Photo Credit: Washtenaw Community College

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (May 13, 2026) – Washtenaw Community College (WCC) will host its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 16.

The 9:20 a.m. ceremony, to be held at Eastern Michigan University’s George Gervin GameAbove Center, is open to the public and will also be livestreamed at wccnet.edu/graduation.

Approximately 2,600 associate degrees and certificates will be awarded by WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca.

As WCC celebrates its 60th anniversary, the Class of 2026 joins nearly 60,000 alumni who have earned over 89,000 degrees and certificates over the college’s six decades.

Melissa Bruzzano, who is earning an associate degree in Environmental Sciences with a 4.0 grade point average, will address classmates as the student speaker.

Beth Marshall, an Early Childhood Education instructor who brings more than 40 years of experience as a classroom teacher, center director and trainer, will speak on behalf of the faculty.

As part of the ceremony, WCC will also recognize Bhushan Kulkarni, who will be awarded an Honorary Associate Degree in Community Service. Each year, the college honors an individual for extraordinary contributions to the advancement of WCC and its mission.

Kulkarni has spent more than three decades building and leading technology companies and is deeply committed to the community.

For decades, he has dedicated his time, leadership and philanthropy to organizations, including Saline Area Schools, the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and Ann Arbor SPARK, supporting economic development, education, and opportunity.

He serves as board co-chair of the Michigan Founders Fund, a group of entrepreneurs and investors working to grow high-impact startups and strengthen civic leadership across Michigan’s startup community.

At WCC, Kulkarni has been a passionate advocate for students and the institution. He joined the WCC Foundation Board of Directors in 2018 and served as board chair from 2023 to 2025. His family established an endowed scholarship that will support students in perpetuity, and he continues to invest in the next wave of innovators through his work with the WCC Entrepreneurship Center.

If You Go

WHAT: Washtenaw Community College Commencement Ceremony

WHEN: 9:20 a.m. Saturday, May 16

LIVESTREAM: wccnet.edu/graduation

WHERE: Eastern Michigan University’s George Gervin GameAbove Center (formerly the EMU Convocation Center), 799 N. Hewitt Road, Ypsilanti.

About Washtenaw Community College 

Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been opening doors to success for students and the community for 60 years, providing education and training in a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as liberal arts, health care, business, STEM, advanced transportation and mobility. WCC offers accelerated and online programs to meet student needs. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop specialized training programs to meet the region’s workforce needs.

For more information about Washtenaw Community College, visit www.wccnet.edu.