GRANTS PASS, Ore. (Jun. 10, 2026) — Rogue Community College will celebrate its largest graduating class in eight years when it hosts its 55th Commencement ceremony Saturday, recognizing 749 graduates from across Southern Oregon.
The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 13 at the Marjorie Holzgang Concert Bowl on the RCC Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. College officials said approximately 400 graduates are expected to participate alongside family members, friends, faculty and staff.
The Class of 2026 is the college’s largest since 2018, when 752 students graduated. This year’s graduates earned a combined 678 associate degrees and 257 certificates, with some students completing multiple credentials. An additional 23 students who completed their GED will also be recognized during the commencement ceremony.
Student speakers for the event include Riah Lin Van Buskirk, who earned both an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree and an Associate of General Studies degree, and Patricia Piña Hernandez, who will represent RCC’s GED graduates. Opening remarks will be delivered by RCC President Randy Weber.
“Every graduate has a unique story, but they all share the courage to invest in themselves and their future,” Weber said. “At Rogue Community College, opportunity starts here. Whether students are preparing for a career, transferring to a university, earning a GED or gaining new skills to advance in the workforce, we are committed to providing access, support and pathways that help them achieve their goals. Seeing so many students reach this milestone is a powerful reminder of the impact education has on individuals, families and communities.”
The graduating class reflects a wide range of educational experiences from students throughout Jackson and Josephine counties and beyond. Thirty-one graduates achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, while the average age among college graduates this year is 30.
RCC officials noted that the college was recognized in 2025 by the Carnegie Foundation as an Opportunity College, a designation highlighting institutions that successfully create pathways to economic mobility and student achievement.
To accommodate guests attending the ceremony, free parking and shuttle service will be available beginning at 8:45 a.m. from the Josephine County Fairgrounds. Shuttles are expected to depart approximately every 10 minutes until the start of commencement and will continue transporting attendees back to the fairgrounds following the ceremony until about 1 p.m.
Limited parking also will be available on campus. Guests seeking parking closest to the Concert Bowl are encouraged to enter the Redwood Campus from Redwood Highway via Demaray Drive.
More information on RCC can be found here.
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