May 9, 2026
Spring 2026 graduates of Blue Ridge Community College move their tassels on May 9, 2026 in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall. Benjamin Rickert/BRCC
Editor’s note: This story was supplied to news outlets by Blue Ridge Community College’s Communications Department. It is been edited, but was not written by anyone on the BrevardBeagle.com staff, nor should any other authorship be inferred.
FLAT ROCK — Blue Ridge Community College celebrated its class of 2026 graduates with two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 9. The Saturday events celebrated 388 total spring graduates earning 437 credentials, and these numbers will increase as additional programs conclude throughout the season. These credentials equip students with the skills needed for today’s workforce and lay a strong foundation for continued education at partner universities.
BRCC President Laura Leatherwood congratulated the graduates in her welcoming remarks, calling them “the strength and future of our community.”
“We are proud of your perseverance, your dedication, and all you have accomplished to reach this moment,” Leatherwood said.
2024 BRCC graduate Shannon Allison was the commencement speaker for the class of 2026. BRCC Communications Department
Shannon Allison, a BRCC graduate with roots in Brevard and Transylvania County who shifted from a career in business and nonprofit leadership to healthcare, began her new path by earning an associate degree in nursing from BRCC in 2024. She is currently pursuing her Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner degree at Duke University, where she will graduate with honors this year.
Allison’s message reflected the twists, turns, and challenges of her own career and health journeys. Drawing from those experiences, she encouraged graduates to embrace both the highs and lows of life, noting that each step helps shape who they become and the lessons they carry forward.
“Think of the grass in a meadow. Rooted, yet able to bend in the storm and rise again,” Allison said to the graduates. “Your path does not have to be linear to be meaningful. And when you’re not sure what to do next, just take the next right step.”
She also reminded graduates that support and connection remain an important part of their journey beyond commencement.
“You are part of this community–this Blue Ridge family,” she added.
During the second ceremony, a special presentation honored Blue Ridge’s 2026 Academic Excellence Award winner Victoria Dmytryszyn, who graduated with an Associate in Science college transfer degree as an honors graduate, earning a GPA above 3.9.
As an Early College student, Dmytryszyn balanced the demands of both high school and college coursework with remarkable discipline and focus. Leatherwood remarked that her success reflects not only excellence in the classroom, but also resilience in the face of significant challenges.
In a recent College essay, Dmytryszyn’s wrote, “When Hurricane Helene destroyed my home, I was not sure how I would manage everything at once. But the faculty and staff stepped in. They checked on me, encouraged me, and celebrated every small win—and they continue to do so. That kind of support allowed me to stay focused on my academic goals and remain grateful for every opportunity.”
The ceremonies concluded after Dr. Leatherwood asked graduates to move their tassels from right to left, a tradition symbolizing a student’s graduation accomplishment.
Blue Ridge Community College’s Spring 2026 graduates* included:
Transylvania County
Jackson W. Aiken, Civil Engineering Technology-Land Surveying Fundamentals
Tiffany Ann Aldridge, Associate Degree Nursing
Weston G. Arant, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Tyler M. Beebe, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Joseph B. Behre, Information Technology-Networking & CyberSecurity
Mason A. Bell, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Corbin T. Bradley, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Andrea Brewster, Medical Office Administration and Office Management
Kaedon N. Castillo, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Cristian Castillo-Marin, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Jessica Holly Chapman, Esthetics Technology
Timothy G. Connor, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Brooklynn Faith Corbin, Esthetics Technology
Rylie K. Corbin, Entrepreneurship
Jennifer Rogers Cornett, Associate Degree Nursing
Christina K. Doherty, Elementary Education Residency Licensure
Melinda Mae Emrick, Manicuring & Nail Technology
Derick R. Friend , Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Kaeden B. Galloway, Esthetics Technology
Samantha M. Griffin, Early Childhood Education-Infant & Toddler
Bethany Faith Hanna, Early Childhood Education
Ian Hardison, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Max W. Henderson, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Sage Leona Hinkleman, Elementary Education Residency Licensure
John T. Hoxit, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Dallas Q. Hudgins, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Courtney M. Lance, Associate Degree Nursing
Maddy L. Lance, Interpreter Education-Fundamentals of ASL
Garen T. Littleton, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Ronnie O. Lyday, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Gavin Lee Marlow, College Transfer
Heather Alisha McCall, Esthetics Technology
Jonathan W. McCall, Civil Engineering Technology-Land Surveying Fundamentals
Haley Elise Meade, Associate Degree Nursing
Alex Christopher Moody, College Transfer
Joshua L. Newman, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Ramona Gail Normand, Human Services Technology-Addiction & Recovery Studies
Evan J. Olsen, College Transfer
Wyatt C. Owen, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Ashley Nicole Peacock, Associate Degree Nursing
Joshua C. Pressley, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Sherry Kitchen Pressley, Accounting & Finance
Bradley C. Queen, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Jennifer R. Revis, Associate Degree Nursing
Gracelyn E. Robinson, Early Childhood Education-Infant & Toddler
Chayanne Rodriguez, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Estrella Miranda Benavides Sheehan, Film & Video Production Technology
Harper Rayne Sikorski, Esthetics Technology
Braylon L. Simmons, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
Lauren Renee Street, Esthetics Technology
Laeela Waryono, College Transfer
Allison Whitmire Weller, Associate Degree Nursing
Bambi Louise White, Entrepreneurship
Rachel Wiener, College Transfer
Madalynn R. Wilbanks, Welding Technology-Basic Welding
| *Only graduates who have agreed to be named are included in this list. |