2025 Graduate Commencement Program

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GRADUATE HOODING AND COMMENCEMENT

May 24, 2025 • Kirkeby-Over Stadium Augustana University

ORDER OF PROCESSION

MACE CARRIER

Dr. Brad Uhing, Associate Professor of Education

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, J.D.

PROVOST

Dr. Joel Johnson

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Pat McAdaragh ‘81

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Dr. Matt Volansky, Dean of the School of Health Professions

INVOCATION

Rev. Ann Rosendale ‘04, Campus Pastor

FACULTY MARSHALS

Dr. Sharon Andrews, Associate Professor Emerita of Education

Becky Fiala, Assistant Professor and Co-Program Director of Education

FACULTY

CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES & STUDENT MARSHALS

Master of Arts in Sports Administration & Leadership

Master of Business Administration

Master of Education

Master of Education in Special Education

Master of Professional Accountancy

Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis

Master of Science in Athletic Training

Master of Science in Genetic Counseling

Master of Science in Nursing

Adult-Gerontology

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate

Doctor of Physical Therapy

ORDER OF EXERCISES

THE PROCESSIONAL

THE INVOCATION

WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

THE PRESENTATION OF THE CLASS OF 2025

THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES

Master of Arts in Sports Administration & Leadership

Master of Business Administration

Master of Education

Master of Education in Special Education

Master of Professional Accountancy

Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis

Master of Science in Athletic Training

Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Master of Science in Nursing

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate Doctor of Physical Therapy

CLOSING REMARKS

THE RECESSIONAL

Michelle Aggen Ames, IA

Kennedy Buckman New Market, MN

Adam Diedrich Brillion, WI

Britney Epperson Jeffersonville, IN

Kyle Graham Las Vegas, NV

Erik Gundersen Stavanger, Norway

Jeremy Hamerquist Woodland Park, CO

ROSTER OF GRADUATES

MASTER OF ARTS IN SPORTS ADMINISTRATION & LEADERSHIP

Ryan Hartman Wausau, WI

Caleb James Des Moines, IA

Jaeya Jones Sioux Falls, SD

Katelyn Kolodziejczyk College Station, TX

Alexis Lander Onawa, IA

Sydney Lanoue Tracy, MN

Luke Mobley St. Louis Park, MN

Deborah Adewumi Sioux Falls, SD

Canyon Bauer Sioux Falls, SD

William Bauer Sioux Falls, SD

Harrison Blum Minneapolis, MN

Avery Book Columbus, OH

Nate Davis Sioux Falls, SD

JayVían Farr Racine, WI

Amber Frigaard Dalton, MN

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Avery Kratochvil Firestone, CO

Jett Lamb Onida, SD

Daqian Liu Beijing, China

Payton Matsui Lakeville, MN

Evan McIntyre Oakville, Canada

Monica Melendez Rosales Sioux Falls, SD

Cade Mueller Cologne, MN

Maria Pedroso Sioux Falls, SD

Landon Platter Canton, SD

Isaiah Ryan Sterling, IL

Kylee Sallee Hudson, IA

Quincee Schloegel Champlin, MN

Anna Tindall Sioux Falls, SD

Ann-Maria Uchidiuno Markham, Ontario

Robert Whitney St. Francis, MN

Brianna Pfeifer Tea, SD

Joseph Schaefer Grimes, IA

Jonathan Sikel North Mankato, MN

Lauren Tims Sioux Falls, SD

Kayleigh Tuenge Chancellor, SD

Barbara Turkalj Zagreb, Croatia

Kasey Van Zee Sioux Falls, SD

Haden Wallace Kansas City, MO

Cheryl Allen Marshall, MN

Nicole Blagsvedt Onalaska, WI

Mary Brooks Weymouth, MA

Jennifer Dahm Syracuse, NY

Ellie DuPont Cold Spring, MN

Twila Ehrich-Belton Baxter, MN

Isaac Fink Sioux Falls, SD

Abbie Fodness Sioux Falls, SD

Josh Freier Sioux Falls, SD

Josh Hinrichs Shoreview, MN

Jessica Holmes Sunapee, NH

MASTER OF EDUCATION

Ann-Marie Hyland Phoenix, AZ

Kaylee Jorde Sioux Falls, SD

Heather Kalthoff Minnetonka, MN

Matthew Keretz Emmaus, PA

Tyler Kline York, PA

Jennifer Lilly Caledonia, MI

Jennifer Mead Kearny, NJ

Taylor Menton Moorhead, MN

Katie Parsons Keene, NH

Katherine Peterson Woodbury, MN

Julia Sampson Duluth, MN

Paige Shingler Macungie, PA

Katharine Sowa Lake City, MN

Bethany Steinke Bethel, MN

Caroline Sudbeck Sioux Falls, SD

Kyle Svendsen Dell Rapids, SD

Morgan Taubert Pipestone, MN

Karle Tilson Cedar Rapids, IA

Abigail Trudell Bloomington, MN

Mackenzie Vander Woude Sioux Falls, SD

Trevor DeSchepper Sioux Falls, SD

MASTER OF EDUCATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

Allison Loehr Glen Carbon, IL

Gavin Anderson Webster, SD

Payton Anderson Sherburn, MN

Joshua Buddenhagen Hartford, WI

Joseph Kooiman Pipestone, MN

Annika Kramer Sioux Falls, SD

Logan Leonard Minnetrista, MN

MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY

Raleigh Lunderman Rapid City, SD

Sarah Matthes Rapid City, SD

Karina Mirzayants Sioux Falls, SD

Macalister Nelson Moorhead, MN

Samuel Pierce Sioux Falls, SD

Lili Sampson Spicer, MN

Carter Schuelke Minneota, MN

Caleb Sterzinger Ivanhoe, MN

Eden Weber Dawson, MN

Cayden Webster Sioux Falls, SD

Courtney Alvarez Litchfield, MN

Daniela Archila Di Sipio Miramar, FL

Leonel Barahona Lainez Miami, FL

Janese Barbee San Antonio, TX

Nkemjika Chidozie Rockwall, TX

Heather Duzan Sullivan, IL

Beckey Eddie-Moosman Mission, SD

Mariah Fairchild Brookings, SD

Myasia Gross Orlando, FL

Hannah Baschnagel Rapid City, SD

Ravyn Hoffman Dell Rapids, SD

Mary Holthe Woodbury, MN

Alyssa Cranston Visalia, CA

Hannah Grant Gilroy, CA

Quinn Heppe Nevada City, CA

Mackenzie Hansen Des Moines, IA

Kirsten Heynen Inwood, IA

Hallie Kinney Omaha, NE

Halle Kroeplin Highmore, SD

Joaquin Lezcano Torresillas Hialeah, FL

Karissa Liggons Sioux Falls, SD

Cristal Lopez Orange Cove, CA

Anna Jonet Mitchell Lore City, OH

Kyle Muhlenbeck Sioux Falls, SD

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ATHLETIC TRAINING

Deanna Mcfadgon Gallatin, TN

Kiesha Mosser Sioux Falls, SD

Morgan Farr Hartford, SD

Ashley Heupel Sioux Falls, SD

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GENETIC COUNSELING

Emily Konz Brandon, SD

Desmond Krueger St. Peter, MN

Bethel Mekonnen Farmington, MN

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Kara Hewes Sioux Falls, SD

Jessica O’Brien Coffeen, IL

Isidro Reyes Casas Chico, CA

Taylor Richter Sioux City, IA

Marissa Samilow Ocean, NJ

Madison Spencley Charlotte, NC

Emily Wiessner Portland, OR

Avery Wysong Beaver Creek, MN

Heather Zins Mitchell, SD

Katherine Rockwell Fridley, MN

Jorey Sorenson Garretson, SD

Joanna Paul Carlsbad, CA

Sarah Zultevicz Shickshinny, PA

Colton Stenger Wasilla, AK

POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE ADULT-GERONTOLOGY ACUTE CARE NURSE PRACTITIONER

Misty Brenden Sioux Falls, SD

Sean Abbott Vista, CA

Marjan Ahmadzada Jacksonville, FL

Rodrigo Alaura Las Vegas, NV

Colleen Baker Youngstown, OH

DeAndre Barrett North Miami Beach, FL

Trevor Bartlett Sioux Falls, SD

Boston Bauer Sioux Falls, SD

Amanda Begic Lincoln, NE

Lauren Benike Waubay, SD

Alison Bergerson Lindstrom, MN

Jonah Breuer Albertville, MN

Erik Cabral Neenah, WI

Tesla Cheek Sioux Falls, SD

Dafeng Chen Lathrup Village, MI

Breenna Davidson Golva, ND

Blaine Doeden Worthington, MN

Tamika Dungy Merced, CA

Isaac Embrock St. Paul, MN

Getsemani Flores-Correa Alpharetta, GA

LaKya Foster Chicago, IL

Oluwaferanmi Gamu Parkville, MD

Morgan Giesen Waconia, MN

Nicole Gonzalez El Paso, TX

Brendan Greene Gaithersburg, MD

DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

Ashley Haflett Sioux Falls, SD

Savannah Hall-Foster Houston, TX

Alexander Halsey Fort Washington, MD

Kyle Hebert Nacogdoches, TX

Kate Hildebrandt St. Peter, MN

Carlos Johnson Fremont, CA

Meghan Kennedy Philadelphia, PA

Raegan Kirsop Portland, OR

Alec Kray Sioux Falls, SD

Pooja Mahesh Plantation, FL

Daniel Matzner Sioux Falls, SD

Paul McMahon Sioux City, IA

Jessica McPherson Farmington, NM

Diego Menendez McAllen, TX

Lindsey Minnick Cosmos, MN

Jose Molina Jamestown, ND

Cody Moon Clay Center, KS

Evan Moore Sioux Falls, SD

Ryley Nelson Ashby, MN

Kendra Nez The Gap, AZ

Seth Nixon Pueblo, CO

Yunet Oruna Hialeah, FL

Eric Pacheco Waverly, IA

Mitchell Parker Peoria, IL

Eric Perez-Salgado Los Angeles, CA

Hailey Phoulavan St. Paul, MN

Austin Portner Sioux Falls, SD

Justin Provo Park City, UT

Tiffany Pruett Harrisburg, SD

Nivendu Sarode Bath, NY

Austin Schmitt Boyd, MN

Ethan Schultz Hartford, WI

Erin Schweiger Toms River, NJ

Natnael Seyoum Los Angeles, CA

Emily Sichanthongthip Forest City, IA

Kali Skogstad Brookings, SD

Ayo-ola Sobowale Chicago, IL

Jose Soler Crespo APO, AE

Alice Spencer East Derry, NH

Hunter Spier Norfolk, NE

Lauren Swain Sioux Falls, SD

Joseph Vasquez Belton, TX

Alexander Vaughn Orange City, IA

Ryan Wager Huron, SD

Autumn Wilkinson De Smet, SD

Jennifer Wyatt Kelso, WA

THE ACADEMIC PROCESSION

The use of gowns, hoods and caps in academic dress goes back to medieval times, to the early history of the oldest universities in Europe. “Learned clerks” robed themselves in gowns, caps and hoods, thus marking the difference from the “town people and those who wore the gown.” Its roots in design are found in both civilian and religious garb, often stemming from practical considerations of the day, such as the need for warmth in the unheated buildings of that time.

The hood, a triangular fold of cloth worn over the back of the gown, is faced with colors which denote the field of study represented by the wearer’s degree; the colors of the lining are those of the college or university from which the degree was granted. The length of the hood is correspondingly longer with each degree earned.

The wide velvet borders extending down the front of the doctoral gown, velvet bar on the sleeves and borders of most hoods are colored according to the academic discipline of the wearer. The most usual of these are:

Drab — Accounting & Business Pink — Music White — Arts & Letters Apricot — Nursing Copper — Economics Blue — Philosophy Light Blue — Education Sage Green — Physical Orange — Engineering Education Brown — Fine Arts Gold — Science Purple — Law Scarlet — Theology Lemon — Library Science

For centuries, the mace has been carried by the head of ceremonial processions as the symbol of order and authority. Augustana’s mace, carried by the university marshal, was designed by Ogden Dalrymple and executed by Al Halverson from seasoned cherry wood. It supports a gold orb and cross, symbolic of the triumph of Christ over the world. It carries the seal of Augustana in sterling silver.

Heads of state, members of the nobility, civil leaders and heads of educational institutions have, since medieval times, worn chain collars or necklaces as a distinctive mark of honor or authority. Augustana’s chain collar, created for use by the president, is composed of a heavy sterling chain, with a sterling pendant seal of the university. Each one of the links contains the name of each of Augustana’s 23 preceding presidents.

The trustees comprise a board of 25 members, elected by the Augustana College Association, the corporation that owns and operates the university.

A tradition at Augustana’s commencement recessional has the faculty forming two lines down the center aisle to permit the faculty and graduates to bid farewell to each other.

THE AUGUSTANA SEAL

The Augustana seal was designed ca. 1950 by Ogden Dalrymple, professor emeritus of art from 1946-91. It is composed of a circle representing eternity, a triangle representing the Trinity and a book which is the Bible. The “cross” running through the book is the Chi Rho (the monogram and symbol formed from the first two letters “X” and “P” of the Greek word for Christ). The letters “VDMA” are symbolic of the college motto, “Verbum Dei Manet In Aeternum” or “The word of God endures forever.” The letters on either side of the Bible are the Alpha and Omega of the Greek alphabet symbolizing the beginning and the end. The lamp is the Lamp of Knowledge. The three dates represent the founding dates of Augustana: 1860, in Chicago, Illinois; 1889, the founding of the Lutheran Normal School in Sioux Falls; 1918, the merger of the two schools to become Augustana College.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Ceremony Photos is pleased to provide complimentary photography service to each graduate who crosses the stage during the commencement ceremony.

Please visit ceremonyphotos.com/events-proofs to view the commencement photographs. All ceremony participants will receive an email and link to view their proofs taken during the commencement ceremony and events. There is no obligation to purchase. Any questions about commencement photography can be addressed to service@ ceremonyphotos.com.

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