Grammy winner Ruthie Foster to provide MCC's commencement address Aug. 18

August 11, 2026

McLennan Community College will host its Summer Commencement at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 18, at The BASE at Extraco Events Center. Grammy award winner and the College’s 2025 Distinguished Alumna Award honoree Ruthie Foster will provide the commencement address.photo of Ruthie Foster and Dr. McKown

A native of Gause, Texas, Foster honed her craft at MCC in the 1980s as part of what is now the Music Industry Careers program. She has since become an internationally celebrated blues, soul, and folk artist, recently making history with her tenth album, "Mileage." This album not only earned her a 2025 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album but also secured the first-ever Grammy win for the iconic Sun Records. Foster’s celebrated career, which also includes a 2024 induction into the Texas Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, exemplifies the values of the college and serves as a profound inspiration to current and future students.

The ceremony will honor approximately 400 students completing the required coursework for the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Sciences, Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees, and Certificates of Completion.

A livestream of the ceremony will be available at https://www.mclennan.edu/records/Commencement/2026-summer/index.html

For more information, contact Student Records at commencement@mclennan.edu or 254-299-8434.