Western Nebraska Community College holds its 84th graduation commencement ceremony
starting at 4 p.m. inside Cougar Palace at the WNCC Scottsbluff Campus, 1601 East
27th Street.
The ceremony opens with performances by Western Nebraska Winds under the direction
of Band Director Dr. Nathaniel Johnson as well as Collegiate Choral, conducted by
Choral Director Dr. Imgyu Kang.
After a special welcome message from WNCC President Dr. Todd Holcomb, Western Community
College Area Board of Governors Chair Timothy H. Daniels will introduce Dr. M. Thomas
Perkins to provide the commencement address "geeseology."
A Nebraska native, Dr. Perkins was elected to the Western Area Community College Board
of Governors in 1992. He has served on the American Association of Community Colleges
(ACCT) Board, the ACCT Trust Fund Board, and was a member of the ACCT Voluntary Framework
of Accountability Steering Committee. In 2014, he was recognized with the E. Dale
Ensign Trustee Leadership Award, the highest honor given to an individual for his
commitment, dedication, and significant contribution as a lay trustee toward promoting
the community college concept.
Two hundred sixty-four students will participate in this year's ceremony. That number
includes students from August 2015, December 2015, May 2016, and August 2016 expected
graduates. The following is the list of degree candidates.
"There is a relief and strong sense of self-fulfillment for the students with all
of the build-up that leads to graduation," said Roger Hovey, Registrar at WNCC. "Now
that they have reached their goal, it is a joy for us to see them succeed. I like
to see the smiles and the joy the students show with their families after the ceremony."
Associate of Arts
Alliance - Erin L. Gorsuch, Tristan Clement Stephenson
Bayard - Trae L. Blanco, Aimee M. Stricker
Bridgeport - Danielle Bohannon, Victoria Kay Shantell Boots, Courtney Alice Horak,
Betsy Ann Mitchell, Austyn K. Wright
Dalton - Maria Hilaria Hernandez Serna
Gering - Laettner Marie Blanco, Shelton Rosilea Blanco, Valorie M. Fankhauser, Joshua
E. Gomez, Daniele Lee Grissom, Marissa Palomo Gutherless, Kelsey L. Hellyer, Courtney
LeeAnne Larson, Alex M. Marker, Janice Elaine McCormack, Santanna R. Mitchell, Alma
Lucero Perez, Kelsea Kaelene Prieels, Katie M. Scott, Kelsey K. Southard, Stephanie
Elise Swanson, Michelle Marie Talbot, Morgan Ann Theros, Misty L. Thomas, Chelsea
E. Wilson, Isaiah Timothy Wilson
Gordon - Melody Dawn Sellers
Grand Island - Hillary Priscila Ibarra
Harrisburg - Grace Kathryn Harvey
Hay Springs - Izoebelle Grace Schneider
Hemingford - Amber L. Adamson
Kimball - Dalton R. Baber, Regan Jolene Hinton, Kenneth John McNeill, Caleb Alexander
Reuter
Mitchell - Ezekiel Z. Bucks, Julie M. Chambers, Kori Jane McNutt, Evelina S. Moreno,
Kierna B. Uthmann, Dezirae Charmaine Wilkins, Alexander A. Wright
Potter - Rose Katlynn Anne Nelson
Scottsbluff - Crystal N. Abrams, Sheena Renee Adams, James Dean Benitez III, Christopher
Dean Brening, Ashley Britthouer, Bridget Marie Brown, Heidi Marie Collett, DeAnna
Marie Cortez, Mindy E. Cress, Cassandra Lynn Dillman, Charles William Gannon, Daniel
L. Gregory, Chabelly Gurrola, Joshua Reed Harnish, Dallas D. Liptac, Beau Conrad Lofink,
Renee M. Malm, Teresa Mae, Parrish, Emilee Pilkington, Marisa Lyn Plummer, Krystal
Nichole Rodriguez, Toni M. Rosado, Paula H. Sierra, Carianne Renee White, Micah McCallum
Yowell
Sidney - Lnay Dawn Baggs, Justin R. Ball, Cassidy N. Buckius, Terry L. Haun Jr., Callie
C. Schilz, David M. Schmitz, Mikala D. Sweetser, Michelle L. Wilkinson
Colorado
Aurora - Christian Lauren Bobian, Bradley David Brown
Denver - Connor Jaedon Francis
Fort Collins - Courtney L. Medina
Fort Morgan - Jessica Nichole Escobedo
Golden - Margaret Eleanor Blaha
Henderson - Jade A. Morton
Littleton - Luis Alonso Jurado Juarez
Olney Springs - Kerri Jean LeCount
Padroni - John C. Ommen
Thornton - Matthew Gordon Maestas, Desirae Nicole Visser
Wyoming
Cheyenne - Isaac Leonard Block
Guernsey - Gage Orion Cunningham
Lingle - Emily Lane Bahmer
Rawlins - Kalli Feddersen
Other States
AZ, Phoenix - Derrick E. Bowers
FL, Arcadia - Miguel Angel Enriquez
HI, Honolulu - Fuatino S. Manu
IL, Springfield - Rachel Olivia Karpen
KS, Overland Park - Jack Charles Pauley
KS, Wichita - Trey Parker Winters
MI, Grandville - Chelsea A. Praznik
ND, Bismark - Gayl Rene King
SD, Harold - Sharon R. Waldner, Stephanie M. Waldner
TX, Webster - Chase Alan Mason
UT, Alpine - Mason J. Smith
UT, Pleasant Grove - Sterling Sage Pemberton
UT, Riverdale - Andrea Hancock
UT, Salt Lake City - Lile Havili
UT, Sandy - Chelsey G. Keefer
WA, Long View - Gary A. Goodell
International
Regina SK, Canada - Montana Reid Giesbrecht
Quito, Ecuador - Henry Geovanny Herrera Ormaza
Riga, Latvia - Luize Anna Skrastina
Banjul, The Gambia - Serign Alieu Faal
Beckenham, United Kingdom- Isabel Jane Hunter
Associate of Science
Alliance -Bailey J. Gorsuch, Katelynn Rachelle Grant, Jayden A. Holman, Shadell Peterson
Bayard -Steven Ray Trebilcock
Bridgeport - Kayla G. Roberts, Brooke Gene Schneider
Comstock - Amanda L. Shepperd
Dalton - Kathryn Elizabeth Ernest
Gering - Coulter Cooper, Brandee J. Hill, Mia G. Knotts, Jolene R. Martin, Rogelio
Munoz, Alexandra E. Murillo, Michelle Marie Talbot, Kelly Ryan Zitterkopf
Gordon - Melody Dawn Sellers
Harrisburg - Toria Marie McGowan
Harrison - Aime Baleria Gutierrez, Joshua A. Kling
Mitchell - Rebecca Lynn Leider, Sarah Joy Powell
North Platte - Hannah Faith Wilke
Oshkosh - Ryan Thomas Anderson
Potter - Rose Katlynn Anne Nelson
Scottsbluff - Daryl David Calvert, Alexis R. Cook, William Joseph Feid, Alexandra
Faith Green, Gloria Hisquierdo, Jessica Janae Reffalt-Herrera, Nicole Eliza Schnell,
Amy Elizabeth Skaggs, Darren Dean Wells, Blake Tyler Wills
Sidney - Justin Craig Hagerman, Mikala D. Sweetser
Colorado
Aurora - Mouhamed Balde, Hannah E. Sparks, Brooke Sylvia-Anne Zimmerman
Castle Rock - Blaise Noel Alexander
Haxton - Elizabeth Linnea Hadeen
Loveland - Aaron Pierce Morrison
Sheridan - Robert Fiedland
Wyoming
Casper - Marissa G. Colgrove
Lusk - Willow Jolene Waldock
Torrington - Christopher James Baker
Other States
AZ, Phoenix - Donavon A. Valentine
CA, Lynwood - Benjamin Rodriguez Jr.
KS, Olathe - Austin Anthony Michaud
HI, Waimanalo - Kaela K. Kaio - Perez
NY, Brooklyn - Kayla Destiny Candelaria
UT, Enoch - Alli McKenzie Sawyer
UT, Fruit Heights - Kennedy Lawes
UT, Grantsville - Whitney Jae Fields
UT, Kaysville - Sydnee May Edwards
UT, Sandy - Chelsey G. Keefer
WV, Green Bank - Josiah Alan Bolyard
International
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Fabiana Andrade da Silva
Nanaimo BC, Canada - Aiyanna Susan Grubac
Banjul, The Gambia - Fanding Ceesay, Muhammed Ceesay
Liskeard, United Kingdom - Corinne Elizabeth Eva McDonald
Vega Baja, Puerto Rico - Luis Angel Sotomayor
Associate of Applied Science
Alliance - Karen Y. Romero
Chadron - Denita R. Julius
Lodgepole - Jennifer S. Reed
North Platte - Julie K. Hart
Scottsbluff - Matthew P. Herrmann, Melinda S. Strain, Lexi Kae Webber, Laurie J. Yordy-Starke
Colorado
Fleming - Karianne I. Donnelson
Wyoming
Cheyenne - Connie Uden
Lingle - Elaine B. Tyree
Other States
FL, Sebring - Debashree Narayan
IN, Rockville - Andrea T. Williams
IA, Clarinda - Leah Marie Coston
OR, Sisters - Dawn Holmes
Associate of Occupational Studies
Bradshaw - Brandon Boardman
Bridgeport - Heather Christine Gage
Chadron - Matthew Lewis Cerny, Michael Allen Wakeley
Gering - Ismael Rodriguez
Hemingford - Katie Dannar
Minatare - Linda Rose Carrizales
Mitchell - Clint Cyrell McKim
Scottsbluff - Ruben A. Lopez
Colorado
Akron - Garret Balser
Colorado Springs - Davis Adam Craig
Holyoke - Camille Elliott
Wyoming
Jay Em - Merritt Hageman
Other States
SD, Rapid City - Jeffrey P. Bauer
International
Gyeonggi-do, South Korea - Youngsoo Kwon
Associate Degree Nursing
Alliance - Francia Ann Chagolla, Diana Marstellar, Shana Marstellar
Chadron - Korrine Lee Walczyk
Dix- Kory LaBeau
Gering - Jenifer Lynne Evans, Adesoye D. Olanrewaju
Melbeta - Sandra Elizabeth Guerrero
Mitchell - Kimberly Faye Powell
Oshkosh - Susan M. Albee, Abbey Boppre
Potter - Malory Sequino
Rushville - Euretta Elaine Kearns
Scottsbluff - Stacey Elliott, Heather Nicole Miller, Anna-Lisa Robles, Brittany R.
Smith, Sharon Tarus
Sidney - Chelsea K. Gabel, Nicole C. Knoll
Other States
LA, Big Creek - Dianne Lisa Bunch
International
Banjul, The Gambia - Bakary Manneh
Certificates
Alliance - Francisco Jacobo
Bayard - Justin James Baird, Joseph Manuel Hernandez, Phillip Ray Schuller
Kimball - Christopher James Buckley
Lamar - Meagan M. Kilpatrick
Mitchell - Coby A. Escamilla, Carlos Agustine Maldonado
Scottsbluff - Adam Richard Murphy
Sidney - Jamie Lines, Tyson A. Segelke
Colorado
Bennett - Dalton Lane Veal
Fort Morgan - Aubree C. Hickman
Otis - Eklin Ehrman
Other States
AZ, Bullhead City - Tiffany Harms
SD, Lemmon - Brooklynn S. Skjoldal
Diplomas
Alliance - Erin M. DuBray, Chase Ivan Dye, Lindsy A. Grimes, Jennifer Ann Jensen,
Charlee A. Martinez, Lexi Leigh Sandoz, Charles A. Steward, David Weare
Bridgeport- Michael Andrew Hunter
Chadron - Jasmine McLain, Jera L. Smith
Chappell - Ashley M. Schievelbein
Gering - Kristen L. Bauer, Bryttni May Morrow
Scottsbluff - Alec T. Burg, Rosalie A. Lopez, Chrystal M. Mendoza, Franchesca Yvette
Mokeac, Saraya Ann Ourada, Velma M. Perez, Chelsea Louise Potthast, Sadonna JoAnn
Primes
Sidney - Terry L. Ross, Sheri Denise Swain
Colorado
Elizabeth - Bryce B. Wasson
Fort Morgan - Ryan S. Heagney
Snyder - Wyatt Miller
Wyoming
Guernsey - Ciara Lynn Dimas
Torrington - Jaclyn Clark, Rachael Stimpson
Other States
CA, Hemet - Sharon Anna-Marie Hill
SD, Hot Springs - Haley Murphy
For more information, contact Dr. Susan Yowell, vice president of student services,
at yowells@wncc.edu or call 308-635-6104.