The University of Olivet recognized a total of 201 graduates during Commencement on Saturday, May 18 at the Cutler Event Center. The event marked the conclusion of the College’s 175th anniversary with special guests and proclamations.
President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D., addressed the senior class, and other speeches, proclamations, awards, prayers and songs were included in the ceremony. In addition, alumni from across the generations joined graduates in the formal processional and recessional, representing a portion of the College’s 175 years. During the ceremony, Charles Blackman, Ph.D., ’46 was also presented the degree Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Cause.
“You are doing something no other Olivet class has ever done before or ever will do again. You are receiving your degrees in the College’s 175th year,” said President Corey. “As you go forth, taking The University of Olivet with you into the greater world of graduate school, your career and community leadership, I challenge you to embrace and carry with you the values that have sustained the The University of Olivet community for 175 years.
“I challenge you to be a scholar. Stay engaged in education, ideas, experience and relationships that shape you. Be a contributor. Offer your ideas with conviction while engaging and respecting the ideas of others. Be a citizen. Humbly volunteer and serve the greater good of the community. Be a caretaker. Protect, improve and invest in the environment and your surroundings. Be inclusive. Be open-minded, understanding and respectful of difference. Be trustworthy. Live your public and private life with honesty, transparency and integrity. And finally, be an ambassador. Invite, inform and recruit others to share this place and these ideals. Be positive contributors to our, to your, The University of Olivet, both here and wherever you may be.”
Three proclamations were presented at the ceremony to acknowledge the College’s anniversary. State Representative Angela Witwer presented a proclamation on behalf of herself, Senator Tom Barrett and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Congressman Tim Walberg presented a proclamation on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, a proclamation submitted by Senator Debbie Stabenow was read by Cea Noyes, J.D., chair of the Social Science Department, professor of sociology/anthropology and director of the Betsy Dole Women’s Resource Center.
“What a privilege to look back on 175 years of history and the impact The University of Olivet continues to have not simply in Michigan, in this community or in this nation, but in the world,” said Walberg. “It comes from the fact that you understand your mission. President Corey and trustees, it is a privilege to give you this special proclamation tribute on my behalf from the U.S. House of Representatives. We are thankful for schools like this and the impact that you make. You’ve done good work in the lives of these students, and now they’ll do good work in the world.”
Trenton Monroe ’19 served as the senior class speaker. Trenton is from Kalamazoo and received his degree in actuarial science. While at The University of Olivet, Trenton was a four-year member of the football team, a member of Adelphic Alpha Pi and Gamma Iota Sigma, and he is in the Global Citizen Honors Program. Trenton is also a member of Sigma Zeta and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition, he participated in numerous service trips, including trips to Costa Rica, South Africa and Puerto Rico.
“The future is, in fact, different for all of us, but no matter how far you may travel or how successful you may become, these red caps are something that we will share forever,” Trenton said. “Olivet is not a place; it is a people. Olivet could be anywhere, but it is the people within this community who make it as special as it is. It is the people here that make it great, and it is the people in this room who will continue that greatness.”
Students are listed in alphabetical order by hometown. Out-of-state and international students are listed at the end of each section. All students listed were celebrated at Commencement, but the formal month and year of graduation are also included.
Special Symbols Key:
Academic Honors
*** Summa cum laude 3.90-4.00
** Magna cum laude 3.75-3.89
* Cum laude 3.50-3.74
Donald A. Morris Awards
M — Signifies the five graduating seniors with the highest grade point average.
Global Citizen Honors Program
G — Indicates graduates who are members of the Global Citizen Honors Program. This program calls on its members to investigate complex, interdisciplinary global issues, and to be involved in the world around them. It is designed for the student who wishes to continue demonstrating creativity and leadership within the framework of individual and social responsibility.
Congratulations to the Class of 2019:
Master of Business Administration in Insurance Graduates
Flint, Michael L. Burkhardt, December 2018
Lansing, Ben D. Rathbun, August 2019
Livonia, Michael Raupp, August 2019
Portage, Stephanie M. Supp, May 2019
Greeley, Colorado, Amy Chacon, August 2019
Bloomington, Illinois, Joshua G. Angelos, December 2018
Bloomington, Illinois, Derek Palmer, May 2019
Ellsworth, Illinois, Kristen Vogel, May 2019
Elmhurst, Illinois, Justin L. Ruehs, August 2019
Fairbury, Illinois, Angela Herr, August 2019
Carmel, Indiana, Debra Adam, May 2019
Indianapolis, Indiana, Robert Z. Evans, May 2019
Spencer, Iowa, Sara Schmidt, May 2019
Overland Park, Kansas, Lauren Kingsley, May 2019
Fall River, Massachusetts, Lisa Souza, May 2019
Vicksburg, Mississippi, Monica Jackson, May 2019
Columbia, Missouri, Lisa A. Brown, December 2018
Manchester, Missouri, Elisabeth M. Kang, December 2018
Shelby, Ohio, Duane D. Borgelt, August 2019
Carrollton, Texas, Jessica Rich, August 2019
Dallas, Texas, Ryan E. Semien, May 2019
Helotes, Texas, Christian Peralta, May 2019
McKinney, Texas, Jennifer Benedict, May 2019
Plano, Texas, Diane M. McClary, December 2018
Federal Way, Washington, Catherine Espel-Logan, August 2019
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Jacquelyn Downs, December 2018
Bachelor of Arts Graduates
Albion, Ca’Tina R. Lewis, May 2019
Albion, Dehanna R. Pace, May 2019
Allegan, John L. Bunn, May 2019
Ashley, Kayleb K. Bradley, May 2019
Auburn Hills, Christopher A. Womack, May 2019
Battle Creek, Elizabeth L. Coats*, December 2018
Battle Creek, Daniel J. Glidden*, December 2018
Battle Creek, Stephanie M. Chmiel, May 2019
Battle Creek, Whitney A. Gordon-Akers**, May 2019
Battle Creek, Jacob A. Harvey, May 2019
Battle Creek, Ryan M. Jex*, May 2019
Battle Creek, Brooke C. Sturgeon**, May 2019
Battle Creek, Christopher T. Talbott, May 2019
Battle Creek, Bradley J. Thomas, May 2019
Battle Creek, Stephen D. Herbstreith, August 2019
Belleville, Grant A. Shepherd*, May 2019
Bellevue, Sylvia L. Burkett*, December 2018
Bellevue, Jason Ackley, May 2019
Bellevue, Kate L. Fletcher*, May 2019
Bellevue, Alexis R. Hart***, May 2019
Bellevue, Kylie E. McHale*, May 2019
Blissfield, Emma J. Essen**, May 2019
Bridgman, Jordan T. Jones*, December 2018
Brighton, McKenna G. Graham***, December 2018
Brighton, Delaney J. Graham***, May 2019
Bronson, Kinslea M. Blouin, May 2019
Burlington, Kelsey T. Knight, May 2019
Carleton, Sarah N. Swiercz**, May 2019
Cedar Springs, Gunnar R. Aper*, December 2018
Charlotte, Kaitlin A. Irish**, December 2018
Charlotte, Jessica D. Templin*, December 2018
Charlotte, Marisa E. Vertrees, December 2018
Charlotte, Alexus L. Wood, December 2018
Charlotte, Tyler M. Davis, May 2019
Charlotte, Margaret E. Dunn*, May 2019
Charlotte, Marissa L. Gordon, May 2019
Charlotte, Joshua M. Hufford, May 2019
Charlotte, Madison S. Phillips, May 2019
Charlotte, Kennedy P. Smith*, May 2019
Charlotte, James J. Falk, August 2019
Charlotte, Andrew M. Palacios, August 2019
Chesterfield, Jessica M. Taylor**G, May 2019
Chesterfield, Tyler J. Grimsley, August 2019
Coldwater, Joshua M. Scheidler*, December 2018
Coldwater, Chase C. Cook*, May 2019
Coleman, Erik L. Partlo, May 2019
Coleman, Megan L. Partlo**, May 2019
Delton, Michael A. Ford, May 2019
Delton, Blake E. Mast, May 2019
Detroit, Raltheal K. Cornish, May 2019
Dimondale, Shelby M. Verlinde*, May 2019
Dorr, Samantha E. Lewis**, May 2019
East Lansing, Christine D. Wood***, December 2018
East Lansing, Daitriona R. Bonds, August 2019
East Leroy, Jackson K. Kiess, May 2019
Eaton Rapids, RaeNona A. Claramunt*, May 2019
Eaton Rapids, Elise L. Vaillencourt, May 2019
Elsie, Aaron M. Bush*, May 2019
Fenton, Travis R. Petts, May 2019
Frankenmuth, Jacob M. Robinson, May 2019
Grand Ledge, Christopher L. Kuhlman, August 2019
Hastings, Jack D. Tromp*, May 2019
Holland, Preston J. Trammell, May 2019
Holly, Ann F. Fetzer***M, May 2019
Holt, Michael J. Domzalski, May 2019
Homer, Gary L. Tompkins**, May 2019
Hope, Joseph C. Shuler, May 2019
Imlay City, Dominique R. McKillop, May 2019
Inkster, Jamaul L. Martin, December 2018
Ionia, Brianna M. Thurlby, May 2019
Jackson, Rachel L. Stoneburner***M, December 2018
Jackson, Katie J. Ambs, May 2019
Jackson, Hayley J. Cooper*, May 2019
Jackson, Paige M. Harcourt*, May 2019
Jackson, Savannah G. Underhill, May 2019
Jackson, Isaac C. York*, May 2019
Jenison, Bryan M. Plesner***, May 2019
Kalamazoo, Maia A. Greer, May 2019
Kalamazoo, Trenton L. Monroe**G, May 2019
Kentwood, Jacob M. Jordan, May 2019
Lansing, Hope E. Talbert*, December 2018
Lansing, Sabrina L. Butler, May 2019
Lansing, Samantha J. Butler, May 2019
Lansing, Elayne A. Curry, May 2019
Lansing, Antonio DeLaFuente-Reynaga, May 2019
Lansing, Kara M. Dishaw*, May 2019
Lansing, Justin S. Hatt*, May 2019
Lansing, Justin M. Maidlow, May 2019
Lansing, Jonathan I. Nyembwe, May 2019
Lansing, Paul M. Brentar, August 2019
Lansing, Gregory T. Harris, August 2019
Lawton, Lauren I. Maxam, May 2019
Lewiston, Emily H. Dorn***M, May 2019
Livonia, Zachary S. Barrick, December 2018
Livonia, Logan M. Dailey, December 2018
Livonia, Colton J. Dawdy, May 2019
Lowell, Brian D. Boudro, May 2019
Lowell, Janette E. Maki, August 2019
Marshall, Dennis L. Urquhart, December 2018
Marshall, Alena R. Buczynski, May 2019
Marshall, Jasmine N. Gingrich*, May 2019
Marshall, David J. Sunnock**, May 2019
Mason, Quintin T. Way, December 2018
Mason, Amanda F. Igl*, May 2019
Mason, Samantha H. Igl, May 2019
Midland, Jarred M. LaChance, December 2018
Monroe, Christopher P. Chrzan, May 2019
Monroe, Bronson S. Warren*G, May 2019
Mount Pleasant, Austin J. Briggs***, May 2019
Mount Pleasant, Tristen W. Fox, August 2019
Muskegon, Kris Wells, May 2019
Nashville, Corey J. Hricovsky*, May 2019
Nashville, Hailey A. Jungel***, May 2019
Nashville, Diana K. Speck, May 2019
North Adams, Kassondra A. Crosby*, May 2019
Olivet, Olivia Horgrow, December 2018
Olivet, Aleena Janousek***, December 2018
Olivet, Jeff D. Humphrey***M, May 2019
Olivet, Hannah E. Mellino***M, May 2019
Olivet, Corey D. Meyer*, May 2019
Olivet, Austin D. Sadler, May 2019
Olivet, Kayti L. Case, August 2019
Olivet, Nicholas R. Conroy, August 2019
Onsted, Brian R. Freiberger, May 2019
Ovid, Megan D. Black, May 2019
Parma, Kory M. Slaby, May 2019
Paw Paw, David Magallon, December 2018
Petoskey, Mitchell H. Jorgensen, May 2019
Petoskey, Mark B. Smith, May 2019
Pinckney, Shannon M. Dingman*, May 2019
Plainwell, Kevin A. Callahan, August 2019
Pleasant Lake, Zoe K. Feighner, May 2019
Potterville, Andrew J. Lehman, December 2018
Potterville, Loren R. Smalley, May 2019
Quincy, Jacob M. Jodway, May 2019
Rives Junction, Joseph M. Richmond, May 2019
Rockford, Nicholas E. Guerra, May 2019
Saint Clair Shores, Andrea M. Rico, May 2019
Saint Johns, Sarah E. Hileman*, May 2019
Saint Joseph, Kristen J. Gressley*, May 2019
Sault Ste. Marie, Ashley J. Harwood, December 2018
Schoolcraft, Maggie E. Graham**, May 2019
Scotts, Scott Eager, August 2019
Shepherd, Hannah R. Yates*, May 2019
Southfield, Eldridge Mason, August 2019
Sparta, Michaela A. Kaliniak, May 2019
Sparta, Nicholas J. Yeck, May 2019
St. Johns, Chase W. Brocker*, May 2019
St. Louis, Lane W. Porter, May 2019
Tekonsha, Alexis M. Cole, May 2019
Traverse City, Chase D. Cavric*, May 2019
Vermontville, Zachary A. Pruitt, May 2019
Warren, Brandon A. Mitchell, December 2018
Waterford, Zachary M. Oshinsky, May 2019
West Branch, Brandon J. Benac, May 2019
Westland, James D. Herdon, August 2019
Williamston, Griffin S. Gaffner, May 2019
Wixom, Evan B. Shirkey***, December 2018
Ypsilanti, Michael A. Sherman, December 2018
Ypsilanti, Maurice D. Young, May 2019
Mesa, Arizona, Denver A. Bonkowski, May 2019
La Habra Heights, California, Ronald H. Lord*, December 2018
Grand Junction, Colorado, Alissa K. Belcastro, May 2019
Chicago, Illinois, Savannah Hickman***, May 2019
Chicago, Illinois, Omar E. Brown, August 2019
Matteson, Illinois, Jason L. Cook, December 2018
Crown Point, Indiana, Amanda Gruszka, May 2019
Fort Wayne, Indiana, Nicholas W. Thomas, May 2019
Greenfield, Indiana, Kody M. Garcia, May 2019
East Orange, New Jersey, Taahir N. Muhammad, May 2019
Houston, Texas, Marcus H. Browne, May 2019
Toronto, Canada, Kadesha S. Alawar-Taylor*, December 2018
London, Great Britain, Bianca Osas-Maxwell*, May 2019
Whittingham, Great Britain, Alistair D. Law***, May 2019
Chernivtsi, Ukraine, Nataliya Malaydakh**, May 2019