The University of Olivet Celebrates the Class of 2026
The University of Olivet proudly congratulates the Class of 2026 on reaching this extraordinary milestone.
As graduates crossed the stage at Commencement, it was clear their journeys were about more than earning a degree. They were shaped by friendships, challenges, encouragement and a community that helped them keep moving forward. This year’s theme, “Rise,” captured that spirit perfectly.
Senior speaker Morgan Nowery reflected on finding connection and belonging after transferring to Olivet.
“At Olivet, I’ve had professors who didn’t just ask, ‘Where’s your assignment?’ They asked, ‘Are you okay?’ Because when someone sees you as a person first, and a student second… that changes everything.”
She shared humorous memories of field experiences, group projects and late-night deadlines, while reminding classmates that the Olivet experience is ultimately about people who support one another through life’s challenges.
“What made Olivet special wasn’t just the classes. It was the people who made sure we didn’t have to go through it alone.”
Billy Ripari, a graduate of Olivet’s online teaching pathway, spoke about balancing work, family and life responsibilities while pursuing his degree — and how the determination to continue moving forward embodied the year’s theme.
“We don’t just survive the hard times; we RISE above them.”
Ripari encouraged graduates to remember the resilience they developed throughout their journeys.
“You’ve done hard things before. You can do hard again. You don’t just fall, you rise.”
As graduates begin their next chapters, as educators, healthcare professionals, business leaders, artists, scientists and changemakers, the University celebrates not only what they accomplished, but who they have become along the way.
To the Class of 2026: thank you for the ways you strengthened our community, inspired one another and embodied the spirit of Olivet.
We cannot wait to see how you continue to rise.
Master of Arts in Leadership
August 2025
Madison Lynn Bailey, Buchanan
Rachel Michelle Swartz, Battle Creek
Master of Business Administration Candidates
December 2025
Smitha Dk Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Joyan Dsouza Aikala, Karnataka, India
Kodi Jamaal Hughes, Melissa, TX
Elizabeth O’Connor, McKinney, TX
Arjun Prakash, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Shakin Raj Adappa, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Erik Christopher Rosik New Richmond, WI
Kelly Baucom Smith, Powhatan, VA
Preema Victorin Tauro, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Brian James Tavener, Aubrey, TX
Breanne Michelle Wilder, Charlotte
Noah Jeffrey Wiswary, Lake Odessa
Master of Education
August 2026
Karla Elizabeth Dianne Gurk, Mulberry, IN
Bachelor of Arts Candidates
August 2025
Sebastian Frank Youngs, Charlotte
December 2025
Brooklyn Page Baker***, Charlotte
Chelsea Lynn Barnett** P, Lawton
Shannon Marie Behrend, Stanton
Marlena Anne Bell, Memphis
Nina Marie Bostocky, Scotts
Dominique Sha-nelle Bowman P, Detroit
Jennifer Bush, Mikado
Manuel Caballero III, Grosse Pointe Farms
Jaydn Martena Cary**, Coldwater
Willie Couch*, Charlotte
T’Keyah J. Deans*, Redford
Linda Dedvukaj P, Shelby Twp
Ericka Marie DeMorris P, Clawson
Tamila S. Evans, Bloomfield Hills
Sarah B. Fisher* , Bellevue
Rachel Renee Frommert, Battle Creek
Jersey Roxanne Gaedert, Charlotte
Briana Nicole Gitchell*, Eau Claire
Morgan Maree Good*** M P, Charlotte
Cristina Marie Greco, Dearborn Heights
Abraham James Hanna, Potterville
Dawson Lewis John**, Clare
Tonya Lee Keilitz P, Saint Charles
Fatima Firdous Khan P, Canton
Khim Lian, Battle Creek
Lance L. Massey , Dearborn
Cathryn Yakira Mayville*, Midland
Alaina Louise McCormick, Muskegon
Hayleah Marie McFadden**, Niles
Ivan Mejia*, Bangor
Delione Newson, Oak Park
Sydney Elisa Nutt**, Springport
Rebecca Lyn Oden, Burtchville
Pamela D. Opel, Hudson
Spencer Stephen Rabourn, Kalkaska
William Michael Ripari, Roseville
Isabella Marie Seger-Wagasy***, Monroe
Jordan Lee Shadix, Burr Oak
Asia J. Sherman, Eaton Rapids
Eriel Janeé Solomon, Detroit
Carl Gordon Vanidour, Macomb
Rebecca Jo VanLent P, Mattawan
Ashley Renee Vosburgh***, Portage
Jessica Lynn Walker, Bellevue
Douglas G. West, Bellevue
Nazarine Tawanda Williams, Redford
Amanda Marie Wilson P , Dowagiac
Karmyn Elizabeth Winkler***, Charlotte
May 2026
Braden Joseph Abbott, Warren
Austin Abram Alflen***, Linden
Mitchell G. Bair-Pollard*, Battle Creek
Cole J. Barker**, Coldwater
Joshua Franklin Billiter, Independence, KY
Reagan J. Biritz*, Charlotte
Lindsey M. Bohunsky, Charlotte
Sedona Carrera Bonter, Alto
Madison Grace Borrelli***, Lowell
Ashtin Kristine Brantley*, Vestaburg
Nathaniel Jackie-Jamar Briggs, Detroit
Tyler Alimario Brooks, Ypsilanti
Matthew Alexander Brown**, Battle Creek
Raymon Michael Brown***, Hillsdale
Kyle Ross Buchan, Caledonia
Victoria Paige Buhk, Jenison
Lisa Marie Burke-Cadez P, Allen Park
Daniel Scott Caldwell, Highland
Bryan Nicholas Carney**, Grosse Pointe Woods
Montana M. Cease, Bangor
Ryley Grace Chamberlin*, Freeland
Saúl Juber Chorro Romero, Bangor
Ashlyn Arelene Christy, Kilgore, TX
Spencer Loyd Chubb**, Haslett
Carsen Jay Chynoweth, Hancock
Clint Andrew Colborn*, Allegan
Ethan Julius Collins, Waterford
Elanor R. Cormendy, Westland
Brenda Alexis Nicole Craig** P, Watervliet
Christopher Benjisill Craigmiles II, Lenox
Ava D. Cristea, Royal Oak
Savannah Croff*, Eaton Rapids
Kyle M.E. Crusan**, Newaygo
Alena Marie David, Livonia
Jonathen William Davis, Webberville
Le’Monte Demond Davis, Vassar
MiChelle Lin DeVries** P, Constantine
Nathan Patrick Droste*, Eagle
Helena Jo Eley**, Bronson
Cole Douglas Epler**, Eaton Rapids
Meghan Sue Erickson, Bark River
Landon L. Fletcher, Bronson
Megan E. Frentz*, Battle Creek
Anthony Joseph Gagliardo, Coloma
Ryan John Ganger**, Clyde
Maci Jane Gardner*** T, Charlotte
Garett B. Gee T, Belding
Benjamin Connor Gillesby, Cassopolis
Kalila Brynn Glei**, Albion
Jack Anthony Gohlke*, Shelby Township
Charles Goldman*, Owosso
Dallas James Gordon*** P, Clinton Twp
Tyler Hall***, Clinton Twp
Angelo Robert-Lee Hamilton, New Haven
Riley Ross Harris, Royal Oak
Mary Ann Harvey***, Paw Paw
Kendalyn Marie Haskins**, Otsego
Kinsley Bella Hatfield**, Hudsonville
Zae’da Monet Hayes, Lansing
Ian Marshall Helzer, Johannesburg
Noah A. Herring , Lansing
Damani Akil Hicks, Detroit
Kody Hillring *, Decatur
Courtnie Christine Holmes*, Schoolcraft
Evan Wright Honnen*, Burton
Frederick Hull III, Grant
Jennifer Rae Ingalls, Lansing
Amanda Leigh Jones, Constantine
Braeden Earl Jones**, Rochester Hills
Kylee Valentine Knight**, Battle Creek
Trevor J. Kunst**, Valparaiso, IN
Michael Edward Kuzara*, Flat Rock
Cody John Lamoreaux**, Charlotte
Ella B. LaMothe*** P, Grand Blanc
Shaelyn Signe Lampinen***, Rock
Mikayla Elizabeth Larson*, Portage
Kelsee Jean Lawson***, Mattawan
Sophia Grace Lawson, Bellevue
Gideon Loewen, Farmington Hills
Sydney D. Lynch*** M P, Grand Blanc
Nolan R. McCriillis, Warren
Darren Drake McLeod*** M P, North Branch
Christian Urias Mendoza, Oxford
Madison Mervine*, Buchanan
Grayson C. Middleton, Fowlerville
Henry Isaac Moore**, Carrollton, OH
Peter David Moore***, Hillsdale
Keith Richard Morgan, Eaton Rapids
Drew B. Morrical, Pontiac
Trinity Lee Nelson, Charlotte
Luke D. Nooe, South Lyon
Mason Roger Nowak, Eaton Rapids
Haley Mae Oosterhouse**, Marne
Raul Ostiguin Jr.*, Paw Paw
Christopher James Pahman, Grand Rapids
Denneil S. Park, Palms
Grace Elizabeth Parker, Paw Paw
Myles Thomas Parker***, Kingston
Brody William Parten, Snellville, GA
Natalie Grace Peters*, Marshall
Laura Ann Poggi P, Kalamazoo
Violet Mae Porter** G, Kalkaska
Joel Joseph Potter*** M P G, Charlotte
Madison Rose Potter, Dowagiac
Morgan Marie Rachow*, West Branch
Caitlin Elizabeth Reeder**, Lawton
Aidan Jay Reynolds*, Ortonville
Logan M. Rice, Royal Oak
Olivia A. Roush*** P, Vermontville
Hannah Annette Ruoff***, Battle Creek
Elijah Robert Saathoff** , Blanchard
Bridgette René Saidla P, Lawton
Savannah Kay Schmidt*, Wyoming
Owen Patrick Smith**, Grand Ledge
Victoria Joy Snow***, Bellevue
Kaleb Orion Spahr*, Osseo
Asia Marie St. John** T, Rives Junction
Jamie Ione Stiver*** M P, Tecumseh
Ethan James Suggitt*** P, Kinross
Jeremy Vincent Swoyer, Oxford
Domenico Cesar-Juan Tejeda**, Allendale
Andrea Lynn Thorne P, Charlotte
Nadia Helayna Tijerina, Redford
Matthew Allen Tollar Valparaiso, IN
Jennie Lynn Underwood**, Lowell
Samantha Sue Van Beek***, Hudsonville
Kylinn Elise Vanover, New Haven
Jessica Kathleen Vernarsky***, Pinckney
Emma Frances Wakley, Portland
Amyah Marie Walker**, Marshall
Logan Reed Walton*, Almont
Jack Charles Webb**, Olivet
Kaliq L. White, Detroit
Sarah G. Willard*, Galesburg
Brayden Charles Wine***, Charlotte
Kylee Jacqueline Wolanin***, Holly
Karsten Hardy Younes, St. Clair Shores
August 2026
Kellen Thomas Caldwell, Highland
Keri Ann Chene, Rockwood
Jeffrey Cross, Spring Arbor
Megan Marie Dagen, Manton
Emma Jean Drake, Lansing
Charles M. Grant, Charlotte
Annalee R. Hammond, Vicksburg
Marcelina E. Hatter, Charlotte
Tekoa Daniel Hewitt, Grand Blanc
Lakeisha Jackson, Detroit
Meadow Johnson, Decatur
Breanna Jean Lewis, Gobles
Joshua M. Maes, Haslett
Morgan Brilyn Nowery, Onondaga
Meredith Joy O’Connor, East Leroy
Kellan Michael Okray, White Lake
Danielle Nicole Ribbentrop, Clarkston
Tesamae Richardson, Manistee
Natalie L. Ross, Battle Creek
Carter Allen Scheel, Kalamazoo
Lauren Jean Shroyer, Eaton Rapids
Justin Smith, Battle Creek
Nicholas Vaughn Stokan, Rochester Hills
Monique LaTrice Taylor, Harper Woods
Cole R. Vanderwaal, Bellevue
Ashley Elaine VanSplintern, Bellevue
Quentin Alexander Carlos Villa, Bellevue
Jaelyn Weber, Marshall
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
December 2025
Katie Lynn Kirby, Battle Creek
Mariah Ray Vaden, Battle Creek
May 2026
Taylor Marie Gordier, Spring Arbor
Sarah Nicole Storey*, Battle Creek
Bachelor of Social Work
May 2026
Isabel Rose Abalos**, Phoenix, AZ
Alexandra Elizabeth Webb P, Olivet
Key to Academic Honors
*** Summa cum laude 3.9 – 4.0
** Magna cum laude 3.75 – 3.89
* Cum laude 3.5 – 3.74
M Presidential Distinguished Medalists
P Presidential Distinguished Scholars
G Global Citizen Honors Program
T Teaching Pathway Program
Baccalaureate and Commencement Photos
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Commencement and Presidential Distinguished Medalists