Morningside College conferred 227 bachelor’s degrees during its 118th spring undergraduate commencement held May 14.

Morningside College conferred 227 bachelor’s degrees during its 118th spring undergraduate commencement held May 14.

In addition to the spring graduates, degrees were conferred upon August and December 2015 graduates, as well as students expected to graduate in August 2016.

Morningside also awarded honorary degrees to Michael L. Bennett, president of Albaton Enterprises, LLC in Sioux City; John Bowitz, professor emeritus in the Morningside College Art Department; and Yoshitaka Tanimoto, president of Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan.

Dr. James J. March, professor of music at Morningside, received the 2016 Lucille and Charles Wert Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. The award recognizes the faculty member judged by his or her peers to best exemplify the ideals of the teaching profession at Morningside.

Outstanding graduates who were recognized with special awards in their fields of study included: Elijah Bruns of Sioux City, Dr. Tom Curry Outstanding Business Student Award; Amber C. Burg of Murray, Neb., Provost’s Award in Fine and Communicative Arts; Kay L. Drenkhahn of Mapleton, Iowa, Provost’s Award in Professional Services; Brianna N. Harding of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Graduating Senior Art Award; Victoria L. Jones of Manson, Iowa, Lorraine E. Knepper Award in Nursing; Tasha J. Lechtenberg of O’Neill, Neb., Montford and Gertrude Knepper Award in English; Jackson G. O’Brien of Sioux City, Provost’s Award in Humanities; Ashley L. Palandri of Carter Lake, Iowa, Dr. Tom Curry Outstanding Business Student Award; Mallory A. Sea of Sioux City, Provost’s Award in Natural and Mathematical Sciences; Sadie L. Shuck of Hinton, Iowa, Dr. B. G. Knepper Award in English; Alyssa L. Turnquist of Alta, Iowa, Lawrence Bandholz Award in Mathematical Sciences; Amy E. Widman of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Provost’s Award in Social Sciences; and Taylor M. Woods of Cherokee, Iowa, Marie Bandholz Award in Special Education.          

Morningside College awards general honors based on undergraduate work completed at the college and according to the grade point averages (GPAs) designated as follows:

*Cum Laude (with honor) at 3.50

**Magna Cum Laude (with great honor) at 3.66

***Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) at 3.81.

General honors noted are based upon GPAs as of the end of the fall 2015 semester.

The spring graduates were as follows:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: Michael R. Andrlik, Jessica M. Benson, Faith A. Bradham, Tiffany A. Brasby*, Elijah Bruns*, Daniel Garcia Aguilar, Kayla J. Krom, Alexandria M. Martin***, Claire E. May Patterson*, Shawn M. Nelson, Jackson G. O’Brien***, Marcos C. Pichinte, Andrew J. Richardson, Jessica Rivera, Kayla A. Samek***, Madison R. Walsh.

Iowa: Kelsey J. Ahart*, Denison; Megan E. Bailey, Pleasant Hill; Haley R. Banks***, Carter Lake; Crysta R. Brewer, Council Bluffs; Joseph H. Brummer, Harlan; Jessica V. Cole, Defiance; Kayne R. Feldick, Harris; Sean H. Fitzgerald, Sergeant Bluff; Abigail E. Hoy***, Spencer; Andrew J. Ites, Spirit Lake; Mallory M. Johnson**, Spencer; Douglas R. Keady, Orange City; Ashley J. Koops***, Sioux Center; Kari A. Miller*, Spencer; Micah G. Neary, Merrill; Zachary K. Schroeder, Carroll; Sadie L. Shuck**, Hinton; Zachary N. Stephenson, Polk City; Ebony J. Stone, Le Mars; Devin I. Thomas, Council Bluffs; Chelsey R. Van Ness***, Denison; Haley N. Voss, Albert City; Tory A. Warnke, Clarion.                                                                  

Nebraska: Katie N. Atkins***, Pierce; Allison L. Bachman***, Fremont; Amber C. Burg***, Murray; Garret A. Lambrecht, Wood River; James D. LaPointe, Niobrara; Elizabeth M. Planck*, Omaha; Nikolis J. Rasmussen, South Sioux City; Anna J. Ryan***, Omaha; Humberto Tapia Espinoza, Dakota City.

South Dakota: Brandon C. Booth, Madison; Spencer L. Eiseman, Brookings; Cole K. Halgerson, Sioux Falls; Nicole M. Loe*, Baltic.

Other states: Brock C. Giles, Quinlan, Texas; Nicholas J. Misukanis***, Mendota Heights, Minn.

International: Paul P. Johnson, Nigeria; Katsuhisa Yokoyama, Japan.

Bachelor of Science

Sioux City: Shelby R. Ewalt, Drew L. Gerch, Mary Lee M. Hamilton, Nicolas J. Hast, Chloe A. Huck, Carter M. Huggins**, Marissa A. Jernberg, Allison G. Lee**, Bianca A. Llamas, Paige E. McKern, Kristina P. Neumann***, Ahsan A. Qureshi, Amy L. Samuelson**, Mallory A. Sea***, Leann L. Smith, Allie M. Sweeney, Michelle Vasquez.

Iowa: Ross J. Ackerman, Rock Rapids; Jeremiah R. Back, Cherokee; Kara R. Bentz***, Humboldt; Shelby R. Blomberg*, Marathon; Megan K. Carlson***, Cherokee; Brady C. Crichton, Moville; Christopher L. Eckstaine, Le Mars; Sarah A. Eneboe, Pisgah; Nathan D. Folkers, Swaledale; Brianna J. Fowler, Cherokee; Gabrielle F. French, Red Oak; Tori J. Greenough, Spencer; Theodore E. Hanson, Castana; Brianna N. Harding***, Council Bluffs; Ethan T. Heiliger, Sibley; Anthony D. Heimer*, Saint Ansgar; Gabrielle N. Higgins***, Council Bluffs; Taylor A. Holmes, Marcus; Jared F. McCoy, Climbing Hill; Austin C. Mumm, Harlan; Emily A. Muyskens***, Mason City; Sean M. O’Reilly, Turin; Trevor E. Pavlik*, Silver City; Channing L. Pick, Le Mars; Justin A. Ponsor, Storm Lake; Meghann M. Pucelik, Moville; Hunter O. Renn, Mason City; Kellie G. Rouse, Tipton; Jared P. Schramm, Moville; Allison K. Schreiner***, Remsen; Jacob J. Simpson Jefferson; Ethan R. Stofferan*, Sibley; Alyssa L. Turnquist***, Alta; Steven K. VerMulm**, Hartley; Amy E. Widman***, Sergeant Bluff; Jacob F. Willey, Onawa; Taylor M. Woods**, Cherokee.

Nebraska: Joseph R. Christen***, Anselmo; Jared M. Kolbush, Lincoln; Elizabeth L. Kube***, Crofton; Kenna M. Lammers***, Omaha; Tasha J. Lechtenberg**; O’Neill; Emma G. Magsamen; Lincoln; Anna M. Milone*, Omaha; Jessica K. Tietz*, Bancroft.

Other states: Cynthia Antunez, Santa Ana, Calif.; Taylor C. Daas, New Brighton, Minn.; Stephen P. Huber, Canby, Minn.; Kendall J. Lindeman, Ethan, S.D.; Madeline J. Trott***, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

International: Katsuhiro Ishii***, Japan; Tomonori Kijima*, Japan; Zexi Li***, China.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Sioux City: Kelsey K. Gries, DukHwan Oh, Elena N. Rojas*, Tari K. Schauer, Shayla R. Simms.

Iowa: Samantha J. Adams*, Glidden; Brittany A. Bortvit, Terril; Marissa R. Childress, Larchwood; Kay L. Drenkhahn***, Mapleton; Melani R. Fada, Red Oak; Shelby J. Hall Woodbine; Jessie M. Hamman*, Manson; Amanda K. Hatcher, Hastings; Colin H. Higgins*, Lake City; Courtney L. Hoffman*, Carroll; Victoria L. Jones*, Manson; Stacey R. Petersen***, Merrill; Brittany L. Rupp, Council Bluffs; Taylor M. Straw, Red Oak; Kailyn E. Van Soelen*, Council Bluffs.

Other states: Brooke A. Gockley, Sterling, Colo.; Nathan C. Johnson**, Alcester, S.D.; Emily J. Keim, Sterling, Neb.; Cara R. Olerich**, Dakota City, Neb.; Douglas A. Vanecek, Tabor, S.D.

The following students are expected to graduate in August 2016 and participated in the exercises:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: Anna K. Brandt, Jose M. Cancino, Colton L. Jensen, Luz V. Reyes, Tonya M. Simmons.

Iowa: Jennifer M. Fleming, Oelwein; Melanie L. Gehrts, Cherokee; Anna E. Hart, Shenandoah; Liam M. O’Reilly, Turin; Casie J. Rehder, Sutherland; Kaytlin M. Sambrano, Cherokee; Michaela Q. Sirek, Remsen; Alan D. Smith, Creston.

Other states: Dirk R. Schmitt, Saint Charles, Ill.; Jordyn K. Wollenburg, Gretna, Neb.                                             

Bachelor of Science

Sioux City: Taylor A. Pluim, Valente Romo, Jessica A. Turnquist.

Iowa: Benjamin L. Catus, Moville; Alex D. Dau, Spirit Lake; Jordan C. Truckenmiller, Sibley; Allison K. Wegner, Sergeant Bluff.

Nebraska: Kyle J. St. Aubin, Omaha; Austin B. Johnson, South Sioux City.

South Dakota: Brittany M. Ensz, Hartford; Zachary D. Ferdinand, Sioux Falls.

Other states: Austin J. Naylor***, Wyoming, Mich.; Garrett R. Thomas***, Kansas City, Mo.; Christian T. Uzzell, Bremerton, Wash.

Bachelor of Music Education

Elizabeth J. Ross, Cherokee, Iowa.

The following August or December 2015 graduates participated in the exercises:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: Martin J. Abbott, Daniel C. Clanton, Eduie J. Curiel, Jazmin Mojica, Marcie E. Ponder, James A. Sirman, Joseph N. Stabile, Elizabeth K. Sterling**, Nicholas L. Walker**, Allison A. Zimmerman.

Iowa: Tanner J. Bundy, Akron; Jamie L. Byrnes*, Harlan; Nate W. Clark, Des Moines; Jennifer L. Gross, Marcus; Carly J. Heese***, Harlan; Zachary G. Schleuger, Wesley; Alexander P. Struck***, Cherokee; Jennifer M. Theisen***, Le Mars; Amber L. Van Cleave*, Mapleton; Nicholas D. Van Soelen, Council Bluffs.

Other states: Amanda M. Cummings, Milwaukee, Wis.; Tyler J. Johnson, Omaha, Neb.; Ryan L. Kasdorf, Newhall, Calif.; Jordan E. Rump, Omaha, Neb.; Logan W. Schaefers, Rapid City, S.D.

Bachelor of Science

Sioux City: Tess E. Doupe*, Heidi L. Jacobsen, Christian C. Kent, Aubrey A. Sulsberger*, Jamie N. Van Cleave.

Iowa: Kirstin A. Berg, Salix; Allison G. Junck*, Hinton; Ashley L. Palandri***, Carter Lake; Collin D. Schrader***, Wall Lake; Jackson W. Steinberg*, Osage; Marcus J. Stoltenberg, Wall Lake; Beau D. Wolfe, Anthon.

Other states: Mikala R. Cooper***, Lincoln, Neb.; Dexter J. Lambie, Lincoln, Neb.; Rachel A. Leonhardt, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Hannah E. Roberg***, Grand Island, Neb.; Jacob A. Subbert, Wahoo, Neb.

International: Linh K. Nguyen, Vietnam.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Morgan N. Brady*, Coralville, Iowa.

Bachelor of Music Education

Noah D. Towns***, Sioux City.