Shasta College will hold its 76th Commencement ceremony at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, in the Shasta College Memorial Stadium. A total of 1,869 degree applications, including 326 certificate applications, have been received. Among the graduates there are 371 Transfer degree recipients, 514 Honors graduates, and 16 Bachelor of Science recipients. A total of 26 veterans will be graduating during this commencement. The Shasta College Foundation awarded a total of 739 scholarships accounting for $904,303 in funding to help students as they pursued their educational goals.
Jackson Richards, Shasta College Student Senate President, will present the class, and Dr. Frank Nigro, Superintendent/President, will deliver the welcoming address. Flag bearers include Kathryn Calkins and Daniel Lewis, Excellent Educators of the Year; Rochelle Morris, Classified Employee of the Year; and Dr. Tim Johnston, Administrator of the Year.
This year’s commencement speaker will be Shasta College Music Instructor, Dr. Larry Grandy. Dr. Grandy began teaching at Shasta College in Fall 1978 and will retire at the end of the Spring 2026 semester, concluding a remarkable 48-year career. A proud product of the community college system, he earned his associate degree from Diablo Valley College before completing his B.A. and M.A. at California State University, Chico, and his Doctor of Musical Arts at Arizona State University.
Among his many professional achievements, Dr. Grandy received a prestigious Senior Fulbright Professor award, teaching in Trinidad and Tobago and advising the government of St. Lucia on music education. Named an American Cultural Specialist, he lectured internationally while consistently prioritizing his students at Shasta College. Dr. Grandy has long been known for his personal touch, greeting every student at the door during the first week of class—an act he repeated for tens of thousands of students over his career. Reflecting on his career, Dr. Grandy describes his time at Shasta College as a privilege, marked by deep gratitude and lasting connections with generations of students.
“As we pause to celebrate the accomplishments of our 76th commencement class, I can honestly say that I am excited by what the future holds for these new graduates,” Superintendent/President Dr. Frank Nigro said. “Our students have worked diligently to pursue career objectives that will give them a more rewarding and successful life. Our amazing faculty and staff have advocated and mentored these graduates throughout their journey, and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts as well. This last year has seen some major updates to our campus thanks in large part to Measure H, and I am honored by the trust our community has placed in us and the partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Our Commencement is proof of our efforts to faithfully serve the needs of our local area through the transformative impact of higher education. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2026!”
The Health Sciences Division will celebrate a strong cohort of graduates this year, including 56 Associate Degree for Nursing (ADN) students, 40 Nurse Assistant students, 27 Medical Assistant students, 21 students from the Dental Hygiene program, and 20 students in the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program. The Shasta College Fire Academy will recognize 27 graduating cadets at its 73rd graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 23, at noon in the Shasta College Theatre. The Shasta College STEP-UP program proudly recognizes 32 graduates. This year’s graduates earned degrees and certificates in 14 separate academic fields and had an average GPA of 3.24. The 2025–26 STEP-UP Student of the Year is Brian Rapinoe.
The staff, faculty, and Board of Trustees of Shasta College extend heartfelt congratulations to all graduates and certificate recipients for their outstanding educational achievements.
