Lakeshore College Spring Graduation Set for May 9

CLEVELAND, Wis. — Lakeshore College will celebrate the achievements of 270 students during its Spring 2026 Graduation Celebration on Saturday, May 9, at Centennial Hall on the college’s Cleveland campus. The college expects to award 320 credentials during the event.

The credentials include associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. Lakeshore College will also recognize more than 100 Registered Apprenticeships, General Education Development certificates, and High School Equivalency Diplomas.

Lakeshore President Dr. Paul Carlsen said the college takes pride in each graduate’s accomplishments and expects their education to “create a lasting ripple effect” in the communities where they live and work.

A Flexible, Family-Friendly Graduation Celebration

Lakeshore College’s graduation format is designed to be more flexible than a traditional ceremony. Instead of asking all graduates and guests to attend one long program, each academic area has a designated recognition time. Students and their supporters may attend during the timeframe that works best for them.

That format makes the day easier for families, friends, children, and working adults who want to celebrate their graduate without spending the entire day on campus. It also gives each program area time to recognize students as they cross an important milestone.

Students and guests are welcome on campus from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All campus buildings will be open during that time, and college representatives will be available for the day’s festivities.

Graduation Recognition Times

Lakeshore College has announced the following Spring 2026 Graduation Celebration schedule:

• GED / HSED: 9:00–9:30 a.m.
• Manufacturing, Engineering, Agriculture, and Apprenticeship: 9:30–10:00 a.m.
• Business, Education, Culinary Arts, and General Studies: 10:00–10:45 a.m.
• Break: 10:45–11:00 a.m.
• Health and Public Safety: 11:00 a.m.

The celebration will bring graduates from a wide range of programs together at Lakeshore’s Cleveland campus, highlighting the different paths students take through technical education, career training, apprenticeships, adult education, and transfer-focused programs.

A Milestone for Students and the Lakeshore Community

For many students, graduation marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Some will move directly into the workforce. Others will continue their education, build on an apprenticeship, pursue career advancement, or use their credential to open new opportunities close to home.

Lakeshore College, formerly known as Lakeshore Technical College, serves more than 9,000 students annually. The college offers career-focused training, transfer pathways, and individualized learning experiences for students across the region. In addition to its Cleveland campus, Lakeshore also serves students at learning campuses in downtown Manitowoc and downtown Sheboygan.

Approximately 800 students graduate from Lakeshore College each year. Associate degree graduates report earning a median salary of $61,355 within six months of graduation, according to the college.

This spring’s graduates will join that larger network of Lakeshore alumni contributing to local employers, public services, small businesses, schools, health care organizations, skilled trades, and communities throughout northeast Wisconsin.

Readers with a graduate in the Class of 2026 are invited to share congratulations, memories, and photos in the comments.