Commencement Ceremony Information

• Dates being saved: May 11, 12 and 13
• Precise breakdown of ceremonies to be determined
• Clemens Fine Arts Center, on the campus of WKCTC

• TBD

This form is crucial to determine how many graduates we will have to participate in commencement. If you plan to walk at graduation, you must fill out this form in order to be counted. 

This form will go live in March 2026.

 

• Students can purchase cap and gowns at the WKCTC Bookstore in the Anderson Technical Building.
• The high-quality, blue Graduation Regalia Bundle includes your cap, gown, and tassel for the price of $45.98, plus tax.
  An additional tassel is $8.98, 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.
• 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 Greta Henry 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 

To ensure your guests are able to attend the commencement ceremony, please follow these steps to reserve ticket.

How to reserve guest tickets

• The Clemens Fine Arts Center Box Office will provide ticket reservation links 
• These links will be sent to your WKCTC email.
• Please ensure you are reserving tickets for the correct ceremony.

Important Dates

• Ticket reservation opens: TBD
• Ticket reservation closes: TBD
• You must request your tickets during this time.
• Each student may reserve up to six (6) guest tickets.
• After ticketing closes, no additional tickets will be issued.

Ticketing Rules and Policies

• Each student may reserve up to six (6) guest tickets.
• Seating is assigned/reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Infants/Toddlers: All children, regardless of age, must have a ticket and will count toward your 6-ticket limit. If no ticket is reserved for an infant/toddler, they and their accompanying adult will be seated in the overflow room. If space becomes available after all guests are seated, they may move to the main auditorium; otherwise, they will remain in the Student Center. 
• Graduating students do NOT need a ticket.
• Students MUST use their WKCTC email address to reserve tickets.
• 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.
• Handicap Seating: To reserve handicap-accessible seating, please call 270-534-3212. These seats are held separately to ensure availability and cannot be selected online.
• Ticket Questions: For any ticket-related inquiries, please contact 270-534-3212.
• Tickets will only be issued during the ticketing timeline
• Further instructions about reserving tickets with the Clemens Fine Arts Center will be published on this page soon.

Receiving and Distributing Tickets

Once the reservation is complete, students will receive their tickets electronically, along with a confirmation to their WKCTC email. 
If you do not receive your ticket in your email, please contact the Clemens Fine Arts Center Box Office at 270-534-3212.
Students are responsible for printing / distributing digital tickets to their guests.

Overflow Seating and Live Stream

If you have additional guests, please refer to the Overflow and Live Stream tab below.

• Candidates for graduation who need special accommodations must contact marybeth.head@kctcs.edu no later than Friday, May 1, 2026.
• Handicap parking is available in parking lot 12. (WKCTC parking lots are marked by signs on light poles)
• Handicap seating is available inside the Clemens Fine Arts Center. You must select handicap seating for a family member who needs it when reserving your tickets. There will be space for one of your guests to sit with the person needing the accommodation. Your remaining guests must sit in their assigned, ticketed seats. 

• Candidates for graduation should leave all personal belongings in their vehicle or with family or friends during the ceremony. WKCTC is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College
4810 Alben Barkley Drive
Paducah, KY 42001

Please view the campus map to locate the Clemens Fine Arts Center and the Nemer Building.

Please use parking lots 12 and 11 when attending the ceremony. Parking lots are designated by signs on the light poles.

Each graduate will be provided two printed programs upon checking into the Nemer Building. QR codes will be provided for guests to download and view a digital version of the program.

WKCTC will provide overflow space in the Student Center adjacent to the theater. This will be a space for additional guests without tickets to watch the ceremony live. This is also a space provided for guests who need to step out of the theater for any reason.

The live stream will also be available on WKCTC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Links to the streams will be provided on this webpage when they’re available.

• TBD

• If you have questions regarding graduation requirements and credentials, please contact the Records Office. 270-534-3438 or ashley.neely@kctcs.edu.
• If you have questions about reserving tickets, please contact the Clemens Fine Arts Center Box Office. 270-534-3212 or julie.moore@kctcs.edu.
• If you have questions regarding commencement logistics, please contact marybeth.head@kctcs.edu.