PRESIDENT AND CEO JERRY TARRER, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE FACULTY OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF THE CLASS OF 2025
ORDER OF CEREMONY: SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2025, 11:00 A.M.
Full musical selection and musician credits on pages 33-34
COMMENCEMENT CONCERT
PROCESSIONAL, CONCLUDING WITH
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
Lyrics on page 6
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Lyrics on page 6
WELCOME AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Beth Ryan
Professor of Instruction, Business and Entrepreneurship
MANIFEST 2025 MUSIC VIDEO
Scenes from Manifest, the college’s annual celebration of graduating student work
GREETING FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
William E. Wolf
GREETING FROM THE NATIONAL ALUMNI BOARD
Karen L. Jones ’86, President
STUDENT ADDRESS
Elisha Dennard
Candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Arts Management
Biography on page 8
POETRY READING: “POPHAM BEACH PROPHECY”
By Mole Hart
Winner of the 2025 Allen and Lynn Turner Commencement Poetry Competition
Read by the author
Text on page 7
ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATES
Jerry Tarrer, MBA, Interim President and CEO
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
RECOGNITION OF EMERITUS FACULTY
See list of emeritus faculty on pages 8-9
CONFERRAL OF HONORARY DEGREE AND ADDRESS
Marcos Enrique “Kosine” Palacios ’06
Grammy-nominated producer and creative entrepreneur
Biography on page 10
Introduced by Professor Ryan
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES
By President Tarrer, assisted by:
• Marcella David, JD, Senior Vice President and Provost
• Suzanne McBride, Dean of Faculty Affairs
• Jerry Brindisi, Interim Director, School of Business and Entrepreneurship
• Ames Hawkins, PhD, Interim Director, School of Communication and Culture
• Colbey Reid, PhD, Director, School of Fashion
• Eric Scholl, MFA, and Wenhwa Ts’ao, MFA, Interim Co-Directors, School of Film and Television
RECESSIONAL
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING STAR SPANGLED BANNER
BY FRANCIS SCOTT KEY
O, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: ‘Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep’s pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
BY JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee.
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee.
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
“POPHAM BEACH PROPHECY”
BY MOLE HART
CANDIDATE FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CREATIVE WRITING WINNER OF THE 2025 ALLEN AND LYNN TURNER COMMENCEMENT POETRY COMPETITION the waves are a bend of color over our bodies, white foam ring surrounding hip-to-hip i don’t know where we begin or end by blurred limbs below
(a spell cast to make me you) the blue froth ripples the sea says cerulean meaning to say eventually you will wonder how two bodies touched ever
The college also acknowledges the creative work of Chidera Nwume, candidate for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, whose poem “11/05/2024” was awarded an honorable mention in the 2025 Commencement Poetry Competition.
MEHRNAZ SAEED-VAFA
Professor of Film and Television Emerita
1988-2025
JEFF SCHIFF
Professor of English Emeritus 1987-2024
SHAWN SHIFLETT
Associate Professor of Creative Writing Emeritus 1976-2025
JEFFREY M. SPITZ
Associate Professor of Film and Television Emeritus 2001-2025
JOSEF STEIFF
Professor of Film and Television Emeritus 1989-2025
DAVID TRINIDAD
Professor of Creative Writing Emeritus 2002-2024
TO BE HONORED SUNDAY, MAY 18, 4:30 P.M.
IVAN BRUNETTI
Associate Professor of Illustration Emeritus 2006-2025
LUYING CHEN
Associate Professor of Asian Humanities and Comparative Literature Emerita 2013-2025
SUSAN IMUS
Professor of Dance and Theatre Emerita 1996-2024
NIKI NOLIN
Associate Professor of Art Emerita 1991-2025
DEBRA PARR
Associate Professor of Art History Emerita 1998-2025
JACQUELINE PENROD
Associate Professor of Theatre Emerita 1999-2025
ALBERT (BILL) WILLIAMS
Associate Professor of Instruction in Theatre Emeritus 1985-2025
JAY WOLKE
Professor of Photography Emeritus 1981-2025
GARY YERKINS
Professor of Instruction in Music Emeritus 1980-2025
JESSICA YOUNG
Associate Professor of Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling Emerita 2005-2024
PETER ZHANG
Associate Professor of Audio Arts and Acoustics Emeritus 2006-2025
JOSEPH
SIKORA ’98
TO BE HONORED SUNDAY, MAY 18, 4:30 P.M.
Joseph Sikora is best known for his fan-favorite role of Tommy in the Starz smash hit Power. After its sixth and final year, and given the success of the character, Starz spun it off into a new series Power Book IV: Force, focusing solely on his character. The show had a hugely successful first and second season with record-setting premieres, and fans are highly anticipating its return for season three.
Joseph was also seen in major recurring arcs in two seasons of Ozark for Netflix and he appeared in the Sony/Screen Gems feature The Intruder. He is also remembered for his memorable work in True Detective with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and Maniac with Emma Stone. Sikora also performed in Jack Reacher opposite Tom Cruise, in Safe with Jason Statham, and in Shutter Island and Boardwalk Empire, both directed by Martin Scorsese.
Joseph is a well-known stage actor and a true artist who is skilled with many dialects. He has performed on stages from storefronts to Broadway and has earned a Joseph Jefferson Award nomination in Chicago. He also performed in Los Angeles in Killer Joe, earning an Ovation Award nomination.
Joseph signed a first-look deal with Lionsgate TV for his Black Fox Productions banner, which he runs alongside his brother Albin.
A member of the Directors Guild of America, he is proud and excited to show his directorial debut episode in the fifth season of Raising Kanan.
Joseph has joined the cast of the hit Onyx series Reasonable Doubt for the highly anticipated third season and he will be starring with Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino in the upcoming film Atypical Pirate. He is also voicing the character Louis in the second season of the animated series The Freak Brothers.
PAST HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS
2024
RAYMOND E. CROSSMAN President, Adler University
NIVINE MEGAHED President, National Louis University
2023
CHRISTOPHER N. JONES Chief Theatre Critic, Chicago Tribune
BOBBI WILSYN Musician and Teacher
2022
DANNY FENSTER ’09 Journalist
MODESTO VALLE Chief Executive Officer, Center on Halsted
2021
DAVID BROZ, LINDA CHÁVEZ, SCOTT HURST, STEPHEN MILLER, BRIAN VITALE, AND MEGHAN WEBSTER Columbia College Chicago Student Center Design Team, Gensler
MICHAEL K. GOI ’80 Cinematographer and Director
DOMINIC A. PACYGA Historian of Chicago
2020
NONE (Columbia held a reduced Commencement because of the global COVID-19 pandemic)
2019
ELZIE L. HIGGINBOTTOM Real Estate Developer and Civic Leader
CHERYL JOHNSON-ODIM Scholar, Human Rights Activist, and Senior Academic Administrator
ANTHONY SARABIA ’92 Former Chicago Public Radio Reporter and News Anchor
2018
DAWOUD BEY MacArthur Fellowship-Winning Photographer and Professor
PAUL B. BROUCEK ’74 President of Music, Warner Bros. Pictures
JENNIFER FARRINGTON ’93 President and CEO, Chicago Children’s Museum
MARY A. MITCHELL ’91 Columnist and Editorial Board Member, Chicago Sun-Times
2017
DAVID CROMER Theatre Director and Stage Actor
MARK E. KELLY Former Vice President for Student Success, Columbia College Chicago
RICHARD P. KIPHART Former Chair, Columbia College Chicago Board of Trustees (honored in memoriam)
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL Artist
JUDY AND DENNIS SHEPARD Activists for LGBT Equality
2016
PAUL GARNES ’96 Television and Movie Producer
JANE LYNCH Actor, Singer, and Comedian
TRACY K. SMITH Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet
CARLOS TORTOLERO Founder and President, National Museum of Mexican Art
DIANE WARREN Grammy Award-Winning Songwriter
2015
LEONARD C. AMATO ’75 President, HBO Films
CHESTER M. GREGORY ’95 Stage Actor and Singer
JOSEFINA LÓPEZ ’93 Playwright, Screenwriter, and Theatre Producer
ANNA D. SHAPIRO ’90 Tony Award-Winning Theatre Director
NAN R. WARSHAW, MA ’93 Co-Founder, Bloodshot Records
2014
JEANNE GANG Architect
JIM JACOBS Composer, Lyricist, and Playwright
TONY KARMAN Promoter of Contemporary Art
GORDON QUINN Documentary Filmmaker
DIANE RAVITCH Professor and Historian of Education
2013
WARRICK L. CARTER President, Columbia College Chicago
JANE HAMILTON Novelist
HERBIE HANCOCK Pianist, Composer, and Bandleader
LORENZO (RENNIE) HARRIS Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Company Director, and Teacher
MARTHA NUSSBAUM Philosopher
JOSEPH SHANAHAN Founder and Owner, Metro and Smart Bar
JESSICA STOCKHOLDER Artist
ROBERT TEITEL ’90 AND GEORGE TILLMAN JR. ’91 Filmmakers
ALLEN M. TURNER Former Chair, Columbia College Chicago Board of Trustees
2012
PHILIP-LORCA diCORCIA Photographer
LEE FLAHERTY Founder and CEO, Flair Communications Agency
STEVE JAMES Documentary Filmmaker
PHIL RAMONE Record Producer and Recording Engineer
WARREN SPECTOR Video Game Designer
MAVIS STAPLES Grammy Award-Winning Singer
2011
BRUCE MAU Designer
RYAN SCHREIBER Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Pitchfork
REGINA TAYLOR Actress and Playwright
2010
ROBERT KLEIN Actor and Comedian
ALEX KOTLOWITZ Author and Journalist
PETER MAGUBANE Photographer
2009
LEE ELIOT BERK Former President, Berklee College of Music
RAY BRADBURY Science Fiction Writer
TRISHA BROWN Dancer and Choreographer
CARLA DELFOS Executive Director, European League of Institutes of the Arts
ALISON KNOWLES Artist
THOMAS MISNER Audio Education Entrepreneur
KUNIHIKO UKIFUNE Advocate for Vocational Education
2008
PHILIP BAILEY, RALPH JOHNSON, MAURICE WHITE, VERDINE WHITE Band Members, Earth, Wind & Fire
GRACIELA ITURBIDE Photographer
DAN RATHER Broadcast Journalist
2007
JOE ADAMS Business Manager and Music Producer
ARMYAN BERNSTEIN Film Producer, Screenwriter, and Director
DIONNE WARWICK Grammy Award-Winning Singer
2006
BUDDY GUY Blues Musician
LINDA JOHNSON RICE President and CEO, Johnson Publishing Company
BERNARD SAHLINS Founder, The Second City
2005
MARK HEISTER Fashion Designer
ALAN KAY Computer Scientist
BILL VIOLA Video Artist
PAST HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS
2004
BILL T. JONES MacArthur Fellowship-Winning Choreographer and Dancer
MARY ELLEN MARK Photographer and Humanist
FRANK RICH Columnist and Drama Critic, New York Times
2003
HENRY FOGEL President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
TONY KUSHNER Playwright
RUSSELL SIMMONS Music Producer, Entrepreneur, and Hip-Hop Pioneer
LOIS WEISBERG Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago
JOHN EDGAR WIDEMAN Writer
2002
ALAN ARKIN Screen Actor and Director
LEWIS MANILOW Founder, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
GRACE PALEY Writer and Political Activist
JAWOLE WILLA JO ZOLLAR Choreographer and Founder, Urban Bush Women
2001
MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV Dancer and Choreographer
DANNY K. DAVIS United States Representative, 7th Congressional District, Illinois
RENEE FERGUSON Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter
ALTON B. HARRIS Chair, Columbia College Chicago Board of Trustees
JESSE L. JACKSON JR. United States Representative, 2nd Congressional District, Illinois
LISEL MUELLER Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet
HAROLD RAMIS Film Director and Screenwriter
JOHN SZARKOWSKI Curator and Photographer
2000
ORAL LEE BROWN Philanthropist and Child Education Advocate
SIDNEY L. PORT Philanthropist and Businessman
ROBERT V. REMINI Historian
ROBERT SHAYE Founder and CEO, New Line Cinema
1999
SHERMAN JOSEPH ALEXIE JR. Novelist, Poet, and Filmmaker
ARTHUR C. NIELSEN JR. Former President and Chairman, A.C. Nielsen Company
SARA PARETSKY Mystery Writer
WILLIAM E. STRICKLAND JR. President and CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation
1998
JOHN H. BRYAN Chairman and CEO, Sara Lee Corporation
DAVID HENRY HWANG Tony Award-Winning Playwright and Screenwriter
MOMMA HAWK Educator and Children’s Advocate
WILLIAM WARFIELD Singer and Actor
1997
JAMES W. COMPTON President and CEO, Chicago Urban League
MARGARET CORBETT DALEY First Lady of the City of Chicago
FRED EYCHANER Media Innovator and Philanthropist
1996
ISABEL ALLENDE Writer
RICHARD HUNT Sculptor
IRV KUPCINET Chicago Sun-Times Gossip Columnist and Television Talk Show Host
JOHN W. ROGERS JR. Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Ariel Capital Management
PAUL SIMON United States Senator, Illinois
1995
EUGENE C. D’ANGELO JR. Television News Innovator
SANDRA P. GUTHMAN President and CEO, Polk Bros. Foundation
JOHN H. JOHNSON Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Johnson Publishing Company
ANN LANDERS Syndicated Advice Columnist
VICTOR SKREBNESKI Photographer
BEN VEREEN Stage and Film Actor, Dancer, and Singer
1994
MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS Civil Rights Activist
JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN Presidential Medal of Freedom-Winning Historian
HAGE G. GEINGOB Prime Minister, Republic of Namibia
JOHN T. RICHARDSON Former President, DePaul University
RITA SIMÓ Founder and Executive Director, The People’s Music School
1993
JANE ALEXANDROFF Former First Lady of Columbia College Chicago
ETTA MOTEN BARNETT Singer, Actress, and Chicago Civic Leader
RIGOBERTA MENCHU Nobel Peace Laureate, 1992
CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN United States Senator, Illinois
CINDY PRITZKER President, Board of Directors, Chicago Public Library
COKIE ROBERTS Senior News Analyst, National Public Radio
1992
HENRY AARON Hall-of-Fame Baseball Player
MATHILDE KRIM Medical Researcher and Founding Chair, American Foundation for AIDS Research
HEDRICK L. SMITH Journalist
1991
WILLARD L. BOYD President, Field Museum of Chicago
JOHNATHAN RODGERS President, Television Stations Division, CBS
HELEN VALDEZ President, Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
DOUGLAS TURNER WARD Founding Artistic Director, The Negro Ensemble Company
1990
LEON DESPRES Former Alderman, City of Chicago
FAITH HUBLEY Academy Award-Winning Animated Filmmaker
YOUSUF KARSH Photographer
CLARENCE PAGE Syndicated Columnist
HASKELL WEXLER Academy Award-Winning Cinematographer
1989
LEON LEDERMAN Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1988
BERNARD LOWN Cardiologist and Nobel Peace Laureate, 1985
STERLING STUCKEY Historian
BERNICE WEISSBOURD Founder and President, Family Focus
1988
JOHN BIRKS “DIZZY” GILLESPIE Jazz Trumpeter
ARDIS KRAINIK General Director, Lyric Opera of Chicago
MIKE ROYKO Newspaper Columnist
KENNETH G. RYDER President, Northeastern University
WILLIAM JULIUS WILSON Sociologist
1987
JACK BRICKHOUSE Sportscaster
MARGARET BURROUGHS Founder, DuSable Museum
PASTORA SAN JUAN CAFFERTY Professor, University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
LAWRENCE K. GROSSMAN President, NBC News
IRVING B. HARRIS Businessman and Philanthropist
JAMES HIGHTOWER Commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture
1986
RUTH ADAMS Editor, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
WILLIAM D. FORD United States Representative, 15th Congressional District, Michigan
FRED FRIENDLY Broadcast Journalist and Educator
LINUS PAULING Nobel Laureate (Chemistry, 1954; Peace, 1962)
RANDALL ROBINSON Executive Director, TransAfrica
1985
JAMES HOGE Publisher, New York Daily News
RAY NORDSTRAND President, WFMT, Inc.
CONOR CRUISE O’BRIEN Diplomat and Author
EILEEN SOUTHERN Musicologist
1974
IVAN ALBRIGHT Artist
JAMES T. FARRELL Writer
ALBERT E. JENNER JR. Attorney
RUTH PAGE Dancer and Choreographer
CHARLEMAE ROLLINS Librarian, Chicago Public Library
1973
BOB FOSSE Stage and Film Choreographer
JAMES B. HOLDERMAN Executive Director, Illinois Board of Higher Education
MYLES F. HORTON Director, Highlander Folk School
ROSA PARKS Civil Rights Activist
HARRISON E. SALISBURY Associate Editor, New York Times
1972
CHESTER “HOWLIN’ WOLF” BURNETT Blues Musician
PAULINE KAEL Film Critic
NEWTON N. MINOW Attorney and Former Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
BILL RUSSELL Former NBA All-Star
NEIL SHEEHAN Reporter, New York Times
QUENTIN D. YOUNG National Chairman, Medical Committee for Human Rights
1971
KAY BOYLE Writer
CHARLES G. HURST JR. President, Malcolm X College
JOSEPH PAPP Director, New York Public Theatre and Shakespeare Festival
WILLIAM PROXMIRE United States Senator, Wisconsin
AARON SISKIND Photographer and Teacher
1970
WILLIAM M. BIRENBAUM President, Staten Island College
R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER Architect
FANNIE LOU HAMER Civil Rights Activist
FRANK REYNOLDS Broadcast Journalist
1969
ANN IDA GANNON President, Mundelein College
DAVID HALBERSTAM Pulitzer Prize-Winning Reporter
CHARLES WILBERT WHITE Artist
1968
EDWARD KENNEDY “DUKE” ELLINGTON Composer and Bandleader
RALPH NADER Consumer Advocate
LOUIS J. “STUDS” TERKEL Radio Journalist and Oral Historian
1967
NORMAN CORWIN Radio Journalist, Radio Dramatist, and Screenwriter
DWIGHT W. FOLLETT Chairman and President, Follett Corporation
LANGSTON HUGHES Poet (honored in memoriam)
KENNETH F. MONTGOMERY Attorney
1966
JOHN BRADEMAS United States Representative, 3rd Congressional District, Indiana
FREDERICK DOUGLASS O’NEAL President, Actors’ Equity
EUGENE RABINOWITCH Editor, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
1965
PAUL HAMILTON ENGLE Poet and Teacher
CURTIS D. M acDOUGALL Journalist and Teacher
1964
GWENDOLYN BROOKS Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet
CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF ARTS
Evangelina Celeste Avila
User Experience and Interaction Design
Jala Mary Aje Bell
Strategic Communication
Aunna Beranek
Strategic Communication
Inaija Butler
Entrepreneurship for Creatives
Leah Erby
Strategic Communication
Samuel Lee Fosbinder
User Experience and Interaction Design
CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER
Lucia Aguirre
Daniela Castro
Liz Fritz
Media for Social Impact
C.L. Furlough Jr.
Entrepreneurship for Creatives
Christianna Jones
Entrepreneurship for Creatives
Hyun Wook Edward Kang
Strategic Communication
Amber Tarell Maddox
Strategic Communication
Patrick Martin
User Experience and Interaction Design
OF ARTS MANAGEMENT
Cameron Henry
Jennifer Lillian Kempf
Kai S. Moore
Entrepreneurship for Creatives
Fidan Nuriyeva
User Experience and Interaction Design
Nikki Pacheco
Strategic Communication
Ksymena Anna Pawlowicz
Strategic Communication
Sebastian Herald Pedersen Interaction Design
Steven Josaph Rankin II
Entrepreneurship for Creatives
Miranda Shein
Strategic Communication
Malik Australia Devonté Singleton
Media for Social Impact
Sylwia Szopa
User Experience and Interaction Design
Lillian M. Thomas
Interaction Design
Hugo Nugraha
Qianyi Wang
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
Christianah Modupe Oluwa
Pelumi Akinsanmi
Acting and Contemporary Performance
Making
Meghan Olivia Arenz
Creative Writing
Joshua Andrew Barker
Fine Arts
Dylan Connell
Photography
Tiffany Connell
Music Composition for the Screen
Isabelle Dimiceli
Creative Writing
Hugh B. Downs
Music Composition for the Screen
Heather Duff
Music Composition for the Screen
Mark Fishbein
Creative Writing
Christian Graham
Music Composition for the Screen
Sean R. Grove
Photography
Kevin A. Hamzik
Fine Arts
Avin Devon HannahSmith
Fine Arts
Kyra Tyler Hendricks
Creative Writing
Ervin D’Onte Jeffries
Music Composition for the Screen
Mikalah Inez Johnson Jenifer
Music Composition for the Screen
Andrew Nelson Jex
Cinema and Television Directing
Sergio de Miguel Jorquera
Music Composition for the Screen
Daniyal Ali Khan
Cinema and Television Producing
Carleeka N’joi Kimmins
Cinema Art + Science-Creative Producing
Samuel Kirkwood Jr.
Fine Arts
Jing Lim
Music Composition for the Screen
Christian Matthew Mitchell
Acting and Contemporary Performance
Making
Emma Dailey Mitchell
Creative Writing
Chidera Dominica Nwume
Creative Writing
Sarah Liedtke Packer
Creative Writing
Valerie Rendel
Creative Writing
Evan Robertson-Brown
Creative Writing
Bingyi Shen
Cinema and Television Directing
Maranda Teutsch
Cinema and Television Directing
Sparsh Verma
Music Composition for the Screen
Jennifer L. Weiner
Acting and Contemporary Performance Making
Deanna Whitlow
Creative Writing
Mickayla Rankin Whitt
Creative Writing
Dawn Angie Armeda Williams
Cinema Art + Science-Creative Producing
Nathaniel Vaughan Williams
Music Composition for the Screen
Judson Womack
Photography
Ziyi Yuan
Cinema and Television Directing
Christopher M. Zeeck
Creative Writing
Yuwan Zhang
Music Composition for the Screen
Jiamin Zhao
Cinema and Television Directing
Pengcheng Zhao
Music Composition for the Screen
GRADUATION WITH ACADEMIC HONORS
Columbia College Chicago undergraduates who graduate with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 are recognized as having graduated with academic honors. Students with a 3.75–3.79 GPA graduate cum laude (“with honors”); students with a 3.80–3.89 GPA graduate magna cum laude (“with high honors”); and students with a 3.90–4.00 GPA graduate summa cum laude (“with highest honors”). These students wear a gold tassel on their mortarboards at Commencement, and their names are listed with an asterisk in the program.
HONORS PROGRAM GRADUATES
The following 2025 graduates of Columbia’s undergraduate Honors Program have successfully completed the requisite number of Honors course credits in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum and have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher over the course of their college career. At Commencement, Honors Program graduates wear a gold Honors stole on which is embroidered the college seal.
Maya Elizabeth Abraham*
Kristian Alvarado*
Alina Amina Azeem
Sophia Lee Morrison Berger*
Jordyn Billiau*
Skyla Rose Sprouse Blumenscheid*
Matias Boeri*
Rory Brady*
Claudia Braun*
Frankie Marilyn Buente*
Lorena Anahi Castro*
Zoe Christie Cheever*
Mel Chinnock*
Jeremy Cohen*
Sabel Marí Colón Polanco*
Samantha Cordrey
Shayle Elizabeth Cruz*
Xenia Espinosa Cruz*
Casey Daigle*
Ruby Grace Doxey Day*
Erin Ruselle Tabada De Leon*
Gwendellyn Docter*
Sophia Doehla*
Larissa Lee Eastman
Citlalli Guadalupe Esquivel
Michelle Ismarie Flores*
Lindy Girman*
Thomas Michael Gorman*
Jeremiah Groff*
Nora Guerrero*
Dilyn Halverson*
Kayla Germaine Hansen*
Tyler Harding*
Sarah Hasany*
David Tyler Henry*
Lilah Cordelia Anicia Hernandez*
Samantha Herrera Flores*
Danielle G. Hester*
Jonah Robert Rosenberg Hicks*
Ciarenn Alic Hollis*
Gabrielle Marie Jones
Sullivan Jordan*
Victoria Elizabeth Joynson*
Claire Elizabeth Kaiserman*
Konstance Angie Kakridas*
August Kelsey*
Aries Skyy Kemp*
Cas Lam*
Blake Larpenteur*
Jack Leimkuehler
Mekka Adon Lloyd*
Brynne London
Daniela Jacqueline Lopez Rodriguez
Holden Reid Magee*
Rachel Manlubatan*
Dominick Dean Mauri
Chloe Gabrielle McFarland*
Sydney Kristine Munson*
Genna Claire Nash*
Kaylee Roxanne Neely*
Raina Arian-Neriah Newman*
Brittany Olvera*
Erin Gabrielle R. Pangan
Oscar Neil Peck-Dorr*
Severn Cathy Perrin-Jackson*
Lilianna Popi*
Thea Marie Zschomler Pratt*
Jason Ramirez
Abigail Rankin*
Victoria Lauren Ransom*
Faith Roach*
Alexander Louis Robeen*
Alma Rodriguez*
Ashley Alejandra Romero*
Nat Sass*
Finn Scully*
Gimena Guadalupe Servin*
Jessie K. Shiau*
Madeleine Grace Smith*
Madeleine Snyder*
Reina Sundara*
Emily Mari Taleff*
Eva Tatarko*
Heather Allison Thaler*
Emma Ann Troy*
Kylie Kathleen Wertz*
Hailey Wilkins*
Emma Wilson*
Ian Jennings Winarski*
Fisher Heart Wolfe*
Teagan Wopat
Hannah Kalan Zeitman*
Katherine M. Zuis*
CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF ARTS
Claudia Braun*
Morgen Brenn
Alison Brenneman*
Nathan Joseph Brieva
Daniel Bright
Elizabeth Bronaugh
Sarah Ann Brooks
Helena S. Brophy
John A. L. Brown
Jordan Janae Brown
Justus Brown
Lilah Allison Brown*
Megan McTavish Brown
Savannah Faith Brown*
Corey Buckner Jr.
Frankie Marilyn Buente*
Mercy Leah Bullen
Maximus Burger
Jessica Burhorn
Megan Elizabeth Burke
Destiny Burnett
Emily Burrows*
Tiara Burton*
Jonas Byars*
Vincent Byas
Ty Cairo
Elizabeth Caizaguano
Elyaas Callahan*
Taryn Janae’ Callion*
Quinn Avery Caltrider
Alondra Camacho*
Ivy-Jolie Camacho
María José Camacho Montealegre*
Juliette Cambron
Harrison Campbell
Nathaniel Campbell
Amanda Danielle Canino
Grace Evelyn Cannon*
Liam Cannon*
Sixto Cano
Juliana Amaral Leite Canuto*
Cyan Michal Carey*
Daniel David Carl
Ethan Eric Carl*
Sam Carlson
Hailey Elizabeth Carmean*
Michael Carr
Leilani Elizabeth Carreno Cruz
Anthony Carrera
Sean Carroll
Isaac Carter*
Carson Cartwright
Cassidy Noelle Casanova
Logan Cash*
Angelina Michelle Castaneda
Cindy Castellanos
Cali Gutierrez Castillo
Elvis Castillo
Yasmin Castrejon
Lorena Anahi Castro*
Joseph Claudius Cates
Paris Noel Catura*
Ava Q. Cavanaugh
Alexandra Albiola Cerdan
Kamile Cernauskaite
Jorge Cerritos Ortiz*
Gregoria Cervantes Escudero
Jocelyn K. Chajon
Lauryn A. Chajon*
Mecca Champion*
Kaleed Chandler
Destiny Chapman
Christian Chavez
Zoe Christie Cheever*
Cyruson Cho
Nania Chol
Jenelle Chollette*
Ivan Chou
Yung-Han Chu
Carlos De Jesus Chua
Madeleine Adelle Church*
Jo Cigarroa Ontiveros
Joseph Clancy
Christina Annette Clark
Kaelynn Clark
Jailah Toi Renee Clayton
Elijah Amir Clyne
Anna Cockfield*
Jacob Cocking*
Jonah Max Cohn
Aubry Ariana Cole
Tiara Aríon Coleman
Maegan Collins
Sabel Marí Colón Polanco*
Conri John Connell*
Jonathan Riordan Connolly
Adrian Contreras*
Justin Jeremy Contreras*
Meauna L. Cooper
Luis G. Cordova III
Samantha Cordrey
Juan Pedro Corona
Lorena Corona
Amber E. Cortecero*
Jordan Cosey
Graeme Coté
Deonte Cox
Cayla Cramer*
Alan Criss
Anya Isabella Cronin*
Luke James Crowe
Kaleb Carson Crowell
Shayle Elizabeth Cruz*
Xenia Espinosa Cruz*
Emily Victoria Cruz-Tello*
Alec Richard Cummings
Kaitlyn A. Curry*
Teagan Dahlen
Elise Dahlstedt*
Casey Daigle*
Jay Dalton
Mia Isabel Dalton
Michael Edward Danganan
Zack Molnar Danni
Morgan Dapkus*
Elizabeth Opeyemi Daramola
Ri Davenport
Aidan Matthew Davis
Jeremy Rivera Davis*
Ruby Grace Doxey Day*
Hela Daza
Erin Ruselle Tabada De Leon*
Simone Delouise De Salle
Seth A. Degenhardt
Beatriz Del Muro*
Alexa Delgado*
Gregory Gerardo Delgado-Jimenez
Maya Alexandra Delgado*
Elisha D. Dennard
Jacob Richard Denny
Elijah DePiore*
Sofia Gabriella DeSantis
Nathan Dewey
Christopher Diaz
Hilani Mariaelena Diaz
Joshua Diaz
Rebecca Diaz
Emily Diaz Romstadt*
AJ DiMascio
Gianna Dimperio*
Ottorino DiNardi*
Jifeng Ding
Australia Sierra Divinity
Gwendellyn Docter*
Sophia Doehla*
Sara Dolphin
Justin Dominguez
Melissa Dominguez*
Giovanna Domma
Greta Dondit*
Sarah Isabella Donnelly
Grace Ellen Donovan
Sofie Elizabeth Doran Rasmussen*
Nyssa R. Doss
Sara Frances Dougherty
Christian Douglas
Yanina Dranichnikova*
Owen T. Driscoll*
Jordan Marc Anthony Drummond
Harlan Duffy
Hezekiah Duncan
Kiya Dunigan
William E. Dunn IV
Bella Durbin*
Everett Chase Dvorak*
Laurent Dyal
Rachael Elizabeth East
Larissa Lee Eastman
Renee Ecang
Stella Eddinger*
Kelsey Latrice Edmond
Patrick J. Edmondson
Anne Lokelani Edulan
Amaris Edwards
Kathryn Summer Edwards*
Ayu Camellia Eini
Ashley Elizarraraz-Martinez
DeAndre K. Elliott II
Audie Embley
Grace Marie Engel*
Aidan Christopher Erdahl
Lily Eriksen*
Brianna Nicole Ernest
Anais Esmeralda Escobedo
Jorge Eduardo Espinoza
Valery Espinoza
Citlalli Guadalupe Esquivel
Henry J. Estes
Yasmin Esteves Perez
Abigail Layne Estrada*
Andrea Evans
Ja’Aire Evans
Jared Eyler*
Lillian Adele Fabacher
Emma Fader
Sean Patrick Fahey
Faith Fajardo*
Terry Inez Falcon
Amairany M. Ferreira
Dylan Kathrine Elizabeth Field
Claire Mary Wollner Filipiak*
Shelby Fish
John P. Fleming*
Edgar Edwardo Flores
Michelle Ismarie Flores*
Gerard William Fogarty
Jayla Treasure Forest
William Hunter Fox
Jauryn Siara Franklin*
Tarah Franzen*
Gabriel Landin Freeman
Kennedy Freeman
Justin Michael Freund
Emma Friedman
Xavier W. Frierson*
Edgar Frutos Jr.*
Maddy Gagliardi-Grabau*
Daria Jordan Gaiter
Lea Gajinov*
Lauren J. Galarraga Liquez
Ashley Vianney Gallegos
Cody Allen Gallegos
Liv Gallo
Finnegan Francis Galvin
Lauren Rose Gandy
Dylan Gann*
Abigail Marie Garcia
Abygail Garcia
Alexis Garcia*
Daniel Garcia*
Everardo Garcia Jr.*
Jasper Garcia
Javier Garcia
Juliana Emilia Garcia
Luis A. Garcia
Stephanie Garcia
Declan Van Stone Gardiner*
Alexander Gregory Gartner
Javier Garza
Naya Jolie Gasper
Elyssa Gavenda
Alexa Gaytan
Israel Gbedey
Zachary Michael-Allen Gearhart*
Heidi Billie Gelpi
Katherine Ann Gerard
Sara Giangrande
Isabella Claire Giannone*
Katherine A. Gibson*
Kelsey Gibson
Angela Ginnane
Lindy Girman*
Carenza Glastonbury*
Lain Gleason
Michael Gleason
Katherine Gnade
Samantha Go*
Winnifred Godinez*
Ashley J. Godoy*
Quinn Gomez
Cierra Gonzales
Ismael Gonzalez
Jesse Gonzalez
Victor Gonzalez
Amarellys Gonzalez-Pelayo
Joshua Goode-Allen
Noah Goodland*
Tobias L. Goodman
Benjamin Gordon*
Demetrius Gordon
Shannon Joyce*
Victoria Elizabeth Joynson*
Sarah Juettner*
Sasha Jumao-as
Kylie Juric*
Claire Elizabeth Kaiserman*
Anna Kalish
Isabella Kanne*
Kayla Karnesky*
Lukas Katilius*
Nabeeha Nafreen Nadeem Kazi
Kaden Kearby
Reagan Kearney*
Yemima Kebede*
Nadia Keen*
Parker Kellas
Ishara Queen Kelsaw-Fletcher
Aries Skyy Kemp*
Ethan Albert Kerr*
Joshua Ryan Keske*
Averie Grace Kiesewetter*
Elaina Kilian
Tyler Kim
Luke Stephen King
Parker Amos Njuguna Kirichu
Patience Kirkland
William Kisor*
Yazan Kiswani
Sophia Rose Klun*
Minjoraye Knight*
Colin Thomas Kniss
Jackson Knowles*
Megan Konieczka
Holly Kopacek
Yasmine Kouli
Kristina Maria Kounelas
Alex Kouns
Luke K. Kraft
Lauren Arnieri
Harrison Kratz*
Viggo M. Krejberg
Joseph Krenz
Jacquelyn Tussia Krieger
M. Stella Krivanec
Lavar Kruel
Victoria Carmen Kruzel*
Carsten Kuehn
Cooper Evan Kuhar
Elizabeth Kumle
Naiah Flores Lahaliyed
Dylan Laing
Daniella Laino
Brigid Kate Lally*
Cas Lam*
Jaylee Paulina Lambino
Natalia Landron
Olivia Renee Langtiw
Thomas Krit Laosiri
Kyle Angelo Lapuz*
Gabriela Largacha-Gomez
Blake Larpenteur*
Callie LaVanway
Kate Lawler
Eliana Lawrence
Robert Lawson
Michael Layfield
Veronica Antonia Leafblad
Quinton Alexander Leaphart*
Jackson Elway Learned
Jack Leimkuehler
Alyssa Lenihan*
Aaliyah Ruby Leon
Adrian Leon
Christopher Alexander Leon*
Ja’keeta Jerlean Lewis*
Aaliyah Monét Lewis*
Shakari Lewis
Barnett Li
Bingfei Li*
Ziteng Li*
Quanze Li
Yufang Liang
Emiliano Ianthe Maria Lievano*
Jessica Light
Eleanor Adora Linder*
Hunter Prehn Lindstrom
Gavin Lipinski*
Maya Annalyn Liquigan
Christopher Little
Brittni Tatyanna Lloyd
Elise Sierrah Lloyd*
Mekka Adon Lloyd*
Tyler Lloyd
Elizabeth LoCascio
Danny Lock
Nora Maxwell Logie
Brynne London
Braeden Long
Trevor Longhofer*
Berenice López
Daniela Jacqueline Lopez Rodriguez
Jose Francisco Lopez*
Paula Ann Lopez*
Sofia T. Lopez Bringuier*
Luis Alberto Loredo
William A. Lovell*
Chase Lowry
Karina Lozada Reyes*
Nikhil Lucas
Diego Isaac Lucero
Vivian Mary Luna*
Angel Luna-Rodriguez
Eliot Indigo Lusero
Malachi Lynch*
Julian Lyons
Maxwell MacGibbon
Jacqueline Macias
Ashlyn Lee Maciejewski*
Christopherpeter Edgar Mack
Emily Madrigal*
Malachi Madrone
Lynn Allison Maeve*
Victor Magana
Julia Grace Magel
Victoria J. Mak
Grace Makinney*
MacKenzie Anne Makurat*
Geneva Isabella Andonia Malone
Marko Mancini
Sara Isabel Rodriguez Mandeville
Rachel Manlubatan*
Maria Ines Manuel
Mikayla Ann Manuel*
Inna Alexandria Manzhul
Zoey H. Marciniak
Audrey Mae Marlette
McKenzie Marlette
Miranda Marocco
Fernanda Scarlette Marquez
Andrew Alexander Martinez* *With academic honors
CANDIDATES FOR THE
DEGREE
OF BACHELOR OF ARTS
Ava Martinez
Celestia Martinez*
Diego Uriel Martinez
Humberto Nicolas Martinez*
Stella Martinez
Camryn Mather*
Timothy Matoba
Hugh Maxey
Adrean Maxwell
Mose D. Mayer
Giovanni Mayfield-Wubbena
Alía Mayoral
Kenli Marie Mays*
Tatiana Delores Mays
Jessie Evelyn Mazursky
Aiden McCallum*
Mo McCarthy
Robert Anthony Jay McClain*
Shavon McClendon
Lauren McClure
Hailey Rayann McCord-Isovski*
Chloe Addison McCoy*
Samantha Michele McCoy*
Angus Cope McCutcheon
Chloe Gabrielle McFarland*
Vi McMahon*
Gwendolyn McNally
Beresford Aloric McNeil IV
Makayla Javona McNutt
Joshua Ray Means
Amy P. Medina*
Luis Alberto Medina
Alfredo Medina-Ortega*
Thomas Meehan
Solomon Mei
Yawen Mei
Hunter Grace Meisel*
Joel Richard Meisinger*
Lindsey Mellor
Elizabeth Melman
Wyatt Menci*
Lily Mend*
Abigail Leslie Mendoza
Dante Mercado
Taylor Grace Meredith
Katherine Meza
Augustus Mikes*
Maximilian Stover Millington
Naiyah Shahari Mills
Darien Milner
Jeremy Eric Minor
Cinthia Miranda Salazar
Justin Miroslaw
Jelil R. Missouri
Jac Mizdrak*
August Monroe Moats
Hasna Mohamed
Noor Mohd
Gustavo Molina*
Jorge Molina Jr.
Mackera M.P. Molomangai
Fiona Maureen Monahan*
Maison Monroe
Lisette Natalie Montenegro
Katelyn Montgomery
Diamond Montiel
Charles Virl Moore*
Malachi Cornelius Melvin Moore
Amaria Jenae Moore
Mia Moore*
Sean Moore
Abigail Morales López
Sheila Darí Morales Muñoz
Alexis Moran
Miles Isaac Moran
Maria Moreno*
Kaitlyn Moreno-Dorado
Sophie Rose Morgan*
Houston Moton-Rufus
Heaven Leigh Mountain
Mary Moyers
Anne Mueggenborg*
Megan Mundo*
Guildar Andre Munoz
Sydney Kristine Munson*
Melissa Renee Murphy
Grace Murray
Amelia June Mussler-Wright*
Soraiya Myers
Isabelle Sankaty Nace*
Krystal Nicole Nambo
Genna Claire Nash*
Tamara Natour*
Aubri Nicolle Nava
Yamilet Navarrete
Kaiyan Naylor
Jordan Neal
Kaylee Roxanne Neely*
Jangmi Neis
Jennifer Nellis*
Mia Nelson
Owen R. Nelson
Brandon Le Nguyen*
Thu Minh Nguyen*
Nguyen Le Bao Tran*
Trenton Nicholas
Luke Niemann
Chris Jafet Nieto Sarmiento
Imogen Vera Noblewolf
Teanna Arianna Norman
Jadyn Rain Norris Sarno
Bernadette Ntandja
Cecilia Obetz
Jonathan Ocampo*
William A. Ocasio
Jessica Ochoa Morales
Katherine E. O’Connor
Declan O’Dell*
Faith Victoria Oehlberg
Alison Ofori-Atta
Emily Kevina O’Halloran
Anna O’Hara
Chenya Isobel O’Hara*
Malika Okot*
Peace Olajide
Shelby Olson
Brittany Olvera*
Banu Oner
Carmen Lizeth Ordoñez Cartagena*
Nicholas M. Orlik
Nicholas Angelo Orozco*
Angel Ortega Blancas*
Arrison Brett Ortiz*
Christopher Gamboa Ortiz*
Vanisa June Oupokin
Alyssa Owens
Gabrielle Owens
Trish Ha Owyang*
Crystal Pacheco
Esmeralda Padilla*
David Jerome Palazzolo*
Evan Palmblad*
Erin Gabrielle R. Pangan
Josselyn E. Parada Guerrero
Reyna Christine Parayno*
Socorro Rose Park
Tonic Park
Derek Pasillas
Eli Neil Passmore
Kamryn Pate
Disha Ramesh Patel
Krushil Patel
Meghan Patnode*
Katherine Pattis
Anyce Paul-Émile
Dolcé Payne
Lauren Marie Adeline Payne*
Oscar Neil Peck-Dorr*
Dahlia Pena*
William Penne*
Matthew Ryan Peralta
Zachary Julian Perdomo
Alan Perea Zaldivar
Fernanda Perez
Gema Perez Gomez
Jeweleana Perez
MariLupe Perez
Osvaldo Perez
Avery LaShun Perkins
Mason James Perkins
Alexandra Jane Perrin
Severn Cathy Perrin-Jackson*
Aaron Peterson*
Corinne Peterson
Venus Bo Petter
Matthew Isaiah Phillips
Armani Pickens
Chase Pickford*
Damon Pierson Jr.
Evan Hyland Pigott
Kaitlynn Elizabeth Pillion
Edna T. Piña Zumaya*
Catherine Anne Pineda
Fabiola Pineda-Villa
Maria Celeste Pinel Rivera*
Marden Pinzon*
Cuyler Miles Poblador*
Elisabeth McCallum Polleys
Nicholas Pope
Alison Popelka*
Lilianna Popi*
Vlada Popyk*
Cadence Ann Porisch*
Michael Postman
Anela Poturovic
Kyle Richard Sombrea Powers
James Pratt
Havion Prevard
Ricardo Price
Parker Elise Primavera
Macy Ariana Privet*
Annelise Theresa Provenzano
Micaela Prunty
Liliana Pulido*
Albina Purelku*
Emily Edwards Pyron
Angeliki P. Pyrros
Alessandra Quinones
Charles Martin Rahn*
Zahi Michael Raines*
Araceli Ramirez*
Christian Ramirez
Danny Ramirez
Jai Ramirez
Jason Ramirez
Kathryn Ramirez
Will Ramirez
Gabriel Andreas Rammouni*
Jaylen Randall
Joey Randall
Dany Rangel*
Kimberly Rangel
Abigail Rankin*
Victoria Lauren Ransom*
Nicholas Raske
Branson K. Ravanh
Savanah Rain Raygoza
Adelle Raymond
Michael Rebeles
Daphne Leigh Reed
Mo Reed*
Reece Reeves
Peyton Reich
Noah Reilly*
West Remy
Kendall Dawn Repins
Carolina Reyes*
Isaac Reyes
Jair Reyes
Manuel Reyes*
Miel Reyes*
Laura Grayce Rezac
Kennady Richard
Kayla Ricker*
Cooper William Ricks
Caden Riley
Andres A. Rios
Melissa Rios Castañeda*
Maleah Marie Ristau
Kaya Semei Rivera
Alexandra Rix*
Faith Roach*
Nicholas Roach
Jack Robbins
Samantha Agnes Roberson*
Indiya Roberts
Agustina Robinson
Andrew Nigel Robinson
Arianna Kimberly Robinson
Mayra Yasmeen Robles Gómez
Nathalia Roca*
Kari Rodeno*
Alma Rodriguez*
Amelia Rodriguez*
Andrew Javier Rodriguez
Ben Rodriguez
Cesar Rodriguez Jr.
Citlali Rodriguez*
Evelyn Rodriguez
Evelyn Rose Rodriguez
Julissa Guadalupe Rodriguez
Kyra Janelle Rodriguez
Melissa Rodriguez
Mia Rodriguez*
Asher B. Gudsen*
Celia Rogel
Ashe Rogers
Rodolfo G. Rojas
Olivia Rokicianski*
Sofía Isabella Roldán*
Anthony Scott Roman
Shanet Roman
Alexa Amy Romero
Ashley Alejandra Romero*
Heather Allison Thaler*
Johnny Thames*
Lily Ayn Theriot
Tré Thomas
Charlesa Thompson
Jamie D. Thompson
Annabella Lynn Thornton*
Sid Tinsley*
Alexandra Tirlea*
Marissa Isabelle Tolini*
Brady Thomas Tooley
Daiya Toran
Ryan Torf
Carla Ivon Torres
Gracie S. Torrez*
Sincere Townsend
Patrick Tran
Marc Anthony Trinidad*
Allison Hsi Trinklein
Tally Lynn Truly
Alessandrina Trunzo
Yvonne Truong*
Alexia Edith Tsengouras*
Kennedy Tucker
Daniel Joseph Turner
Janessa Tyler
Sara Del Rocio Vaca Trujillo
Daisy Valdez Serrano
Lauryn I. Valencia
Vadym Valihun
Angela Lucia Valladares Suazo
Tanya Olivia van den Heuvel
Cooper John Van Dorpe
Jillian Vara
Joey Vargas
Emily Ana Vayda*
Larry Velazquez*
Arianna Marie Velez Schrepfer*
Rebecca Maria Verde
Brody Rhyse Vesely
Gabrielle Alyssa Vidal
Al Villanueva*
Willow Paige Vinkler
Abad Viquez
Aidan Vogel
Amar Vojnikovic*
Lillian Wade
Noah Andre Wagner
Dylan Walker
Siobhán C. Walsh
Han Wang
Evangelina Marie Morales Warne*
Remington Joy Warren
Erin Washington
McGuigan O’Malley Weatherspoon
Breslin Webb
Chase Ryan Wedding
Savannah Wegener
Nathan Weisberg
Austin Ryan Wells
Skyler Wells
Danne Edward Scott Wendel*
Kylie Kathleen Wertz*
Emilee N. Whipker
Jordyn White
Jozlyn White*
Teanna M. White*
Areanna Whittington
Braeden Whittlesey
Cydaney Chyenne Whyte
James Wieners*
Hailey Wilkins*
Haley Williams*
Kayla Williams
Mackenzie F. Williams
Shayla Jené Williams
Tyler Williams
Latil Willis
Riley Willman
Emma Wilson*
Nadiya Alessandra Wilson*
Ian Jennings Winarski*
Zane Danger Winchester
EllaRose Winston
Jay Winston
Mecca Anise Winston
Ryan Winters
Yasmin Winters*
River William Wise*
John M. Witkus
Michael Andrew de Armas Wlodek
Haley Wofford
Noah Bar Wolf*
Fisher Heart Wolfe*
Em J. Woltmann
Kayla Renee Wood*
Elani Woods
Teagan Wopat
Taylor Laraé Wren
Ciaran Wright
I’Ja Wright
Kori Dion Wright Jr.
Demareon Wynn
Andrew Yee
Lara Delanie York
Christopher A. Young Jr.
Liam Patrick Young
Parker Yousufi*
Vincent Zabierowski
Raul Anthony Zacarias
Martyna A. Zajac*
Kara Zamora
Jingyi Zhang*
Tian Zhang
Jingxuan Zhou
Katherine M. Zuis*
CANDIDATES
FOR
THE
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS
Brean W. Adames
Eleanor Marie Agnew
Joella Maame Agyiewaah
Maya Tanaka Allwardt
Noah M. Alvarez
Imani Elijah Anderson Jr.
Isabella Angeloni
Andrea Aponte Irizarry
Mariana Dolores Arceo
Alina Amina Azeem
Noah Bach*
Isabella Michele Barlow
Carlos Andrew Barrientos*
Tara Becares
Watson Bellows
Celine Berger*
Jordyn Billiau*
Jay Black
Cameron Dean Blackwood*
Alexis Morgan Blink*
Gracie JoAnn Bloom*
Emma Bolas*
Sarah Mackenzie Elisa Bonds
Paul Bonokollie
Karlee Marie Bostelman*
Raeghan Elysabeth Breazeale
Liam Edwin Briese*
Veronica Bruck
Dana Ann Buckhoy*
Reis Zachary Burton
Olivia Mae Byam
Isabel Marie Campbell*
Jaylene Caneda*
Kirá Simone Cannon
Alexander Caraballo
Elliot John Carr*
Kayla Marie Casiano*
Kamiyah Castellanos
Grant Castle*
Mel Chinnock*
Samuel Patrick Christensen
Rebecca Ruth Clark*
Jeremy Cohen*
Louis Comfort-Cohen*
Elizabeth Marie Czech*
Harrison Avery Dachel*
Taylor Davis*
Ayla Rose Alidjani DeBord*
Nicholas Dempsey
Emily Ann Denhof
Henry Edmund Denning*
Ciella Marie Xiang Dickson*
Nathan Doty
Linsey Dranginis
Elena Drouin*
Rebecca DuMontelle
William Duwe
Tyler Barry Ehrenberg
Hidy Elghamrawy*
Leah Alice Enelow
Joshua Allen Enos*
Juniper Ericksen*
Cheyenne Christine Espinosa
Sage Eubanks
Andrew Faflick*
Samantha Fernandez
Sebastian Fernandez*
Annika Ingrid Fessler
Devin Joseph Flores
Michelle Fomin
Greta Kristine Forsline*
Estevan Frausto
Melony Friedlander*
Mina Galvan
Julian Garcia
Kara Dominique Garcia*
Kayla Desiree Gilmore
Abbie Miranda Goldmann*
Ashley Estephania Gomez
Lorelai Goodwin*
Olivia E. Grote
Luis Guzman
Elly Hallack*
Kayla Germaine Hansen*
Mark Bradley Hawk*
Kristina Alexandria Hawkins*
Jillian Elizabeth Helm
David Tyler Henry*
Madelyn Heuvelman
Aiden Robert Holczer
Armand Andre Honarkar
Skye Isabelle Huff
Joelle Hutton
Huda Irfan*
Mikhail Issakov*
Addison Fallon Janiec
Stefanie Jara Escobar
Brianna M. Johnson
Lauryn Elizabeth Jamison Jones
Elysia Joseph
Eve Elizabeth Jursinski*
Konstance Angie Kakridas*
Serena Marie Karrer*
August Kelsey*
Samuel James Koehler
Tatum Rose Kriha
Anya Krumbine*
Aalaysia Ladson
Kaitlyn Marie Langowski*
Maya Lee*
Aurora Rose Liston*
Ketsia Jennifer Lopez Segura
Anna Maris*
Iridian Martinez
Jennifer Estelita Martinez*
Dominick Dean Mauri
Maryann McCarthy
Andreu Eddie Medrano*
Angelo Mendez
Luzaurora Mendoza*
Bryannah Charlize Minor
Isaiah J. Mitchell
Lexi Isabella Morgan*
Naya Jalece Morgan
Kasim Morrow
Hayden Myers*
Gavin Naumann
Angel Manuel Negron Jr.*
Amelia Nelson
Raina Arian-Neriah Newman*
Alexander Nguyen
Stephanie Sarah Nolan*
Brianna Northrup*
Kai Elise Offett
Joelle Helena Olabode
Alyson Owens
Kara Papafagos
Darrius J. Parker
Angela Pasquini*
Haley Nicole Patton*
Nicole Patton*
Jack Ryan Pedro
Nikila Perera*
Chris Perez
Tony Tuon-Anh Phan
Ricky Phillips
Emily Josephine Polark
Alan T. Powell
Thea Marie Zschomler Pratt*
Kendell Rasco
Alexa Danielle Reszka*
Sophia Ricciardi*
Saba Rizvi
Alexander Louis Robeen*
Deandre Robertson
Marisa Dawn Rodriguez
Orian Angel Román
Gianna Romano
Jocelyn Romero*
Brennan Rosser*
Allison Ryan
Jasmine Alexa Salgado*
Sam Santana*
Leticia Santos*
Linnea Sardina*
Suzanne Saunders
Finn Scully*
Gabriela Serna Gutiérrez*
Eren Ayvaz Serpen
Caroline Victoria Sgroi
Gabrielle Sheets
Mary Anna Sladkowski*
Kyla Christine Rickeena Smith
Madeleine Grace Smith*
Michael Semaj Smith
Mercedes Soria
Miranda Starke*
Elliot Straub*
Reina Sundara*
Guo-Jian Swartz
Aidan Tack*
Nico Adam Tarbox
Eric Tatum
Hudson Tikoo*
Emma Ann Troy*
Layla Soleil Trunzo
Kylie Jatziri Vega*
Xuan Phuc Vo
Vsevolod Vrzhezhevskyi
Lejla Vulic*
Trianna Celia Wilhite
Callista June Willeford*
Yasmeen J. Wilson
Wyatt Wolf
Noah Harmon
Rhianna Marie Young*
Rahaf Zahran
Soleil Celeste Zamora
Angel Fabian Zavala*
Hannah Kalan Zeitman*
Melissa Zepeda
CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF MUSIC
Doniahl Afshar
Oliver Alexander Simpson Bishop
Skyla Rose Sprouse Blumenscheid*
Aliana Chambliss*
Michael J. Fair
Bunga Sylvania Fuadin*
Jacob Kenton Gearhart*
Jeremiah Groff*
Claire Hanam
Anna Henson
Samantha Herrera Flores*
Mary James
Connor Koppa
Holden Reid Magee*
Shreemayee Ramesh
Katelin Marie Reinert*
Stephen Ryan*
Niclas Alexander Schroeder
Ashlyn Rain Sisco*
CANDIDATES FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE
Danielle Craanen*
Dominic Michael Frugoli*
Damaris Jenkins
Gabrielle Marie Jones
Magdalena Kuczek
Nick Lampiasi
Matthew C. Mayton*
Ricardo Moctezuma*
Susan Muldowney
Lukas Puentes
Rae M. Quarles
John Charles Thro
Nicholas Vitacco
*With academic honors
MUSICAL SELECTIONS
Joe Cerqua, Producer/Director
Zack Berinstein ’12, Associate Producer
Ben Sutherland, Director, School of Audio and Music
COMMENCEMENT CONCERT
“The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines”
Written by Charles Mingus and Joni Mitchell
Orchestrated by Scott Hall
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
“Brighter Day”
Written by Kirk Franklin
Orchestrated by Scott Hall
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Commencement Choir and the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
“Crazy Race”
Written by Roy Hargrove
Performed by the Fusion Ensemble
“Sabana”
Written by Las Karamba
Performed by the Latin Ensemble: Showcase
“Endangered Species”
Written by Wayne Shorter and Joseph Vitarelli
Performed by the Fusion Ensemble
“No Words”
Written by J. Ivy, Sir the Baptist, Anthony Hamilton, and Tarrey Torae
Orchestrated by Scott Hall
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
“Love Train”
Written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
Arranged by Thomas Gunther
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Commencement Choir and the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
“Aguanilé”
Written by Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe
Performed by the Latin Ensemble: Showcase
“Symptom of Life”
Written by Willow Smith, Chris Greatti, Brad Oberhofer, and Asher Bank
Performed by the Fusion Ensemble
“Puro Veneno”
Written by Nathy Peluso
Performed by the Latin Ensemble: Showcase
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
Written by U2
Arranged by Carey Deadman
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Commencement Choir and the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
PROCESSIONAL
“March of the Columbians”
Written by Scott Hall
“Walk This Way”
Written by Joe Perry and Steven Tyler
Arranged by Scott Hall
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
Words by Francis Scott Key, music by John Stafford Smith
Arranged by Joe Cerqua
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Words by James Weldon Johnson
Music by J. Rosamond Johnson
Arranged by Roland Carter
MANIFEST 2025 VIDEO SOUNDTRACK
“Be You”
Written by Manifest Music Video Competition winner
Uriel Blunt ’25
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
“This Is Me”
Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Arranged by Carey Deadman
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Commencement Choir and the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
RECESSIONAL
“Don’t Git Sassy”
Written by Thad Jones
Performed by the Columbia College Chicago Jazz Ensemble
STUDENT ENSEMBLES
LATIN ENSEMBLE: SHOWCASE
Donald Neale, Director
Isabella Anabalón, Vocals
Ivy-Jolie Camacho*, Vocals
Samantha Herrera*, Vocals
Manuela Lopes, Vocals
Briyanna Manzanares, Vocals
Hybri Méndez, Vocals
Kayla Morris, Alto Saxophone
Mark Cangelosi, Alto and Baritone Saxophone
Daniel Gutiérrez, Tenor Saxophone
Gabriel Medina, Tenor Saxophone
Ramón Rodríguez, Trombone
Miles Wilson, Trumpet
Abdiel Diaz, Guitar
Nicholas Basken, Keyboards
Dante Nottoli, Bass
Nate Freedman, Drums and Percussion
Cameron Henry*, Percussion
Carlos Perales, Percussion
FUSION ENSEMBLE
William Boris, Director
Bea Fuadin*, Vocals
Henry Parmenter, Violin
Stephen Ryan*, Guitar
Nicholas Basken, Keyboards
Madeleine Janosch*, Bass
Marcellus Williams, Drums
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
COMMENCEMENT CHOIR
Eric Rutherford, Director
SOPRANO
Ashley Bell
Anna Henson*
Jenna Hernandez*
Samantha Herrera*
Mary James*
Kamila Kay
Shreemayee Ramesh*
ALTO
Mercy Bullen*
Bea Fuadin*
Mariah Gordon
Claire Hanam*
Ashlyn Sisco*
Quinn Wells
TENOR/CONTRALTO
Skyla Blumenscheid*
Mal Freyvogel
Donnovan Grandberry
Jacori Johnson
Holden Magee*
Briyanna Manzanares
Janae Spradley
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Scott Hall, Director
SAXOPHONE
Mary-Mullis Keyse, Alto Saxophone
Frank Logan, Alto Saxophone
Daniel Gutiérrez, Tenor Saxophone
Gabriel Medina, Tenor Saxophone
Mark Cangelosi, Baritone Saxophone
TROMBONE
Gibson Chidel, Trombone
Joe Ghelfi, Trombone
Ramón Rodríguez, Bass Trombone
TRUMPET
Payton Hall
Caity Speer
Adam Stoelb
Miles Wilson
VOCALS
Manuela Lopes
RHYTHM SECTION
Joe Cates*, Guitar
Richard Gibbs III, Piano
Madeleine Janosch*, Bass
Paris Catura*, Drums
William Penne*, Drums
*Graduating student
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The producers would like to acknowledge the following individuals for helping to make the 2025 Commencement exercises possible:
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION
Esteban Amaro ’05
Jenna Baugh ’00
Danielle Helgeson ’19
Jennifer Porter
Olivia Soliz
STUDENT PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
Antonia Butka ’26
Lia Dabney ’28
Jenna Davis ’26
Amaris Echenique ’26
Raymia Fowler ’27
Jack Hewitt ’28
Morgan Lawson ’27
Braxton Mastre ’26
Raven McCray ’26
Josefina Medrano ’26
Kaila Patton ’26
Sofie Posada ’26
John Reyes ’26
Danetra Thomas ’28
Cecilia Voth ’27
MANIFEST MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCERS
Green River Films, Inc.
Sam Sanders MFA ’01
John Farbrother MFA ’03
VIDEO PRODUCTION
Lorelle Communications, Inc.
Kevin Corcoran, Director
SITE PRODUCER
Charles Gomez
Charles Gomez Productions
STAGE MANAGER
Debra Liddell
Columbia College Chicago proudly marks 135 years of transformative impact and artistic excellence, tracing its roots back to its founding in 1890.
This milestone celebrates a legacy rich in creativity, innovation, and resilience, reflecting the college’s enduring commitment to shaping the future of the arts, technology, and business. As we honor our past, we also look forward to continuing our tradition of nurturing creative minds and pioneering new frontiers in the years to come.