UNC Asheville to Celebrate Spring 2026 Graduates at Commencement May 9, 2026

The University of North Carolina Asheville Spring Commencement will honor more than 400 students from the 2026 graduating class on Saturday, May 9 during two ceremonies. The College of Natural and Human Sciences ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will take place in Kimmel Arena.

This class of graduates is composed of 86 percent in-state students and 14 percent out-of-state students. The youngest graduate is 17 years old, and the oldest is 60. Also graduating will be ten international candidates representing Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, and Turkey.

Psychology, Art, and Environmental Science are the three most popular majors, with 59, 31, and 31 graduates, respectively. Computer Science and New Media round out the top five.

The average class cumulative GPA is 3.44.

This year’s Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching award will be presented to Patrick Foo, professor of neuroscience at UNC Asheville.

“Dr. Foo is an exemplar of what it means to be a creative, compassionate, and dedicated teacher” said Ashley Moraguez, co-chair and associate professor of political science and chair of the UNC Asheville Teaching Awards Committee. “Dr. Foo has maintained his energy and enthusiasm for teaching for over 20 years, despite the fact that he does significant work outside the classroom for the University and the community.”

During the 2 p.m. ceremony, Steve and Frosene Zeis, two local leaders and philanthropists, will be recognized with honorary degrees. The Zeises founded ZTM Sales and Services in 1983 in Asheville and are both long-time supporters of higher education through their funding of programs and initiatives that have benefited thousands of students.

“It is a privilege to honor Steve and Frosene Zeis for their remarkable leadership and service,” UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said. “Their lasting contributions to education, philanthropy, and public service have strengthened our university, our region, and communities beyond.”

The Commencement ceremonies, which will be presided over by Chancellor Kimberly van Noort, can be viewed via livestream on UNC Asheville’s YouTube Channel.

More information about the ceremonies, including parking and a map, can be found here.

About UNC Asheville

Founded in 1927, UNC Asheville is a proud member of the University of North Carolina System. With award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and 90+ academic programs in the natural sciences, human sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences, the University is recognized for its robust paid internship programs to prepare students to immediately enter the workforce. In the US News & World Report 2025 edition of Best Colleges, UNC Asheville is ranked No. #9 in Top Public Schools, and No. #7 in Princeton Review’s 2025 Top 50 Guide to Green Colleges. Known as the Bulldogs, UNC Asheville student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams in the Big South Conference. For more information, please visit: www.unca.edu.