Class of 2026 Celebrated

With family and friends proudly looking on and cheering, members of the Class of 2026 celebrated their achievements during Brightpoint Community College’s 58th Annual Commencement Ceremony on May 8. More than 1,500 students make up the Class of 2026. Each student’s goals, path to Brightpoint, educational journey and dreams are unique, but they share a common bond: they are Brightpoint Trailblazers.

During the ceremony, those in attendance heard from three Brightpoint graduates. Kaelyn Moore of Moseley, who is graduating with an Associate of Fine Arts Degree in Music, took to the podium to perform the National Anthem. Aidan Silversmith and Melinda King delivered the Commencement remarks.

Silversmith, a Hopewell resident who is graduating with an Associate of Science Degree in Engineering and is the outgoing Student Government Association President, spoke about resilience. “To get to these seats today, every single one of you had to wake up on a day you felt totally unqualified and unprepared, but you chose to show up anyway,” said Silversmith. “That isn’t just bouncing back or being stubborn; that is taking ownership of your own future.” 

He also talked about how Brightpoint graduates, no matter what their field of study, gained an education that will help them view situations from different angles, ask questions, make informed decisions, and find balance. Silversmith said, “… no one is better prepared for finding that nuance than a community college student. When your classmates range from teenagers getting a head start to adults completely rewriting their careers, you cannot rely on a single, rigid worldview. You are forced to see the grey area. You are forced to listen ... And that’s our edge.”

King, a Chesterfield resident, completed her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. She spoke about her experience as a mother and grandmother pursuing a college education and her dream career and the need to balance responsibilities while overcoming self-doubt. King said, “… like so many of you, life kept happening. Responsibilities piled up. Fear crept in. Doubt whispered, ‘Maybe it’s too late.’ Maybe you know that feeling. Maybe you delayed your dream because you were raising a family, caring for loved ones, navigating your own health, or simply trying to survive. Maybe you questioned if you were too young, too old, too busy, too far removed from the classroom, or maybe it was just too hard to find the courage to begin. But look at you now. You are not behind. You are not too late. You are right on time.” She also shared her hopes for the Class of 2026. King said she hoped, “That we carry forward everything we’ve learned, not just academically, but about perseverance, courage, and the power of showing up even when it’s hard. I hope we become the kind of people who change lives, not just through our careers, but through our kindness. I hope we remember what it felt like to struggle and use that memory to uplift someone else. And most of all, I hope we never again question if our dreams are possible.”

During the ceremony, the nearly 60 graduates who are high school students were recognized. They include homeschool students and students from area high schools, including Amelia, Clover Hill, Code RVA, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, James River, LC Bird, Manchester, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Petersburg, Prince George, Surry, and Sussex. Also recognized were students who currently or formerly serviced in the military, students who are current Brightpoint employees, and students who are family members of Brightpoint employees.

Highlights of Brightpoint’s 58th Annual Commencement Ceremony may be found in our recap video. A recording of the livestreamed event is also available. Photographs taken at the ceremony are located in our Trailblazer Asset Bank.