2026 Spring Commencement Ceremony
- DATE: Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 10:00 am
- LOCATION: Fond du Lac High School
- Students who are applying to earn a Technical Diploma or Associate Degree must apply for graduation to be included in the ceremony program.
For questions regarding commencement, please contact Heather Clark at hclark4@morainepark.edu.
Graduation Information
- Students are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony if they:
- Have submitted their graduation application by March 1, 2026 and indicated “YES” to attending the ceremony.
Review instructions for the graduation application. *If you missed the deadline and still want to participate in the ceremony please contact Heather Clark at hclark4@morainepark.edu to see if arrangements can be made. - Are completing an associate degree or technical diploma program.
- Have met, or will meet all program/graduation requirements in the academic year OR have 6 or less credits left that will be completed in the Spring/Summer term.
- Have submitted their graduation application by March 1, 2026 and indicated “YES” to attending the ceremony.
- NOTE: Participation in the commencement ceremony does not guarantee graduation from a program.
- Students can verify all course requirements are met by checking their degree audits. Contact your advisor if you need help determining your status.
- A minimum of 25 percent of the total program credits required in a degree, diploma or certificate program must be completed in residency (courses taught by MPTC instructors).
- Students in all programs are required to achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better in all attempted credits required in the program.
- All financial obligations to Moraine Park Technical College must be fulfilled in order to obtain certificate, diploma or degree documentation.
Graduation Application Instructions are available HERE.
- A graduation application must be completed in order to receive your certificate, technical diploma or associate degree.
- A graduation application must be completed even if you are not participating in the commencement ceremony.
Graduation applications are accepted at any time; however, the following deadlines apply to the commencement ceremony:
Winter Ceremony – December
- October 1 – Form must be submitted by this date to guarantee graduate candidate’s name will appear in the commencement program and to participate in the ceremony. The ceremony is for Associate Degree or Technical Diploma’s only. Certificate students do not participate in the ceremony.
Spring Ceremony – May
- March 1 – Form must be submitted by this date to guarantee graduate candidate’s name will appear in the commencement program. The ceremony is for Associate Degree or Technical Diploma’s only. Certificate students do not participate in the ceremony.
Regalia
Graduation regalia will be available for purchase from the Spirit Store both online and in-store from March 30th – May 7th.
Honors/High Honors Recognition
Recognition of academic excellence will be determined by the cumulative grade point average (GPA) achieved at the time the degree or technical diploma (minimum 20-credit program) is awarded. Honors designations will not be retroactively awarded.
- High Honors designation is a cumulative GPA between 3.75 and 4.0.
- Honors designation is a cumulative GPA between 3.50 and 3.74.
NOTE: Honors/High Honors designation for the Commencement Ceremony is based on cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) as of the end of the preceding semester spring/summer. No exceptions will be made. To view your cumulative GPA you can view your unofficial transcript here: myMPTC student>My Student Center (Class Registration and more)>Unofficial Transcript
Honor cords will be distributed at commencement to students who qualify for the distinction.
Graduates
- On the day of the ceremony, graduate candidates should arrive by 9am to check in and get lined up for the processional.
- Purses, coats, cell phone/electronics and other items should not be brought into the event space as there is no place to store/secure these items.
- Graduate candidates must remain in their assigned seats for the duration of the ceremony. Those who exit will not be permitted to rejoin while the event is in progress.
Guests
- The ceremony is held in the Field House.
- Guests can begin arriving at 8am.
- The Commencement ceremony will be live-streamed.
- Bleacher seating (Standing room available in back of the Field House when bleachers are full.)
- Guest wristbands are not required for the Spring ceremony.
Ceremony Details
Commencement Speaker:
Shelly A. Waala, MSHA, BSN, RN, NE-BC is vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer for Froedtert West Bend Hospital and Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital within the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network. In this role, she provides executive leadership for patient care services, working across the organization to advance patient and family-centered care, strengthen the patient experience and support the development of health care teams.
Waala is a proud graduate of Moraine Park Technical College, where she earned her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing in 1989. Her passion for health care began early, volunteering at Cedar Community at age 14 and becoming a certified nursing assistant at 16 while still in school. Over the course of her career, she has held a variety of clinical, educational and leadership roles, progressing from bedside nurse to executive leadership while remaining committed to mentorship, professional development and advancing nursing practice.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marian College in Fond du Lac and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from the University of St. Francis. Waala is active in community leadership and currently serves on the Casa Guadalupe Multicultural Center board of directors. She previously served as president of the United Way of Washington County board of directors. She lives in West Bend with her husband, David, and together they are proud parents of six children.
Alumna Speaker:
Cortland Henning, of Fond du Lac, has become a well-known and respected presence within the Moraine Park Technical College community. A graduate of Fond du Lac High School, he began his journey at Moraine Park in fall 2019 after being accepted into the College’s Promise Program, an opportunity that provided free education and helped remove financial barriers as a first-generation student.
Henning fully embraced his time as a student, taking advantage of clubs, activities and leadership opportunities, and becoming a familiar and engaged face on the Fond du Lac campus. In recognition of his leadership and commitment to community, he was selected for the 2020–21 Newman Civic Fellows cohort, a nationwide, year-long program focused on personal, professional and civic growth. He graduated from Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts program in 2021.
After gaining experience in the restaurant industry, Henning returned to Moraine Park in 2024 to give back to the program that shaped his career. As a Culinary Arts Instructional Aide, he supports student success by ensuring classrooms are equipped with the supplies and resources needed for hands-on learning.
He remains actively involved in student and community initiatives, supporting events such as Fresh Bread Tuesdays, the Park Terrace restaurant, local farmers markets and Fondue Fest. As co-advisor of the Culinary Arts Club, he helps guide student-led service projects, and he also teaches community cooking classes.
Henning is passionate about mentorship, community engagement and helping students grow both personally and professionally. His journey reflects a commitment to perseverance, service and expanding opportunities for others through education.
Student Speaker:
Jacob Schreiber is set to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology from Moraine Park Technical College in May 2026. His passion for working in health care came from his mother, Shelly, who was a registered nurse and devastatingly passed away from breast cancer in 2019.
Jacob has been actively engaged in his student community, serving as the Surgical Technology Club President and is an active member of the Fond du Lac Student Senate, serving as President. Beyond academics, Jacob enjoys building computers, working on cars, and spending time with the family he is building; including his girlfriend Caroline and their two mischievous cats, Sherbert and Spookus.
Jacob recently accepted an internship position at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton and will attend UW-Milwaukee in the Fall of 2026 to attain his Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry. He aspires to become a Surgical Physician’s Assistant or a Cardiothoracic Surgeon, as his youngest brother experienced a heart defect as a newborn, which almost claimed his life.
Empire Photography has been photographing our commencement ceremonies for many years. Each graduate is photographed as they receive their diploma, and a solo portrait is also taken after they exit the stage. Proofs will be sent to graduates and their families approximately 48 hours after the ceremony.
View the QR code or follow the link to register: www.empirephotos.com/gradregistration
If you have any questions, please email Empire Photography at customerservice@empirephotos.com.
Graduate candidates will receive a diploma cover when they cross the stage during commencement. Only those students who participate in the commencement ceremony will receive a diploma cover.
Diplomas will be mailed to the address provided on the Graduation Candidacy form approximately 8 weeks after the end of the semester and is contingent upon successful completion of all program requirements.
Graduates requiring disability-related accommodations to attend commencement must request accommodation(s) by contacting an Accommodation Specialist in Disability Resources by May 1st, 2026 through https://morainepark-accommodate.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/.
Guests requiring disability-related accommodations to attend commencement should contact Becky Kuszynski, Disability Resources Manager at 920-924-3361, TTY/VP: Use Relay/VRS, or bkuszynski@morainepark.edu to make arrangements by May 1st, 2026.