CSC graduates encouraged to learn from adversity

Jonathan Ries, son of Dr. Tom and Lisa Ries, Rapid City S.D. received his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He will eventually be serving with the Rangers. He received his first salute from SFC Carl Dehling of Chadron, Neb.

Speakers for the events were entertaining and engaging. Brief profiles on both are available on the CSC News website.

Dr. Charles Butterfield spoke at the graduate ceremony and included in his advice to those earning their master’s degrees that they should thank the leaders, teachers and mentors who helped them arrive at this goal while also looking forward. “Make a difference. Touch lives. Not just your own. Help others realize their career goals. Leave things a little better than when you got there,” Butterfield said.

He pointed out that being in a tough situation often provides the opportunity to develop and display courage. Examples he shared were the firefighting efforts near Chadron during the summer of 2012 and the many students who leave their home countries thousands of miles away and travel to CSC to further their education.

He shared a James Lehrer quote with the audience. “A college diploma does not mean that you are educated. Quite the contrary. It means that you have opened up to a perpetual state of ignorance and thus a lifelong hunger for more – more ideas, more knowledge, more good thoughts, more challenges, more of everything.” Butterfield also encouraged the graduates to face and embrace change.

Later in the morning, CSC alumna and undergraduate commencement speaker, Susan Woeppel Salka echoed a similar theme. She said, “If you are scared when you stretch and take on challenges, that is great. That’s when you grow the most.”

The 1985 CSC graduate urged the audience to take accountability for their mistakes, sharing her own experience with a sizable accounting error early in her career. “I earned more trust from my supervisor because I came clean and owned the problem I had created. You can do the same,” Salka said.

Amid asking the graduates for a show of hands in response to various questions, including why they came to CSC, Salka described her original personal and professional goals, explaining that things didn’t always turn out how she had planned. In spite of that, she feels that the twists and turns in her life were all meant to be.

One example was the inability to have children, so she and her husband, Scott, adopted a boy and girl from Russia 15 years ago and about four years ago became guardians of one of their son’s school friends.

She held up three of her journals: One, used for recording successes, labeled “I did it!” The second called “Stuff Happens” filled with stories of unfortunate experiences. The third called “DNR” for Do Not Repeat. The acronym typically stands for Do Not Resuscitate in the medical field. She joked that either phrase is equally appropriate. Her DNR journal chronicles poor decisions she’s made. She emphasized that people learn more from adversity and challenges than from easy times.

Friday night, during the college’s 94-year-old tradition called Ivy Day, over 100 CSC graduates were recognized with certificates of merit as outstanding students in their primary fields of study, tutors, Admissions Ambassador and other campus leadership accomplishments.

In an interesting turn of events, Master of Science in Organization Management graduate Lindsey Glock received a surprise when she walked out of Memorial Hall into the bright sunshine about 9 a.m. Her fiance’, Mike Boardman of Gordon, Neb. asked her to marry him and gave her an engagement ring. He graduated in the 10 a.m. CSC undergraduate ceremony.

Chadron area resident Gary Bieganski represented the Nebraska State College System as a board member of the group. He invested Dr. Randy Rhine, CSC president, with the authority to confer both the graduate and undergraduate degrees.

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION

Bonnie Jane Beckstrom, Chadron, Neb.

Lynette R. Belknap, Hemingford, Neb.

Bridger Chytka, Hemingford, Neb.

Lorrie Ann Hayes, Franklin, Ohio

Ruth Ann Holland, Benkelman, Neb.

Maria Eloisa Oporto Leiva, Ituzaingo, Argentina

Malinda Linegar, Chadron, Neb.

Jana Lynn Sickler, Kearney, Neb.

Patrick M. Waugh, Chadron, Neb.

ABSENTIA

Wendy L. Hageman, North Platte, Neb.

Amy Lewis, Newcastle, Calif.

Alisha Rebecca Reynolds, Fort Morgan, Colo.

 

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Michael K. Morrison, Omaha, Neb.

Raghavender Sagar Neradi, Minneapolis, Minn.

Gyanendra Rai, Kathmandu, Nepal

Sherri Clifford Uerling, McCook, Neb.

Ronald L. Weifenbach, Rapid City, S.D.

ABSENTIA

Joshua Michael Borowski, Grand Island, Neb.

Jonathan Clayton Hanger, Owensboro, Ky.

Eman B. Haroun, Burnsville, Minn.

Christopher Alan Himes, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Brady B. Johnson, Rushville, Neb.

Anthony Allen Lewis, Goodyear, Ariz.

Travis E. Ouderkirk, North Platte, Neb.

DECEMBER 2012 GRADUATE

Paul G. Spencer Moreno Valley, Calif.

 

MASTER OF EDUCATION

Julie Alcorn, Hay Springs, Neb.

Lauren Bauer, Douglas, Wyo.

Veronica Bryant, North Platte, Neb.

Kristen Lee Burnett, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Gina Louise Ferguson, Chadron, Neb.

Jordan D. Haas, Hemingford, Neb.

Nicholas Lamp, Kemmerer, Wyo.

Cortney Larsen, North Platte, Neb.

Colleen Clark Margetts, Chadron, Neb.

Jamie Martin, Morrill, Neb.

James Stephen Miller, Gering, Neb.

Megan L. Pieper, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Dawn D. Pinnt, Chadron, Neb.

Jenifer N. Reisner, Yulee, Fla.

Julie Ann Stephany, Gillette, Wyo.

Marc Wess, Chadron, Neb.

Dawn D. Wheeler, North Platte, Neb.

ABSENTIA

Brian D. Anderson, Rawlins, Wyo.

Derek Jeffrey Bantam, Curtis, Neb.

Justin J. Clark, Gering, Neb.

Shannon L. Corfield, Oshkosh, Neb.

Sean M. Cunningham, Grand Island, Neb.

Victoria Leslie Greet Davis, Kaycee, Wyo.

Pamela Marie Drake, Gothenburg, Neb.

Lance James Howitt, Stuart, Neb.

Loni Hughes Watson, Lincoln, Neb.

Holly L. O’Dell, Rapid City, S.D.

Casey Ryan Parry, Mt. Pleasant, Utah

Gene James Russel, Gering, Neb.

December 2012 graduate

Shireen Sheri Stafford, Casper, Wyo.

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Fatima Noheli Balza Alvarado, Merida, Venezuela

Cassie Jo Drinkwalter, Chadron, Neb.

Lindsey N. Glock, Rising City, Neb.

Nicholas Ray Herrington, Holdrege, Neb.

Jessica Jean Horsley, Basin, Wyo.

Polina Kaniuka Cherkasy, Ukraine

Matthew Ryan Lucas, Arnold, Neb.

Jimmy Savala, Fresno, Calif.

Joe Schultz, Alliance, Neb.

Valerie Smith-Hibbert, Yuma, Colo.

Margaret (Peggy) Tanata-Manley, Mitchell, Neb.

Ipek Turkyilmaz, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Luke Wright, Hamlet, Neb.

ABSENTIA

Sandra G. Benson, Bassett, Neb.

Brittney M. Deadmond, Goodyear, Ariz.

Kacie K’Lynn Harris, Aurora, Colo.

Cory David Olson, Denver, Colo.

Adam William Orbell, North Huntington, Pa.

Lacie Ward, Lincoln, Neb.

Janell Willems, Hulett, Wyo.

 

Key: *** Summa Cum Laude, ** Magna Cum Laude, * Cum Laude

BACHELOR of APPLIED SCIENCE

Bryan Hart, Spanish Fork, Utah

Brittney Rubottom, Scottsbluff, Neb.

BACHELOR of ARTS

Nebraska

Alliance: Megan R. Dimmitt, **Daniel C. Edmonston, Jr., Shae E. Erickson, Nicole A. McCune, *Nicholas Estol Miller, Jordan M. Moller, **Conor L. Schnell

Benkleman: **Hilary Mae Wilson

Bridgeport: Connie S. Dudden

Chadron: Phillip Wade Bullington, Charles Taualuga Ho Ching, Alexander Braden Keller, Roderick F. Mackenzie, Brandi L. Norgard, Steven J. Overshiner, Ashley D. Riesen,*Nicole M. Ritzen, *Melinda Beth Robinson, Stefani L. Van Vleet, Byron Ward, Kirsten Ward, Angela Marie Wimmer

Clearwater: **Kelli Marie Klabenes

Columbus: Darren J. Burrows

Comstock: Bruce Zurek

Crawford: Erin Nicole Neal, Brianna Jo Soester

Dalton: Sharissa R. Kershaw

Diller: Curtis Jay Magelky, Jr.

Fremont: Julian W. Lykins

Gering: Timothy E. Beamon, ***Valerie Sue Cobos, ***Andrea Aratani Graham, **Brittani Anne Johnson, *Dustin A. Kizzire, Mark Rein, Crystal Marie Schumacher, Nicole Erin Smith

Gordon: Donald Hlava, Stephanie Michelle Rucker

Grand Island: Bryce A. Harrington

Harrison: Allie Rae Hanson

Hastings: *Angel J. Flohrs

Hay Springs: ***Kelli Marie Thomas Alcorn

Hemingford: Kelly Lynn Overshiner

Kearney: Alex Steven Johnson

Lincoln: Kayla M. Sharp

Loup City: Marya Rose Shotkoski

Marsland: ***Will T. Troester

Martell: Hillary Jill Frew

Mitchell: ***Darin P. Exstrom, Penne Fries-Claussen

Norfolk: Morgan Jo Nelson

North Platte: Jared Michael Albers,*Stephanie Jo Eggleston, Bryce Mitchell Huebner, Brooke Elaine Volcek

Ogallala: Samuel Murphy Schmitt

Omaha: Ann A. Cazabon

Pierce: Kyle G. Stuchlik

Potter: Sarah A. Frei

Sargent: Megan Gibbens

Scottsbluff: Shelly Jo Lienemann, **Trace Michael Marsden, Tiffany Schank,***Valerie Smith, Kayla M. Sorell, Susan Yvonne Whitaker, *Cynthia J. Wiggins

St. Paul: Thomas Dale Schmidt

Sutherland: Andrew L. Harris

Tryon: Jalyn Tucker

Wallace: Brett E. Christensen

Wolbach: Jessica Renee Lindsley

Wood River: Clinton Michael Lambrecht

OTHER STATES and NATIONS

Surprise, Ariz.: Kyle William Duarte

Surrey, BC: *Katelyn McBeth

Long Beach, Calif.: Kevin James McClelland

Rialto, Calif.: R. Dominic Morris

San Diego, Calif.: Michal David Martinez, Marcus D. Shannon

Fleming Island, Fla.: *  Lacey Renee Castejon

Karlsruhe, Germany: ** Scott Jay Langemeier

Blackfoot, Idaho: *Logan Hatch

Okinawa City, Japan: Raechel Bussell Malmberg

Newton, Kan.: ***Nathaniel Martens

Clinton, Md.: Carrie May Webster

West Bloomfield, Mich.: Steven Eugene Siegfried

Charlotte, N.C.: Christopher Tyler-Akeem Leak

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Jan Karlos Medina

Memphis, Tenn.: ***Jonas L. Palmer, Jr.

San Antonio. Tex.: *Hazel L. Davis

Roosevelt, Utah: **Stephanie Marie Townsend

Arlington, Wash.: Brandon Matthew Douglas Gunter

Abbotsford, Wis.: Patrick Feldbruegge

Colorado

Akron: Ashley Jean McCall

Ault: ***Nichole Folchert

Brush: Jacob Hunter

Colorado Springs: **Kristina Harter, Lauren Elizabeth Yoder

Eaton: Chris Aid, ***Ty Michael Cyphers

Golden: **T. J. Thomson, Highlands Ranch: Amy Nicole Nutsch

Longmont: ***   Mollie Kristine Jones

Pueblo West: Kelsey M. DeField

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Jan Karlos Medina

Tabernash: Michael Schmidt

Winter Park: **Karolina Marcinkeviciute

South Dakota

Aberdeen: Morgan Lindsay Black

Custer: Shea Michael Eric Koch

Edgemont: Jerusha Anne Jones

Hill City: Amy Rochelle Prince, ***Chelsea Blair Waldorf

Hot Springs: Amanda Michelle Balgheim

Lemmon: Jessica M. Weishapl

Oelrichs: ***Cole Joseph Romey

Oglala: Danielle Virginia Hudspeth

Rapid City: Faye Dierksen, Brandon C. Gorsuch, ***Linda Alexander Littlefield, **Betsy L. Moler, Jonathan Thomas Ries, **Eric D. Schiermeister

Spearfish: *Tony Joseph Garcia

Winner: *Sarah Kingsbury

Wyoming

Cody: Cassandra E. Munari

Dayton: Thomas R. Bergstad

Guernsey: Virginia Lynn Rogers

Lingle: Noelle L. Jones

Midwest: **Jennifer L. Butler

Pinedale: Lincoln Taylor Proud

Riverton: Travis Jay Slagowski, *David Soule

Sheridan: Kevey N. Boyd

Torrington: Brittany Dawn Garrelts

 

 

BACHELOR of SCIENCE

NEBRASKA

Alda: Anthony Garcia

Alliance: ***Andy Leider

Amelia: Stefan Alexander Franssen

Atkinson: *Amelia Sunshine Shane

Bridgeport: Hardan Jacob Kraupie, Erica Marie Misner

Chadron: **Jens Johnson, Jim Clayton Manternach, Clint J. Phillips, Jacob Dustin Rodiek

Crawford: Thomas James Emerson

Elgin: **Jill Rena Schiltmeyer

Fort Calhoun: ***Adam David Neumann

Gering: Adam Bahl, **Emory Blayne Dye, Kristina L. Walker

Gordon: Phillip M. Boardman

Hay Springs: *  Brooke N. Housh

Herman: Jessyca Paige Hovendick

Hershey: Jamie C. Ransdell

Johnstown: Keanna Kay Gross

Lynch: Molly Elizabeth Seefus

Madison: *Jonathan A. Ehlers

Marsland: ***    Kelly Troester

Minatare: Bryant Miller

Morse Bluff: Colt Ryan Spence

North Platte: ** Kelsey Marie Coffman, *Ryan Korf

Omaha: Laurie Michelle Godby

Orleans: **Mallory Marie Murdoch

Ravenna: Mallory Lee Irvine

Saint Edward: Cortney Alis Werner

Scottsbluff: ***Jontae Lynn Huck

Seward: Megan Lynn Svoboda

Tryon: Kate M. Seifer

Valentine: *McKenzie Faye Owen

Wallace: Curtis Perriotte-Olson

Wayne: William Zachary Long

OTHER STATES and NATIONS

Littleton, Colo.: Ben Ruckhaus

Sedalia, Colo.: Jennifer Jane Henry

Colstrip, Mont: Michelle M. Lewis

Gillette, Wyo.: Robert John Boylan

Vale, S.D.: Joseph John Reedy

Woodbridge, N.J.: Sharthak Saiful Haque

 

BACHELOR of SCIENCE in EDUCATION

Nebraska

Alliance: McKinley A. Backous, **Jessica A. Sherlock

Bayard: ***Jocilyn Ann Blanco, Julie A. Lacy, Crystal Lynn Newhoff

Bridgeport: Holly Christina Widener

Chadron: Ashley Bargen, John Michael Crile, Sheyenne S. Hunn, *** Michael Jeffrey Sandstrom

Chappell: **Katelyn Ann Gibb

Cody: Kyle Philip Milton

Crawford: ***Kassidy Lee Miran Thompson

Elwood: **LeAnne Bennett

Gering: *Christopher Baltz, Bradley J. Hecht, Jon M. Hutchison, Anthony Lawing, Stephanie Stricker, Justin R. Wheeler

Gothenburg: Brittany L. Jesseph

Harrisburg: *Kinsey K. Groves

Hemingford: Cheyenne C. Shaw

Kimball: **Jamie R. Murdoch

Lewellen: Beau McConnell

Maxwell: Roxie Marie Heessel, Sonja Marie Keith, Annie M. Seamann

Mitchell: Jordan Lei Harriger, *Tamara R. Hughson, Trevor A. Teichroeb,**Jory Cole Zurcher

North Platte: ***Jane C. Dye, Melissa S. Hohnholt, *Amanda L. Leighton, Brittany J. McDaniel, **Levi A. Most, Tim Val O'Neill, Jamie N. Shaner

Oshkosh: *Melissa Kay Paulsen

Scottsbluff: Ryan William Castle, Letizia-Ann B. Kosman, Shane A. Malm, Kayla Elaine Robles

Sidney: *Rachel R. Lee, Erica E. Portillo

Sutherland: Brandi J. Anderson

Tryon: ***Jordan Lynn Lovitt

Wood Lake: Shari E. Dubry

OTHER STATE and NATIONS

Victoria, BC: ***Angela Jay

Aurora, Colo.: Julie Marie Stephens

Berthoud, Colo.: *Ryan John Barron

Peetz, Colo.: James Patrick Carwin

Hot Springs, S.D.: ***   Tara Lorraine Correll

Newell, S.D.: Tyrel Lee Bonnet

Phillip, S.D.: Krista Monique Van Lint

Rapid City, S.D.: Mark D. Mires

Buffalo, Wyo.: Andrew James Borgialli

Casper, Wyo.: *Amy Christie

Gillette, Wyo.: Amy Lynn Gibbs, Brianna Jeanne Lyman, *Casey L. Sullivan

Green River, Wyo.: **Kada Renee Williams

Guernsey, Wyo.: Tabitha Y. Anderson

Mountain View, Wyo.: Andrea R. Osborne

Sheridan, Wyo.: *Chelsea Hackwell, *Mikah Kirkeby Kadera, Rebecca Krezelok, **Yvonne A. Osborne, **Mandy D. Smith

Torrington, Wyo.: Jeshua John Arnusch, ***Jessica Leigh Arnusch