Spring Commencement Checklist
Central Community College will host spring commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 8. These ceremonies honor students who are earning a diploma or degree in May or summer 2026 and our GED diploma recipients.
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Columbus Campus 7:00 p.m. |
Grand Island Campus 10:00 a.m. |
Hastings Campus 2:30 p.m. |
Graduates, please let us know if you plan to attend commencement.
*RSVP due date has passed*
Contact Ronda Ryan for more information
402-562-1278
[email protected]
Please read these important dates and complete the following checklist:
- Right away: Please review all material in this checklist and the important graduation information that follows. Some college student groups require additional steps to ensure appropriate recognition during the ceremony.
- By Wednesday, Apr. 22: Please R.S.V.P. above to confirm if you will or will not attend a 2026 Spring Commencement Ceremony. Your response is required.
- By Thursday, May 1: Purchase your graduation regalia at the Columbus, Grand Island, or Hastings Campus bookstore. The cost for gown, cap, and tassel is $57.94, plus tax. (More information about cap and gown below).
- May 1 is the last day to order regalia to be shipped to you. After that, you must purchase it in person from the bookstore.
- Friday, May 8: Attend the 2026 spring commencement ceremony.
Select your campus or center location to view your commencement day agenda and details.
Columbus Spring Commencement Day Agenda
The agenda for the day is as follows:
- 9:15 - 9:30 a.m. - All graduates check in at the Fine Arts Center.
- 9:30 a.m. - Graduates form the procession and begin rehearsal.
- 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Graduates are invited to a Graduation Brunch in the cafeteria, where there will be food and Alumni swag.
- 6:00 - 6:15 p.m. - All graduates check in at the Fine Arts Center.
- Arrive with your cap, gown and tassel on. Please try to bring only what you will be able to carry in your hand or pockets during the ceremony.
- 6:15 p.m. - Doors for the Raider Fieldhouse open for guests and general audience.
- 7:00 p.m. - Commencement ceremony begins.
- 8:00 p.m. - Commencement concludes and graduates, friends, and family are invited to a reception immediately following.
Grand Island Spring Commencement Day Agenda
The agenda for the day is as follows:
- 8:00- 8:15 a.m. - All graduates check in at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island. Please enter through the Bosselman Conference Center doors on the south side of the building. Look for the Raider Rex sign.
- Arrive with your cap, gown and tassel on. Please try to bring only what you will be able to carry in your hand or pockets during the ceremony.
- 8:15 a.m. - Graduates form the procession and begin rehearsal.
- 9:15 a.m. - Venue opens for guests and general audience.
- 10:00 a.m. - Commencement ceremony begins.
- 11:15 a.m. - Commencement concludes and graduates, friends, and family are invited to a reception immediately following.
Note: The Heartland Events Center enforces a Clear Bag Policy that limits the size and type of bag that can be brought into the venue. Learn more about the clear bag policy: Clear Bag Policy
Hastings Spring Commencement Day Agenda
The agenda for the day is as follows:
- 12:30 – 12:45 p.m. - All graduates check in at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island. Please enter through the Bosselman Conference Center doors on the south side of the building. Look for the Raider Rex sign.
- Arrive with your cap, gown and tassel on. Please try to bring only what you will be able to carry in your hand or pockets during the ceremony.
- 12:45 p.m. - Graduates form the procession and begin rehearsal.
- 1:45 p.m. - Venue opens for guests and general audience.
- 2:30 p.m. - Commencement ceremony begins.
- 4:00 p.m. - Commencement concludes and graduates, friends, and family are invited to a reception immediately following.
Note: The Heartland Events Center enforces a Clear Bag Policy that limits the size and type of bag that can be brought into the venue. Learn more about the clear bag policy: Clear Bag Policy
Other Important Graduation Information
Cap and Gown
Graduates earning their CCC diploma or degree wear a hunter green cap, gown, and tassel. GED completers wear a black cap, gown, and tassel.
Caps, gowns, and tassels may be purchased through the campus bookstore on the Columbus, Grand Island, or Hastings Campus. May 1 will be the last day to purchase regalia for shipment.
Regalia Costs:
- Bundle (gown, cap, & tassel): $57.94, plus tax
- Cap Only: $9.98, plus tax
- Tassel Only: $6.98, plus tax
There is an $8.99 shipping charge for orders mailed to you.
Regalia purchased in person may be picked up at the time of purchase.
Bookstore hours are generally Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Online ordering:
Information on how to order regalia online is available at the bookstore website. Visit https://cccneb.bncollege.com/ and select Student Essentials > Graduation > Regalia.
Be sure to select the correct color of cap and gown. (CCC diploma and degree graduates select hunter green; GED recipients select black. The same tassel is used by all.) Gowns are sized according to your height and weight. Select your height and one of three weight ranges (regular, *1 or *2). Refer to the gown sizing guide.
If you need additional assistance, please contact the campus Barnes & Noble College Bookstore at:
- Columbus: 402-562-1251 or [email protected]
- Grand Island: 308-398-7418 or [email protected]
- Hastings: 402-461-2445 or [email protected]
Graduation Announcements
Graduates may receive 10 complimentary graduation invitations to distribute to your family and friends. Your guests are not required to bring these to the ceremony. You may pick up the invitations from one of the following:
- Columbus: Campus Bookstore, 402-562-1251, Student Center
- Grand Island: Cristina Castillo, 308-398-7378, Room 348
- Hastings: Amber Dubois, 402-461-2424, Student Success Center, Dawson Building, Room 420
- Kearney: Front Desk, 308-338-4000
Live Stream
Friends and family who are unable to attend in person are invited to watch the commencement ceremony live on the Central Community College graduation page.
Disability Services
For graduation accessibility needs, please contact a director of disability services:
- Columbus: Tara Bialas, 402-461-2423 or [email protected]
- Grand Island/Kearney: Kim Ottman, 308-398-7423 or [email protected]
- Hastings: Tara Bialas, 402-461-2423 or [email protected]
High Academic Achievement / Honor Graduate
Honor medallions will be given at check-in to those students earning an AAS, AA, AS, or ADN degree who have attained a cumulative (not term only) grade-point average of 3.75 or above. Eligibility is based on the student’s cumulative GPA from all previous final grades after the fall semester and prior to the current semester. Courses taken during the current semester are not used in determining honors for commencement. Honor medallions are not awarded to students earning a diploma only. Students must participate in the commencement ceremony to receive a medallion. You should confirm your eligibility for this honor by contacting Ronda Ryan by May 1 at 402-562-1278 or [email protected].
Phi Theta Kappa
One of the benefits of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) membership is being recognized for academic excellence at our commencement ceremonies. Members in good standing may distinguish their academic achievement by wearing Phi Theta Kappa graduation regalia with their caps and gowns.
All active PTK members are entitled to wear the distinctive Phi Theta Kappa tassel and stole, while chapter officers receive an additional ceremonial medallion. To ensure proper recognition of your accomplishments, please contact your PTK advisor well in advance of your chosen ceremony date. Your advisor can confirm your regalia distribution arrangements and verify that your PTK membership status will be properly acknowledged in the graduation program.
- Columbus: Kim Saum, 402-562-1244, [email protected]
- Grand Island/Kearney: Lisa Mount, 308-398-7396, [email protected]
- Hastings: Jennifer Arlt, 402-461-2573, [email protected]
Veterans and Military Members Honors Cord
As a symbol of CCC’s recognition of service to our country, graduating Veterans and current service members are given a red, white, and blue service appreciation honor cord to wear with their graduation regalia. To request an honor cord, complete the form below, email [email protected], or call the VMRC at 308-398-7811.
SALUTE Honor Society
Veteran and current service member graduates who are inducted into the SALUTE Honor Society wear the SALUTE honors stole with their graduation regalia. Please email [email protected] or call the VMRC at 308-398-7811 for more information on becoming a SALUTE member and obtaining the SALUTE honor stole.
The National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi)
Graduates who are inducted members of the National Society of Leadership and Success are responsible for ordering their own honors stole and cords. Please be sure to place your order early to allow for delivery. Inducted members have attended and completed the following: orientation, leadership training day, three broadcasts and three success networking team meetings. If you have questions about your membership status, contact one of the advisors.
Order NSLS Honors Stole and Cords
Photography
Iris Photography Studio will be photographing each graduate as they walk across the stage during the upcoming graduation ceremonies. You will have the choice to purchase these photos from Iris Photography through online digital downloads or physical prints that will be shipped directly from Iris Photography.
As a courtesy, the CCC Foundation office will also mail one complimentary 4x6 photograph to the address we have on file with the registrar’s office. To ensure you receive this photograph, please make sure your current address is up to date with the registrar’s office. Please allow up to four weeks for the complimentary photograph to be processed and mailed.
Check back here for the link to the graduation albums. It is the same link for all campus locations, with a separate group for each. To access the photos you will need to enter your e-mail address. Please allow 2-3 days after your commencement ceremony for photos to be available.
Please contact Dr. Cheri Beda, Director of Donor and Community Engagement, with any questions at [email protected] or 402-460-2157.
Degrees and Diplomas
Do not be alarmed when you open your degree folder at graduation and find it empty. Final grades are due several days after the ceremony; thus, your final academic credit check will take place after that. If you are completing your requirements in May, you can expect your degree and/or diploma in the mail by the end of June. If you are a summer graduate, you can look for your degree and/or diploma at the beginning of September. Please confirm that we have your correct mailing address on your WebCentral profile here: Confirm Address
*Please Note: If you have an outstanding balance with the student accounts office, your degree will not be mailed to you until all remaining bills are paid. Contact the student accounts office to take care of any outstanding balances at 402-562-1226.*
Academic Transcripts
Once confirmed, your degree or diploma will be entered on your transcript within five weeks of the end of the semester. You can access an unofficial transcript by going to Unofficial Transcripts. It is a good idea to save a copy of your transcript so you always have easy access in the future (e.g., for employment applications and résumés.) To request an official transcript, go to Official Transcripts. You will want to check your unofficial transcript to be sure all grades and degree information is listed before you request your official transcript to be sent.
Career and Employment Services
You are also encouraged to join the CCC online job board so you can see jobs posted for CCC students and graduates by regional employers. You can create an account as a “Student” or “Alumni” member, either is fine. If you would like personal help with your job search, please be sure to make an appointment with staff at Career and Employment Services.
General Education Diploma (GED)
If you are attending graduation as a GED completer, please note that your cap, tassel, and gown will be black. Please refer to the "Cap and Gown" section of this page for ordering details. If you have any questions, please contact Becky Fausett at [email protected] or 308-398-7446.
Questions about the Ceremony?
Contact
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Columbus |
Grand Island |
Hastings |