Join in the celebration as the Class of 2026 gets ready to graduate. The 2026 Commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m. at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in downtown Salina. All graduates are required to RSVP with Jill Koster for the event. All guests should be seated by 9:45 a.m. More information for guests can be found below.
Grad Finale! 2026 will take place Wed., April 8 in Muir Gym. The event will run from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and attendance is required for all graduating seniors.
Commencement Weekend Activities
Class Photo
Pioneer Hall, Front Steps
May 15, 10:45 a.m.
This year’s class photo will be taken on the front steps of Pioneer Hall on Friday, May 15 at 10:45 a.m., immediately before the Baccalaureate Service. Students must arrive by 10:30 as the photo will be taken PROMPTLY at 10:45, no exceptions. Please make plans to attend.
Baccalaureate Service
Sams Chapel
May 15, 11 a.m.
The processional will be ordered on the front steps of Pioneer Hall immediately after the class photo.
Graduate and Family Luncheon
Mabee Arena
May 15, Noon
RSVP for this special graduate and family event is required to [email protected].
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
Sams Chapel
May 15, 6 p.m.
The Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony will be streamed live online for anyone unable to attend. Students receiving their pins should be seated by 5:45 p.m.
Commencement Processional and Marching Order
All graduates and faculty should enter the south arena doors and must report to the west end (behind the stage curtain) of the Tony’s Pizza Events Center by 9:15 a.m. to form the lines of march for the processional. Doors open at 8:30 am. A marching order will be available during the line-up for Commencement.
Commencement Photos and More
To better allow families to enjoy the commencement ceremony and ensure the safety of all guests in the arena, a professional photographer will take the photos of all graduates as they cross the stage. All graduates will be able to download these and other photos from the event free of charge in the days following graduation. Specific instructions will be made available on the main graduation page and KWU social media outlets as soon as possible.
2026 Commencement Speakers
Alum Dr. Sean Herrington ’93 will serve as the Commencement speaker for Kansas Wesleyan’s 2026 ceremony, set for May 16 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center.
Dr. Sean Herrington is a life-long Salina resident and native. He was born in Fort Scott, Kan., and moved to Salina shortly thereafter. He graduated high school in 1988 from Southeast of Saline High School in Gypsum and then went on to Kansas Wesleyan University, graduating in May 1993 with a major in chemistry and a minor in biology. He attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kan. and graduated in 1998. He completed his medical training at Smoky Hill Family Medicine Residency in Salina in June of 2001.
Dr. Herrington started his first family medicine clinic in the current site of the KWU Nursing Program facility, where it was located from Aug. 2001-June 2003. The practice merged with Salina Clinic in July 2003, and he continued to practice family medicine until the end of 2008. He joined the Kansas Army National Guard, initially enlisting during his second year of medical school. He attended the Army flight surgeon course in Fort Rucker, Ala., and was the flight surgeon for the 108th Aviation Battalion in Topeka and Salina. Dr. Herrington was deployed to Iraq with the 278th Regimental Combat Team from Knoxville, Tenn., in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
On Jan. 1, 2009, Dr. Herrington made the move to full-time emergency medicine when he left private practice and went to work at Salina Regional Health Center. He has been one of the medical directors for the ER and a full-time emergency medicine physician ever since. He is the medical director for Salina Fire EMS, as well as Bennington EMS, Lincoln EMS and Minneapolis EMS. He serves on the Medical Advisory Committee for the State Board of EMS. He has served on multiple hospital committees, was Chief of Staff from 2017 to 2019, served on the hospital board of trustees from 2005 until 2017, and was chair of the Salina Regional Health Foundation and still serves as an active member. He is currently serving his second term as a member of the Kansas Wesleyan Board of Trustees. He was the 2008 Kansas Wesleyan Young Alumnus Award winner.
Dr. Herrington is the bass player for the local rock band, Sunset Sinners. The band has released their most recent album, Chaos, on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services. He has recorded in Nashville and Austin. His bands have opened for Sam Barber, Quiet Riot, Darius Rucker and Craig Morgan.
Last but certainly not least, he and his wife, Kimberly, have six adult children with six spouses, six wonderful grandchildren and one mini golden doodle named Koda. They are both proud graduates of Kansas Wesleyan University.
Notable Events
Baccalaureate Service
Sams Chapel
May 15, 11 a.m.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
Sams Chapel
May 15, 6 p.m.
Commencement Ceremony
Tony’s Pizza Events Center Arena
May 16 at 10 a.m.
Join in the celebration as the Class of 2026 gets ready to graduate.
