75th Commencement: Lake Michigan College awards 406 degrees and certificates during May 1 ceremonies
Dr. Leslie Kellogg, Lake Michigan College’s Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs, summed it up best.
After 2020’s ceremonies were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2021 festivities were modified to an outdoor drive-thru event, LMC returned to the Mendel Center Mainstage on Sunday, May 1 for its 75th Commencement.
“It feels really good to be back,” Kellogg said. “Our commencement is the most important and celebrated day of the year at Lake Michigan College. It’s really the culmination of a great deal of hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices.”
A total of 398 students received 406 degrees and certificates from 42 areas of study, including 381 associate degrees, nine advanced certificates, and 16 certificates of achievement during 10 a.m. (Arts & Sciences and General Studies) and 2 p.m. (Career & Workforce and Health Sciences) ceremonies.
Two hundred twenty students or 55 percent of the Class of 2022 graduated with honors. There were 71 Early College graduates who received their associate degrees at the same time as their high school diplomas.
Graduates hailed from a total of 12 U.S. states and six countries (Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Peru, and Vietnam).
Students who received academic affairs program awards were Heidi Fox (Spirit of Nursing Award); Jessica Layman (Spirit of Hospitality Award); Jeremy Lane (Spirit of Visual & Performing Arts Award); David Ntsiful and Gavin Winkel (Bob Schodorf Distinguished Natural Sciences Scholar Award); Leah Barlow, Ashli Freeman, Brooke Hare, Lilly Jackson, Francisco Pahuamba and Aubrey White-Day (Betts Rittmeyer Natural Sciences Scholar Award); and Grace Burge, Dawn DiMatteo-Kemmer, Jerica Hairston, Jessica Layman and Charlotte Witt (Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society Award).
In addition to Dr. Kellogg, presenters included LMC Board of Trustees Vice Chair John Grover, Board Secretary Mary Jo Tomasini, LMC President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke, Vice President of Student Affairs Nygil Likely, student speakers Lauren Bettis and Nicholas Hatton at the 10 a.m. ceremony, and Heidi Fox at the 2 p.m. ceremony.
2022 graduates include:
Honors notations:
*Honors (3.25-3.74 GPA)
**High Honors (3.75-3.99 GPA)
*** Highest Honors (4.00 GPA)
Associate Degree Recipients
Allegan
Alison Marie Bishop**, Stephanie Renee Hicks**, Anthony David Hiscock, Brielle Clara Hoover*, Lydia KD Looman**, Kiersten Lynn Osborn, Lexus Shushun Putt***, Jocelyn Rose Selby**
Aurora, Illinois
Elizabeth Anne Tumpane
Bakersfield, California
Tony Haywood Burnside Jr.*
Bangor
Kylee Ann Krull*, Jorge Luna Jr., Jenrry Abimael Medina Demetrio*, Anise Montoya*, Eric J Polanco*
Baroda
Kennedy Nicole Kracker***, Alexander James Kroeze, Vanessa Martinez, Morgan Briann Matlack*, Jaden Fawn Miller, Morgan Mylinn Renfrow, Haley Marie Yow**
Belpre, Ohio
Katherine Loraine Thomas
Benton Harbor
Sequoya Q Allen, Kathryn Ann Ashbrook Young*, Taneika Marie Austin-Bowman, Keairra Laniece Autry*, Henry Harrison Bell***, Darnisha Zekiah Carter, Fredie Colton-Boyd Church**, Talonda C Davis*, Javari Zaccheus Flie, Jumauca Golliday, Felissha Nekish Jefferson**, Charlotte D Jones, Kayla Leeanndra Jones*, Kaneshia Tashay Kendall*, Valerie Lynne Knecht**, Casey Jo Linares*, Vanessa Martinez*, Tiffany Marie Miller, Whitney Renee Pearson, Diamond Phillips, Alex Joseph Renfro, Tekyrua Roberts, Ashonti D Shaw, Jennifer Lilliana Suarez*, Alexis Renee' Turner, Linda Tyler, Jae Marie Walker**, Jada Helena Willis*, Renee Elaine Wright**, William Jason Wright, Avontae Jacori-Latrell Young
Berrien Center
Aidan Joshua Raschke*, Tagin Marie Raschke***
Berrien Springs
Kristin Nichole Alonso, Hannah Marie Beardsley, Johna Marie Belin*, Hannah Kelly Church, Alex-Mari F Bontemps-Ford, Ugochi Noble Emmanuel*, Gina Stephanie Gutierrez, Tyler James-Morgan Howard, Faith Lynn Kittleson**, Avion Zaviera-Jessica Lall**, Dulce Isabel Lopez-Lara, Alyssa Marie Miskiewicz, Hannah Marie Moler*, Alysia Alvina Mongkau***, Sitlali Padron*, Natalie Ann Walters
Birch Run
Sara Elizabeth Shugars*
Bitely
Casandra Lin File*
Bridgman
Benjamin Richard Bryan, Jennifer Renee Gambino**, Madison Joyce Granzow, Jerica Ruth Hairston*, Brooke Miriam Hare*, Lena MacMartin**, Rebecca Miller*
Buchanan
Madison Lynn Bailey, Mary Katherine Becvar, Julie Ann Blaylock, Sarah Rose Blumka, Jillian Nicole Demler*, Brittany Brashae Draper*, Carmen Cecilia Guerrero*, Brenton Wesley Kimbrell, Kathleen Michelle King*, Brandon Kenneth Kirkendall***, Madelyn Brooke Kitchell*, Jesse Donovan Layne*, Sophia Medora Lozmack**, Samantha Ann Malstrom, Brianna Ash Martin, Madison Renae Newport*, Miranda Nicole Pierce**, Kathryn Rose Schau, Caitlynn Elizabeth Vanlandingham**
Butler, Pennsylvania
Moira Renee Cooper**
Cassopolis
Erica TyRell Williams
Coloma
Brittany Nicole Bovo*, Ariel Nicole DeLaTorre, Gavin James Dewey, Jarred Michael Fish*, Oscar Alberto Flores, Ashli Loren Freeman*, Nicholas Casey Hatton**, Jaidyn Loraine Hutsell*, Jarret Lee Kramer**, Alyssa Ina Krenek**, Caitlyn Sandra Lemoine*, Cameron John Neubecker*, Joshua Wyatt Ray, Michele Lynn Rigozzi*, Warren Wayne Seabury III, Lauren Elizabeth Strickland, Emily Elizabeth Stringer**, Debra Lynn Stroud*, Katie Jane Swisher**, Tara Michelle Tafilowski, Amy Lynn Ulrich, Emma Kay Vandermolen**, Lucas McCain Vela*, Vendan Workman*
Covert
Francisco Jonathan Pahuamba*
Decatur
Shelby Lynn Southard*
Delton
Hailey Leona Buckner, Lily Ann Timmerman**
Dowagiac
Lucas H Bowen**, Elizabeth Brito, Grace Ann Clark*, Gabrielle Mae Lechlitner*, Matthew Robert Nelson**, Austin Lee Race**, Elissa Faith Roberts*, Erica Ross, Haley E Spencer**, Randi Marie Taggart
Eau Claire
Thomas J Bond, Terry McCain, Shelby Carlene-Kaye Steinke, Jasmine Renice Ward
Edwardsburg
Kalen Nichole La Place, Nicholas Donovan Sibley
Elkhart, Indiana
Megan Rachelle Hill*
Fennville
Bridget Ann Blok*, Gabrielle Brooke Cabrera, Tabatha Clara Cooper, Monica Araceli Lopez-Garcia*, Eduardo JR Mendoza, Jonathan Angel Mendoza, Christian Dat Mendoza-Huynh, Maria Danielle Ortiz, Maya Ana Ortiz, Francisca Marie Rodriguez, Katlynn Doc Trevino, Michaela Anna Woodwyk-Reiffer, Andrew Joseph Odell Zachery*
Ghana
Grace Anderson
Goshen, Indiana
Veronica Dawnielle Kelly*
Grand Junction
Tammy Annette Andrews, Andrea Lynn Hooper
Grand Rapids
Mark Joseph Connors II**
Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Adriana Oliveira Moura*
Hartford
Ricky Peter Austin, Dawn DiMatteo-Kemmer*, Mariela Gutierrez Quintana***, Charity Marie Johnson, Gary Wayne Johnson**, Amalia Yolanda Perez**, Jasmine Lorraine Truelove
Hopkins
Joshua Edward Tripp**, Darci Kay Williams**
Houston, Texas
Melissa Sue Soule
Hudsonville
Maggie Jian Xia Berridge*
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Marshall Rae Leishman
Kalamazoo
Christopher Kenneth Allgood, Katie Brianna Trantham*
Lawrence
Arek Alinjak Bak, Lauryn Olivia Crandall*, Lizabeth Leigh Edson*, Derek Richard Gribler, Matthew Aric Kennedy, Taylor Lynn Streit, Gavin Connard Winkel***
Lima, Peru
Yahaira Tamy Semil
Marcellus
Carol Ann Lutz
Marne
Madeline Sue Oosterhouse*
Marshall
Jarrett Allen DeLand
Marsing, Idaho
Faith D Gray***
Martin
Sierra Marie Emmorey*, Dominic Lee-Jordan Speed, Natalie Kay Yowler*
Minot, North Dakota
Joan Michelle LaLonde*
Mishawaka, Indiana
Kirk Allen Kuespert, Courtney Nicole Matthews**
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Alicia Terese Mann*
Mount Pleasant
Lance Kenneth MacDonald**, Mia Rui Rong VanderVeen
New Buffalo
Jonah Patrick Bussa
New Carlisle, Indiana
Jessica Anne Irvin
Niles
Nichole Leigh Anderson**, Alexandria Joyce Baker*, Gabriella Kay Barrett, Anna Billingsley, Rory Diane Brittin, Grace Michelle Burge*, Taylor Derscha**, Lexie Brooke Gast, Derek Daniel Guy*, Robert Allen Hand**, Chelsey Linnea Hatch*, Lilly Christine Jackson**, Jordan Anthony Jacques, Jessica Marie Layman*, Tamlin le Roux**, Audrey Mahlin Longley, Ariel Shantanu Malakar**, Allison Mae Milewski, Linda Kay Murphy, David Ahenkorah Ntsiful**, Levi Micheal Powell*, Omar Mwafag Queisi, Franchesca Kayle A Rivera*, Marika Skye Ruppart**, Sarah Elizabeth Ryan*, Allison Nicole Scott**, Emelyn Kay Tucker**, Brooklyn Marie Wetzel*, Linda Zheng**
North Adams
Hallee Micaila Forbes
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Donovan Chad Wade-Miller
Nunica
Isiah Taye Lindsey
Orlando, Florida
Halaila Ehiowemwenguan*
Ostego
Nathaniel Dale Borling**, Daelan Michael Burd***, Noah Matoska Corradini, Maggie Louise Mills, Jocelyn Cait Sallee**, Karley Jai Saucedo*, Ellie Ann Sweet**, Sydnee Autumn Nichole Vess*, Summer Marie Webb*
Owosso
Savannah Josette Eldridge**, Heidi Marie Fox*
Paw Paw
Anna Maria Castelluccio, Caleb Warren Schmitt
Perrysburg, Ohio
Anna Lynn Taylor**
Petaluma, California
Charlie Nicole Kern**
Plainfield, Illinois
Jordan-Anali R Rosillo*
Plainwell
Sydney Taylor Gernaat*, Aiden Dolloff Hopkins*, Brianna Lynn Weaver**
Plymouth
Conor James Downey
Portage
Taylor Jo Vorva
Pullman
Clarivel Delucas Valdez, Jessica Michelle Hernandez*
Richland
Olivia Diana Dillenbeck
Sa Dec, Dong Thap, Vietnam
Chi Thi Lan Duong**
Saginaw
Lisa Bethany Martinak
Saint Joseph
Addyson Michelle Archer**, Ashley Jamil Arnold, Leah Kathryn Barlow*, Hunter Bates-Robertson, Andrew Michael Blomgren, Baylee Bonds, Willa Ruby Brainard*, Alexandra Nicole Bush*, Taylor Renee Campbell-Butler, Dennis Andrew Crumb Jr., Jessica Lynn Dandron, Anne Lynn Doyle*, Atina R Edwards*, Kyla Grace-Betsabeth Evans, Michael Joseph Garritano*, Kaleb Ray George*, Ryan Michael Gifford, Darrell Bryce Harrison, Maxwell McFarland Humes, Jocelyn Joy Ippel, Jeremy James Lane*, Kyleigh Morgan LePinske, Steven Frederick Manning**, Daniel R Maxon, Logan Skye Miller*, Malachi Katougo Miller, Madison Lee Murphy*, Arya Himanshu Pandit*, Jasmine Jade Parkinson, Dawn Marie Phairas*, Elizabeth Pudell*, Jovanni Cruz Rodarte, Stephanie Rachele Root*, Christopher James Russell, Aleena Sue Schadler, Arron Lee Schaffer**, Emily Paige Schulz, Veronica Lynne Sellin*, Sherri Renee Swierbut, Mia Theresia Rose Thiele, Taylor Marie Townsend, Ciera Elizabeth Traylor**, Shelby Brooke Turner*, Grace Lynn Vance**, Savannah Michelle VerHage*, Richard Lee Wallsten, Aubrey A White-Day*, Alexandra Eve Winkler
Sawyer
Kelly M Brown*, Levi Jefferson Galanda**
Schoolcraft
Dawson Steven Shearer*
Shelbyville
Hailey Ann Tuinstra*, Riley Lynn Tuinstra*
Shipshewana, Indiana
Candice Leigh Parker
South Bend, Indiana
Maya Alece Cavallo***, Lindsay Leader Haupt*
South Haven
Leah Carolyn Bennett, Lauren Monet Bettis*, Sierra Marie Brush**, Adam Joshua Byrd*, Genevieve Louise Deschaine**, Hunter Clay DeVries*, Maddison Mariea Edwards*, Ivy Lynne Fritsche, Julianna H Gildea, Mallory Elyse Griffin**, Josiah Miles Jessup*, Jenna Lenee Ridley*, Christopher Leroy Schmidt**, Rachael Suzanne Sondgerath, Seth Ryan Webster**
St. Petersburg, Florida
Shawna Madsen***
Sterling Heights
Chance Joseph Kirkwood*
Stevensville
Kathryn N Alti, Conner Mason Annis***, Jonathan M Bowman, Alexis Caroline Finch*, Mary Christine Flanagan*, Aaron Michael Foster**, Theresa Lynn Fulbright*, Allison Leigh Gillem*, Allison Marie Gillette*, Jacob Arlie Houser, Jessica L Hueni*, Kylie Ann Retterbush, Jonathan Daniel Rueb, Katie Michelle Steinke, Matthew Richard Swartzendruber, Mikaela Sophia Marie Van Hoven**, Hannah Katherine Walsh*, Charlotte Darlene Witt*
Sturgis
Jose Juan Garcia
Tampa, Florida
Taylor Linda Louise Butler
Three Oaks
Devin Lee Alexander, Allyson Renee Rochefort
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jacob Cameron Elliott Mahoney*
Valparaiso, Indiana
William Joseph Roberts
Watervliet
Catherine M.A. Brooks, James Wesley Hezekiah Ellsworth, Logan Alan Geisler*, Casie Elizabeth Gohr*, Francico Gonzalez**, Madalyn Michelle Hutchins, Taylor Marvin, Amanda Brittany Oliver, Bridget Prince*, Kyah Noel Sexton*, Mary Elizabeth Steltner*, Laura Katie White*, Heather Lynn Whitney, Sarah Jeanette Zepik*
Wayland
Kourtney LaRae Baas*, Megan Rebekah Taylor*
Woods Cross, Utah
Jaxon Bret Gines
Worthington, Ohio
Hope E Ireland
Wyoming
Kyle Robert Ratliff*
Zeeland
Cassidy Raine Kaeb, Kyle Jacob Veersma, Kaci Lynn Vredeveld*
Advanced Certificate Recipients
Benton Harbor
Kaneshia Tashay Kendall
Bridgman
Courtney Renee Hays***, Rebekah Anne Hettig
Buchanan
Carmen Cecilia Guerrero*, Tracy Sue Wingrove
Niles
Lilibeth Ucag Grice*, Allison Mae Milewski
Paw Paw
Cara Joy Valdes*
South Bend, Indiana
Shaun Lee Moore**
Certificate of Achievement Recipients
Bangor
Jennifer Ventura Garcia
Benton Harbor
William Jason Wright
Berrien Springs
Joshua Aiden Wood
Bridgman
Katharine Patricia Lion
Buchanan
Janet Lynne Davis
Dowagiac
Emily Loren Hawkins, Sarah Ann Thielmann
Fennville
Easton Jay Deroo, Nathan James Spiece
Paw Paw
Caleb Warren Schmitt
Petaluma, California
Charlie Nicole Kern
Saint Joseph
Darrell Bryce Harrison
Sodus
Ross William Clare
Stevensville
Jordan Bradley McGregor
Three Rivers
Savannah Renee Hankins