Bay Mills Community College is proud to congratulate the graduating Class of 2026. This year’s commencement marks a historic milestone for our students, their families, and our entire college community.
Commencement Ceremony Details
We are honored to welcome Cordero Holmes as the keynote speaker for the 2026 ceremony. The event will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Adikameg Hall, located in the Michael C. Parish Administration Center on our main campus.
By the Numbers: A Remarkable Class
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188 graduates earning 196 total credentials
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118 first-generation students – a powerful testament to breaking barriers
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113 Native American graduates representing 21 different tribes
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Graduates hail from 15 states
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Credentials awarded:
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17 bachelor’s degrees
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82 associate degrees
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75 certificates and certificates of completion
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22 two- and four-year diplomas
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Join Us In Person or Virtually
Graduates and families unable to attend in person are encouraged to participate virtually. The ceremony will be livestreamed, with a link shared closer to the date. A recorded version will also be uploaded to our YouTube for later viewing.
Special Ceremony for Early Childhood Education Graduates in Mississippi
BMCC will also host a separate commencement ceremony for our Early Childhood Education graduates in Mississippi on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Additional details about this special event will be released soon.
For information and FAQ's, visit our Commencement Information Page.
We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026 – a group of resilient, inspiring, and extraordinary individuals. Congratulations to all graduates, and thank you to the families, faculty, and staff who supported them along the way.
Let's show these Pikes how proud we are that they made their wave!
More About our Keynote Speaker, Cordero Holmes
Cordero Holmes is a Phoenix native, a proud member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and a nationally recognized community leader, scholar, and advocate whose work sits at the intersection of justice reform, education equity, and youth development. A formerly incarcerated individual, Cordero has transformed his lived experience into a powerful platform for systems change, dedicating his life to uplifting justice-impacted communities and advancing pathways to opportunity.
After serving more than a decade in prison, including time in solitary confinement, Cordero discovered education as a catalyst for transformation. While incarcerated, he enrolled at Rio Salado College, where he earned multiple degrees and certifications, including in Addiction and Substance Use Disorders, an Associate in Applied Science, and an Associate in the Arts with an emphasis in Psychology. His academic excellence earned him national recognition, including the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, the Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship, and the Phi Theta Kappa Hites Transfer Scholarship.
Cordero went on to graduate with honors from Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Service and Public Policy from the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. He is currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice and Public Administration, continuing his commitment to shaping equitable systems through policy and practice.
Professionally, Cordero serves as the Director of Operations for Progress Pushers Arizona, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth impacted by the justice system. In this role, he mentors and trains young people ages 12–24, helping them build life skills, access resources, and reimagine their futures. His work extends into juvenile justice spaces, including mentorship at the Durango Juvenile Detention Center, as well as direct service with unhoused populations across the Phoenix area.
A respected voice on education and justice reform, Cordero has contributed to policy and advocacy efforts at both the state and national levels. He has served on the Arizona Department of Education’s Indian Education Advisory Council, advising on policies impacting Indigenous students, and has collaborated with organizations such as the Computing Alliance for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the Maricopa Council on Black American Affairs. As a STAR Fellow with the Urban Institute, he has traveled to tribal nations across the country, facilitating caregiver groups and sharing his experience navigating higher education as a justice-impacted parent.
In addition to his professional and policy work, Cordero is a nationally sought-after speaker who uses storytelling to challenge narratives around incarceration, equity, and opportunity. His journey has been featured in the PBS documentary Being Free, where he shared his reentry experience alongside other formerly incarcerated individuals.
Cordero’s leadership and impact have earned him numerous honors, including the 2025 Arizona State University Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Servant-Leadership Award, the 2023 City of Phoenix MLK Living the Dream Award, and the 2025 American Association of Community Colleges Outstanding Alumni Award. He also serves as Mr. Indigenous at ASU 1st Attendant (2024–2025), acting as a cultural ambassador across campus and in tribal communities.
Above all, Cordero’s work is grounded in a deep belief that people are more than their past and that systems can, and must, be transformed to reflect that truth. Whether mentoring youth, shaping policy, or building community partnerships, he remains committed to creating second chances, expanding access to education, and ensuring that those most impacted by injustice are centered in the solutions.
Media Contact:
Chelsey Cameron
Media and Marketing Specialist
[email protected]