Spring Commencement

By Abrielle Schmitt

West Virginia University at Parkersburg spring commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 7, at 2:00 p.m.. The spring commencement will be held in the College Activities Center and will be open to all graduates and their families, as well as faculty/staff. This years ceremony brings with it the potential to see most smiling faces, without masks, as they take the stage to accept the degrees and special honors they have worked towards. 

This spring graduation ceremony will include West Virginia University President Dr. E. Gordon Gee as the keynote speaker. Graduates will hear the encouraging words from a WVU icon and well-respected leader in higher education with decades of experience and advice. 

With the end of the semester bringing the excitement of the up coming graduation for some students as they say goodbye to their college career, graduates will not be the only ones bidding their farewells and looking forward to the future ahead of them. President Chris Gilmer will be saying his goodbyes as well, following the recent announcement of his resignation as he prepares for his move to West Virginia University Potomac State College. Chris Gilmer’s career path brought him here to the Mid-Ohio Valley in 2018 where he was named the new president of WVUP. Over the past few years he was able to navigate this university’s way through unprecedented times during the COVID-19 Pandemic. WVUP and the students were able to continue growing, learning, and thriving during those years. 

If unable to attend the spring commencement ceremony or if you wish to take a socially distanced approach to attending, the entire event will be streamed live  at youtube.com/wvuparkersburg.

To President Gilmer and the WVUP spring graduates:

Good luck and farewell on your next chapter!