WVU 2026 Commencement Message from President Michael T. Benson
To our graduates,
On behalf of everyone at West Virginia University, I offer my sincere congratulations to you as we celebrate Commencement.
The roots of the word “commencement,” which date back to the late 13th century, translate to “a beginning, act, or fact of coming into existence.”
That means our May Commencement ceremonies at the Hope Coliseum are not endings. The celebrations, instead, serve as inception points for what’s next for the newest members of our Mountaineer alumni family.
At WVU, pride in our land-grant mission runs deep, success is earned, and life-changing experiences prepare Mountaineers to serve others and lead in West Virginia and the world.
You carry that mission with you as you boldly move on to what’s next in your lives.
Go make us proud.
Let’s Go!
Michael T. Benson
President and Professor of History, West Virginia University
Alma Mater
by Louis Corson
Alma, our Alma Mater,
The home of Mountaineers.
Sing we of thy honor,
Everlasting through the years.
Alma, our Alma Mater,
We pledge in song to you.
Hail, all hail, our Alma Mater,
West Virginia “U”.