SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Morningside University proudly recognizes the achievements of its December 2024 graduates, awarding general honors based on outstanding academic performance in undergraduate coursework.

Morningside recognizes general honors based on undergraduate coursework completed at the university, with distinctions awarded based on the following GPA criteria:

*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

December 2024 graduates are as follows:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: Jacob Heitshusen, Abraham Ponce***, and Aidan Queen 

Iowa: Jaxon Baumgartner***, LeMars; Brayden Cleeton*, Monticello; Alex Esau, Council Bluffs;  Devon Fritz, Ida Grove; Nash Perisho, Marshalltown; Issac Pingel**, Spencer; Jessica Riedemann, Hartley; and Brady Schlager**, Spencer. 

South Dakota: Alex Badger, Pierre; Joseph Sommervold, Sioux Falls; and Gracyn Van Den Hul***, North Sioux City. 

Other U.S. states: Lauryn Bonar, Concordia, Mo.; Sofia Castelan, Papillion, Okla.; Zachary Chevalier, Burbank, Calif.; Caden Hester*, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Niklas Kneller**, Geneva, Ohio; Frederick Lageschulte*, Saint Joseph, Mo.; Cassandra McDermott***, Elizabeth, Colo.; Kirstin Verplanke, Queen Creek, Ariz.; and Dijion Walls, Hazelwood, Mo.

International: Lisann Evert**, Kiel, Germany; Paula Geiser***, Baden-Baden, Germany; Enzo Kerekes Tagliati**, Moelndal, Switzerland; Jonas Markfoged**, Frederikshavn, Denmark; Nienke van Drunen***, Zwolle, Netherlands; and Maximillian Zoch, Frankfurt, Germany. 

Bachelor of Music Education

Ryan Kilmer***, Walnut, Iowa, and Gabriel Potts, Hartington, Nebraska. 

Bachelor of Science 

Sioux City: Natalie Cloud, Dylan Hosek, Allison Kroger, Mariah Milligan**, Yvette Rufino**, Joseph Skoff, Alexander Valdez***, and Yannik Vogel***. 

Iowa: Emma Anderson*, Ankeny; Colton Dreith, Storm Lake; Michael Griffen***, Avoca; Mary Hacker, Audubon; Hadley Howell***, Cedar Rapids; Tasia Hummel***, Carlisle; Carson Jenness*, Cherokee; Derek Mohr**, Sergeant Bluff; Seth Nelson, Remsen; Kody Noble, Hull; Marialy Ocampo, Sheldon; Paige Padavich**, Galva; and Tuesday Ross***, Council Bluffs. 

Nebraska: Chandler Bendorf***, Omaha; Laken Harnly, Bellevue; Logan Macumber, Elkhorn; and Jared Nicholas**, Gretna.

South Dakota: Haden Mendel, Worthing, and Zachary Norton, Sioux Falls. 

Other U.S. states: Jonah Gleason***, Brush, Colo.; Trenton Luera*, Fresno, Calif.; and Sara Marrufo Cedeno, Chicago, Ill. 

International: Niklas Gruener***, Friedburg, Germany; Eduard Salvana***, Calella, Spain; Maximilian Sickenberger***, Obernburg am Main, Germany; Jurre Thielen***, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Levi Von Hagen**, Detmold, Germany; and Bennet Wesselkamper***, Neuenkirchen, Germany. 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Rachel Kurtz***, Waukee, Iowa; Laura Melesio***, Moreno Valley, Calif.; and Kimberly Staub***, Springville, Iowa. 

Doctor of Nursing Practice 

Carrie S. Hollerud, Winterset, Iowa; Nehemiah Ingram, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Kayla McCrill, LeMars, Iowa, and Leanne Siverhus, Brandon, S.D. 

Master of Arts in Teaching

Sioux City: Calla Bestgen, Bronwyn Eastlick, and Shaun Ryan.

Iowa: Margaret Babcock, Mount Vernon; Kayla Baker, Ankeny; Tori Baker, Marion; Shantelle Bleeker, Sergeant Bluff; Emily Cahill, Waukee; Rebecca Christenson, Sloan; Caitlyn Conway, Pella; Hannah Cunningham, Pella; Noah Erickson, Solon; Karrigan Fischer, Ames; Matt Folkerts, Solon; Brock Haas, Dubuque; Theresa Hart, Ames; Sarah Harter, Council Bluffs; Jessica Hartwick, Pella; Hannah Hemesath, Decorah; Amanda Kaiser, Altoona; Jesse Krueger, Ankeny; Samantha Lampman, Lake Mills; Sierra Linstead, Cedar Rapids; Chelsea Lorenzen, Vinton; Marcia Lozada, Ankeny; Lauren Ludescher, Dubuque; Jenna Martin, Pleasant Hill; Taylor Nieland, Marshalltown; Katelynn Nimtz, Fairfax; Erika Ramey, Waterloo; Alexandra Rauenbuehler, Muscatine; Erin Schaefer, Muscatine; Jillian Scheck, Montezuma; Madison Schettler Schmitz, Harlan; Emma Schleusner, Garner; Katie Selvy, Bloomfield; Zora Sherman, Cedar Rapids; Abigail Staebell, Waterloo; Amanda Staver, Waterloo; Lauren Stobb, Marion; Madalyn Wegmann, Urbana; Lindsey Winter, Humboldt; and Brooke Zinn, Storm Lake. 

Nebraska: Mallory Anderson, Wakefield, and Janelle Huss, Hemingford. 

Illinois: Anna Folliard, Naperville. 

Master of Science in Nursing

Iowa: Morgan Hohbach, Albert City, and Beverly Angelica Ortega, Sioux City. 

Other U.S. states: Ryan Andringa, Jackson, Mich.; Destiny Bultena, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Alyssa Nitschelm, Redmond, Ore.; and Amber Wolf, Bismarck, N.D.