More than 125 students crossed the stage at 六九色堂 University鈥檚 winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16. The ceremony was held at 1 p.m. inside the university鈥檚 Fuhrer Fieldhouse in Crete. 六九色堂 President Dr. Roger Hughes, a 1982 graduate of the university, handed 129 degrees to students who walked in the ceremony to the cheers and celebration of their family and peers. Students who complete degrees in August, October or December are given the option of participating in the winter commencement. A total of 157 students completed degrees in October and December. Additionally, 56 students completed degrees in August.
Of October and December graduates, 101 graduated from programs in the university鈥檚 College of Education, 26 from the College of Arts & Sciences and 30 from the College of Business.
Kate Bolz, senior director for policy and advocacy at Cedars Youth Services, presented the commencement address, titled 鈥淒efining Vocation.鈥 Bolz has previously served as a state senator, as state director for the Nebraska United States Department of Agriculture, as mayoral aide for economic development for the city of Lincoln, as executive director of the Nebraska Association of Service Providers, and in many other leadership and community development positions.
She spoke with students about the importance of mattering and joy in their vocation, and about an experience that helped her find joy and feel mattered in her own work.
鈥淏ut your challenge today as you walk out those doors, your diploma in hand, is to ignore anything that the world tells you that makes you feel like you don鈥檛 matter and doesn鈥檛 help you feel valued and add value,鈥 Bolz said in her closing statements. 鈥淏ecause at the end of the day, you can build a career or you can live your entire life in response to your calling. And from the other side of the graduation stage, I can tell you, the second way is the way that matters.鈥
Bolz鈥檚 speech (and the full commencement ceremony) can be viewed on .
October and December Graduates
College of Education 鈥 Doctor of Education
Jason Davis |
Doctor of Education |
Hastings |
NE |
Mark Charles Funkey |
Doctor of Education |
Hastings |
NE |
Courtney Dawn Porter |
Doctor of Education |
Osborne |
KS |
College of Education 鈥 Graduate Students
Durkhany Nawabi Bassia |
Education Specialist |
Omaha |
NE |
Chad Aaron Boyes |
Education Specialist |
Bennington |
NE |
Miranda Lynn Bright |
Education Specialist |
Lincoln |
NE |
Meredith Eileen Buckman |
Education Specialist |
Omaha |
NE |
Cedric W. Cooper |
Education Specialist |
Omaha |
NE |
Allysa Diehl |
Education Specialist |
Superior |
NE |
Bradley Scott Dirksen |
Education Specialist |
Lincoln |
NE |
Angie Janel Eberle |
Education Specialist |
Clarks |
NE |
Scott D. English |
Education Specialist |
Kearney |
NE |
Ann Elizabeth Foster |
Education Specialist |
Brady |
NE |
Matthew Joseph Geerts |
Education Specialist |
Davenport |
IA |
Tara Rose Gossman |
Education Specialist |
Johnson |
NE |
Elijah Frederick Knight |
Education Specialist |
Lincoln |
NE |
Brittney Anne Kuhr |
Education Specialist |
Wahoo |
NE |
Alyssia Martinez Wilkinson |
Education Specialist |
Bellevue |
NE |
Jessica J. Prusha |
Education Specialist |
Omaha |
NE |
Zachary Douglas Simon |
Education Specialist |
Lincoln |
NE |
Brooke Davis Studt |
Education Specialist |
Omaha |
NE |
Jamie L. Thavenet |
Education Specialist |
Lincoln |
NE |
Ernest William Valentine |
Education Specialist |
David City |
NE |
Adam John Aschenbrenner |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Malcolm |
NE |
Reed Baillie |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kelly Brauch |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Tyne Brouillette |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Jensyn Dene' Burchett |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Bryan D. Carver |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Jessica Judith Chrastil |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Crete |
NE |
Jason J. Codr |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Michael David Coffey |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Crete |
NE |
David Wayne Crabtree |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Hannah Louise DelaBarre |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Faith Elizabeth Deunk |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Hastings |
NE |
Cassa J. Easter |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
York |
NE |
Nolan Field |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Papillion |
NE |
Kimberly Fiorelli |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Bellevue |
NE |
Jessica Foote |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Michelle Elizabeth Gall |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Scribner |
NE |
MyKinze Rachel Hahn |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Taylor Katharine Hank |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kristie Ann Hartman |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Milwaukee |
WI |
Brianna Heideman |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Abigail Lynn Heller |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Kearney |
NE |
Claire Elizabeth Holling |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Crete |
NE |
Gannen Kaylor Ingalls |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Shelby |
NE |
Tylyn Layton |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Morgan A Lenigan |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Brooke Kaye Lingren Vote |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Ogden |
IA |
Jessica Lucero Lopez Franco |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Crete |
NE |
Michael T. Lucas |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Waverly |
NE |
Marissa Kay Maughan |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Sheila Mays |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Hailey Marie McGruder |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kelsey Elisabeth Mecone |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Papillion |
NE |
Kari Nicole Meister |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Gretna |
NE |
Gabrielle Lynn Menghini |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
North Platte |
NE |
Marissa Ann Morrison |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Elkhorn |
NE |
Ryan James Nanny |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Hillsboro |
TX |
Kendra Leigh Nelson |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Madisyn Jo Warrelmann Ott |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Taylor Perry |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Lindsey Pinkerton |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Sara Alicia Prince |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Maclain Randazzo |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Pamela June Riley |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Taylor Schilling |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Chelsey Schuessler |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Maxwell Lee Sealer |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Britany Lynn Shaw |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Ceresco |
NE |
Madeline Shomos |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Tisha Marie Simpson |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Bellevue |
NE |
Bailey Sloup |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Columbus |
NE |
Marisa Leigh Springman |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Brooklyn Nicole Stara |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kalli-Ann Namie Takafuji |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Honolulu |
HI |
Mary Ellin Wilhelm |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Bridgette Marie Willey |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Elizabeth A. Bohrer |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Springfield |
NE |
Taylre Marie Estrada |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Omaha |
NE |
Samantha Mykal Fitzgerald |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Cedar Bluffs |
NE |
Emma Virginia George |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Natalie Ruth Husmann |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Chapman |
NE |
Ronica Richelle Lien |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Omaha |
NE |
Mikayla Rae Nelson |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Emily Ann Rakowsky |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Omaha |
NE |
Jennifer L. Redden |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
DeSoto |
KS |
Ashlee Slade |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Heather Ann Stahr |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Waco |
NE |
Jaidin Jean Stonacek |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kelsey Jo Vnoucek |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Geneva |
NE |
Siobhan P. Allen |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Martha G. Balderas |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Steven Jon Fankhauser |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Kearney |
NE |
Veronica Santillan |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kayla Marie Wilson |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Ozark |
MO |
College of Business 鈥 Graduate Students
Nicholas Armentrout |
Master of Business Administration |
Lincoln |
NE |
Tara Culver |
Master of Business Administration |
Waverly |
NE |
Douglas Eicher |
Master of Business Administration |
Elkhorn |
NE |
Eman M. Elshaikh |
Master of Business Administration |
San Diego |
CA |
Michael Eugene James |
Master of Business Administration |
Lincoln |
NE |
Jessica Lynn Jasnoch |
Master of Business Administration |
Grand Island |
NE |
MyRranda Marie Kendle |
Master of Business Administration |
Lincoln |
NE |
Kendra Kinney |
Master of Business Administration |
Ankeny |
IA |
Nicholis Markham |
Master of Business Administration |
Omaha |
NE |
Augustine Francis Milanzi |
Master of Business Administration |
Blantyre |
Malawi |
Luis Kedir Moreno Moya |
Master of Business Administration |
Hialeah |
FL |
John J. Mueggenberg |
Master of Business Administration |
Omaha |
NE |
Rennes A. Nassrat |
Master of Business Administration |
Lincoln |
NE |
Jodie Lynn Persson |
Master of Business Administration |
West Point |
NE |
Jonathan D. Rehor |
Master of Business Administration |
Rapid City |
SD |
Stacy Daniel Ritchie |
Master of Business Administration |
Grand Island |
NE |
Peter V. Rossow |
Master of Business Administration |
North Tonawanda |
NY |
Henrique Dielle Sakoda |
Master of Business Administration |
Sao Paulo |
Brazil |
Amanda Thunker |
Master of Business Administration |
Hastings |
NE |
Stephanie Marie Bailey |
Master of Arts in Leadership |
Elkhorn |
NE |
William P. Barrett |
Master of Arts in Leadership |
Lincoln |
NE |
Debra Ann Buehler |
Master of Arts in Leadership |
Sterling |
NE |
Camila L. Da Silva Leite |
Master of Arts in Leadership |
Sao Paulo |
Brazil |
Kelly Holsteen-Chapman |
Master of Arts in Leadership |
Lincoln |
NE |
Nina Catherine Theiler |
Master of Arts in Leadership |
Omaha |
NE |
Undergraduates
Justin Wayne Anderson |
Bachelor of Arts |
Organizational Communication and Liberal Arts Studies |
Lincoln |
NE |
Hannah Kaylee Baesler |
Bachelor of Arts |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Thornton |
CO |
Samuel Eli Banzhaf |
Bachelor of Arts |
History and Political Science |
Overton |
NE |
Donat Beke |
Bachelor of Science |
Engineering |
Algyo |
Hungary |
Paul Lynn Blomstedt |
Bachelor of Arts |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Ralston |
NE |
Nicholas Scott Borges |
Bachelor of Arts |
Business Administration |
North Platte |
NE |
Ethan Coleman |
Bachelor of Science |
Engineering |
Benson |
AZ |
Grace Ann Damme |
Bachelor of Science |
Exercise Science |
Talmage |
NE |
Abbigail Marie Egenberger |
Bachelor of Arts |
Elementary Education |
Gretna |
NE |
Tursaikhan Enkhbold |
Bachelor of Science |
Information Systems |
Arlington |
VA |
Alexus Victoria Folmer |
Bachelor of Arts |
Business Administration |
Lincoln |
NE |
Shanyn Lucille Gappa |
Bachelor of Arts |
Psychology |
Ashton |
NE |
Jayboc Pineal Garcia |
Bachelor of Arts |
Business Administration |
Yakima |
WA |
William Grixby |
Bachelor of Science |
Engineering |
Omaha |
NE |
Thomas Dale Heavey |
Bachelor of Arts |
Business Administration |
Overland Park |
KS |
Luke Thomas Henriksen |
Bachelor of Science |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Omaha |
NE |
Savannah Maria-Luz Householder |
Bachelor of Arts |
Media Communication |
Bellevue |
NE |
Cristen Ja鈥檇awn Jackson |
Bachelor of Science |
Health Sciences |
Monticello |
GA |
Victoria Kennen |
Bachelor of Arts |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Queens |
NY |
Brehan Michael Lambert |
Bachelor of Arts |
Media Communication |
Lincoln |
NE |
Olivia Marie McBeth |
Bachelor of Arts |
Music |
Lincoln |
NE |
Jamie McGuire |
Bachelor of Arts |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Gretna |
NE |
Dylan Walker McNeil |
Bachelor of Arts |
Special Education |
Lincoln |
NE |
Amy Mews |
Bachelor of Science |
information Systems & Technology |
Inwood |
IA |
Braden Jeffrey Olson |
Bachelor of Science |
Engineering and Economics |
Omaha |
NE |
Daniel Ortiz Adame |
Bachelor of Arts |
Physical Education and Health Education |
Crete |
NE |
Andrew Paquette |
Bachelor of Arts |
Physical Education and Health Education |
Beatrice |
NE |
Luke Theodore Partridge |
Bachelor of Arts |
Business Administration |
Wahoo |
NE |
Alaynna Kristeen Pedersen |
Bachelor of Science |
Computing |
Kearney |
NE |
Gehrig Antonino Perez |
Bachelor of Arts |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Hollywood |
FL |
Samuel Ramirez De La Torre |
Bachelor of Arts |
History |
Guadalajara |
Mexico |
Payton Catherine Schelin |
Bachelor of Science |
Science |
Bonney Lake |
WA |
K. K. Snoke |
Bachelor of Arts |
Liberal Arts Studies |
Elmwood |
NE |
Nyamoch Biel Tap |
Bachelor of Arts |
Human Relations |
Gambella |
Ethiopia |
Jacob Neil Williams |
Bachelor of Science |
Computer Science |
Kansas City |
MO |
August Graduates
College of Education 鈥 Doctor of Education
Nichlas Hans Dressel |
Doctor of Education |
Chadron |
NE |
Kristal D Flaming |
Doctor of Education |
Newton |
KS |
Garrett Dean Hall |
Doctor of Education |
Lincoln |
NE |
College of Education 鈥 Graduate Students
Hannah Jean Brust |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Ithaca |
NE |
Cecilia Marie Burda |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Courtney Cloyed |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Kayla Jean Daniel |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Cherokee |
IA |
Jacinda Kay Davis |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Plattsmouth |
NE |
Jenifer Morgan Dillon |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Aurora |
NE |
Madison Ashton Dodd |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Jordan Kaye Graviette |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Hastings |
NE |
Kristina Darlene Marie Riche |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Pleasant Dale |
NE |
Mallory Lantzer |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Alyssa Ann McClellen |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Taylor Lee McMurray |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Adams |
NE |
Tristan Riley Mitchell |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Hickman |
NE |
Haydyn Emily O'Toole |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Wilber |
NE |
Zoe Cecelia Peterson |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Anna Phelps |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Emily Karleen Reimer |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Alexa Lauren Rohde |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Central City |
NE |
Alyssa Jade Rood |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Meadow Grove |
NE |
Sarah Elise Samson |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Fremont |
NE |
Calvin Joseph Schlautman |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Erika Nicole Schroeder |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Bellevue |
NE |
Hannah Marie Schwieger |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Red Oak |
TX |
Jillian Nicole Stark |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Lincoln |
NE |
Larissa Ailene Horvath |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Bennington |
NE |
Erin Stover |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Elkhorn |
NE |
Jayden Stull |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Hickman |
NE |
Alexa Thielen |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Bryce Trout |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Omaha |
NE |
Rebbeca Wilson |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction |
Council Bluffs |
IA |
Ellie Blume |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Briana Starr Bridgeford |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Omaha |
NE |
Shauna Renae Reeves |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Omaha |
NE |
Shaima Hassan Shakir |
Master of Education in School Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Paola A Carrillo-Lazalde |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Grand Island |
NE |
Ashley Romero |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Bellevue |
NE |
Shelby Ingersoll |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
Danette R Novotny |
Master of Arts in Counseling |
Lincoln |
NE |
College of Business 鈥 Graduate Students
Kelsey Lynn Bernhardt |
Master of Business Administration |
Thornton |
CO |
Asmir Cavalic |
Master of Business Administration |
Lincoln |
NE |
Ahmed Fahmy Attia Ibrahim Ghobashy |
Master of Business Administration |
Abu Dhabi |
Egypt |
Reynaldo Axel Villafuerte Ruiz |
Master of Business Administration |
Crete |
NE |
Whitney Lee-Schwandt Fritzinger |
Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology |
Lincoln |
NE |
Undergraduates
Aussie Curtis Lennox Barker |
Bachelor of Arts |
Agribusiness |
Chesapeake |
VA |
Maria Isabel Benitez |
Bachelor of Arts |
Psychology |
Panama City |
Panama |
Rachel Lynn Buehler |
Bachelor of Arts |
Agribusiness |
Sterling |
NE |
Jared D. Henke |
Bachelor of Arts |
Business Administration |
Columbus |
NE |
Kylie Ann Krivohlavek |
Bachelor of Arts |
Human Relations |
Seward |
NE |
Alexander Lubrano |
Bachelor of Science |
Information Systems and Technology |
Grand Island |
NE |
Maci Bree Lyman |
Bachelor of Science |
Health Sciences |
Omaha |
NE |
Jason James O'Flaherty |
Bachelor of Science |
Information Systems |
Lincoln |
NE |
Halie Rohe |
Bachelor of Arts |
Psychology |
Malcolm |
NE |
Luke Jacob Urbonavicius |
Bachelor of Arts |
Strategic Communication |
Kaunas |
Lithuania |