2025 Commencement - Graduate Program

University of Findlay Graduate Commencement

Class of 2025 May 10, 2025

Recognition of Family Members, Faculty, Staff, and Trustees .................................................... President Fell

* “Findlay Alma Mater Hymn” Led by Dr. Teeple

* Benediction Dr. William Kose Board of Trustees

* Recessional

Please remain standing until the academic procession exits to attend the Arch Ceremony.

Individuals Seated on Stage: (from left to right) Kerry S. Teeple, EdD, Dr. William Kose MD, JD, Mr. W. Paul Worstell, President Katherine R. Fell, PhD, Jennifer Fennema-Bloom, EdD, Sean Farmer, Damon Osborne, PhD, and Darin E. Fields, PhD

Individuals Seated in the Assembly:

Faculty Marshal Diana M. Montague, PhD, Professor of Communication

Assistant Faculty Marshals

* Please stand if able.

Sarah Fedirka, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair of English Benjamin E. Sapp, Director of the Mazza Museum Leah Brant EdD, Assistant Professor of Teaching in American Sign Language

W. Paul Worstell

Retired President, Pro-Tec Coating Co.

Paul Worstell is a 1999 graduate of the MBA program at the University of Findlay and a 1970 graduate of Mt. Union College. After 26 years working with US Steel in the Pittsburgh region, Paul became president of PRO-TEC Coating Company, a joint venture of US Steel and Kobe Steel Japan in Leipsic, Ohio. He retired in 2010 and went on to serve as a business coach and as CEO of the Findlay Family YMCA. Paul has served as chair of the Board of Trustees of Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS), and on the boards of the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, the Partnership for Excellence, the Braden Kramer Foundation, and The Baldrige Foundation. He has also been a mentor to multiple Baldrige award-winning CEOs at the state and national levels. In addition to his significant involvement in the greater Findlay community, Paul has contributed to the University of Findlay as a past Dana Chair, a member of the College of Business Advisory Board, and an advisor for the Fukui program. He has been a lecturer at multiple universities on the topic of leadership and was recognized as a 2015 UF Distinguished Alumnus.

Doctor of Pharmacy

Gheed Al Jubury Peoria, AZ

Sarah M. Anderson Killbuck, OH

Haley Belle Baker Pandora, OH

Samantha Bentley ................ Columbus, OH

Kyla Simone Brandenburg ............ Dayton, OH

Joshua Eian Cheng.............. Castro Valley, CA

Zoey Cook Mount Vernon, OH

Mouna Dallal Dearborn Heights, MI

Phoenix Dasbach Westerville, OH

Changlena Delpe Delray Beach, FL

Lindsey A. Downs ............... Chesterland, OH

Kendra M. Ellerbrock ............... Ottawa, OH

Katelyn Sue Fauver .......... Newcomerstown, OH

Megan Elizabeth Foster Dayton, OH

Stephen Garrison Findlay, OH

Ryan Jeffrey Gildow Warsaw, OH

Lauren Elizabeth Hapgood .......... Edmond, OK

Alexandria Marie Hornyak ........... Findlay, OH

Evelyn D. Khammanh ............. Columbus, OH

Allison Carol Leszczynski Howe, IN

Bailee M. Meeker Dayton, OH

Regan Middendorf Fort Loramie, OH

Emily C. Neff Galena, OH

Joseph Anayochi Nwachukwu Springdale, MD

Samuel James Oliver ............. Valley City, OH

Shelby Marie Pandy ........ Concord Township, OH

Anjali Patel .........................Tampa, FL

Maile Faith Plotner West Mansfield, OH

Gabriel Reyes Tiffin, OH

Sarah Ritter Amherst, OH

Klair Louise Ruggiero Findlay, OH

Madison A. Schroeder ........... Wapakoneta, OH

Hallie Marie Schuller .............. Perrysburg, OH

Hailey Selders ...................... Toledo, OH

Carson Andrew Shoemaker Murfreesboro, TN

Allison Lyn Siefker Ottawa, OH

Emily Phipps Thieda Washington, MI

Courtney Grace Weihrauch ......... Arlington, OH

Paige Briann Willms ................. Orland, IN

Christopher Xie .................. Perrysburg, OH

Drew Michael Zimmerman Fairfield, OH

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Skylar Albers Minster, OH

Jeremy Baronner ....................... Erie, PA

Joshua Edward Bluell ............... St. Joseph, MI

Mikayla Burns ..................... Milford, OH

Jeremy Burton Schoolcraft, MI

Benjamin Corbitt Carbondale, IL

Bethany Suzanne Cuatt Jackson, MI

Leah Marie DeLuca Santa Rosa, CA

Robert Mitchell Dill ............. Charles City, VA

Emily Edmond ................... Valparaiso, IN

Kristy Dawn Fair Michie, TN

Braxton Fasone Findlay, OH

Elizabeth I. Flynn Avon, OH

Collin Michael Frazier Forest, OH

Janna Rachel Fulkerson ................... Ina, IL

Shawn Gallagher ............... North Branch, MI

Ryan Grant ................... Myrtle Beach, SC

Michael Elijah Hammer Dandridge, TN

Robyn Hanson Decorah, IA

Alexia Katsma Orange City, IA

Halie P. Kaufman Fort Jennings, OH

Amanda Kelliher ................ Spencerville, OH

Langston Toussaint Kennedy ....... Blythewood, SC

Megan Anne Kerns .............. Gates Mills, OH

Christine Aref Khattar Canton, MI

Alexander Kim Los Angeles, CA

Alyssa Renee Kreinbrink ............. Ottawa, OH

Jared Allen Lepard ............... Grove City, OH

Julia Magdalena Lodzinski ........ White Lake, MI

Ashley Elizabeth Matson South Salem, OH

Daniel Lee Miller Dublin, OH

Jessica L. Mitchell Science Hill, KY

Madison M. Mlsna Findlay, OH

Alexander Michael Molina. . . . . . . . Huntington, WV

Danillo V. Morlani ................... Solon, OH

Rainier Olea Navarro II Las Vagas, NV

Drew Nielson Delta, UT

Makenna Marie Niese Ottawa, OH

Magdalene M. Ridenour Fort Wayne, IN

Mary-Lucile Leach Smith .......... Plain City, OH

Mohsin Ali Taher................. Bakersfield, CA

Justina Templeton .............. East Dubuque, IL

Lewis Everett Thomas Jr. Greenville, NC

Olivia N. Volarcik Avon, OH

Storm Emery Walling Connersville, IN

Isaac Dalton Webb Wapakoneta, OH

Melissa Westergard ........... Mount Pleasant, SC

Kayla Marie Zelle ............... Garden City, MI

Leslie Zoller ...................... Marietta, OH

Doctor of Education

Leigh Cullum Cincinnati, OH

David Elam Loveland, OH

Tina M. Fournier Bascom, OH

Ishea Gabrielson. .

.Tiffin, OH

Joshua Dean Hamilton ............. Blacklick, OH

Angela S. Huber.................... Ottawa, OH

Michael T. Losneck Parma, OH

Scott Anthony Perrotte Sylvania, OH

Vaughn Anthony Ray Maria Stein, OH

Christopher Tierney ................ Pataskala, OH

Carla Marie Treadway ............. McComb, OH

Joselyn Mary Yonker ................ Newark, OH

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Brenen Michael Edward Auer Delphos, OH

Chloe Ann Eppley Tiffin, OH

Sydney Ferguson Carey, OH

Natalie Homan ............... Fort Recovery, OH

Wade S. Hopkins .................. Findlay, OH

Julia Hutchins ....................... Lima, OH

Olivia Ann Koenig Maria Stein, OH

London Alexis Moening Defiance, OH

Conner Muhlenkamp Fort Recovery, OH

Jenna Pilkington Napoleon, OH

Catherine Stover .....................Tiffin, OH

Christopher Tornow............... Woodville, OH

Hayley Grace Waltz ................. Rawson, OH

Doctor of Education in School Psychology

Alyssia Evans North Canton, OH

Jennifer Hemmelgarn Coldwater, OH

Lisa Markley Massillon, OH

Jackson Thomas Schaffer Willard, OH

Kaitlyn Slate Dayton, OH

Miranda Slone Ashland, OH

Melanie Strittmatter Powell, OH

Jessica Wischmeyer Ottawa, OH

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Applied Linguistics

Mohammed Zaher Alshahri Jr. ........ Saudi Arabia

Asmaa Amer Shaaya Durdur ................. Iraq

Mohammed Mofareh Ghazwani Saudi Arabia

Mahbuba Kabiri .................... Bangladesh

Kathrine Keller ..................... Galion, OH

Hikari Jonathan Tsukabayashi Japan

Master of Arts in Education

Jacob Levi Adams Findlay, OH

Sharmina Akter Bangladesh

Eunice Ekuwa Efumba Assafuah Ghana

Arazgul Atabayeva ................. Turkmenistan

Emily Katherine Blankemeyer .. Columbus Grove, OH

Katelyn Rebecca Breece ............ Risingsun, OH

Kaitlynn Briggs Mount Vernon, OH

Jennifer Lynn Burrow Findlay, OH

Morgan Ryndell Bzovi Swanton, OH

Lauren T. Calvert Convoy, OH

Emily Theresa Deffenbaugh ....... Wapakoneta, OH

Joelle Elias ......................... Jewett, OH

Kathleen J. Ellis .................. Perrysburg, OH

Alexander Essel Ghana

Chad Aaron Hirschy Arlington, OH

Brock Homier Defiance, OH

Taylor Mercedes Jones Toledo, OH

Janet Marie Kolk Findlay, OH

Jill Anna Lesneski ............. North Canton, OH

Jeffrey Linhart .................. Bay Village, OH

Jenna R. Livingston ............... Arlington, OH

Normaris Mendoza Findlay, OH

Jacob Darin Michael Elida, OH

Allison Britten Mills Bowling Green, OH

Kylie Rae Newland Elida, OH

Michaela Anthony Ohradzansky ....... Findlay, OH

Emily Overs ....................... Kenton, OH

Liana Petitti ...................... Bellevue, OH

Alexandra Nikol Vicars Findlay, OH

Daniel Walasinski Sylvania, OH

Master of Business Administration

Allam Mohammed Abdul India

Robert Adotey Addo ..................... Ghana

Erica Afrihyia........................... Ghana

Esther Aidoo Ghana

Simeon Joseph Akepogu India

Masrul Akhand Bangladesh

Taslima Akter Bangladesh

Reem Qayyadh Alruwaili ............ Saudi Arabia

Laiying Jellue Alvarado Alvarez .......... Venezuela

Sravan Kumar Ananthaneni ................ India

Nikitha Yadav Avula India

Meenakshi Avusala India

Saujan Baniya Nepal

Smit Kirankumar Bhatt India

Sai Swaroop Reddy Bojja ................... India

Pradeep Bonda ........................... India

Paul Briggs .......................... Lima, OH

Jainy Uttam Chheda India

Camdyn Mikael Childers Fort Wayne, IN

Joshua Eric Chokan Avon, OH

David Cubillos ......................... Canada

Jubina Dahal ........................... Nepal

Eshwar Dannada ......................... India

Sai Harsha Degapudi India

Mahesh Yadav Eraganaboina India

Priscilla Adelaide Ewudzie-Sagoe Ghana

Jenna Katherine Ferguson Manhattan, IL

Sparsh Gadia ............................ India

Jasmine Glispie ..................... Robbins, IL

Mitchell Charles Hanosh .............. Adrian, MI

Devin Levi Hickman Jackson, OH

Chayada Higgins Bowling Green, OH

McKenzie Elizabeth Hoelscher Fort Loramie, OH

Gretchen Marie Jewett Caledonia, OH

Deekshitha Reddy Kamatam India

Srujan Katkuri ........................... India

Ruchitha Koppolu ........................ India

Vishnu Vardhan Reddy Kotha India

Suman Lamichhane Nepal

Crystal Lawler Marysville, OH

Rafael Lozano Machado Colombia

Emma Alexandria Lynch ............ Sandusky, OH

Sulona Maharjan ........................ Nepal

Swetha Mallu ............................ India

Madhulatha Mannem India

Masai McDaniel Cleveland Heights, OH

Siraj Uddin owais Md India

Sohaib Mehmood India

Dhruvi Aakash Mehta ..................... India

Brayden Miller .......................Carey, OH

Kerri Modd (Turner) ................ Kenton, OH

Michelle L. Moegling Mentor, OH

Sarfaraaz Kazam Mohammed India

Rishi Mullagiri India

Yashwanth Reddy Nagulapati ............... India

Dhiyanesh Nallashivam .................... India

Naga Pavan Nalluri ....................... India

Bala Ajay Kumar Narisetty India

Anita Neupane Nepal

Boston Osborne Cincinnati, OH

Debra Parker Harrod, OH

Himadriben Pankajkumar Patel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . India

Tisha Rakeshbhai Patel .................... India

Vishaniben Savankumar Patel ............... India

Girish Kumar Perumalla India

Alton Phillips Carey, OH

Stephen Malcolm Powell Parkland, FL

Keegan Radeff North Olmsted, OH

Deepthi Pulla............................ India

Vishwanath Punna ........................ India

Shruthi Pusala India

Rahul Rajarapu India

Yojari Ramchandra Rajmane India

Anil Joshya Ramavath India

Anusha Ramineni ........................ India

Prathyusha Rangineni ..................... India

Revathi Sadu India

Keerthi Sameneni India

Pavan Sai Radha Krishna Sanga India

Nagarjuna Reddy Seelam India

Thaslima Shaik .......................... India

Dileep Shanigarapu ....................... India

Lalitha Kalabhashini Suddakattu ............ India

Mohiuddin Syed ......................... India

Maniteja Thalla .......................... India

Laasya Gowthami Thota India

Sukanya Thotakura India

Sneha Tula India

Sai Anirudh Goud Undrakonda India

Sonal Valpadasu .......................... India

Praveen Vasireddy ........................ India

Ramabharathi Vatsavaya India

Keerthana Vedantam India

Sai Sindhu Veeraragavula India

Tejasvi Reddy Velupula India

Sowmya Vemula ......................... India

Sai Srikanth Reddy Vinjamuri ............... India

Praveena Yeddla Venkateshwar Rao ........... India

Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing

Jacob Clagg Findlay, OH

Olivia Hyatt Van Buren, OH

Godwin Baffour Adjei Osei Ghana

Sean Richmond Steele Findlay, OH

Master of Science in Applied Security and Analytics

Abdullah Adel Ahmed Saudi Arabia

Kojo Botwe Ampiaw-Osei Ghana

Sai Lakshman Annabathula India

Daniel Badasu .......................... Ghana

Ram Arun Balthu ........................ India

Medha Chandanamudi .................... India

Vamsi Kanthi Kiran Deta India

Octavian Alexander Dungee Springfield, NJ

Benjamin Koranchie Frimpong Ghana

Eyad Halawani.

Saudi Arabia

Teja Sai Jagarlamudi ...................... India

Lakshmi Sai Kaivalya Kadiveti .............. India

Suresh Kumar Lopinti India

Upendra Reddy Machunuru India

Nissi Kumar Namu India

Subba Rao Ravuri ........................ India

Navitha Samineni ........................ India

Safiuddin Siddiqui ........................ India

Lakshmi Chandu Tirumalasetty India

SatyaSaiPavanKumar Vidiyala India

Bipin Wagle Nepal

Shalini Yalamandhala ..................... India

Maha Lakshmi Soumya Yalavarthi ........... India

Lohith Yeleswarapu ....................... India

Master of Arts in Professional Communication

Markel Davis Columbus, OH

Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences

Skylar Francis Niese ............. New Bavaria, OH

A Note on Academic Processions

Commencement is the most formal convocation held by the University and begins with a procession led by our faculty marshal who carries the University’s ceremonial mace. The mace carried today has been in use on our campus since 1982. It is a staff ornamented with a sheaf of gold rods and a golden sphere. The sphere, engraved with the symbols of the University, identifies our relationship to the Christian church. The lamp of learning symbolizes our academic mission; three crosses of Calvary; a towel, basin, and pitcher represent Christian servitude; and a Celtic cross represents outreach.

Following the marshal in the processional are representatives of the Board of Trustees, senior administrators, and faculty members arranged by rank and seniority. The robes worn by members of the University faculty and administration represent the academic regalia traditionally seen at commencement ceremonies throughout the United States. First used in European universities in the 14th century, academic regalia have become standard commencement attire in the United States. Regalia include a distinctive robe, hood, and cap. The robe is a dark color, most often black, with bands of color on each sleeve and on the front of the garment. The bands on the sleeve indicate the degree level with three horizontal bands representing doctoral level degrees. The lining of the hood reflects the colors of the university from which the wearer’s highest degree was conferred. The color of the trim identifies the individual’s principal field of learning.

Colors of representative fields of learning are noted below:

Arts, Letters, Humanities ................................................... White

Commerce, Accountancy, Business.......................................Drab

Economics ....................................................................... Copper

Education

Light Blue

Fine Arts Brown

Journalism Crimson

Occupational Therapy .............................................. Rhodes Blue

Pharmacy ............................................................................ Olive

Philosophy ...................................................................Dark Blue

Physical Education

Sage Green

Physical Therapy Peacock Blue

Public Health Salmon Pink

Science Golden Yellow

Social Work ....................................................................... Citron

Veterinary Science ................................................................ Gray

Students may elect to wear an orange stole of gratitude during the ceremony and following the ceremony present the stole to an individual who made a significant impact on them.

Our History

In June 1889, the first graduating class of then Findlay College received their diplomas. Both graduates, one man and one woman, had begun their studies just three years earlier in a brand new Old Main. Their graduation was the culminating step of a process that started in 1881 when the Churches of God, General Conference, conceived of establishing a college in Northwest Ohio. Co-founded in 1882 by the church and the citizens of the City of Findlay, Findlay College was quickly incorporated as an educational institution and 10 acres of land was acquired on the then rapidly growing outskirts of the city. Old Main cost $50,000 to build and construction took four years. Findlay College officially opened on Sept. 1, 1886 with 70 students.

In 1923, the Griffith Memorial Arch was constructed as a memorial to former student and faculty member, Caddie Griffith, who died unexpectedly of the flu. The arch has become a significant part of campus tradition with students walking through the arch as both a new student and then again at Commencement.

Old Main remained the only building on campus until the construction of the Renninger Gymnasium in 1925. The gymnasium is now home to the University’s Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Program as well as the All Hazards Training Center.

The University’s Christian heritage is evident throughout our history. In 1942, the Winebrenner Graduate School of Divinity was established. It became a separate institution in 1961, but the connection to UF has remained strong. The now Winebrenner Theological Seminary is located in the University’s Winebrenner Building and UF collaborates with the seminary to offer undergraduate degrees in religious studies.

Findlay has welcomed international students since its inception and the size of its international population has grown since the establishment of an Intensive English Language Institute in 1975. Today, students from more than 30 countries outside of the United States attend the University of Findlay, enriching the educational experience for all students at UF.

In 1989, in response to a growing campus, Findlay College changed its name to the University of Findlay, and the school introduced one of its first master’s degree programs, now known as the Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Applied Linguistics.

The first president, Rev. John Latchaw, guided the College through the early years of establishing Findlay College on the foundation of academic excellence, service, supportive community, and Christian faith that are still hallmarks of a Findlay education today. Since Rev. Latchaw, 16 other presidents have continued to fulfill the mission of the university to equip students for meaningful lives and productive careers. Our current president is Katherine Fell, PhD, who was named president in 2010 as the University’s first female president.

Throughout its 140+ year history the University has continued to grow and adapt its educational offerings, facilities and instructional approach to meet the needs of students and the industries they serve. This is evident in the growth of our campus, which now includes nearly 400 acres including the 80-acre main campus and two expansive animal science and equestrian farms. The newest addition to campus is the 75,000-square-foot Center for Student Life and College of Business. This building, opened in 2017, was significantly supported by donors and has become the new hub for campus activity.

The pace of advancement has never diminished. Today, the University of Findlay continues to deliver on the promise of academic excellence, transformative experiences, and a supportive community that is grounded in the Christian faith. Every student can take advantage of experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Just as the first two graduates of Findlay College were prepared for their futures, today’s graduates walk through the arch prepared to lead meaningful lives and productive careers.