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2026 Commencement Celebrations

Honors Convocation

Thursday, April 9, 2026, 12:30 p.m.
Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center
3300 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301

Senior Dinner

Thursday, April 30, 2026, 6 p.m.
Location TBA
Owensboro, KY 42301

Baccalaureate

Friday, May 1, 2026, 7 p.m.
Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center
3300 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301
*Wear cap & gown

Commencement

Senior Picture*: Friday, May 1, 2026, 1:30 p.m.
Front steps of Administration Building
*Wear cap & gown

Graduation Practice: Friday, May 1, 2026, 2 p.m.
Owensboro Christian Church
2818 New Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303

Commencement Ceremony*: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Owensboro Christian Church
2818 New Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303
*Wear cap & gown

8 a.m.: Arrive for breakfast and photos
9 a.m.: Doors open for family and friends (Note: Doors will NOT be open prior to 9 a.m.)
9:30 a.m.: Graduates line up
10 a.m.: Ceremony

Ticketing and Overflow Information

Each graduate will receive 6 guest tickets to be picked up with regalia at Alumni Evolution on April 14 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Rogers Hall).For those unable to join us in person, Commencement will be live streamed. VIEW LIVESTREAM (link to be inserted)

FAQs About Commencement Tickets

Q: How many tickets do we get?
A: Every graduate will receive 6 guest tickets. This number is calculated based on our number of graduates and the capacity at Owensboro Christian Church.

Q: When do we get our Commencement tickets?
A: You’ll pick up your tickets during Alumni Evolution in Rogers Hall on April 14 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Q: I didn’t buy a cap & gown. When do I get my tickets?
A: You’ll still get your tickets during Alumni Evolution in Rogers Hall on April 14 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Q: I can’t pick up my tickets up at that time. What do I do?
A: Just shoot Laura Rudolph an email at laura.rudolph@kwc.edu and she’ll work it out with you. Please note: If you can’t get them during the Alumni Evolution event on April 14, you will be getting them after this date.

Q: I don’t need all of my tickets. What should I do?
A: You’re welcome to give them to other graduates who need additional tickets. If you don’t know of anyone needing extra tickets, we suggest announcing that you have extras on your personal social media and in the campus groups you are a part of.

Q: I need more tickets. What should I do?
A: We suggest posting that on your social media and also in your campus group meetings so that people know you’re on the lookout for more.
*When posting on your social media, beware of scammers who love to comment on posts that use words like “tickets.” 

Q: Can I buy more tickets?
A: Additional tickets are not available for purchase from the school.

Q: Do children need a ticket?
A: Small children (2 years and under) do not need a ticket, but they will need to sit in someone’s lap during the ceremony.

Q: Who decided we get 6 tickets?
A: That number was calculated based on the number of graduates we have and the legal capacity of Owensboro Christian Church.

Q: I heard people got in without a ticket last year. I’m just going to tell my family to come anyway and someone will let them in.
A: We will have security onsite at Commencement all morning to ensure we maintain the legal capacity of Owensboro Christian Church, so we strongly discourage you from telling your loved ones to “just show up” or “just walk in.” They will leave disappointed.

Q: More than 6 people want to watch me graduate… What do I do?
A: Commencement will be live streamed on this page.

Q: I have family coming in to see me graduate and need more tickets… What do I do?
A: We’ve communicated the number of tickets each graduate will get since the fall and the number has always been 6. We suggest having them watch the livestream and then meeting them to celebrate after.

Q: There are faculty/staff/coaches who love me and want to see me graduate… Why don’t they get a ticket?
A: You can remind them that any faculty/staff/coach will get a ticket to Commencement if they work as a volunteer that morning. Otherwise, they can watch the livestream. 

Again, if you have specific questions (including those regarding ADA seating), please direct those to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@kwc.edu as they are the department that oversees Commencement.

We appreciate your attention and respect to these rules. They were not made to diminish your accomplishments nor make Commencement weekend a burden for you and your family. With a graduating class of your size, 6 tickets was the maximum we could give each graduate while also adhering to safety guidelines at Owensboro Christian Church.

Parking and Entrance Information

Family and friends should park near and enter at the church’s main entrance, Entrance B (which faces New Hartford Road). Students, faculty, staff, and trustees should park near and enter at Entrance A, which is located around the left side of the building from the main entrance.

Regalia | Cap and Gown Information

Regalia | Caps and Gowns that were pre ordered by the deadline should be picked up during Alumni Evolution at Rogers Hall on April 14 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). If you missed the order deadline, extras will be available for purchase at Alumni Evolution. There will no early regalia pick up before April 14. 

For questions and more information on cap & gown orders, please email Laura Rudolph at laura.rudolph@kwc.edu.

Hotel Information

Many local hotel properties offer KWC discounts. Please see below for a list of local properties.

TownePlace Suites
3365 Hayden Rd.
(270) 231-8222

Holiday Inn Riverfront
701 W. 1st St.
(270) 683-1111

Comfort Suites
230 Salem Dr.
(270) 926-7675

Courtyard by Marriott
3120 Highland Pointe Dr.
(270) 685-4140

Fairfield Inn
800 Salem Dr.
(270) 688-8887

Hampton Inn South
615 Salem Dr.
(270) 926-2006