FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University to hold Class of 2026 Commencement at Yakima Valley SunDome

Yakima, Wash. – Heritage University will celebrate the Class of 2026 at Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred upon students graduating from the Heritage Toppenish campus and the Tri-Cities regional site. Overall, 249 students earned their degrees at Heritage this year.

This year’s Commencement address will be presented by Helena Lourdes Donato-Sapp, a 16-year-old activist, youth poet laureate and artist recognized globally for disability advocacy and educational leadership. Donato-Sapp is a prolific writer with numerous peer-reviewed publications and is also a nationally regarded, award-winning poet and sought-after keynote speaker who addresses thousands of educators annually across the United States and internationally.

Heritage University will present the 2026 Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumnus Award to Dr. Nayeli Berenice Aranda Hernandez (B.S.W. Social Work, 2016). Dr. Aranda is a dedicated educator, advocate and community leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to service and lifelong learning. After earning her bachelor’s in social work from Heritage, she went on to complete both a master’s degree and a Doctorate in Education. As a Migrant Graduation Specialist at Stevens Middle School in Pasco, she is known for expanding opportunities for migrant students and families by connecting them to critical resources and building strong community partnerships—efforts that earned her recognition as Washington State Migrant Graduation Specialist of the Year.

The Yakima Valley SunDome is located at 1301 South Fair Avenue in Yakima. Parking is free. Additional information is available online at heritage.edu/commencement. For more information, contact Davidson Mance, media relations coordinator at (509) 969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.

 

# # #