Belmont College Honors the Class of 2026

St. Clairsville, OH (May 8, 2026) – Belmont College officials conferred degrees upon a multitude of graduates as part of the College’s 2026 Spring Commencement Ceremonies in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Hundreds of parents, extended family, faculty, and staff were present to congratulate the Class of 2026.

President Dr. Paul F. Gasparro welcomed the graduates, “Graduates, when you chose Belmont, you chose more than a college, you chose a place that believes in opportunity. Whether your goal was to begin a new career, advance in your current one, transfer to a four-year institution, or complete something you once started, you are now leaving with more than knowledge. You are leaving with purpose, because the true value of your education is not just in what you learned, it is in what you do with what you learned.”

He continued. “The communities you return to, your hometowns, your workplaces, your families, they need you. They need your skills, your compassion, your leadership, and your willingness to step forward and make things better. Whether you are caring for patients, educating children, supporting local businesses, creating your own business, or serving in public safety, your impact will be real, and it will matter.”

“One day, someone will ask where your journey began. No matter how far you go or how high you rise, I hope that you remember that part of your journey started here. And the foundation you built at Belmont will continue to guide you as you make a difference in the lives of others,” he went on to say.

Graduates from the following programs participated in the commencement ceremony held on Thursday, May 7, 2026: Allied Health Administration; Computed Tomography; Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic; Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic Cert.; Firefighter; Laboratory Technician; Massage Therapy; Medical Assisting; Medical Assisting Certificate; Medical Coding Certificate; Phlebotomy Technician Certificate; Practical Nursing Certificate; and Radiologic Technology.

Additionally, graduates from the following programs participated in the commencement ceremony to be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the 4:00pm ceremony: Registered Nursing; and Transitional Nursing. During this service, a pinning ceremony was also held to honor the graduating Associate Degree Nursing students.

The following programs participated during the 7:00 p.m. ceremony: Accounting; Associate of Arts; Associate of Science; Bookkeeper I Certificate; Bookkeeper II Certificate; Building Preservation/Restoration; Business Administration & Leadership; Certified Chemical Dependency Certificate; Civil Engineering; Computer Applications Certificate; Cyber Security & Computer Forensics; Cyber Security Certificate; Early Childhood Education; Electronic Media; Energy and Natural Resources; Engineering Applications Certificate; General Bookkeeping Certificate; Graphic Design Certificate; Heavy Equipment Technician; HVAC Technology; HVAC Technology Certificate; Industrial Electronics Technology; Instrumentation and Control; Maintenance Technician I Certificate; Maintenance Technician II Certificate; Mental Health; Natural Resources Certificate; Networking; Payroll Clerk Certificate; PC/Networking Technician Certificate; Pipeline Welder Helper I Certificate; Pipeline Welder Helper II Certificate; Process Technician; Process Control Certificate; Software Development Fundamentals Certificate; Welding Fabricator Certificate; Welding Technology; and Welding Technology Certificate.

This year, all three commencement speakers were Belmont College alumni who are each making an incredible impact in their fields.

Ms. Tomisha Jenkins delivered the keynote address to the Thursday evening graduates. She is a Coder II at (UPMC) University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, recently promoted from Coder I. She is a highly credentialed health information professional, holding RHIT, RHIA, and CPC certifications. Jenkins earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Information Administration from the University of Cincinnati, an associate degree in Health Information Management from Eastern Gateway Community College, and a certificate in Medical Coding and Billing from Belmont College. She currently serves on the Employee Experience Committee at UPMC as well as the Medical Assisting, Coding, and Phlebotomy Advisory Board at Belmont College.

In her commencement speech, Jenkins said, “Perseverance and determination have brought me this far, but my journey isn’t finished, and neither is yours. Along the way, I’ve learned that the greatest efforts are often the ones no one sees. People celebrate the finished product, but not the countless small steps it took to get there. For me, success came when I stopped chasing perfection and started recognizing that every small step forward is an accomplishment worth celebrating.”

The keynote speaker at the 4:00pm Friday evening graduation was Dr. Hunter Jefferis, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CCRN, Director of Nursing for Emergency Services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. A proud Belmont College graduate, he earned his Associate Degree in Nursing in 2012 and began his career as an intensive care nurse at Ohio Valley Medical Center. He has since advanced through progressive leadership roles in academic medicine and is recognized as a nurse leader in critical care.

At Ohio State, Dr. Jefferis served as one of four nursing consultants supporting the design and activation of the new 25-story inpatient hospital tower, which opened in 2026 and represents one of the most complex and transformative healthcare initiatives in the institution’s history. He was also part of the interdisciplinary team recognized with the 2021 ANCC Magnet Prize, an international award presented to a single Magnet organization for nursing innovation. He has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University, a Master’s in Nursing from Xavier University, and recently earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from The Ohio State University.

Originally from Barnesville, Ohio, Dr. Jefferis shares his Belmont connection with his father, Jason Wells, and his twin brother, Miles, who graduated alongside him.

In his speech, Dr. Jefferis said, “I think I’m here today because I said thank you. None of us gets here alone—and when you take the time to acknowledge that, you reconnect, you remember, and sometimes those same people open doors you never expected.”

He continued, “In nursing, we inherit more than skills, we inherit values. What we carry forward from those who trained us becomes the legacy we leave for the next generation. Healthcare will change. Hospitals will evolve and some will close. Colleagues will come and go. But what remains is the connection you build, the way you show up, and the impact you leave behind. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to stay connected, to your purpose, to your people, and to where you came from.”

Mr. Rick Lucas, Chief Growth Officer at Desktop Metal and ARC Impact Acquisition Company, served as the 7:00 p.m. commencement speaker. Lucas is an entrepreneur, innovator, and leader in advanced manufacturing who has spent his career turning ideas into reality. Over the past two decades, Rick has played a key role in advancing 3D printing and materials science, including serving as Chief Technology Officer of ExOne, where he helped guide the company through transformative growth and a $575 million acquisition. Along the way, he has led teams that brought groundbreaking technologies to market, secured major partnerships with organizations like NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, and helped expand entire industries.

He is the founder of AMfgLabs and has built multiple successful real estate development companies. An inventor on numerous patents and a recognized voice in global manufacturing, Lucas has dedicated his career to pushing boundaries and opening doors for the next generation of innovators.

He holds an MBA from Ashland University, a degree in Physics from Otterbein University, and a foundation in manufacturing technology from Belmont College, a journey that reflects the same message he shared with the graduates: there is no single path to success, only the one you choose to build.

Addressing the graduates he said, “Today you graduate from Belmont College. That’s a big accomplishment. But this is not the end of your education, it’s the beginning. The world is changing fast. The people who succeed are the ones who keep learning.”

He continued, “At Belmont, I learned skills that gave me a foundation for my career. But I also gained something even more important. I met my wife here—40 years ago. And standing here in 2026, I can tell you that was the best decision of my life. Because life isn’t just about what you know—it’s about who you share it with.”

The Class of 2026 Co-Valedictorian’s are Troy Cooke of Avella, Pennsylvania and Kelly Brown of Powhatan Point, Ohio.

Cooke earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology and graduated with a 4.0 and honors. He was also named the “Radiology Program Clinical Student of the Year” for 2026.

Brown earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education and also graduated with a 4.0 and honors.

The class Salutatorian is Shaylee Burkhart of Sardis, Ohio, who earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology. She graduated with honors and a 3.983 GPA and is a member of Lambda Nu, the national honor society for radiologic and imaging sciences.

This year, a total of 96 College Credit Plus (CCP) students were in the 2026 graduating class. They represent 9 area high schools, including: Barnesville High School, Edison High School, Indian Creek High School, Jefferson County JVS, Monroe Central High School, St Clairsville High School, Steubenville High School, Toronto High School, Union Local High School. The graduating CCP students are finishing several different degrees/certificates including Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Welding Certificate, Phlebotomy Certificate, and Certified Chemical Dependency Assistant Certificate.

CCP gives students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to take college courses for free and earn high school and college credit before graduating from high school. Students can take up to 30 credit hours per school year, and a total of 120 throughout the program. College credits can be earned during summer, fall, and spring terms. Courses taken in the summer term count toward the upcoming high school year. Each class and corresponding grade are included in both high school and college transcripts. Flexible class scheduling allows students the ability to enjoy school activities that fit around college classes.

“We are extremely proud of our College Credit Plus graduates this year,” said Dr. Carrie White, Vice President of Academic Affairs/CAO. “These students have demonstrated outstanding commitment and perseverance as they successfully balanced the demands of high school with college-level academics. Their achievements highlight the strength of our CCP partnerships and reflect the promise of their future success. We are excited to see how they will continue to grow and contribute to their communities and beyond.”

At this year’s commencement ceremony, two dedicated faculty members were recognized in honor of their recent retirements.

Professor Cindi Yanez, whose career reflects more than two decades of service to Belmont College, has supported student success since joining the College in 2004. Through her work in composition, communication, and writing, both in the classroom and online, she has made a lasting impact on countless students. She has also contributed her time and leadership to committees, curriculum development, and student organizations, including Phi Theta Kappa. Beyond campus, her involvement with local animal shelters and humane organizations has made a meaningful difference in the community.

Also recognized was Professor Christopher Clantz, whose career spans more than three decades at Belmont College. Since joining Belmont in 1992, he has played an integral role in the Natural Science program, teaching biology, anatomy and physiology, and life sciences. In addition to his work in the classroom, he has provided leadership through faculty service and committee involvement, as well as his work with the Ohio Academy of Science, including support of the District Science Fair hosted at Belmont.

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