Our goal at Patrick Henry College is to equip young leaders who will lead for the glory of God and the good of those who follow.
With thankful hearts and surrounded by the love of family and friends, the Patrick Henry College Class of 2026 will gather to celebrate a milestone of faith, learning, and achievement, honoring Christ who is the center of this memorable Commencement.
We have seen throughout history the impact that even a few can have in speaking Truth. The Patrick Henry College education and experience is unique within the academic world. Our students are trained to communicate with humility, strength, and courage, yet in a winsome manner, much like professional athlete, pastor, and current HUD Secretary, Scott Turner.
Scott Turner was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 5, 2025, to be the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
He previously served as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC).
During his tenure, Turner led the interagency Opportunity Zones Initiative working with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments across the country to revitalize economically distressed areas, promote affordable housing, and the creation of new businesses.
A lifelong Texan, he also served as an Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and represented the 33rd District in the Texas State Legislature from 2013-2017.
Prior to his career in public service, Turner played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos.
Professor of HistoryBaccalaureate is a special time of worship and dedication, including the personal commissioning of each graduate for service to Christ and His Kingdom.
Dr. Robert Spinney teaches American history courses at Patrick Henry College. He also teaches the college’s Historiography course, which is a semester-long examination of what it means to do history from a Christian perspective. The textbook that is currently being used in PHC’s sophomore-level American History course was written by Dr. Spinney. He has published two additional history books (a comprehensive history of Chicago and a history of Nashville, Tennessee, 1935- 1950) and numerous ministry-related booklets with titles like Did God Create Sports Also? Thinking Christianly About Sports, Peeking Into the Devil’s Playbook: Satan’s Strategies for Tempting Christians to Sin, and Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? Thinking Biblically About the Problem of Sin in Our World. In addition to serving as a pastor for six years, Dr. Spinney was formerly a member of the faculty at Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL).
Both Baccalaureate and Commencement will take place in the Barbara Hodel Center and will be streamed from PHC's webcasts page. Due to space considerations, the Commencement event is open to ticketed guests only on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. from the Barbara Hodel Center. For tickets or additional questions, please contact communication@phc.edu or 540.441.8722.
Ticketed guests, please plan accordingly and please arrive early as the gymnasium doors will close 10 minutes prior to the start of each service:
Baccalaureate: Seating will take place between 6:15 PM and 6:50 PM. No ticket required.
Commencement: Seating will take place between 10:15 AM and 10:50 AM. Ticket required.
Guests are asked to enter the building from the south entrance, closest to the parking lot. The parking lot is behind the Barbara Hodel Center (BHC), with several handicap accessible parking spaces beside and directly behind the BHC.
