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