Oakton is closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25.
Des Plaines, Ill. (May 20, 2026) – My name is Oliver Holland, and I am proud to be a part of more than 2,000 graduating students who comprised Oakton College’s Class of 2026. Held at the Rosemont Theatre, May 18, the ceremony brought together graduates, families, friends, faculty and staff for a night that reflected the pride of the Oakton community.
The Commencement showcased the perseverance and dedication of the entire class, reflecting not just on individual journeys but also the shared effort of a group of students who each took a different path to the stage.
Over the 2025-2026 academic year, 2,072 students petitioned for graduation, earning 879 degrees and 1,193 certificates while completing more than 70,700 academic hours. Students ranged in age from 16-73, showing that there is no single path to success at Oakton.
Graduating made me reflect on my first day at Oakton, when I was unsure what my journey here would look like. However, over time, Oakton became a place where I could get involved, meet new people, and step outside my comfort zone to explore opportunities I never would have anticipated. One of the biggest examples of this came from my marketing class, taught by Professor Lisa Cherivitch, or “Prof. C,” as we called her. Prof. C’s class changed my perspective and made me realize the different avenues my Finance major could allow me to pursue.
The course led me to my student employee position in Oakton’s Marketing and Communications department, where I've developed social media content and wrote articles for the College's website. The class's impact did not stop there. I’ve also worked with classmates to start the Oakton Investment Association, a club focused on helping students better understand financial investments.
This idea of students finding their path at Oakton was highlighted as graduates crossed the stage. Seeing students earn degrees and certificates in fields ranging from healthcare and nursing to engineering and science showed the academic diversity within the Oakton community.
“Each of you arrived at Oakton with your own story, your own set of challenges, and your own hopes for what could be,” said Joianne L. Smith, Oakton College president. “And today, you leave not only with a credential, but with clarity about who you are, what you value and the impact you want to have in the world.”
While the graduates represented many different paths, the support from family and loved ones in the audience showed how many of those journeys were made possible. Families waved flags, held posters, clapped, cheered and shouted the names of their graduates as they crossed the stage. The cheers made it clear how much each moment meant, not only to the graduates but also to the people who stood by them along the way. Being surrounded by the family and friends who supported me in my Oakton journey reminded me that commencement was not only a celebration of individual achievement, but also of everyone who helped each graduate reach that stage.
Looking back, Oakton became much more than I could have imagined on my first day. As I now leave to begin my journey at DePaul University this fall, I could not have pictured my path going any other way. Oakton taught me resilience, encouraged me to lean into the unknown and connected me with people and experiences that have shaped who I am today. For the Class of 2026, commencement was not only a celebration of what the class accomplished, but also a reminder of the bright future awaiting each of us.
To see additional pictures from the Commencement, please check out Oakton’s LinkedIn.