Elkins, W.Va. – Davis & Elkins College continues preparations for annual graduation ceremonies ahead of the College’s 117th Commencement Weekend. The College is set to welcome family members of graduates to the Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony, Baccalaureate Service, and Commencement Ceremony taking place on Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.
The College’s weekend activities kick off with the 48th Annual Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony on Friday, May 8 at 4:00 p.m. in Senate Commons. The traditional ceremony, featuring the pinning of all ASN, BSN, and RN-BSN graduates, rose presentations and Florence Nightingale pledge will be led by keynote speaker and D&E alumna, Robin Stillwater, ’13 and ’14. Stillwater currently serves aboard the USS Sterett.
Events continue Friday evening with the College’s Baccalaureate Service of Praise and Worship at 7:00 p.m. in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. Graduates will be presented with this year’s Commemorative Coin, designed by senior Maddie Edicola depicting Lake Tolstead – a popular area of campus for students to gather. Evening service will be led by the Reverend Dr. Scott Ramsey. Ramsey has served Lewinsville Presbyterian Church since 2015, believing the church is called to live intentionally at the intersection of God’s grace and the world’s pain.
Saturday’s 117th Commencement Ceremony is set to celebrate the Class of 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. This year’s keynote speaker is senior vice president for human resources, strategy, and administration at General Dynamics, Shane Berg. Berg also serves on the board of his alma mater, the University of Jamestown, a small, liberal arts, and Presbyterian (USA) affiliated college in North Dakota.
“The Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony, Baccalaureate Service, and Commencement are the celebration of years of hard work and determination by the graduate, his or her family, the faculty, and the staff of Davis & Elkins College,” states D&E President Chris A. Wood. “While this weekend is a milestone for certain, it is also the beginning of a lifetime of opportunity and experiences made possible by our gradates’ years on the Davis & Elkins College campus. We are so proud of each member of the Class of 2026, and it is a high honor for me to hand each of them their well-deserved diploma.”
