new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Program. Eight graduates received their doctoral degrees during the ceremony.
Stephanie Shaw, a West Liberty University alumna and Vice President of Global Corporate Products at InterContinental Hotels Group, delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree.
“Thank you, West Liberty. Thank you for being the place that welcomes the children of alumni and the first-generation dreamers alike,” she told graduates. “One day, you’ll look back and realize this wasn’t the end of something. It was the beginning of everything. Go forward. Find your joy. Know your worth. And never forget the feeling of a Fall Day on the Quad.”
The ceremony’s student speaker was Ryan Zumpano, a Computer Information Systems major with double minors in Data Analysis and Marketing from Shadyside, Ohio.
He told his fellow classmates, “You’re here because you took a chance, came to college, and stuck it out through every assignment, every quiz, every paper, and every last awful discussion post, and you made it. That’s something to be celebrated, and you should be proud of it.”
Rich Lucas provided a greeting from the Board of Governors and told graduates, “Your West Liberty degree puts you with the best of the best. You have prepared yourselves to earn this most prestigious degree with your dedication and your pure hard work.”
Graduates and their friends and families enjoyed a reception in the Bear’s Den dining hall following the ceremony.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. To apply or learn more about West Liberty University, visit westliberty.edu.
