MGCC Holds 60th Commencement Ceremony at Convocation Hall
| By Jennifer Bailey
Staff Writer |
Clifton Forge, VA (May 8, 2026)— Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC), formerly Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (DSLCC) held its 60th annual commencement ceremony in the convocation hall this evening. The approximately two-hour-long event honored 445 graduates while featuring presentations from Dr. John Rainone, President of MGCC; Sue Hirsh, Chairperson; Keyana Alexis Smith, 2024 MGCC graduate, current nursing student, and MGCC's poet laureate; Raegan Sparks, student speaker for the MGCC class of '26; and Gary K. Kirts, distinguished alumnus speaker and 1973 DSLCC graduate.
Additionally, Christine Rothwell was honored with the Gary Lee Miller "Outstanding Graduate" award for her leadership, as chair of the Classified Staff Committee, MGCC's representative to the Chancellor Staff Advisory Committee, and volunteer work. Gary Lee Miller was a 21-year-old First Lieutenant in the United States Army when he selflessly threw himself on a live grenade and absorbed the explosion with his body, thus giving his life to save the lives of those in his unit.
The Journal was on the scene this evening where we livestreamed the exciting event to our Facebook page and captured numerous photos. From all of us here at the Journal, we wish to congratulate all of the graduates in the class of 2026. | | | | | |
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