Hastings College held its 140th Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026, awarding degrees to 190 undergraduates and seven Master of Arts in Teaching graduates. Graduates represented 21 states and nine countries.
Baccalaureate photos are available here and are free to download; the video is here.
Commencement photos are available here and are free to download; the video is here.
The student speaker was graduating senior Bri Narick ’26, an English major from Bellevue, Nebraska. Named to the Who’s Who list during Honors Convocation, Narick is a Dean’s List student who has previous experience on the forensics team, where she placed 6th in poetry at the national level. She has served on many student organizations, including student media, Student Senate and the student insights panel. Narick also worked on the Collegian, and is a member of Phi Alpha Theta and president of Sigma Tau Delta.
Degree Recipients
Degree recipients are included below.
Graduation honors are awarded to those students with outstanding academic records in their undergraduate work. Degrees with distinction are awarded as follows: Summa Cum Laude, overall GPA of 3.97 or higher; Magna Cum Laude, overall GPA of 3.94 or higher; and Cum Laude, overall GPA of 3.85 or higher.
Students who graduated with High Distinction in their major(s) earned a 3.85-4.0 grade point average, while students awarded Distinction earned at least a 3.7 grade point average in their major(s).
Note: The order of the list below is Bachelor Degrees – United States, Bachelor Degrees – International, Master of Arts in Teaching – United States, Master of Arts in Teaching – International.
Listings are by state and city.
Bachelor Degrees – United States
ALASKA
Anchorage
Angelina Lynn Lockhart — Biology, Exercise Science
ARIZONA
Bisbee
Edward Lawrence Holly — Criminology
Douglas
Emeterio William Hernandez — Secondary Education, with Distinction in Physical Education
Florence
Isaac Jordan Sandoval — Community Health & Wellness
Gilbert
Chloe Ann Mesquita — Psychology
Glendale
Alena John — Biology
Phoenix
Kathryn Constance Columbus — Marketing
Cameron Coraggio — Marketing
Jacob Thomas Vick — Business Administration
Queen Creek
Maxwell Janemarie Blankenship — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Theatre
Sahuarita
James Matthew Velasquez Jr — Personalized Program-Community Ministry
Sierra Vista
Jaylen Terrel McCall — Exercise Science
St. David
Tristan Joaquin Martinez — Business Administration
Tubac
Tanner James Friend — Business Administration
Tucson
Isiah Aguirre — Business Administration
Duncan Paul Fouts — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Exercise Science
Jacob Michael Lambert Junior — Health Systems
Maxwell Smith — Business Administration
CALIFORNIA
Palmdale
Israel Salvador Manriquez — Wildlife Biology
COLORADO
Arvada
Christian Dean Large — Accounting, Business Administration
Gunnar
Aric Pike — Mathematics-Pure & Applied
Trinity
Rae Doublin — Biology
Aaron Dean Elgersma — Accounting, Business Administration
Jake Ryan Poris — Business Administration
Broomfield
Kyla Rose Humphreys — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Biology, Business Administration
Rachel Ritzmann — Business Administration, Marketing
Calhan
Zachary Michael Peterson — Business Administration
Canon City
Coletin Gene Renn — Exercise Science
Castle Rock
Peyton Lawrence Yost — Accounting, Business Administration
Centennial
Erica Ann Inay — Criminology
Edward Ryan Pallotto — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Business Administration, Marketing, Spanish
Colorado Springs
Jayson Patrick Aubain — Exercise Science
Joseph Vincent Femia — Business Administration
Brooke Elizabeth Gaughan — Secondary Education, With High Distinction in Art, Art Education
Eaton
Bennett Michael Richter — Business Administration
Elizabeth
Jayden Lee Lawrence — Communication Studies
Erie
Liam Vail Sites — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Art Education
Evans
Taylor Laine Dunbar — With Distinction in Business Administration
Firestone
Destini Michelle Johnson — Business Administration
Fruita
Lauren Mary Lee — With High Distinction in Exercise Science
Greeley
Sydney Rhea Mills — Health Systems
Henderson
Samantha Nichole Skinner — With High Distinction in Elementary Education, Special Education
Ignacio
Alexis Vinetta Pontine — Exercise Science
Lakewood
Isis Fahtma Abouelghiet — Psychology
Lamar
Melissa Kay Hines — Criminology
Las Animas
Markus Joseph Vigil — Business Administration
Littleton
Jackson Luke Hobbs — Secondary Education, with High Distinction in Spanish Education
Spencer Reagan Searcey — Exercise Science
Loveland
Wade Allen McWhorter — Exercise Science
Montrose
JayDee Michael Skees — Business Administration, Marketing
Morrison
Story Emerson Talbert — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Chemistry
Olathe
Draya Anne Benson — Wildlife Biology
Parker
Keenan Donovan Griffin — Health Systems, With Distinction in Psychology
Michael Jesus Medina — Psychology
Trevor Charles Seeley — With High Distinction in Finance
Plattville
Giovanni Mendoza Velo — Sociology
Severance
Josline Carter — With High Distinction in Business Administration, Marketing
Thornton
Jared Joseph Delgado — Business Administration, Marketing
Alliskair Descartes Guzman — Marketing
Emma Lea Morelli — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in History
Jace Valdez — Business Administration, Marketing
FLORIDA
Lakeland
Alyssa Elaine Currie — Communication Studies, with Distinction in Marketing
Miami
Christian Pujals — Cum Laude with Distinction in Exercise Science
HAWAII
Kealakekua
Ana Medeiros — With High Distinction in Community Health & Wellness
ILLINOIS
Crystal Lake
Ember Thoreson — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Communication Studies
INDIANA
Lebanon
Dalton James Michael — Criminology, Exercise Science
IOWA
Council Bluffs
Josie Hanako Cooley — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Art
KANSAS
Emporia
Caitlin Skye Bolton — Health Systems
Leavenworth
Jared Daniel Henchek — With High Distinction in Business Administration, Spanish
Phillipsburg
Brock Thomas Buresh — Exercise Science
Wamego
Hayden Andrew Thomason — With High Distinction in Accounting, Business Administration
MARYLAND
Conowingo
Paige Elizabeth Neel — Wildlife Biology
MINNESOTA
Longville
Madison Carpenter — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Health Systems
MISSOURI
Oregon
Rayleigh Dawn Guyer — Psychology
St. Louis
Donovan Lee Parker — Sociology
Warrensburg
Elijah Robert Nappe — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Exercise Science, Finance
Willard
Ornis Barry — Wildlife Biology
NEBRASKA
Alliance
Mikayla Ann Seebohm — Secondary Education, English Language Arts Education
Aurora
Carrie Elizabeth Brosman — History, Political Science
Bellevue
Bri Narick — With High Distinction in English
Benkelman
Quade Dale Myers — Community Health & Wellness
Bladen
Brock James Karr — Business Administration
Blair
Kaitlyn Marie Johnson — With High Distinction in Exercise Science
Blue Hill
Caleb Karr — Elementary Education
Cambridge
Derek Michael Trompke — Business Administration
Cedar Creek
Samuel Alan Ahl — Business Administration
Central City
Sebbie Jeanne Roberts — Art
Chadron
Ayla Marie Kephart — Computer Science-Math Emphasis
Chappell
Donovan Paul Andrews — With High Distinction in Music Performance
Columbus
Casper J. L. Campbell — Art, Theatre
Tessa Pedersen — English
Eagle
Katyn Grace Kappler — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Health Systems
Edgar
Breanna Lyn Brennfoerder — With Distinction in Art Education and High Distinction in Secondary Eduction
Elkhorn
Michaela Ann Fox — Health Systems
Shay Heida — With Distinction in Exercise Science
Kaitlin Thiebauth — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Health Systems
Paige Elizabeth Willcoxon — With High Distinction in Spanish and Distinction in Psychology
Fremont
Macy Marie Bryant — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Personalized Program-Political Science, Spanish
Grand Island
Makinzi Jo Havranek — With High Distinction in Elementary Education and Distinction in Special Education
Henry Nicholas Kosmicki — Cum Laude with Distinction in Business Administration
Gianna Grace Lucas — Marketing
Sara Ellen McCarraher — Exercise Science
Alexa Montes — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Elementary Education
Erick Ivan Rodriguez — Secondary Education, Music Education
Tyler James Salter — Finance
Gresham
Grace Scamehorn — Wildlife Biology
Harrisburg
Jamie Elizabeth Triolo — Accounting
Harvard
Faith Hadley Pair — Political Science
Hastings
Luke Anthony Brooks — Business Administration
Angela Marisol Amaya Cardona — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Music Education, Secondary Education
Brady Creech — Community Health & Wellness
Tayler Dawn Holdsworth — With High Distinction in Elementary Education, Special Education
Avery Ray Hyde — Cum Laude with Distinction in Accounting and High Distinction in Business Administration
Markus Tyler Miller — Secondary Education, With High Distinction in Physical Education
Camry Nicole Runyan — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Elementary Education, Special Education
Campbell Thomas Schukei — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Business Administration
Taegan Marie Schwartz — With Distinction in Elementary Education
Addie Shoemaker — Special Education, with High Distinction in Elementary Education
Karson Elizabeth Weiss — With High Distinction in Art
Imperial
Delaney Grace Krutsinger — With Distinction in Art
Kenesaw
Jaden Andrew Nehls — Health Systems
Lexington
Ilene Alvidrez — With Distinction in Elementary Education
Ethan Jayden Mins — Exercise Science
Lincoln
Ava Grace Brackhan — English
Deshawn Jamone Burks — Exercise Science
Jessica Jo Chartier — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Wildlife Biology
Easton Tyler DeBuse — Business Administration
Marcus Andrew Dustin — Magna Cum Laude with High Distinction in Biochemistry
Hunter Gilbertson — Wildlife Biology
Luke James Lewandowski — English
Carson M Parde — With Distinction in Exercise Science
Jaida LaRae Rowe — With High Distinction in Biology
Odyssey M Wentz — Chemistry
Venn Wood — Wildlife Biology
Litchfield
Caden James Holm — Secondary Education with High Distinction in Physical Education
North Platte
Isabella Joanne Bonomo — Studio Art
Omaha
Maxwell David Dahir — Business Administration
Danielle Josephine Hoer — Cum Laude with Distinction in Accounting and High Distinction in Business Administration
Miranda Rae Kelly — Health Systems
Matthew James Leonard — Psychology
Jordan Allen Maxwell Peter Parker — Theatre
Jacob Randall Royal — Business Administration
Ashton Taylor Vukson — With High Distinction in Physics
Samuel Emmit Jacob Wise — History
Osmond
Bailey JoAnn Schmit — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Elementary Education, Special Education
Overton
Wyatt James Ryan — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Business Administration
Papillion
Sophia Summy — Health Systems
Pleasanton
Chase Matthew Pawloski — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Criminology
Saint Paul
Alexis Dawn Mudloff — Criminology
Salem
Dalton William Helmick — Criminology
Scottsbluff
Mariyah Renee Avila — With High Distinction in Exercise Science
Jenna Sterling — Biology
Shelton
Cayleb C Stewart — Business Administration, Finance
Shickley
Madeline Renae Kamler — Biology, Theatre
Stromsburg
Rachel Smith — Secondary Education, Music Performance and Distinction in Music Education
Superior
Cailey Marie Hanson — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Elementary Education
Sutherland
Chance Curtis Elwood — Business Administration
Molly Elizabeth Kammerer — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Biology Education
Utica
Jacob Carl Bargen — With High Distinction in Exercise Science
Valentine
Steven Andrew Fullerton — Secondary Education, Physical Education
Wahoo
Myles Ryan Simon — Marketing
NEVADA
Las Vegas
DaRon Detress Hall — Finance
Marissa Kai Ruiz — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Wildlife Biology
NORTH CAROLINA
Wilson
Lilac Ramsey — Psychology, High Distinction in Philosophy & Religion
TEXAS
Azle
Makayla Bonita Kearns — Sociology
Copperas Cove
Brianna Cassidy Miller — History
El Paso
Isabel Blancarte-Walker — English
Justin LeVasseur — With Distinction in Exercise Science
Fort Worth
Quaesean Micah Hill — Business Administration
Prosper
Kylee Thulin Hasselmann — Cum Laude with Distinction in Accounting and High Distinction in Business Administration
UTAH
American Fork
Ryker Timothy Dunkley — Business Administration
WASHINGTON
Puyallup
Kaden Nicholas Steen — Exercise Science
WISCONSIN
Jim Falls
Larissa Kaz — With High Distinction in Exercise Science
WYOMING
Casper
Brendyn Robert Nelson — Community Health & Wellness
Cheyenne
Aleczander William Hardy — Mathematics
INTERNATIONAL – Undergraduate
AUSTRALIA
Brisbane
Max Nielsen — Business Administration
Sydney
Connor Ryan Wood — Business Administration
THE BAHAMAS
Nassau
Nicky Georges — Biology
Nickytha Georges — Summa Cum Laude with High Distinction in Accounting
Tianna Shaequán Williams — Finance
COLOMBIA
Bogota
Nicolas Silva Riveros — With High Distinction in Business Administration
ENGLAND
Exeter
Sebastian Palmer — Exercise Science
Gosport
Millie Alice Gell — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Exercise Science, Psychology
GERMANY
Amsberg
Amin El Hadri — With High Distinction in Business Administration and Distinction in Marketing
Aschaffenburg
Lisa Bettina Hoeflich — Cum Laude with High Distinction in Marketing and Distinction in Business Administration
ITALY
Pordenone
David Hoti — Business Administration
JAMAICA
Montego Bay
David Dennis Paul Beadle — Physics
MEXICO
Pachuca
Juan Jose Lopez Arteaga — Business Administration
NETHERLANDS
Boxtel
Amin Rahmoune — With High Distinction in Business Administration
Tolbert Groningen
Megan Lana Lampe — Communication Studies
Master of Arts in Teaching
COLORADO
Parker
Devin Buderus — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
KANSAS
Hugoton
Dallie Sue Hoskinson — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
IOWA
Grinnell
Parker Johnson — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
NEBRASKA
Hastings
Destiny Jade Ovendale-Curtis — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
Quentin Synek — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
Papillion
Brandon Valenzuela — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
Master of Arts in Teaching – International
ITALY
Stramino
Claudia Chirila — Master of Arts in Teaching in Education
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Founded in 1882, the College is dedicated to student success and service to the community. Discover more at hastings.edu.