Chadron State College will recognize 354 candidates for graduation at the Spring Commencement Ceremony in the Chicoine Center on Saturday at 10 a.m. The event honoring 274 undergraduates and 80 graduates will be live-streamed.
The opening moment of reflection will be given by Austin Alexander of Newell, South Dakota, who will also receive her commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The closing moment of reflection will be given by Kinsey Smith of Windsor, Colorado.
Below is the list of students expected to graduate by degree. The hometowns listed are those on file for the students. Honor graduates are designated by asterisks. ***Summa cum laude, 3.9-4.0 GPA; **Magna cum laude, 3.75-3.89 GPA; *Cum laude, 3.6-3.74
The commencement speaker is former Nebraska State Senator John Stinner Sr. He was elected to the Nebraska Legislature, representing District 48, in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.
“Chadron State is such a great asset to the Panhandle and the state of Nebraska from an economic and post-secondary perspective. It’s a great honor to be asked to be a part of the commencement ceremony,” Stinner said.
A native of Pennsylvania, Stinner came to Nebraska on a full athletic scholarship and was a member of the University of Nebraska national championship football team in 1970-71. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1973 and a master’s in economics from UNL in 1976.
Stinner and his wife, Rita, have been married since 1972 and have two children and four grandchildren. The couple resides in Gering.
He is a retired CPA and the former CEO and board chair of Valley Bank of Trust. He also served on the board of directors of Western States Bank.
His civic service has included work with the following organizations: the Oregon Trail Community Foundation, the Scottsbluff/Gering Rotary Club, the Sons of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, the Gering Downtown Revitalization Committee, Elks Club, and the WNCC Cougar Booster Club, and Christ the King parish.
Stinner is a former board member and trustee with Hospital Authority No. 1 of Scotts Bluff County and former chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association. He also served on numerous boards including the Western Nebraska Community College Foundation, the Terry Carpenter Center, the Nebraska Journalism Trust, and the WyoBraska Museum. He served as president of the YMCA of Scottsbluff board, the Gering School Board, and Twin Cities Development.
His honors include the 2024 State Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame, 2023 Behavioral Health Educational Center of Nebraska Distinguished Service Award, 2023 Nebraskaland Foundation NEBRASKAlander Award, the Nebraska Arts Council Thomas C. Woods Ill Partner in the Arts Award, State Friend of Psychology from the Nebraska Psychological Association, and Nebraska Society of CPA Legislator of the Year in 2023.
PHOTO: https://chadronstate.smugmug.com/News/Recent/i-RpT2wz4/A
Bachelor of Applied Science
Stephanie Freeburg, Berthoud, Colo
Allen Stubbert, Columbus, Neb.
Bachelor of Arts
Nebraska
Alliance: Isabella Middleton***, Alicia Tyree**
Arthur: Colten Storer**
Benkelman: Anntoinette Lurz
Blair: McKenna Schlueter
Chadron: Curtiss Bruhn, Cheyann Coen, Allie Ferguson*, Allison Omernik*, Jessy Roberts, Savanna Sayaloune***, Nicole Scarrow*, Taylor Strotheide, Tyleigh Strotheide, Kassyl Swinney-Ruiz
Crawford: William Ackerman
Crete: Minh Duc Le**
Culbertson: Jancy Marks
Decatur: Breanna Deacon
Doniphan: Brenna Schuler
Eustis: Amber Lange
Gering: Madison Kinney, Elizabeth Malsam
Gordon: Sierra Garrett**
Gothenburg: Olivia Jorgenson
Grant: Adriana Gonzalez***
Gurley: Ella Draper
Halsey: Colt Hesseltine
Hyannis: Shailey McAbee
Imperial: Aaron Hinojosa
Johnson: Sophie Clark
Lewellen: Reid Spady**
Lincoln: Allison Schneider**, Charles Volcek
Lisco: Zachery Evans
Marquette: Ashley Gonzalez Rodriguez
Minden: Markus Ramsey
Morrill: Kenzey Kanno**, Tanner Whetham
Norfolk: Bailey Hurlburt**
North Platte: Anders Swanson
Ogallala: Kai Brixton**, Emma Coffman***
Ohiowa: Hector Nunez
Overton: Kien Martin
Polk: Dylan Soule**
Rushville: Riley Snyder
Scottsbluff: Harrison Bice, Erin Hayhurst***, Angelique Weber
Sidney: Trey Douglas, Henry Gutierrez, Cayden Jobman, Caitlyn Mueller*
Springfield: Alyssa Riha
St. Paul: Grant Turek**
Stromsburg: Hannah Pfeifly
Sumner: Ashley Rohde
Colorado
Brighton: MacKenzi Kroll
Broomfield: Joseph DeCamillis*, Hunter O’Connor, Grant Swenson, Madison Watt***
Burlington: Lillina Foose
Byers: Ashland Baca***
Denver: Devin Buderus
Eaton: Makenna Cormack***, Noelle Meagher
Evans: Mayson Fagot
Fort Collins: Jessie Henchenski
Fort Morgan: Destiny Pelton
Grand Lake: Sarah Hough
Greeley: Aliyah Hernandez
Hotchkiss: Rebeka Scheiderer*
Idalia: Brisa Perez
Lakewood: Paige Propp
Limon: Litzy Wilson
Loveland: Kellye Whiteside
Northglenn: Hector Ortega
Parker: Tyler Gish
Pueblo: Makayla Keck*
Seibert: Emily Mason
Simla: Molly Braun***
Thornton: Samantha Conradie*, Olivia Trembly**
Wellington: Brody Lamb
Westminster: Juliana Sellars
South Dakota
Allen: Vernon Plenty Bull
Buffalo: Brooklyn Williams*
Custer: Morgan Helfer
Holabird: Zane Zilverberg*
Hot Springs: Chaela Holmes
Mobridge: Alexis Sjomeling***
Newell: Austin Alexander*
Owanka: Nicole Volmer*
Spearfish: Shaylie Edgren*
Wyoming
Burns: Kaden Lakin
Casper: Rebecca Goeken**, Emory Yoosook**
Douglas: Abrielle Hoopman**
Gillette: April Davis, Chloe Rankin
Glenrock: Richard Harris II
Jackson: Jeydon Cox
Lingle: Callie Fritzler***, Bailey Powell, Ashley Riley**
Lusk: Alec Penfield, Riley Shaw
Moorcroft: Rose Black, Tia Cranston***, Lynsey Gray
Newcastle: Shelby Davis
Riverton: Emma Crichton, Kaden Dower
Rock Springs: Trinity Chrisawn
Sheridan: Brooke Worman
Torrington: Brittney Lopez, Meranda Richards
Wheatland: Halle Smith***
Other States and Other Countries
Allison Acosta, Oro Valley, Ariz.
Kyle Shirley***, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Sofia Rubio, Tempe, Ariz.
Catherine Ford, Los Angeles, Calif.
Chloe Brown, Riverside, Calif.
Tayton Ricard, Blakesburg, Iowa
Estrella Cruz, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Brook Staten, Olsburg, Kan.
Kolton Drogowski***, Williamsburg, Mich.
Adeline Beason**, Byram, Miss.
Logan Peila, Miles City, Mont.
BreAnne Benson, West Fargo, N.D.
Jared Hurt, Conroe, Texas
Joshua Robinson***, Paris, Texas
Armon Johnson, Prosper, Texas
Joseph Dumsa, West Valley City, Utah
Karen Norton***, Ephrata, Wash.
Dean Neff***, Lake Mills, Wis.
Thomas Bagin*, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Maria Garcia Martinez, Gualcinse, Honduras
Molly Cockburn*, Christchurch, New Zealand
Bachelor of Science
Nebraska
Big Springs: Kristie Emerson
Chadron: Michael Anderson***, Emma Cogdill**
Chappell: Cooper Reichman
Columbus: Emma Stewart
Crawford: Emalee Ackerman
Dunning: Bryan Zutavern
Gothenburg: Jamie Graff**
Hastings: Grace Redinger
Hershey: Carlee Brownawell***
Kearney: Drayden Bellamy
Loup City: Ashley Dearmont**, Creighton Harrington***
Madrid: Quinn Koop**
McCook: Elise Aguilar
Nebraska City: Aubrey Bando*
Norfolk: Jalen Hoffman, Katherine Meuret*
North Platte: Emily Evans*
Omaha: Carolyn Drake**
O’Neill: Alexa Shald**
Scottsbluff: Kayden Singpiel
Sidney: Jaylee Shaw*
Springview: Katie Lewis***
Valentine: Kortney Kronhofman
York: Harrison Gocke*
Colorado
Aurora: Gabriel Perkins
Kit Carson: Cordell Farmer
Lamar: Isabel Gaines**
Merino: Jessy Sexton
South Dakota
Belle Fourche: Colby Tadra*
Box Elder: Colton Jackson
Camp Crook: Karissa Rasmussen
Harrold: Velvet Jessen*
Kadoka: Dylan Vander May
Rapid City: Julie Geiman, Nicholas Lembke***
Vivian: Brianna Smith***
Wyoming
Green River: Ashlyn Jensen*
Kemmerer: Colter Julian
Lander: Ursula Anderson
Lusk: Ashley Christianson
Newcastle: Gunnar Wainscott
Other States and Countries
Zen Petrosius, Seward, Alaska
Kaitlyn Smith***, Hackberry, Ariz.
Kelsey Huggans, Wichita, Kan.
Kayla Brown***, Glendive, Mont.
Irene Johnson, Roy, Mont.
Emmanuella Tchona*, Lokossa, Benin
Martin Poznanovic***, Uzice, Serbia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Nebraska
Alliance: Cade Stephenson***
Bayard: Wyatt Fiscus***, Colin Hendrickson, Cole Kramer
Beatrice: Sarah Riekenberg*
Bertrand: Jenna Kuck-Urbanovsky***
Bloomfield: Kaci Millikan*
Bridgeport: Regina Gonzalez, Jacie Lussetto
Chadron: Madison Sandstrom***
Columbus: Hannah Montgomery*
Firth: Sophia Lentfer
Gering: Tori Hoagland, Taylor Koros***, Morgan Van Anne***
Hastings: Kennedy Howard
Hershey: Chanda Cooper
Holdrege: Darci Samuelson
Imperial: Carissa Hill***
Lewellen: Kara Haskell*
Lincoln: Monica Nagel***
Lodgepole: Cooper Michelman
Mitchell: Lyndsey Walters
Morrill: Katlyn Medel***
Mullen: Cecilia Coons
Naper: Mattie Baird***
North Platte: Jordynn Boyle, Emilee Henne***
Odell: Alexis Parks***
Ogallala: McKenna Headley**
Ord: Danielle Thyfault
Palmer: Taylor Luedke
Sargent: Bailey Schneider***
Scottsbluff: Ashley Kessler, Amanda Peister, Sarah Peterson*, Alicia Stodola*
Sidney: Seth Studnicka**
Valentine: Brennann Jackson*
Wauneta: Tiffany Harris, Julie Sparrow
York: Paige Oblender
Colorado
Cedaredge: Reganne McIntire**
Erie: Sloane Quijas*
Fort Morgan: Audrey Kramer
Holyoke: Makenzie Martin*
Yuma: Naydeen Knapp
South Dakota
Hermosa: Kristin Seidler***
Hot Springs: T’Aunah Benson***, Breanna Remington, Caden Shanklin***
Martin: Tarryn Cady
Pierre: William Gore**
Rapid City: Shana Bender
Sturgis: Joel Carpenter*
Summerset: Michaela Hill**
Wyoming
Alpine: Johannah Christie*
Burns: Katelyn Bach**
Casper: Leah Jensen***
Cheyenne: Rhiannon Thomalla**
Douglas: Cassidy Cole, Jaylon Martinez, Andrea Tena***
Lander: Annabeth Koger**
Laramie: Shasta Rosales***
Sheridan: Reata Cook*, Allison Puuri
Torrington: Onalise Kingsley
Master of Arts in Education
Nebraska
Alliance: Jaiden Brown
Bassett: Katherine Nolles
Central City: Jessica Brondel
Chadron: Mikel Landreth, Jazlyn Reitz
Columbus: Valerie Brown
Elyria: Lauren Collins
Gering: Jacklyn Cawiezel
Gordon: Amanda Geyer
Hyannis: Brandy Schaack
Kearney: Bryan Mueller
Minden: Starla Doxon
Morrill: Traci Patterson
Ord: Jordyn Bartak
Potter: Jessica Bower
Scottsbluff: Lauren Armstrong
Sidney: Melissa Ross
Other States and Countries
Jason Ott, Anchorage, Alaska
Sascha Smith, Anchorage, Alaska
Jacob Norris, Fort Morgan, Colo.
Loren Schmoll, Adel, Iowa
David Krimmel, Glennallen, Alaska
Abigail Sasse, Darien, Ill.
Emily Manriquez, Montevideo, Minn
Jesse Orcutt, Glendive, Mont.
Daniel O’Brien, Dickinson, N.D.
Jonathan Tsigler, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Brittany Hallis, Bedford, Ohio
Rieley Maier, Bowdle, S.D.
Scott Hesla, Webster, S.D.
Stephanie Gill, Gillette, Wyo.
Calder Forcella, Greybull, Wyo.
Master of Business Administration
Nebraska
Chadron: Clark Riesen
David City: Thomas Glock
Gothenburg: Scott Speck
Grand Island: Samantha Kimminau
Henry: Andrew Avila
Hershey: Louise Schroder
Scottsbluff: Leslie Foral, Darci Roland
Other States and Countries
Mic’Kael Foust Jr., Little Rock, Ark.
Blayke De La Rosa, Spring Valley, Calif.
Kathryn Helsel, Arvada, Colo.
Mason Watt, Broomfield, Colo.
Kinsey Smith, Windsor, Colo.
Anthony Narvaez, Hialeah, Fla.
Kayla Phillips, Albuquerque, N.M.
Colin Webster, Wayne, Neb.
Ryan Kenny, Portland, Ore.
Jessica Tubbs, Edgemont, S.D.
Leslie Harlan, Martin, S.D.
Elizabeth Bromberek, Alexandria, Va.
Stephanie Johnson, Herndon, Va.
Bailey Lupher, Mountain View, Wyo.
Master of Education
Nebraska
Anselmo: Marcelle Kastens
Gothenburg: Charity Wyatt
McCook: Amanda Einspahr
North Platte: Zachary Ostergard
Scottsbluff: Shelby Winchell
Wyoming
Douglas: Katherine Spletzer
Gillette: Madison Hinshaw
Greybull: Jessica Whetham
Sheridan: Jacquelyn Hovey
Master of Science in Organizational Management
Nebraska
Chadron: Ricki Hickstein
Grand Island: Madyson Schliep
Oshkosh: Kimberly Chadwick
Papillion: Dustin McKenna
Sumner: Traven Claflin
Other States and Countries
Kayla Campuzano, Brighton, Colo.
Rylee Greiman, Windsor, Colo.
Rachel Davila, Hot Springs, S.D.
Taygen Smith, Amarillo, Texas
Rebecca Monahan, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Kyra Wulff, Laramie, Wyo.
