May 2024 Commencement Program

~ 2024 ~ Commencement

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Welcome

Rebecca Barnett, WTCS State Ambassador

National Anthem

Ashley McCarthy, Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator

Vice President's Welcome

Dr. Karen Schmitt, Vice President of Academic Affairs

Student of the Year Speaker

Passion Tann, Business Management Graduate

Distinguished Alumni Speaker

Tinika Kilgore, Nurse Practitioner at UW Health

Presentation of the Class of 2024

9:00 AM

Greg Phillips, Dean of Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology and Transportation

11:30 AM

Moira Lafayette, Dean of Health Sciences and Public Safety

Conferring Degrees

Dr. Karen Schmitt, Vice President of Academic Affairs

Closing

Dr. Karen Schmitt, Vice President of Academic Affairs

A Special Welcome

On behalf of the District Board and the entire Blackhawk Technical College community, I welcome you to the May 2024 Commencement Ceremony.

Today is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, while also expressing gratitude to all who have contributed to their journey – parents, family members, friends, instructors, and staff alike. I am proud of the achievements of our graduates and eagerly anticipate commemorating this significant milestone with each one of you.

Graduates, take pride in the perseverance and dedication that have led you to this day. Your education is an invaluable asset that will serve to empower you over the months and years ahead. And when you reflect back on your experience at Blackhawk, may you find inspiration in the challenges you've overcome, pride in the knowledge you've gained, and gratitude in the connections you've forged.

Heartfelt congratulations on reaching this momentous milestone, graduates! Exciting new adventures await you, and I am confident that you will continue to exemplify the values of Blackhawk Technical College, making us proud at every turn.

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.

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

Kathy Sukus, Treasurer

MEMBERS:

Rachel Andres Robert Hendrickson Suzann Holland

Mark Holzman Dave Marshick

BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Executive Council Members

Dr. Tracy Pierner, President

Dr. Karen Schmitt, Vice President of Academic Affairs

Jim Nemeth, 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

Commencement 2024

Rebecca Barnett

WTCS State Ambassador

Rebecca Barnett, a current Substance Use Disorder Counseling/Human Services student, is the Blackhawk Ambassador to the Wisconsin Technical College System and president of the Student Government Association. She also serves as the Student Representative to Blackhawk’s District Board, works as a Peer Advisor, and is the treasurer of Blackhawk’s Multi-Cultural Alliance and Phi Theta Kappa chapters.

When asked about her drive to take on so much, Rebecca reflects on her mental health struggles that have altered her perspective. Every opportunity she encounters is a privilege, she said.

Rebecca graduated from Union County High School in Maynardville, Tennessee, and moved with her children to Wisconsin in 2021 to be closer to her father and stepmother. After her own graduation from Blackhawk in spring 2025, Rebecca plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to pursue a degree in Community Engagement and Education. She hopes to one day work in higher education and work to advocate for special needs families and transgendered youth.

Commencement 2024

Ashley McCarthy

National Anthem Singer

Ashley McCarthy is the Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator at Blackhawk Technical College, and when she’s not busy talking to prospective Blackhawk students, she’s singing!

A graduate of Milton High School, Ashley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theater from Columbia College in Chicago and a master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Ashley has been singing since she was little, performing in musicals, show choir and coffee shop recitals. She also has performed with several bands and at several venues, including Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair.

Ashley said she loves Blackhawk because it’s a welcoming environment where staff truly care about students, and it’s a great place for students to find their path.

Commencement 2024

Passion Tann

Student of the Year

Passion Tann, who is graduating today with an associate degree in Business Management, was named Student of the Year at this year’s Student Awards Ceremony on April 30.

Passion, who is a graduate of Beloit Memorial High School, has been an active member of Blackhawk’s Business Professionals of America chapter and the Student Government Association, serving as the parliamentarian. She also has served as the president of Blackhawk’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and has been a student worker in Blackhawk’s CARE Center.

Passion is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fall to earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in either Psychology or Counseling, and to live abroad for at least a year.

Commencement 2024

Tinika Kilgore

2024 Alumni of the Year

Tinika Kilgore, a nurse practitioner for UW Health, is the recipient of Blackhawk’s Distinguished Alumni Award, which honors an outstanding Blackhawk graduate who has demonstrated the value of a technical college education through career accomplishments, community service, continued personal and educational growth, and support of the technical college system.

Following her graduation from Beloit Memorial High School, Tinika was working at a restaurant, with aspirations of making culinary arts her full-time career. But at the advice of a cousin, she opted to work at a nursing home and come to Blackhawk to become a certified nursing assistant. Tinika’s work ethic was quickly noticed, and she decided to get an associate’s degree in Nursing from Blackhawk.

After graduation in 2004, Tinika started what would become a 20-year career at the Beloit Health System. In December 2022, she moved on to UW Health and is now considering a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Cooking remains a passion for Tinika, and she hopes to one day become a personal chef.

Commencement 2024

ACCOUNTING

Associate Degree

Brittany A. Donovan

Amanda R. Elmer*

Joseph M. Jarstad

Austin J. Johnson*

Ethan Mesner*

Robert E. Miller

Amanda Newell*

Kathleen A. Pawluk*

Mia C. Rice*

Destiny N. Studinger*

Meaghan E. Sweeney*

Laura G. Wenger

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

One-Year Technical Diploma

Joy L. Trudeau

AGRIBUSINESS SPECIALIST

One-Year Technical Diploma

Owen P. Heussner

Jason Hunt

Nicholas D. Roe*

AGRIBUSINESS/SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY

Associate Degree

Breanna R. Brooks*

Marie Harried*

Leslie Reinke

Nicholas D. Roe*

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

Jacob S. Grebner*

Brooke A. Pehl*

AUTOMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

Associate Degree

Samuel L. Hoffland*

Owen J. Milligan

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

Two-Year Technical Diploma

Adriel Gonzalez Rodriguez

Josiah L. Kloepping*

Rafel Vasquez Licea

BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN

Associate Degree

Amanda J. Draeving*+

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Associate Degree

Shanice Adams

Alexia J. Cuazozon

Bridget M. Deltgen*

Kaitlyn Elgin*

Brisa S. Garnica Pina

Amanda J. Gerber*

Isabella Gilmour

Nic J. Huber

Giovanni Jaimes*

Lindsay Larson*

Roselyn M. Mata Boehme

Tadyn McCann

Hannah V. Pautsch*

Evelyn Portales*

Cristian Rodriguez Aranda*

Passion T. Tann*

Sierra L. Vogel*

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Technical Diploma

Melanie Hathaway*

CENTRAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Technical Diploma

Jovan Gonzalez

COMPUTER SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Technical Diploma

Johann Lozano

Bret Paulson*

Abigail Trojniar

Samuel E. Van Fossen*

Commencement 2024

CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES

Associate Degree

Amanda R. Beggs*

Savannah L. Bliss*

Briannah M. Lamasters*

Emily E. Maroon*

Brooklyn Powers*

Melissa K. Rogge*

Joanna Rojas*

Alyssa Shire*

Alisha J. Young-White

CULINARY ARTS

Associate Degree

Garett M. Brittingham

Marcus L. Evans

Nicholas M. Risseeuw*

Emily A. Roessler*

Paige Salic*

Nick J. Upmann

DENTAL ASSISTANT

One-Year Technical Diploma

Carissa Carney

Kylie L. Cole*

Regina N. Gillen

Zaria L. Holbrook*

Madyson Mitchell

Melody A. Ramirez

Riley F. Runkel*

Jessica L. Seuser*

Jenna M. Shinkus*

Kyla A. Stacy*

Julianna Verduzco*

Tove L. Westermeyer*

DENTAL HYGIENIST

Associate Degree

Lisa Anderson*

Karson R. Bailey*

Morgan M. Berg*

Mackenzie S. Byrne*

Haley E. Dunphy*

Nancy Espana*

Sara M. Gibson*

Gracie M. Hill*

Brittany Oren*

Miranda Slaback*

DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY AND VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY

Associate Degree

Lynn M. Heidt*

Gabrielle L. Hoffmann*

Kayla Johnson*

Morgan M. Landess*

Erin Lee*

Hannah N. Mansur*

Cara Wood*

Olivia Zimmermann*

DIESEL & HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN

Two-Year Technical Diploma

Joel Eddy*

Alexander L. Gehrke+

Bowe M. Graves

Jhermaine Harris

James W. Osinga*

Maverick J. Wileman

DIGITAL MARKETING

Associate Degree

Annie R. Barnes*

Aden Carlson*

Samantha K. Kotlarek*

Patrick J. Licari*

Stacie Schmidt*

Zachary S. Tuma*

Bryce Wunschel*

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Associate Degree

Haley I. Bain

Taylor Burrell*

Ieshia L. Cornell*

Katelyn E. Haried

Rylee J. Kerl*

Megan Laws*

Grace R. McIlheran

Commencement 2024

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, CONT'D

Associate Degree

Kaylee L. Meade-Hughes*

Maria M. Mielke

Doris Perez*

Celeste Salazar*

Sierra K. Sherman

Miranda Swenson

ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION

One-Year Technical Diploma

Camren W. Conklin*

Dylan DuClos

Logan J. Frei*

Rusty L. Klitzman*

William S. Ley*

Cameron D. McGowan

Joel Palomares

Marcus Pletcher*

Benjamin A. Pyka

Carter Ritter

Kaleb Rosenbrook*

Konnor K. Rosenbrook*

Nicholas A. Sittner*

Isaiah D. Westrick*

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

Associate Degree

Hannah C. Davis*

Logan T. Fischer

Hunter L. Peters*

FIRE PROTECTION TECHNICIAN

Associate Degree

Jonathan R. Cummins

Alex J. Hoey

Abel J. Turner*

FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Associate Degree

Tara A. Greely

Veronica H. Hatch*

Kaleb M. Manthei

HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT

Associate Degree

David M. Jaeckel*

HUMAN RESOURCES

Associate Degree

Jacqueline Galvan Guzman*

Jaci A. Goodwin*

Claudia Roesner*

Randi R. Schultz

HUMAN SERVICES

Associate Degree

Trae Birkholz*

Kathleen O. Bond-Crull*

Brittney A. Hollman*

Melisa J. Richardson

Brianne H. Schumacher

Natalia S. Shepherd

Mark Van Dyke*

HVAC/R

Associate Degree

Michael J. Evers*

Felipe Gonzalez

Tyler J. Mathias*

Brian K. Nunn

INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL STUDIES

Associate Degree

Marelvi Gaxhaj

INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE MECHANIC

Two-Year Technical Diploma

Michael Hall

Mitchell A. Parr

IT - MICROCOMPUTER SPECIALIST

Associate Degree

Michele G. Hollenbach

IT - NETWORK SPECIALIST

Associate Degree

Ethan Dieckhoff*

Jovan Gonzalez

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

Commencement 2024

IT - NETWORK SPECIALIST, CONT'D

Associate Degree

Lee H. Haralson*

Tristan I. Miller

Vega Russell*

Noah B. Schwark*

Nicholas Voss*

Adam M. Walters*

Blake M. Wegner*

LABORATORY FOOD SCIENCE TECHNICIAN

Associate Degree

Stacy Jackson*

Lily R. Leedle

Rachel M. Randell

Bjorn E. Unseth*

MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Associate Degree

Logan C. Runde

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST

Associate Degree

Hollie L. Dohner

Asiuna N. Nelson*

Mary J. Ramage

Kristina Tatge*

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE CODER

Associate Degree

Hunter E. Baars*

Michelle L. Brace*

Christy A. Byrne

Hollie L. Dohner

Brianna M. Farrey*

Michele G. Hollenbach

Ava M. Kelly

Ashley K. Mahan*

Jennifer L. Schultz*

Tara M. Shallcross*

Alexandra P. Stover*

Kristina Tatge*

MEDICAL ASSISTANT

One-Year Technical Diploma

Iris L. Arango*

Millicent Bryant*

Lizette Calixto*

Kacey A. Charron*

Claire E. Collison*

Mercedes B. Givemore*

Alexis H. Hafemann

Angelica Hernandez-Saldivar*

Austin L. Horner

Melissa Lomas*

Dakota L. Masterson

Amanda L. Portwine

Jessica M. Reyes-Aquino

Rachel A. Risse*

Mattiana C. Stackhouse

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Associate Degree

Amber N. Goggin

Timothy E. Rodden*

NURSING

Associate Degree

Makenna Balch*

Kassandra A. Berget*

Ashlie E. Doolan*

Cassidy M. Frey*

Sierra M. Hill*

Jenna G. Jordan*

Cassie L. Kapaun*

Megan Lallier*

Leslie Lavariega*

Kassandra Marler*

Melissa M. Nandory*

Helly S. Patel*

Jenellan I. Reetz*

Tara k. Schenk*

Kailee A. Schimelpfenig*

Grace L. Schrenk*

Abbie L. Stubbendick*

Dakota Thompson*

Mariana Tinajero- Espinoza*

Mara Wanninger*

Tasha Zimmerman*

Commencement 2024

PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN

Short-term Technical Diploma

Angelica L. Bautista Hernandez*

Sarah E. Mabie*

Tori C. McKnight

Samantha R. Whitley

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Associate Degree

Emily G. Allbee*

Alex R. Dewitte

Leah N. Keirn*

Mathew Marty

Lindsay C. Reuter*

RADIOGRAPHY

Associate Degree

Kaylyn J. Algrim-Bender*

Jacquelyn Corpus*

Stefanie Holloway

Claire L. Kueng*

Lauren M. Liva*

Nikole M. Meske

Elizabeth J. Nguyen*

Talia E. Perez

Sarah G. Rogalla*

Courtney Seichter*

Valerie L. Stewart

Linh Trinh*

Kristina R. Vanaken

SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION

Technical Diploma

Carmen K. Decker*+

Kristie Martin

Joyce A. Myers*

Melisa J. Richardson

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELOR

Associate Degree

Kristie Martin

Rachel A. Olin*

Katrina M. Steiner

Maria I. Torres-Bolanos

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Associate Degree

Tara J. Rocheleau*

SURGICAL TECHNICIAN

Associate Degree

Aradai Bruno*+

Lorena Guarneros Moron*

Chelsea L. Kluesner

Melissa R. Marsch*

Sarah K. Nyen*

Tyler J. Ruggerio*

Daniela M. Snyder*

WEB SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Associate Degree

Nathan Camm

Michael E. Johnston*

Konley E. Lokrantz

Dustin M. Sokolik*

Jesse Worden

WELDING

One-Year Technical Diploma

Gerardo Baylon

Evan B. Ellis*

Kaden J. Fluckiger*

Noah Gillespie

Kaden Jacques

Matthew J. McCullough*

Stay Connected

Blackhawk Foundation/Alumni Lhurda@blackhawk.edu

Photos will be taken during this event and are subject to use in college marketing materials.

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