Tri-C Spring Commencement Celebrates More Than 1,500 Graduates

Ceremony for Class of 2026 takes place May 15 at Wolstein Center

CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) will celebrate the academic achievements of more than 1,500 petitioning graduates during its Spring Commencement on Friday, May 15, at 3 p.m.

The College will confer nearly 1,800 degrees and certificates of completion this spring. The graduate total reflects the ongoing impact of the College's programs and initiatives, designed to keep students on the path to completion and prepare them for post-graduation success. The ceremony will be available for viewing on Tri-C's Commencement webpage.

Tri-C President Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D., said the graduates represent the College's promise to every student and every community.

"Their presence at Commencement is inspiring to their instructors, tutors, financial aid staff and all 3,200 employees at Tri-C," Baston said. "It shows us that not only has their hard work paid off, but the work we do to support them and advance higher education in our region is paying off."

Joyce Tagne, an international student from Cameroon who first came to the U.S. in 2019, was selected by her classmates as the student speaker. Inspired by Cleveland's welcoming spirit, she returned in 2024 to pursue higher education at Tri-C.

Tagne served as the secretary of the Student Government at the Metropolitan Campus, helping to elevate student voices and strengthen campus engagement. She is also the president of Active Minds Club Metro, leading efforts to promote mental health awareness and organize programs that support student well-being. Tagne also gained valuable experience in civic engagement and leadership as an intern in the Office of the President and a Democracy Fellow.

Tagne is a member of the Honors Program, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy and the President’s Society. She is also an active member of both the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Psi Beta National Honor Society in Psychology and has consistently made the dean's list throughout her time at Tri-C.

Through these experiences, Tagne has developed a passion for leadership, service and creating meaningful change within her community. She plans to transfer to Cleveland State University, where she will pursue a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in psychology.

Read more about Tagne and other high-achieving graduates on the College's Commencement Graduate Stories webpage.

The College also conferred an honorary degree on Patrick M. Pastore, executive vice president of corporate banking and regional president of PNC Bank, Cleveland. Pastore has worked for more than three decades in the financial sector and is a member of the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Board of Trustees, previously serving as its chair.

This semester's Commencement ceremony will take place at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center, located at 2000 Prospect Ave. in Cleveland.

May 15, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu