Sinclair Community College Celebrates Record 2026 Commencement and Named Top 25 in the Nation
- The Dayton Weekly News
- May 8
- 7 min read
Sinclair Community College Celebrates 2026 Commencement Ceremony
Sinclair Community College held its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 8th at the University of Dayton Arena. This year, Sinclair awarded over 9,600 degrees and certificates to 6,200 students. This represents a 12% increase over last year.
"Sinclair Community College, recently recognized as a Top 25 community college in the nation, stands immensely proud as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our 2026 graduating class," said Dr. Steve Johnson, President and CEO of Sinclair. "Our mission has always been to 'find the need and endeavor to meet it.' By providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable education, we ensure our graduates are not only reaching their personal goals but are also prepared to fill the most critical roles in our region's workforce."
Among those graduating, Sinclair recognized the 83 College Credit Plus (CCP) students completing their Sinclair Community College associate degrees while still in high school. These 83 CCP students graduated with a total of 84 associate degrees before graduating high school. One student graduated with a double degree. Twelve students are Juniors in high school.
Sinclair College graduated 24 students with a bachelor's degree at this Friday's 2026 Commencement Ceremony. Six students graduated with a bachelor's degree in Unmanned Aerial Systems, six students graduated with a bachelor's degree in Aviation Technology / Professional Pilot, and twelve students graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Sinclair Community College is on track to close out this year with its highest annual enrollment since 2012, at over 33,400 individual students served.
Additional 2026 Sinclair Commencement Highlights:
9,604 — Number of Degrees/Certificates Awarded in '25–'26 (12% increase over last year)
6,200 — Number of Students Receiving 9,600 Degrees/Certificates in '25–'26
435 — Military-Affiliated Students Earning Credentials (109% increase over 10 years)
101 — International Students Graduating with Associate Degrees (from 51 countries)
95 — Degree Graduates With a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA)
16 — Age of Sinclair's Youngest Degree Graduate (2026)
71 — Age of Sinclair's Oldest Degree Graduate (2026)
Bruce Feldman, Sinclair's Board of Trustees Chair, introduced Mr. Michael Riordan, President & CEO of Premier Health — the largest employer of Sinclair Community College graduates, with 2,400 Sinclair alumni hired into their system over the past five years.
The Aspen Institute Names Sinclair as a Semifinalist for $1 Million Aspen Prize
The Aspen Institute (Aspen) named Sinclair Community College as one of 25 semifinalists for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Rooted in deep research and backed by $1 million in award money, the Aspen Prize is the nation's signature recognition of community colleges that deliver value for their students.
"Being named a U.S. top 25 community college for the 2027 Aspen Prize is a profound honor that validates the tireless dedication of our faculty, staff, and community partners," said Dr. Steve Johnson, Sinclair's President & CEO.
"At Sinclair, our mission has always been to provide accessible, high-quality education that translates into real-world success for our students. This recognition from the Aspen Institute is a distinction earned by Sinclair after some 140 years of relentless commitment to open access and student outcomes. Sinclair remains committed to fostering an environment where every student, regardless of their background, has the support and resources needed to achieve their dreams and fuel our regional economy."
The top 25 community colleges, which come from 20 different states, were selected from nearly 1,000 institutions nationwide based on their outcomes data and collegewide practices aligned to achieving high and improving levels of student success. Aspen defines student success as achievement in learning and completion of a college credential, and by post-college success in the form of a good job or successful transfer and bachelor's degree attainment.
"We start every cycle of the Aspen Prize with a simple question: Which community colleges are best at not just helping students graduate, but ensuring that what they learn and the credentials they earn actually help them meet their goals and have a better life?" said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. "In over 15 years of awarding the Aspen Prize, we have learned a lot about how top colleges ensure that more students obtain credentials that lead directly to good jobs or successful attainment of a bachelor's degree through transfer. We congratulate the semifinalists for their strong and improving student outcomes and for prioritizing improvements in student success both during and after college."
The Aspen Prize is awarded every two years and recognizes excellence across a wide range of institutions, from Florida's large, multi-campus Valencia College in 2011 to rural Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in 2025. With each cycle, Aspen deepens its understanding of what value looks like. The top colleges — no matter their size or location — ensure students complete programs with strong regional labor market value and clear transfer pathways that lead to bachelor's degrees.
The complete list of semifinalists can be accessed at as.pn/prize.
The Aspen Prize selection process began in October 2025, when Aspen identified 200 strong community colleges based on data demonstrating strong and improving student outcomes in key areas, including learning, completion, and transfer leading to bachelor's attainment, and workforce success — and invited them to apply. From there, 170 colleges submitted a robust set of data and narrative information, which were reviewed by a selection committee of 15 higher education experts who evaluated each submission using both extensive data and narrative responses. Aspen then interviewed the leadership teams from colleges receiving top scores, and 25 top U.S. community colleges were selected.
There's more to follow, as the 15-member panel of experts will continue its review and narrow the field to 10 finalists, of which Sinclair is now eligible for consideration, to be announced in June. In fall 2026, teams of experts will conduct in-depth site visits to those 10 finalist colleges and review extensive data, including actual wage data for graduates. The Aspen Prize winner will be announced in April 2027. To read more about the selection process, visit as.pn/prize.
For community colleges that want to benchmark their outcomes against the Aspen Prize top 200 colleges or custom peer groups, Aspen provides a free-to-use benchmarking tool with all the metrics used to compare 1,000 community colleges at the outset of the selection process, including newly available data from the National Student Clearinghouse. Learn more and access the tool at as.pn/prizebenchmarking.
The Aspen Prize is generously funded by the Ascendium Education Group and the Joyce Foundation.
Note: Colleges that have won the Aspen Prize are not eligible to apply in subsequent years.
UD Sinclair Academy Celebrates 10 Years of Expanding Educational Access
The UD Sinclair Academy is marking its 10th anniversary with a significant milestone in regional workforce development, announcing that more than 250 students have now earned University of Dayton degrees through this partnership with Sinclair Community College.
A ceremony was held Monday, May 4 at UD's Kennedy Union Ballroom celebrating the UD Sinclair Academy class of '26. Among this class, 55 students transition from Sinclair to the University of Dayton this upcoming Fall '26.
The UD Sinclair Academy is a partnership between the University of Dayton and Sinclair College created to provide a smooth, affordable pathway to a bachelor's degree. By combining the resources of both institutions, the Academy fosters student success and contributes to the economic vitality of the Greater Dayton area. The program allows students to begin their studies at Sinclair College before transitioning to UD. 80% of its graduates choose to remain in the Dayton region to begin their careers.
"This is exactly what we hoped would happen when we built this partnership," said UD President Eric F. Spina. "More students have access to a UD degree, and they bring talent, energy and perspective that make both campuses better and build the workforce for the Miami Valley jobs of today and tomorrow."
The Academy is designed to remove financial and institutional hurdles for students seeking a four-year degree. From their first day at Sinclair, participants receive dual support access to academic advisors and success professionals on both campuses, as well as a clear, unified curriculum map ensuring all credits transfer. This is in addition to a full university experience with opportunities to join UD clubs, live in campus housing, and participate in faculty-led research all while still enrolled at Sinclair.
"Sinclair's longstanding partnership with the University of Dayton is a cornerstone of our commitment to the Dayton region," said Dr. Steve Johnson, President & CEO at Sinclair. "Through the UD Sinclair Academy, we are removing barriers and creating a seamless, affordable pathway for our students to achieve their dreams. By combining Sinclair's nationally ranked associate degree programs with the world-class opportunities at UD, we are ensuring that our students are not only part of two vibrant campus communities but are also receiving high-quality education with affordable tuition, which enables them to be uniquely prepared to succeed in our local workforce."
As the program enters its second decade, it has expanded to include specialized support initiatives:
Kessler Scholars Program — Tailored for first-generation students, providing full-tuition scholarships to UD, peer mentoring, and financial assistance for housing and meals.
Professional and Applied Learning (PAL) Fellowship — A career-readiness initiative offering specialized workshops and professional mentoring.
"The financial benefits set me up for success. I was able to pay off my loans," said Vince Weber, a '24 graduate now completing his master's degree. "I graduated with a degree that prepares me to be of service to others."
The Academy's model continues to yield high academic returns. Students who transition to UD graduate at a 95% rate within four years. Most recently, the 2023-24 graduating class reported a 96% success rate in post-graduation placement.
"The UD Sinclair Academy gave me the tools, the network, and the confidence to pursue opportunities and make an impact wherever I go," said Mei-Lin Williams, a '23 graduate who works in corporate communications for Kroger while staying active in community-based work.
Alumni of the program over the past 10 years have successfully entered high-demand fields, including engineering, business, and civilian roles within the U.S. Air Force.
About Sinclair Community College
Sinclair Community College offers more than 325 degree and certificate programs, including four bachelor's degrees, in specialized and technical areas of study that are in high demand in the Dayton region. Sinclair is recognized as a local and national leader in delivering high-quality and affordable higher education. In 2023, Sinclair Community College was named the top college in the country for sustained and persistent student success when it received the esteemed Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream. One of the oldest and best-known community colleges in the nation, Sinclair was founded in 1887 and is a board member of the prestigious League for Innovation in the Community College.
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