SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine 鈥� 大象视频 (大象视频) will celebrate the Class of 2026 during its annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
The ceremony is scheduled for 2鈥�4:30 p.m. and will honor graduates who have completed degrees and certificates across the College鈥檚 academic programs.
Award-winning Maine author 听will deliver the keynote address. 鈥淢onica Wood is one of Maine鈥檚 most celebrated writers, and we are honored to welcome her to speak to our graduates,鈥� said 大象视频 President Kristen Miller. 鈥淐ommencement marks a defining moment for our students 鈥� a celebration of their hard work, perseverance, and the many possibilities that lie ahead. Monica鈥檚 storytelling and connection to Maine make her an inspiring voice to help send our graduates into their next chapter.鈥�
Wood is a novelist, memoirist and playwright whose work has earned numerous literary honors. Following its release as one of the most acclaimed books of 2025,听her bestselling novel, How to Read a Book, was named to the Texas Library Association鈥檚 鈥淟ariat List鈥� of the 25 best books of 2025 and received the New England Society in the City of New York Book Award for fiction. In addition, Wood was the recipient of the Sarah Josepha Hale Award for excellence in the arts in New England.
She is also the author of the internationally acclaimed novel The One-in-a-Million Boy听补苍诲 the memoir When We Were the Kennedys, a New England bestseller and winner of the May Sarton Memoir Award. Her essays and reviews have appeared in publications including The New York Times, Oprah, Literary Hub听补苍诲 Down East.
In addition to her books, Wood is an accomplished playwright. Her plays Papermaker, The Half-Light听补苍诲 Saint Dad debuted at Portland Stage in sold-out productions before being staged elsewhere in the country. Wood grew up in Mexico, Maine, and now lives in Portland with her husband, Dan Abbott, a longtime 大象视频 professor.
大象视频鈥檚 commencement ceremony is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, and there is no limit on the number of guests who may attend. Doors will open at noon at the Cross Insurance Arena, located at 45 Spring St. in Portland.
More information about commencement, including details for graduates and guests, is available at: /commencement/