HCTC Spring 2026 commencement set for May 9 in Hazard

Hazard Community and Technical College brought its Spring 2026 commencement to Perry County Central High School’s John C. Combs Arena on May 9, turning a familiar Hazard venue into a countywide milestone for students finishing degrees, diplomas and certificates. The ceremony began at 10 a.m. for all programs, with rehearsal held the night before at 5 p.m. on May 8.

The college’s local notice laid out the practical details families needed: the arena is at 305 Park Ave. in Hazard, graduates with a family member who uses a wheelchair or walker were asked to contact Chief Student Affairs Officer Dr. Deronda Mobelini for parking help, and academic attire was required. Cap-and-gown orders were due by April 9, while the Hazard campus bookstore stayed open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for graduation purchases.

For Perry County, the ceremony was more than a calendar item. HCTC says it serves about 4,000 students across eastern Kentucky and offers more than 200 degrees, diplomas and certificates, with more than 90% of students receiving financial aid. The college also says students use HCTC to move into a four-year university, land a higher-paying job, change careers or sharpen existing skills, which is why commencement carries weight for local families and employers alike.

That workforce connection runs through HCTC’s training menu. Its Workforce Solutions program includes industrial maintenance, team building, computer robotics instruction and continuing education for licensed technical workers, while the University Center of the Mountains gives students access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs through partner colleges and universities. In a county where education and job training are closely tied to opportunity, the graduates crossing the stage in Hazard represented the pipeline into local employers, technical careers and further study.

The same John C. Combs Arena hosted HCTC’s 2025 commencement on May 10, 2025, when the college said the graduating class included students from two countries, multiple states and 33 Kentucky counties. At the system level, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System said 23,311 students were expected to graduate in spring 2025, with 10,546 associate degrees, 1,716 diplomas and 31,062 certificates, a total of 43,324 credentials. For Perry County, the return of commencement to Perry County Central High School underscored how deeply the college is woven into the local economy, from first credentials to advanced study.