December 2022 Commencement

— DECEMBER 2022 —

Commencement

Tuesday,

December 20, 2022

A Special Welcome On behalf of the District Board and the entire Blackhawk Technical College community, I welcome you to the December 2022 Commencement Ceremony.

This is the first time we are hosting a Commencement in December in nearly a decade, and it’s the first time this celebratory event is taking place in our new Conference Center. We are grateful to all of you in attendance today to mark this special occasion.

We call this celebration a commencement because it marks the beginning or start of the next chapter. While we are proud of all their hard work that has made today possible, we are here today to celebrate the endless possibilities these graduates have before them.

Graduates, as you stride confidently into the future, I hope you will gain strength from all that you have accomplished and all that Blackhawk has given you. You can take knowledge to new heights by imagining, then realizing your greatest dreams. You can make a better world, a better community, a better family, and a better self through the power of your education.

Congratulations on your momentous achievement, graduates! New adventures await you, and I know that you will continue to make us proud.

Dr. Tracy Pierner Blackhawk Technical College President

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Mission

We help you build your future with flexible education in a supportive environment.

Vision

Delivering innovative education to enrich our communities.

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Values

Responsive • Collaborative Empowering • Strategic Process-driven • Inclusive

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

District Board

Barbara J. Barrington-Tillman, Chairperson Eric A. Thornton, Vice Chairperson Rich Deprez, Secretary Rick Richard, Treasurer Members: Rachel Andres, Robert Hendrickson, Suzann Holland, Mark Holzman and Kathy Sukus

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Executive Council Members Dr. Tracy Pierner, President Dr. Karen Schmitt, Vice President of Academic Affairs Renea Ranguette, Vice President of Finance and Operations/CFO Anthony Landowski, Executive Director of Student Services Kathleen Broske, Executive Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development Dr. Jon Tysse, Executive Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Liz Paulsen, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Julie Barreau, Assistant to the President and District Board

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Commencement 2022

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National Anthem Kwamesha Milsap, Alumna

President's Welcome Dr. Tracy Pierner, President

Staff Address Marissa Greuel Hainstock, Staff of the Year

Student Speaker Maram Assaf, Criminal Justice Graduate

Alumni Award Speaker Emily Hopper, Rising Star Alumni Award Recipient

Presentation of the Class of 2022 Dr. Karen Schmitt, Vice President of Academic Affairs

Conferring Degrees Dr. Tracy Pierner, President

Closing Dr. Tracy Pierner, President

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BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Commencement 2022

Marissa Greuel Hainstock Staff of the Year

Marissa Greuel Hainstock holds a pivotal role in Blackhawk’s new Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs as the Transfer Coordinator. She oversees the implementation of the University Transfer programs from the perspective of the student experience. She also reviews and establishes articulation and transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities.

The ability to impact students’ career and life goals is what drew Marissa to a career in higher education. She believes it’s important to support not only what a student does within the context of the classroom but what they do outside as well.

Last spring, Marissa was voted Staff of the Year by students for her relentless dedication to helping students navigate college and their career paths.

Maram Assaf Student Speaker

After graduating from Monroe High School, Maram Assaf enrolled in Blackhawk’s Criminal Justice program. She chose Blackhawk for the location and its class modality options.

Last spring, Maram was given the Student Leadership Award for her participation and leadership in the Criminal Justice Association.

Maram was chosen to be the student speaker for her leadership, hard work and awareness to ensure that all of communities are being served in an equitable manner. Born in Palestine, Maram is a first-generation American citizen, and after graduation, she plans to further her education.

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Commencement 2022

Emily Hopper

Rising Star Alumni Award Winner Emily Hopper is the recipient of the Blackhawk Technical College’s Rising Star Alumni Award, a new award that recognizes alumni who are 35 or younger or graduated from the college within the past decade.

Emily received an associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from Blackhawk in 2010 and an associate’s degree in Business Management in 2012. She recently became the People + Culture Specialist at Geronimo Hospitality Group after serving as the General Manager and Executive Chef of Geronimo’s Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar for seven years.

She also competed on the Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games in May 2022.

Emily was nominated for the Rising Star Alumni Award by Chef Mark Olson, a Culinary Arts Instructor at Blackhawk, and unanimously chosen by the college’s Executive Council for her passion and drive in the hospitality industry.

Kwamesha Milsap

Alumna/National Anthem Singer Kwamesha Milsap graduated from Blackhawk's Nursing program in 2020 and currently works as a registered nurse for Mercyhealth.

At Blackhawk, Kwamesha built relationships with staff and students. She said that she remains forever grateful for what she considers the “best experience” at Blackhawk.

This is Kwamesha’s second time singing at Blackhawk’s commencement ceremony. Singing is something she regularly does as the lead singer for the local funk band Playing for Keeps.

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Commencement 2022

AGRIBUSINESS SPECIALIST Technical Diploma Ashley K. Letcher BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Associate Degree Andres R. Beltran Makynzie F. Gleichauf Makenna J. Hill Hailey M. Huffman Brittney Langer* Rebeca Rojel Asia L. Schaitel BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Technical Diploma Wendpagnagde S. Gamene Eric B. Norby* Evelyn A. Santana COMPUTER SERVICE TECHNICIAN Technical Diploma Dakota Puckett CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES Associate Degree Hector D. Aguirre German Aquino Maram M. Assaf* Kaitlyn M. Butt Shyann Clark+ Kayla L. Crump+ Lauren Day* Jake D. Duller+ Megan M. Lunsman Melissa L. McAdory Hannah Montefelt*

CULINARY ARTS Associate Degree Lisette Castellanos Lavariega* Christian A. Huston DIGITAL MARKETING Associate Degree Alyssa N. Whaples* EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Associate Degree Paige A. Gilman Melinda Tearman Coreen L. Wittwer ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY Associate Degree Austin D. Schumann* HVAC/R Technical Diploma Felipe Gonzalez HUMAN RESOURCES Associate Degree Karina D. Moreno-Zarza Kaylee R. Trawicki* HUMAN SERVICES ASSOCIATE Associate Degree Heather M. Armstrong* Hannah M. Myers* Madeline Rose* Bobbi A. Underdahl* INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE MECHANIC Technical Diploma Sergio Escobar

*Honor Cord Recipient (3.5 or Higher Program G.P.A.) +Veteran

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Commencement 2022

LABORATORY FOOD SCIENCE TECHNICIAN Associate Degree Chad E. Richards* LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Associate Degree Julie A. Morris MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE CODER Associate Degree Amber D. Boll* Katherine Dunlap* Emily A. Kingslien MANUFACTURING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST Technical Diploma Jayden K. Fuerstenberg* NURSING Associate Degree Micheala F. Appner Kathryn Barr* Alyssia Bartelt* Matthew J. Bradley* Kelli J. Butts* Mackenzie P. Capelle* Enrique J. Casiano* Nichole J. Christensen* Kristina J. Conner* Cortney R. Cox Samantha R. Detra Jenna Dowdy* Katrina Fraley Hailey Frazier Amber L. Golackson Krystle R. Hubbard* Teresiah W. Karanja* Margaret Lowell*

NURSING (cont.)

Anastatia M. Maerz* Morgan M. Melahn Crystal A. Meyer* Daisy Ortiz* Meghan C. Phillips* Theresa E. Phillips* Alaxandria J. Quade Anthony J. Smith* Alexa K. Suiter Riley J. Trace Christopher Van Caster* Karen R. Vindedahl* DeAnna T. Wallace* PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN Technical Diploma Denise M. Mireles* Valerie Oetzel* Sabrina A. Vasquez RESIDENTIAL HVAC Technical Diploma Rodney P. Burns* SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION Technical Diploma Chassidy L. Olson* Shylow J. Prewitt* SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Associate Degree Austin J. Foust WELDING Technical Diploma Quinlan Dempsey* Bryce X. Dyer*

*Honor Cord Recipient (3.5 or Higher Program G.P.A.) +Veteran

Stay Connected blackhawk.edu

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Career Services CareerCenter@blackhawk.edu

BTC Foundation/Alumni Lhurda@blackhawk.edu

Commencement Program This Commencement Program lists the names of individuals who have applied for graduation on the presumption that all the requirements have been, or will be, met by the end of the semester. To be listed in this program, individuals were required to apply for graduation by the respective posted dates.

Names listed in this program are subject to verification that all graduation requirements have been met.

Nondisclosure of Directory Information In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students who have chosen not to release directory information to public disclosure (which includes, but is not limited to, degrees conferred) will not appear in this program.

Blackhawk Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to manage inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Officer, 6004 S County Road G, P.O. Box 5009, Janesville, WI 53547-5009, (608) 757-7796 or (608) 757-7773, WI Relay: 711.

6004 S County Road G • Janesville, WI 53546