SMSU's 58th Commencement Set for May 9, 2026

Published Friday, May 01, 2026

A group at the 2025 Commencement ceremony

Southwest Minnesota State University will hold its 58th Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 10 a.m. in the R/A Facility on campus.

A total of 370 SMSU students, both undergraduate and graduate, will participate in the ceremony out of the 530 eligible students. Graduate degree recipients will also receive their master’s hoods as they walk across the stage.

This year’s commencement address will be delivered to the Class of 2026 by a member of the class: graduating senior and outgoing Student Association President, Sheridyn Runs After. She is from Eagle Butte, South Dakota; a proud member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; and is earning her degree in Justice Administration, with minors in Political Science and Indigenous Nations and Dakota Studies. During her time at SMSU, Runs After demonstrated exceptional leadership and advocacy. In addition to leading the Student Association, she served as president of the Social Justice Club and Criminal Justice Club, a Student Senate member, and a representative on the Student United Board of Directors. Her accomplishments include being a multi‑year Cobell Scholar, an Access Opportunity Success Scholar, and a participant in the Minnesota Pre‑Law Scholars Program, reflecting her commitment to equity, public service, and advocacy.

Following the commencement ceremony, a reception will be held in the upper level of the Student Center for students and their families.

Doors to the R/A Facility will open at 8:15 a.m. and guests are encouraged to be inside the R/A Facility by 9:30 a.m. to allow for the procession to begin. The ceremony will be streamed live at: https://www.smsu.edu/eventcenter/livestream.html. It will be broadcast live on Marshall’s two cable systems: Spectrum Channel 188; Vast Channel 95, digital channel 22.

In addition to the main ceremony on Saturday, the International Sash ceremony will be held on Friday, May 8. The International students receive sashes representing their home countries to wear during Saturday’s commencement. Graduating students who participated in 4 years of intercollegiate athletics received their Student Athlete sashes at the Mustang Athletic Award Ceremony on Monday, April 27.

For more information on this year’s commencement visit www.smsu.edu/commencement