Charles Corcoran, Ph.D., Professor, Accounting and Finance, Faculty Marshal
CALL TO ORDER
Wes Chapin, Ph.D., Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
ANTHEM*
“The Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key William Thomson, Soloist, Graduating Senior, Geology
WELCOME
John Chenoweth, Ed.D., Chancellor
STUDENT SPEAKER
Cassie Christian, Graduating Senior, Chemistry and Biochemistry
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kurt Torgersen, Ph.D., Chemistry and Biotechnology, Distinguished Teaching Award recipient
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES**
Wes Chapin, Ph.D., Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Caroline Baker, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies
Muhammad Chishty, Ph.D., Dean, College of Education, Business and Allied Health
Michael Orth, Ph.D., Dean, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Karl Peterson, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
READERS
Grace Coggio, Ph.D., Professor, Communication and Media Studies
CONFERRING OF DEGREES
John Chenoweth, Ed.D., Chancellor
RECESSIONAL*
Variety of musical selections
*Audience standing
**The audience is asked to please withhold applause until diplomas have been distributed to each college. Some positions are currently held by interim leaders.
PLATFORM PARTY AND PARTICIPANTS
John Chenoweth, Ed.D., Chancellor
Wes Chapin, Ph.D., Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Caroline Baker, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies
Muhammad Chishty, Ph.D., Dean, College of Education, Business and Allied Health
Michael Orth, Ph.D., Dean, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Karl Peterson, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Michael Gilmer, Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment and Dean of Students
Kurt Torgersen, Ph.D., Chemistry and Biotechnology, Distinguished Teaching Award recipient
Jill Hills, Alumni Advisory Board President
Charles Corcoran, Ph.D., Professor, Accounting and Finance, Faculty Marshal
William Thomson, Soloist
Cassie Christian, Student Speaker
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Michael Orth, Ph.D., Dean
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS
Emily Jo Bittelman ****
Natalie Amy Bostrom *
Cianna Faye Diedrich
Ashton Haack
Carter Quam *
Madalyn Raye Quint **
Derek Michael Weber
Paige Kathleen Wendt *
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
Brittany Sue Bauer ** TAHTANKKA ROBERT DAMM ***
Alyssa Jo Smith
Gabrielle Rose Wills *
AGRICULTURAL STUDIES
Emma Eisele
Samantha Lane Feine *
Robert W Patterson
ANIMAL SCIENCE
Ashley Ann Angel *
Olivia Grace Barber ***
Natalie Amy Bostrom *
Bailey Boucher *
Isabella Grace Bovitz ****
Rivver Densley
Julia Diedrich
Chesney Ann Eschbach ** SHILOH FORNER ****
Matthias Markus Gerhards
Chelsea Rose Housley
Mikayla Rose Jarumbo
Jada Marie Johnson *
Grace Margaret Johnson
Haley Rae Kropidlowski
Seren Alexis Magestro
Emma Elixabeth May
Kristin Nichole Monchilovich
Marissa Diane Myska *
Emma Grace Nechanicky ***
Haley Peterson
Danielle Marie Peterson *
Olivia Claire Pittam
Ellanora Margaret Podeszwa
Madalyn Rae Quint **
Kaylee Elizabeth Rinehart **
EMMA SANDBERG ***
Selena Marie Sann
Boon Yan So *
Regan Noel Triplett
Savanna Jean Trittelwitz
CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Kennedy Farrell
Tia Foster **
Lindee Jean Hermes
Nicholas
Paul Hill
Ellison Clare Popp **
CROP AND SOIL SCIENCE
Brett Klein
Lora Lynn Korth *
Jacob Jerome Matyka *
Austin John Meade *
Hannah Renee Schull *
DAIRY SCIENCE
Emma Jo Bangart **** TAHTANKKA ROBERT DAMM ***
Lindsey Eberle ****
Lora Lynn Korth *
KayLee Rose Krogstad
Georgia Mae Schultz
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
John Julius Gray *
Victoria Jane Lauer *
Carter Quam*
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Reily Jacob Sieren *
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Elliot Edwin Connelly
Cassie Lynn Hoffmann
GEOLOGY
Andrew Lundeen
Allison Lee Struemke
William Alexander Thomson
HORTICULTURE
Dorian Balcerzak
Tristan Nicholas Barringer
Kenny *
Elliot Edwin Connelly
Jenna Mae Dedina ***
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
Emma Jo Bangart **** Bailey Boucher *
SHILOH FORNER ****
Mikayla Rose Jarumbo
Marissa Diane Myska *
Emma Grace Nechanicky ***
Haley Peterson
Kaylee Elizabeth Rinehart **
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Karl
Peterson, Ph.D., Dean
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Carisa Bishop * Adria E Schmidkunz
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Kimberly J Huggett
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS
Kira Anderson **
Flor Zuleima Campos ****
Hayden Michael Everett Feuerborn *
Chloe Germain ***
Natalie Marie Meyer
Abigail Marie Nick *
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
ART
Abigail Grace Kneeskern
Alysa Marie Malm **
BIOLOGY
Anna Ruth Blair
Meghan Boyles
Nicole Elfering ***
Alfred Gilmore Flatten ***
Lucy Anne Ramsey *
Justin David Scheberl ***
Gabriel Jordeen Traicoff *
BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH
SCIENCE
Hannah Brandvold *
Kalina Catherine Bray
JACK JOSEPH COLOGGI
FAITH NICHOLE COUR ***
Julia Grace Dahl *
Steven Dahl *
Sara Jayne Gruszynski
Madeline Jo Koch ****
Jordan L Lehman
KAISA LUOMA ANDERSON *
Emeris Anders Mattson *
Isabella Grace Weber
Maria Rosa Xelhua Simarron
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Steven Dahl *
CHEMISTRY
Zack Henry Anderson ****
CASSANDRA SUE
CHRISTIAN ◊ **
Kaci Granroth *
Budd J Rutter
Garrett Robert Shuff
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
MARGARET ALTMANN ***
Haden Araco
Allexis E Bohmbach
Macy Elizabeth Fee
Lucy May Garrett *
Elise Laura Heckmann
Lonna Louise Jansen *
Anna Christine Johnson
Mallori Martin *
Abbie Montreal
Teegan A Palmer
Emilia Rabitoy
Landon Christopher Thies ****
Hailey Ann Trzebiatowski ***
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Erika Mae Feshami
Samuel John Johnson *
Tola Guto Lole
Sydney Ann Matzek
Braden Robert Prestholdt
Anthony Rivera Rivera
Jordan Elizabeth Schmidt
Gavin R Schnepper
Poobanaa Selvam
Grace Sieben *
Benjamin William Strandmark ***
Blake Sweeney *
Wyatt Turbeville *
William Ronald Weiskopf
CRIMINOLOGY
Lydia Greene
Benjamin Hennes
Grace Elizabeth Nickoloff
Grace Sieben *
DATA SCIENCE
Benjamin Thomas Rohl ***
ENGLISH
Jacob Cameron Bulera
Caroline Enochson **
Tabitha Fiedler ***
MEGAN CLARE LAWRENCE ****
GEOGRAPHY
Michael Anthony del Fiacco
Charles Kaden Varien
GEOLOGY
Gabriel Jordeen Traicoff *
HISTORY
Maxwell L Fey
Tyler James Heidtke
Sophie Bonita June Phipps
Jennafer Jo Schoenecker
Benjamin James Watry ****
Garrett Wood
Chesney Abygail Ragina Zaverousky
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Juliana Christine Graff **
JOURNALISM
Ethan Christopher Lay **
Jaden Matchette
MARKETING
COMMUNICATIONS
MARGARET ALTMANN ***
Haden Araco
Allexis E Bohmbach
Kylee Mae Calchera
Jenna Ann Caspers
Macy Elizabeth Fee
Elise Laura Heckmann
Ashley Jerikovsky
Anna Christine Johnson
Addie Christine Koenig ****
Alysa Marie Malm **
Abbie Montreal
Landon Christopher Thies ****
Hailey Ann Trzebiatowski ***
Brooke Anne Zitzloff ***
MATHEMATICS
Sage Durdle
Marcos Martinez ****
Andrew Allen Sandberg
MODERN LANGUAGE
Anthony Rivera Rivera
MUSIC
Josephine Brannon ****
Abigail Christine Tollefson ***
NEUROSCIENCE
Peter Bjerke ****
ISABELLA MARIE GORDON BLETT
Andrew Castillo
Steven Dahl *
ELLA RENAE JOHNSON ***
Madeline Jo Koch ****
Tallee Lewis
KAISA LUOMA ANDERSON *
Emeris Anders Mattson *
PHYSICS
Abdulkarim Jamal Hussein
Jonathan Gregory Parham
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Austin Blomberg
Hanna Juneve Hendrickson
Chesney Abygail Ragina Zaverousky
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
Sara Jayne Gruszynski
Hanna Juneve Hendrickson
PSYCHOLOGY
Peter Bjerke ****
ISABELLA MARIE GORDON
BLETT
Anthony Isaac Braun
Rebecca Lee Christenson
Lucy May Garrett *
Anna Kimberly George ***
Emilee Marie Hansen
Trinity Asia Haubrich
Autumn Higgins
Lonna Louise Jansen *
ELLA RENAE JOHNSON ***
Celeste Gao Jue Kue ***
Tallee Lewis
KAISA LUOMA ANDERSON *
Kallan Meyer ****
DESIREA ROSE LAURIE
SZABLA **
Abigail Christine Tollefson ***
SOCIOLOGY
Lydia Greene
Autumn Marie Grensing ****
STAGE AND SCREEN ARTS
Sophie M Burke
Tabitha Fiedler ***
Aza Jo Johnson ***
Addie Christine Koenig ****
Adrienne Rose Quinlan
Ashland Wendlandt *
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND ALLIED HEALTH
Muhammad Chishty, Ph.D., Dean
BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE
ACCOUNTING
Steffen Paul Hanson
Mallory Ann Lewis
DAYNE BRIAN LOBERG ***
Lamont Emerrol Santo
Kallie Marie Smeby ****
Jordyn Stanoch ****
Lindsey Megan Wildberg ***
ART
Lauren Elizabeth Eddy *
Elzbieta Francis Nickowski *
BROAD FIELD SOCIAL STUDIES
Farshad Michael Ajdari *
Reese Ruby Benware **
Grace Marie Lamb ***
Jackson V Langert *
Daniel John Rowan
Isabella K Stanko
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Ava Alexandra Anderson
Kaden Diercks
Kaylyn Hallin
Lexie V Jenkins
Kristen Kemnetz
Trevor Michael Lerum **
Katrina Vee Machanda ****
Jeremy Michael Myers
Nathan John Niederkorn
Lake W Nosan
Tyler O’Keefe
Sydney Leona Traynor
Brian Phillip Weber
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
ANNABELLE ANDERSON ****
Abbie Rae Frey ****
Xiong M Lee
MCKENZIE MARYA LUDWIG ****
Angela Elizabeth McMahon
Morgan Lucille Prigge****
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Jaelyn Rene Dukes
Kaylyn Guse
Liza Holle
Abigail Grace Rademacher *
ECONOMICS
Cade Christopher Kuempel
JARED JOHN ORGAN ****
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Melanie Ammons **
Jake Ball ****
Daniel Beck *
Kaili Bradway
Mercedes Abigail Faye Brumley *
Emilee Jean Burr *
Cambriaha Byers *
Savanna Rose Flagstad
ANNIKA SYDNEY
GUNDERSON ◊ ****
Marissa Cathyleen Haglund *
TALITHA JENSEN ****
Marissa Janelle Kimber ***
Allison Ann Kosel
Melanie Kay Lewis *
Norah Marie Lynch ****
Emma Caroline Ogren *
Marguerite Elizabeth Pagnotta
Kade Presley Pickett
Jenna Dianne Ritzer *
Kelsey Michelle Robertson *
Abigail Grace Robinson *
Grace Elizabeth Schaust *
Abby Olivia Swanstrom ***
Nicole Swift ****
Skye Wallraff *
Jaden Werner **
ENGLISH
Cameron O’Meara
Cabrini Marie Salmonson ****
FINANCE
Luke Ray Heggestad ***
KYRIE MIKAYLA KONS ****
Dawson Richard Kriske *
Cade Christopher Kuempel
Benjamin John Nordenstrom ****
JARED JOHN ORGAN ****
Lamont Emerrol Santo
Adelynn Tyynela Taylor ***
HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Kaleb Blaha *
Dylan Brown *
Dylan Christopher Frost *
Abbi N Hassforth ***
Emily Hatleli **
Charles David Herrick
Cody Hofmann
Shelby Anne Holmstrom *
Zachary Robert Johnson *
Madelyn Ryan Lessard *
Hunter McKinney
Brooke Lynn Meyer
Max Wayne Paaverud
Seth Plohasz *
Isaiah John Randall
Caden Schoeppner
Sean Sullivan *
Gavin Vatnsdal
Terrence Vu
Hannah Walters
Amie Jo Willenbring
Autumn Rose Winkler *
HISTORY
Reese Ruby Benware **
MANAGEMENT
Ella Anderson *
John Lawrence Armstrong
Jacob Granley
Justin Jorke
KYRIE MIKAYLA KONS ****
Dawson Richard Kriske *
Mason John Lewis
DAYNE BRIAN LOBERG ***
McKenna Mayer NICOLE OSNESS **
Jacob John Otte
Grant Stanton
Adelynn Tyynela Taylor ***
Jack A Wedell
Lindsey Megan Wildberg ***
MARKETING
Ella Anderson *
John Lawrence Armstrong
Owen Michael Battis *
Dylan John Dietz
Luke Ray Heggestad ***
Peyton Himley ****
NICOLE OSNESS **
Josiah Voorhees
MATHEMATICS
Michael Ryan Bauer *
MODERN LANGUAGE
ANNIKA SYDNEY GUNDERSON ◊ ****
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES
Bailie Ann Roschen ****
BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION
Mark Joseph Buchmann ◊ * Drew William Olson ***
GRADUATE STUDIES
Caroline Baker, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies
DOCTORATE OF MONTESSORI STUDIES
MONTESSORI STUDIES
Adviser: Kateri Carver
Robert Aaron Daniel
MASTER OF ARTS
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (TESOL)
Adviser: Douglas Margolis
Monica DuMond
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Adviser: Leanne Van Allen
Mohamed Abdulkadir Ahmed
Jonathan Richard Erickson
Lee Huberty
Muralikrishna Mutyala
Tia Nicole Nelson
Seng Thai Vang
Michael Frank Vanselow
Jon Weaver
Sheena Marie Wolfe
MASTER OF SCIENCE
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
Adviser: James Graham
Natan Plowman
BUSINESS ANALYTICS
Adviser: Leanne Van Allen
Mohamed Abdulkadir Ahmed
Tia Nicole Nelson
CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
Adviser: Gregory Ruegsegger
Samuel Hunter Anzai
Ovovwero Jane Epia
Gretchen Hanson
Anika Elizabeth Hetke
Haley Anne Notch
Julissa Ruiz Torrejon
John William Schober
Elizabeth Ann Valley
Kellie Walsdorf
Reilly Marie Wasiluk
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Adviser: Zachary Rourk
Caylee Renae Greeder
Katelyn Emma Haase
Charles Korbein
Kollin Clark Losee
MASTER OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
COUNSELING
Adviser: Caroline Baker
Breanne Johnson
Adviser: Suelle Micallef Marmara
Olivia Colette Dahl
Lauren Rachel Reissmann
Megan T Schetter
MONTESSORI EDUCATION
Adviser: Kateri Carver
Mary Rose Gietl Black
Sadie Kathleen Laing
DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENT
Kurt Torgersen
Chemistry and Biotechnology,
Senior Lecturer
Kurt Torgersen, this year’s recipient of UW-River Falls highest faculty honor, the Distinguished Teaching Award, strives to help students see the relevance of class content in their daily lives.
Torgersen is a senior lecturer in chemistry and biotechnology who has taught at UWRF for the past 12 years. In that time, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student-centered learning.
“My teaching philosophy is predicated on the belief that students learn best when they are actively engagedwhen they are encouraged not only to absorb information but to question, apply and collaborate with others,” Torgersen said.
Besides finding innovative ways to help students connect with challenging coursework, Torgersen takes a personal interest in helping them succeed.
As one student explained, “Dr. Torgersen is an exceptional educator who somehow makes one of the most notoriously brutal subjects actually make sense, but more importantly, he’s an extraordinary human being. He showed me empathy, patience and understanding when I needed it most. He worked with me through missed lectures, helped me catch up on material I thought I’d never understand, and was flexible when it came to some family/ personal health issues. His teaching is clear, structured and genuinely engaging - but it’s his compassion and dedication to his students that truly sets him apart. I’m not exaggerating when I say he saved me.”
“Sometimes, the most important thing we offer isn’t just knowledge, it’s compassion, connection and the reminder that someone cares,” Torgersen said.
Torgersen puts his experience to work on departmentlevel initiatives, serving on department committees and helping to update curriculum to provide students with a cohesive, inquiry-based lab experience.
Students consistently give Torgersen high ratings for his subject knowledge, clarity, fairness and encouragement of student participation. Still, Torgersen continues to look for ways to learn and grow as an educator.
“I view teaching as a dynamic process of continual improvement, guided by student needs and emerging best practices,” Torgersen said. “I take pride in the role I play in helping students develop as scientists and critical thinkers.”
EDUCATION SPECIALIST
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Adviser: Scott Woitaszewski
Katherine Ann Frederickson
STUDENT SPEAKER
Cassie Christian Chemistry and Biochemistry
Cassie Christian is a senior chemistry major and Spanish minor from Blaine, Minn. Throughout her time at UWRF, she has participated in a variety of student organizations. She served as the president of the Chancellor’s Student Ambassadors, leading a project on retention, and was the student representative to the UW-River Falls Foundation Board. Christian is also passionate about scientific communication, evident by her establishment of Nobel Prize Night while vice president of the Chemistry Club, and her participation in educating young students about chemistry in both River Falls and Blaine. She is also part of the Boomwhackers Ensemble and was a resident assistant for the 2024-25 school year. Christian loves rock climbing at the Falcon Center and playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.
HONOR GRADUATES
Honor graduates are recognized in the program as follows:
**** Summa Cum Laude: The student has a grade point average of 3.900 for entire college career at all institutions attended.
*** Magna Cum Laude: The student has a grade point average of 3.800 for entire college career at all institutions attended.
** Cum Laude: The student has a grade point average of 3.700 for entire college career at all institutions attended.
Students who have earned Cum Laude honors wear red and white neck cords.
* Senior Merit: The student has a grade point average of 3.500 and above for the final 60 semester credits.
HONORS PROGRAM
Names in capital letters designate completion of the Honors Program. Graduates of this program wear silver neck cords.
HONOR SOCIETIES
Graduates who have been elected to membership in academic honoraries wear the designated color cords and insignias associated with the societies. The following national academic honor societies are recognized:
Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Psi Omega
CHANCELLOR’S AWARD
The university had long honored academic achievements but lacked recognition for non-academic contributions. In 1977, the chancellor and Student Affairs staff sought to change this by creating the Chancellor’s Award.
This award, a bronze medallion on a red ribbon, is a smaller version of the chancellor’s official medallion and features the university seal. It comes with a certificate from the chancellor.
Given primarily to upperclass students, the award recognizes service to the university rather than academic performance. It is usually presented at the all-campus awards reception but may be granted at other times.
Names with ◊ in the program designate Chancellor’s Award recipients.
The following graduating seniors received the Chancellor’s Award:
Mark Buchmann Cassie Christian Annika Gunderson
Alpha Zeta
Beta Gamma Sigma
Gamma Theta Upsilon
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Kappa Phi
Pi Alpha Xi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Pi Sigma Alpha Psi Chi
Sigma Pi Sigma
Sigma Tau Delta
The ushers and those distributing programs are students from the Student Government Association.
COMMENCEMENT GOES SOCIAL
Tag your Commencement photos and join the conversation with #uwrfgrad.
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY VIDEO
Visit www.students.uwrf.edu/commencement to access the livestream video of today’s ceremony. A video archive will be available following the ceremony.
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM ONLINE
Sustainability as a UW-River Falls Core Value
UWRF strives for sustainability across all academic programs, campus operations and activities.
