The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE, VA. (VR) — Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) celebrated its 60th commencement ceremony on the Clifton Forge campus, marking six decades of academic excellence and community impact. The ceremony, held in the Convocation Center, honored the
achievements of 445 graduates who earned a total of 643 degrees, certificates, and industry credentials during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Retiring Forestry Instructor Billy Newman served as the Commencement Marshal, leading the procession of graduates. MGCC Poet Laureate and current student Keyana Alexis Smith read her poem “Moon Dream” during the program.
A Legacy of Perseverance
MGCC President Dr. John Rainone addressed the graduates, emphasizing the grit required to reach the finish line.
“Do not let the sight of hundreds in caps and gowns suggest that this journey was easy—it was not,” said Dr. Rainone. “Enrolling in college takes courage. Finishing takes tenacity. By earning your degree, certificate, or workforce credential, you join a select group—one that is still far
too small in our country.”
Dr. Rainone also reflected on the transformative power of the community college experience, noting that while credentials open doors, “your character will carry you forward.”
Honoring Excellence and Alumni Success
The ceremony served as a platform to recognize outstanding individual achievements:
Christine Rothwell was named the Gary Lee Miller Outstanding Graduate for 2026, the college’s highest student honor.
Gary K. Kirts, a 1973 graduate of the institution (then Dabney S. Lancaster Community College), was honored as the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus.
Mr. Kirts shared his personal “potholes” on the road to success, including being told by a high school counselor that he “would never make it.” After finding his footing at the community college, he went on to a 30-year career as a vocational agriculture teacher. “Don’t allow others to tell you what you can or cannot accomplish!” Kirts told the graduates. “Every ending is the beginning of something new. It’s amazing how perfectly that describes my life’s journey of quitting but always restarting with something better.”
Voices of the Class of 2026
Student speaker Raegan Sparks delivered a moving address centered on the theme of “limitations.” Sparks, who spoke candidly about her personal journey with stuttering, challenged her peers to view their obstacles not as walls, but as boundaries for creativity.
“Life has edges—but it is up to you how you approach them, move through them, and ultimately embrace them,” Sparks said. “Your constraints build your strength; your character is forged in the struggle, not the easy victories. Don’t search for a path free of resistance. Find a path you love and have the courage to believe in yourself.”
As the ceremony concluded, Dr. Rainone reminded the graduates that they are now part of a 60-year legacy. “You have realized a beautiful dream,” he concluded. “We are incredibly proud of you.”
ABOUT MGCC: Founded in 1962 and located in the Alleghany Highlands region of Central Virginia, Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) is a two-year public institution of higher education and one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. Mountain Gateway Community College operates two educational campuses, the Clifton Forge campus and the Rockbridge Regional Center in Buena Vista. MGCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees.
Mountain Gateway Community College is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Northern Botetourt, and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington. For more information about Mountain Gateway Community College, please visit MGCC.edu
MGCC 2026 Graduating Class
MGCC 2026 Graduating Class
MGCC Graduate Christine Rothwell is presented with the Gary Lee Miller Outstanding Graduate award by MGCC Vice President Dr. Ben Worth.
Student speaker Raegan Sparks delivers the student address to the graduates
MGCC President Dr. John Rainone addresses the graduates during commencement
Gary K. Kirts is presented with the Distinguished Alumnus award by MGCC President Dr. John Rainone
Forestry Instructor Billy Newman served as the Commencement Marshal
Photos by Mountain Gateway Community College
