LAKE WORTH – Palm Beach State College (PBSC) will host its Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremonies on Wednesday, May 6, at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.

The college will celebrate more than 3,000 graduates, including 89 veterans and more than 144 dual enrollment students, marking the largest dual enrollment cohort in PBSC's history.

There will be four ceremonies each featuring a distinguished keynote speaker, who will honor the achievements of PBSC's graduating class. During the 9 a.m. ceremony, PBSC will highlight National Nurses Day, the 12:30 p.m. ceremony will highlight veteran graduates and our nation’s upcoming 250^th anniversary, the 4 p.m. ceremony highlights dual enrollment students and the 7 p.m. ceremony highlights PBSC alumni.

The schedule includes:

9 a.m. – Palm Beach County Mayor and PBSC alumna Sara Baxter

12:30 p.m. – Florida Rep. Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds

4 p.m. – Florida Rep. Debra Tendrich

7 p.m. – Florida Rep. Anne Gerwig

In her keynote remarks, Mayor Sara Baxter will inspire graduates with a message of perseverance and service. “Graduates of Palm Beach State College, this milestone reflects your commitment and perseverance. Stay grounded, continue working hard, and always look for ways to serve others. There is no greater joy than giving back to your community,” Baxter said.

The Class of 2026 will graduate with Associate in Arts, Associate in Science degrees, Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees, as well as a variety of certificate programs. These ceremonies will honor the diverse accomplishments of PBSC students, reflecting the college's commitment to accessible, high-quality education for the community.

Key graduates include:

9 a.m. ceremony

Brothers Nelson, Harold and Christian Prieto Romero

Originally from Venezuela, Nelson, Harold and Christian Prieto Romero spent more than a decade in Mexico before their father’s job brought them to Palm Beach County. Though they differ in age and academic paths, they turned a challenging transition into a collective success.

12:30 ceremony

Emerson Blatche’
Presently employed as an intern with Sikorsky Aircraft (a Lockheed Company) in Jupiter, working on instrumentation, sensing, and data recording for inflight testing of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. He will transition to full-time in May upon graduation.

Jonathan Jackson

Presently employed as an intern with Reworld in West Palm Beach, maintaining the instrumentation and control technologies associated with two electrical power plants that utilize household waste to provide electricity to ~100,000 homes in Palm Beach County.  He will transition to full-time in May upon graduation.

7 p.m. ceremony

Skye Escobar
Escobar enlisted in the Navy in 2017 and served seven years as a Gunner’s Mate first class petty officer before leaving in 2022 to care for her sister after a traumatic brain injury. She then enrolled in Palm Beach State College’s radiography program, balancing school and caregiving with support from the Veterans Success Center, and is now graduating with her Associate in Science in Radiography with plans to continue into the CT program.

Steeve Dante 
Dante enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2016 and served four years as a combat engineer with deployments in Germany and Poland. After transitioning to civilian life during the COVID-19 pandemic, he enrolled at Palm Beach State College, earning his Associate in Science in Building Construction Management and continuing into a bachelor’s program in project management. He now works as a project engineer with Bluewater Engineering and Development while pursuing his goal of becoming a project manager.

For more information about Commencement, visit pbsc.edu/graduation.