Heritage University Commencement
Heritage University will hold its 44th Annual Commencement ceremony at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Washington on Saturday, May 9, 2026 to celebrate the Class of 2026.
To watch Commencement:
(Zoom will begin at 9:30 a.m.)
- Click on button above
- Select “Join from browser”
- Type your name in the blank
- Click on “Join”
Class of 2024 Commencement
Deadline to order cap and gown for undergraduates and Masters students is
March 16, 2026.
Questions? Please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@heritage.edu.
Heritage University proudly celebrated its 43rd Annual Commencement over the weekend at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Washington. The ceremony honored the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025, as more than 200 graduates received degrees and certificates surrounded by family, friends, and supporters.
This year’s celebration featured powerful and heartfelt speeches from two student speakers: Miranda Maravilla, B.A. in Business Administration, delivered the address for the baccalaureate graduates, while Peyton Hart, M.I.T. in Elementary Education, spoke on behalf of the graduate students. Peyton’s speech was especially moving as it honored the memory of her sister, Aspen Hart, who, along with their mother, tragically passed away in a car accident two years ago. In a touching tribute, Aspen was awarded a posthumous B.A. in Elementary Education.
Heritage University also recognized outstanding alumni contributions by presenting the Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumni Award to Maria Batarao, who earned her M.Ed. in Professional Development in 2001 and completed the Teacher Certification Program in 2003. Maria was honored for her dedication to education and lasting impact in the community.
Click on the video thumbnail above to watch a video of commencement highlights. A complete gallery of images from commencement is still to come.
Congratulations to Heritage University’s Class of 2025!
Check out pictures from Commencement by Emree Weaver!
APPLY TO BE A COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER!
The Class of 2026 will have one undergraduate and one graduate student speaker presenting at the joint commencement exercise in May. Each speaker will have three minutes to address the audience.
Applications will be accepted digitally and need to include:
- Your name, major, graduation year, phone number and email address
- A written sample of your speech or speech outline. (Note, this does not need to be your final version. We will work with the individuals selected to finalize his/her remarks.)
- A one minute sample video of you delivering your remarks. Again, this does not need to be your final version, nor does it have to be anything fancy. A simple cell phone video will work.
Click on the button below to apply now!
Graduation Celebrations
Are you graduating this year? If so, you and up to two guests are invited to celebrate this exciting milestone! Please join us for Heritage University’s annual Graduation Celebrations as we congratulate the 2025 graduates on all of their achievements and welcome them to the Heritage alumni family. Enjoy refreshments while we celebrate!
Toppenish Campus
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Smith Family Hall
RSVP Below!
Kennewick – CBC
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Basin College Thornton Courtyard
GRADUATION TRADITIONS
Tassel and Hood
Tassel: Must be worn on the right front side before degrees are conferred and then transferred to the left front side after all diplomas have been awarded in the ceremony.
Hood: Graduate students do not wear their hoods before the ceremony, rather they carry their hoods over their left arm. Graduate students will be individually hooded during the commencement ceremony.
Baccalaureate Honors
Baccalaureate honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) are awarded to graduates receiving a first baccalaureate degree. These honors are awarded to those students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits at Heritage and have the following cumulative grade point averages at the end of December 2025:
- Summa cum laude 3.90-4.00
- Magna cum laude 3.70-3.89
- Cum laude 3.50-3.69
The gold cord represents summa cum laude honors, the silver cord represents magna cum laude honors and the bronze cord represents cum laude honors. The Red, White & Blue cords represent Armed Forces Veterans.
Please be sure to bring this honor cord to the graduation ceremony.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are tickets required to attend Commencement?
No tickets are issued as Commencement is free of charge to all attendees.
Is there a charge for parking at the Sundome?
Sundome parking is free of charge for Commencement.
When is rehearsal?
TBD
Is rehearsal mandatory?
Rehearsal is not mandatory, but it is recommended to help make Commencement operate smoothly.
What time should graduates arrive at the Sundome?
It is recommended that graduates participating in Commencement arrive by 8:30 a.m. and check-in at the designated table.
Is graduation regalia (robe, tassel, etc) required to participate?
Yes, graduation regalia is mandatory for participation in the commencement ceremony. If you did not order and receive regalia, contact registrar@heritage.edu for assistance by April 1, 2026.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR VIOLET LUMLEY RAU ALUMNI AWARD
Do you know an alumna or alumnus who has consistently lived out the mission and values of Heritage University? This is your opportunity to recognize them.
Established in 1994 in loving memory of Heritage University co-founder Violet Lumley Rau, this award is bestowed annually to an alumnus who embodies the ideals of Heritage in their personal, professional and community life. Ideals include excellence, inclusion, perseverance, leadership, and service to others.
The deadline for nominations will be announced shortly. All nominations received after that date will be considered for the 2027 award. For questions, please contact alumni@heritage.edu.
Nominate a graduate now!
Violet Lumley Rau Alumni Award Nomination 2026
Established in 1994, in loving memory of Heritage University co-founder, Violet Lumley Rau, this award is bestowed annually to an alumnus who embodies the ideals of the University in their personal, professional and community life. Ideals include: Excellence, Inclusion, Perseverance, Leadership and Service. Both undergraduate and graduate degree holders are eligible for nomination. Nominations for 2026 are due by Friday, April 3, 2026. Mandatory fields are marked with * Have more to say? Please email alumni@heritage.edu
ALUMNI LEGACY WALK
The Alumni Legacy Walk is made up of individual bricks each engraved with the name of an alum along with his or her major and graduation year. Your brick will be placed in a collection of those bearing the names of other graduates from your class. Bricks will be installed on an ongoing basis (frequency of installation dependent on the volume of orders).
Your donation to the Heritage University Scholarship fund of just $45 will secure your spot on the Legacy Walk. You can also have a souvenir brick delivered to you for an additional $25 donation. Your gift is tax deductible, and all proceeds will be directed to the Heritage University Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Contact Us
Registrar
Phone: (509) 865-8505
registrar@heritage.edu
Registrar Staff Associate
(Transcripts and Registrations)
Phone: (509) 865-8506
Office Location & Hours
Student Services Bldg
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.