Commencement | WKCTC

Graduation

Commencement Ceremony Information

Details for 2025 Spring Commencement

Congratulations candidates for graduation! This commencement page provides you with detailed information on the schedule of events for the day of commencement to celebrate and honor your accomplishment with family and friends as you are eligible to graduate from West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

  • Monday, May 12, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
  • Carson Center for the Performing Arts
  • 100 Kentucky Avenue in downtown Paducah
  • For the 4 p.m. ceremony, candidates for graduation must report to the back loading dock of the Carson Center no later than 3:15 p.m. to sign in for the ceremoy.
  • For the 7 p.m. ceremony, candidates for graduation must report to the back loading dock of the Carson Center no later than 6:15 p.m. to sign in for the ceremony.
  • Signs will mark the back loading dock entrance door.
  • Please consider parking /walking times in order to arrive for the ceremony sign-in no later than arrival times listed above.
  • The ceremony breakdown list is in the Ceremony Breakdown tab below.
  • A Carson Center map is in the Carson Center Map tab below.
  • All guests should enter the front doors of the Carson Center. Doors will open at approximately 3:15 p.m. (first ceremony) and 6:15 p.m. (second ceremony).

Ceremony attendance by Credential/Program

See Ceremony Arrival Times above for when you should arrive at the Back Loading Dock of the Carson Center.

First Ceremony 4 p.m.

  • Associate in Arts
  • Associate in Fine Arts - Visual Arts
  • Administrative Office Technology
  • Automotive Technology
  • Business Administration
  • Collision Repair Technology
  • Computer Aided Drafting and Design
  • Computer and Information Technologies
  • Computerized Manufacturing and Machining
  • Construction Technology
  • Criminal Justice
  • Culinary Arts
  • Diesel Technology
  • Electrical Technology
  • Fire Science Technology
  • General Occupational Technical Studies
  • Industrial Maintenance Technology
  • Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
  • Logistics and Operations Management
  • Visual Communication - Multimedia
  • Welding Technology


Second Ceremony 7 p.m.

  • Associate in Science
  • Cosmetology
  • Dental Assisting
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Health Science Technology
  • Medical Information Technology
  • Medical Laboratory Technician
  • Nursing - Associate Degree Nursing
  • Nursing - Practical Nursing
  • Nursing - Nursing Assistant
  • Pharmacy Technology
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Radiography
  • Surgical Technology
  • There will be a regalia ordering event on Thursday, April 24 from 9 am. - 4 p.m. in the WKCTC Bookstore.
  • There will be a cap-decorating event in the WKCTC bookstore on Thursday, May 1 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • The high-quality, blue Graduation Regalia Bundle includes your cap, gown, and tassel for the price of $41.98, plus tax.
  • An additional tassel is $7.98, plus tax.
  • The bookstore accepts cash, credit/debit cards, and can process SFA with a voucher from the Financial Aid office.
  • If you have any questions, please reach out to the bookstore via email at SM070@bncollege.com.
  • Candidates for graduation who have a 3.6 or higher GPA and a minimum of 45 hours from KCTCS schools are eligible to receive a free blue and gold honor cord to wear at commencement at the Carson Center on Monday, May 12.
  • The names of candidates for graduation who are eligible to wear a blue and gold honor cord, which represents graduation with high distinction, will be marked on an honors cord list by the WKCTC Records office and provided to the WKCTC bookstore team.
  • Eligible candidates for graduation can pick up an honor cord in the WKCTC bookstore. 
  • Community Scholarship Program cords should be picked up in the Anderson Technical Building from Justin Hill or Ayesha Smith.
  • Veteran cords should be picked up from Amanda Scheidegger or Deanna Shelley in the Anderson Technical Building.
  • Student Government Association cords should be picked up from Brent Taylor in the Clemens Student Center/Fine Arts Building. 
  • Future Business Leaders of America cords should be picked up from Beth Swadley or Jason Willoughby.
  • If you are a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, PTK co-advisor Dr. Kim Russell will communicate with you to order your honor stole from the official PTK website and provide details about also attending the Honors and Achievement Ceremony on Monday, May 5, in the WKCTC Clemens Fine Arts Center
  • SMILE! A professional photographer will be taking pictures of candidates for graduation throughout the ceremony. Make sure to let family and friends know.
  • Photos can be ordered from Jones Photography in the weeks following commencement at jonesphoto.gotphoto.com - access code: WKCTCSPRING25.
  • Photography information will also be available in the commencement program.

To ensure your guests are able to attend the commencement ceremony, you must follow these steps to reserve tickets.

How to reserve guest tickets

  • The Carson Center Box Office will provide two online ticket reservation links beginning on Monday, April 21, 2025.
    • One for the 4 p.m. ceremony
    • One for the 7 p.m. ceremony
  • These links will be sent to your WKCTC email from The Carson Center.
  • These links will also be sent to your WKCTC email from WKCTC.
  • These links will be available on this webpage beginning on April 21, 2025.

Important Dates

  • Ticket reservation opens: Monday, April 21, 2025 at 10 a.m.
  • Ticket reservation closes: Friday, May 2, 2025 at 5 p.m.
  • You must request your tickets during this time.
  • Each student may reserve up to four (4) guest tickets.
  • After May 2, no additional tickets will be issued.

Ticketing Rules and Policies

  • Each student may reserve up to four (4) guest tickets.
  • Children who have had their first birthday require a ticket for entry.
  • Graduating students do NOT need a ticket.
  • Students must create an account at my.thecarsoncenter.org using their WKCTC email.
    • Reservations made with non-WKCTC emails will be automatically canceled.
    • Students cannot duplicate ticket reservations using their WKCTC email.
  • Guests without a ticket will not be admitted into the theater.
  • Students will select reserved seating for the guest to attend.

Receiving and Distributing Tickets

  • Once the reservation is complete, students will receive a confirmation email listing the location of guests' seat locations.
  • Tickets will be emailed to the student's WKCTC email address on Monday, May 5. This email will come from The Carson Center.
  • If you do not receive your ticket on Monday, May 5, please contact the Carson Center Box Office.
  • Students are resonsible for printing tickets and/or distributing digital tickets to their guests.
  • Candidates for graduation who need special accommodations must contact marybeth.head@kctcs.edu no later than Monday, April 28, 2025.
  • Handicap parking is available in Parking Lot A. A Carson Center map is in the tab below.
  • Handicap seating is available inside the Carson Center on the first floor at the back of the theatre. There is a reserved space for the person needing the accommodation and one seat for a family member or friend. Others are requested to sit elsewhere in the theatre to allow for other handicap accommodations.
  • Candidates for graduation should leave all personal belongings in their vehicle or with family or friends during the ceremony. WKCTC and the Carson Center are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
  • Carson Center
    • From points North and West of Paducah: Take I-24 East to Exit 4 “Downtown Loop” (KY State Highway 60). Take the Downtown Loop into downtown Paducah and turn left on Kentucky Avenue and go two blocks. The Center will be on your right.
    • From points South and East of Paducah: Take I-24 West to Exit 11 “Husband Road.” Turn right onto John Puryear Drive and follow it all the way into downtown. Turn right on Kentucky Avenue and go one block. The Center will be on your right.

  • Loading Dock Entrance at the Back of the Theater - Marked with Yellow Line and Circle at Right on the Map
    • All faculty/staff and students must enter through the loading dock. Students must check-in at registration table located inside the loading dock entrance. Front entrance of the theatre for guests only.

  • Commencement Parking
    • Parking is available in any of the Carson Center parking lots: A, B, C. or D. Note: parking will be reserved for VIP guests and handicap parking is in Lot A. Parking for the commencement personnel will be reserved in Lot B.
Carson Center Map
  • If you have any questions regarding graduation requirements and credentials, please do not hesitate to contact the Records Office at 270-534-3438.
  • If you have any questions regarding commencement logistics, please contact marybeth.head@kctcs.edu