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Vincennes University honors Spring 2026 Graduates
Commencement spirits soared as Vincennes University honored the remarkable milestones and future potential of its Class of 2026 graduates on Saturday, May 2, at the P.E. Complex.
The Vincennes Campus ceremony was the first of several commencements this spring at VU. The University will award 2,407 bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates to graduates from seven countries, 23 states, and 82 of the 92 counties in Indiana.
President Dr. Chuck Johnson warmly welcomed the Class of 2026, as Interim Provost Jaci Lederman led the commencement exercises and formally presented the graduating candidates.
Johnson congratulated the graduates, emphasizing that their degrees and certificates are a beginning, not an end. He challenged them to lifelong service and stressed the importance of humanity.
“Vincennes University’s motto, 'Learn In Order To Serve, ' is something we hope you will live and continue to contribute to after you leave Vincennes University,” he said. “Muhammad Ali said, ‘Service to others is the rent we pay for the room we occupy on earth,’ and I think nothing can be more important than thinking about in this world how much more humanity is going to be important in the future.”
Johnson added, “At a time when technology has connected us around the world, we are probably more disconnected from one another than ever. Reflect on that, and figure out how you can be more human in your world, how you can connect with others, maybe help them do something bright and good for them, and contribute to the way they engage with others as well. We know that when people work with others and serve with others, it builds on itself and they pay it forward. I urge you to use the education, the skills, and the success that you have had here as a path forward to helping make the world even better.”
Honorary Doctorate Recipient Dennis Bland
On behalf of the VU Board of Trustees, Board Chair Mike Sievers, First Vice Chair Reggie Henderson, and Second Vice Chair Scott Brand bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Dennis Bland, President of the Center for Leadership Development in Indianapolis.
Bland was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education for his commitment to youth advocacy and leadership development. He was honored for more than 20 years of leadership at the esteemed Indianapolis-based nonprofit. He has dedicated his life to elevating opportunity, inspiring high achievement among urban youth, and mentoring them to become future professional, business, and community leaders.
Bland holds a Juris Doctor from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis and practiced law for nine years. His transition from a legal career to full-time youth advocacy has built an extraordinary legacy, with 86% of CLD alumni either attending college or currently enrolled.
Bland was enthusiastically greeted by the commencement audience as he stepped to the podium, reflecting the celebratory spirit of the occasion.
In his remarks, he noted that VU’s motto, “Learn In Order To Serve,” impresses him greatly. He also shared that philanthropy is not optional and is a categorical imperative.
“Whenever any community decides that it can do without philanthropy, that community has effectively cast a vote for its own demise,” Bland said. “No philanthropy within your community? Then forget about community. As Trailblazers, we do not leave home without it because we cannot live without it.”
He added, “Moreover, the stronger your commitment is to advancing causes that promote the greater public good, the more impactful your service will be on others and on yourself. The author Jacqueline Novogratz wrote in her book, “Manifesto for a Moral Revolution,” ‘When we dare to understand the other, we find the seeds of our best selves.’ Likewise, when we dare to serve others, we find and unleash seeds of our best selves. In striving to enrich others, we enrich our own lives.”
Bland encouraged graduates and the audience to “boldly pursue a life of philanthropy and altruism” and become “hall-of-fame philanthropists” by contributing their wisdom, work ethic, words, wealth, and ways.
He also shared that a VU fact that stirred his soul was learning the University’s mascot’s full name is Trailblazer Willie. This resonates with him because he learned philanthropy and the duty and privilege of serving others from his father, Willie Lee Bland Sr., who was in attendance and received a stirring round of applause from the audience.
On behalf of the Class of 2026
Sam Harshbarger, a Multimedia Communications graduate from Evansville, Indiana, addressed the audience as the Student Speaker. He described attending VU as the perfect middle ground: close to home for comfort, but far enough away to spread your wings. He pointed out that one of VU’s greatest strengths is pushing students beyond what they think they can do, not to "break you," but to "expand you."
He encouraged the Class of 2026 to continue fearlessly blazing their trail and embrace boldness as they celebrate new beginnings.
Harshbarger said, “The pages of our future are left blank, so that we can fill them. So go out and fill them, and if you are afraid, do it afraid. As Taylor Swift has said, “You are on your own, kid, but you can face this.”
Watch a recording of the Vincennes Campus Spring 2026 Commencement on the VU YouTube Channel.
More celebrations to come
As the celebrations continue, commencement season at VU features upcoming ceremonies at the American Sign Language and Deaf Studies and Aviation Technology Center campuses in Indianapolis on May 8 and VU Jasper on May 9, as well as Military Education sites on additional dates.