Candice Smith to Deliver VCU Commencement Speech

The 12 On Your Side journalist and VCU alumna will address the Class of 2026 this December at the Siegel Center.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Secondary Education

Screen-print poster illustration of an empty wooden academic lectern in front of an arched window, evoking university commencement traditions. — Virginia Commonwealth University has named alumna and journalist Candice Smith as the commencement speaker for the December 2026 graduation ceremony. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Virginia Commonwealth University has selected journalist Candice Smith to serve as the commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony on Dec. 12, 2026. Smith, who is a 2014 graduate of the university, will address the Class of 2026 at the Siegel Center at 10 a.m.

Why it matters

The appointment of an alumna to return as a commencement speaker highlights the university's tradition of showcasing successful graduates to the current student body. This selection connects the professional experiences of a working journalist with the upcoming transition of the graduating class.

The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12. Smith returns to the campus in Richmond 12 years after completing her own undergraduate degree in 2014.

The players

Candice Smith

She is a journalist for 12 On Your Side and a 2014 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Tim Reid

He is an actor and producer who served as the commencement speaker for the university's 2014 graduation ceremony.

Virginia Commonwealth University

This public research university is based in Richmond and enrolls students across a wide range of academic disciplines.

The details

Candice Smith currently works for 12 On Your Side and will be the featured guest at the event hosted at the Siegel Center. Her appearance follows in the footsteps of previous speakers like Tim Reid, who addressed the graduating class during Smith's own graduation ceremony in 2014.

Candice Smith graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2014.
The commencement ceremony will take place on December 12, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Culture Shift

The selection of a recent alumna as a commencement speaker follows the established precedent of the 2014 VCU commencement ceremony. This practice reflects a broader trend in higher education of bridging the gap between current students and professional success through alumni engagement.

Graduating students and their families should prepare for significant traffic and parking activity near the Siegel Center on the morning of December 12. Attendees should arrive early to ensure timely entry for the 10 a.m. ceremony.

The takeaway

Inviting established alumni to deliver commencement addresses serves as a key milestone for graduating students entering the professional workforce. Graduates can benefit from these personal accounts by considering how their own academic foundations might shape their early career paths.