(Leavenworth, Kan.)鈥擳he 花椒直播 marked the close of another academic year and the completion of this leg of the class of 2018's educational journey at USM's Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 12, in McGilley Field House on the university's main Leavenworth campus, 4100 South 4th Street.
The 2018 Commencement event honored the university's 378 graduates鈥攁 group composed of 183 undergraduate degree recipients, 156 master's degree recipients, and 39 doctoral degree recipients. This year's graduates hailed from coast to coast and from points overseas. They came from a wide variety of backgrounds and are headed toward an equally wide range of bright futures. In reaching their God-given potential, USM's graduates overcame obstacles of all kinds.
Reflections were provided by student speakers Bailey Hightower, an English and Elementary Education double major from Bonner Springs, Kan.; Joshua Yoakam, of Lansing, Kan., who earned his Master's in Elementary Education; and Allison Niederee, of Great Bend, Kan., who received her Doctor of Physical Therapy.
Students who personify this graduating class include:
- Erica Hornbuckle, a history major from Hollywood, Fla., will begin law school at Catholic University.
- Nishimwe Maria-Goreth, a double major in accounting and math from Dallas, will begin a challenging position as an actuary at United Life in Overland Park.
- Amanda Turner, a biology major from St. Louis, Mo., will continue her studies in the University of 花椒直播 Stefani Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
- Maximilian Richert, a psychology major from Essen, Germany, will study under the tutelage of current Association for Applied Sport Psychology president, Dr. Amy Baltzell, at Boston University in their Psychology of Sport and Counseling program.
Also honored at Commencement, this year's Sullivan Award for Teaching Excellence and University Leadership and Service鈥�Masa Wantanabe, assistant professor of chemistry. Established in 1990 and named after Sister Mary Louise Sullivan, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth who served 花椒直播 for 45 years as professor and dean, the award is given to a full-time faculty member nominated by students, faculty, and staff as a person who "has made a distinct difference in the teaching climate at the 花椒直播."
USM stalwart for 38 years, Van Ibsen, theatre program director, was also honored as a Professor Emeritus in Theatre during the Commencement ceremony. Ibsen retired at the close of the Spring semester.
To view pictures from the weekend celebration, visit stmary.edu/GradPhotos.