More than 250 students will receive degrees and certificates at the 57th annual Kankakee Community College commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16 in the George H. Ryan Gymnasium in the college's Activities Building.

The speaker at KCC’s ceremony will be Ellen Bollino, vice president and chief nursing officer for Riverside Healthcare. She has spent the majority of her career at Riverside, and has also held roles as director of nursing and director of emergency services at Chicago-area medical centers. Bollino is a member of the Illinois Nursing Foundation American Nurses Association Bylaws Committee and holds certification as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN).

A 2001 graduate of KCC’s nursing program, she also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2010) and Master of Science in Nursing (2012), both from Olivet Nazarene University.

Three students will be honored as members of the All-Illinois Academic Team, a special recognition based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community. They are Kendahl Carlson, Zachary Fox and Braden Gibson. Carlson is earning an Associate in Arts degree and will transfer to Illinois State University to study speech language pathology. Fox is continuing his enrollment in the manufacturing technology program at KCC, with a specialization in industrial maintenance. Gibson is earning an Associate in Science degree and will transfer to Illinois State University to study computer science.

The KCC Outstanding Faculty Member Awards for 2026 will be presented to Cari Stevenson, Ed.D., psychology professor in the Liberal Arts & Sciences Division; and Tishauna Thigpen, Foundations for Student Success instructor. Stevenson also received KCC’s Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award in 2014, making her the first person to receive this honor twice.

The recipient of the John M. Fulton Distinguished Alumni Award is John Keigher, who completed an Associate in Science degree in Computer Information Systems in 1986. Keigher’s career has spanned more than three decades across transportation, manufacturing, financial services, and consumer products. He has been director and partner of Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc., CEO of Urban Farmer and CEO of Top Fox Snacks. Keigher remains active as a fractional executive, advisor, and consultant. As an advocate for entrepreneurship and workforce readiness, Keigher has also played a pivotal role in mentoring and developing future business leaders through the Kankakee County CEO Program.

The ceremony will stream live on commencement.kcc.edu. Social media users can use #KCCgrad2026 to congratulate graduates.

The ceremony will last about 90 minutes.

Tickets are required, and only valid until capacity is reached in KCC’s Gymnasium. Overflow rooms with a live stream will be available. Guests are asked not to bring balloons and other large items that could obstruct the view of others.

KCC is located at 100 College Drive in Kankakee, south of downtown Kankakee.

 

 

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Kankakee Community College is an accredited two-year college which awards associate degrees and certificates of completion. KCC prepares students both to transfer to four-year colleges and to enter the workforce. The college also offers continuing education courses and certification training, literacy programs, English as a Second Language and GED preparation. The KCC mission is “Enhancing quality of life through learning.” The college has a Riverfront Campus in Kankakee, South Extension Center in Watseka, North Extension Center in Bradley and Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Center in Kankakee.

 

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More KCC news and photos are available at our Newsroom, and on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube

. Official college logos are available online.

 

Contact:
Kari Nugent
Vice president for advancement, marketing, and public relations
815-802-8256
knugent@kcc.edu