PHOTOS: Flathead Valley Community College Class of 2026 Commencement
CASEY KREIDER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month AGO
A total of 264 students earned 283 degrees at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas, who is retiring at the end of the year, gives the commencement speech at the college's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A graduate gets a hug from Flathead Valley Community College Culinary Arts Program Director Manda Hudak after the college's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A graduate with a message on her mortarboard before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 2026 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates take their seats before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates toss their mortarboards at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A total of 264 students earned 283 degrees at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A graduate with a decorative mortarboard before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 2026 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Student speaker Heather Maestas, an Associate of the Arts graduate, speaks during Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates take their seats before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Faculty speaker Carlin Philips addresses the audience at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Casey Kreider is a staff photographer for the Daily Inter Lake. His work documents news, sports, wildlife, landscapes and everyday life across Northwest Montana through visual storytelling. Kreider’s keen eye captures major sporting events, community moments, and the natural beauty that defines the region. He is a graduate of Penn State University and previously worked as a photographer for Lancaster Newspapers in Pennsylvania. In 2024, he received the Montana Newspaper Association’s Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year award. IMPACT: Kreider's work brings readers closer to the people, places and moments that shape life in Northwest Montana through powerful visual journalism. | May 15, 2026 9:25 PM
Flathead Valley Community College celebrated its Class of 2026 at its 58th commencement held at the Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall. A total of 264 students earned 283 degrees and certificates.
Photographer Casey Kreider can be reached at 406-758-4449 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
Flathead Valley Community College President Jane Karas, who is retiring at the end of the year, gives the commencement speech at the college's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A graduate gets a hug from Flathead Valley Community College Culinary Arts Program Director Manda Hudak after the college's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A graduate with a message on her mortarboard before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 2026 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates take their seats before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates toss their mortarboards at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A total of 264 students earned 283 degrees at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A graduate with a decorative mortarboard before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 2026 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Student speaker Heather Maestas, an Associate of the Arts graduate, speaks during Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates take their seats before the start of Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Faculty speaker Carlin Philips addresses the audience at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Graduates receive their diplomas at Flathead Valley Community College's 58th commencement ceremony held at Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on Friday, May 15. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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