Western Nebraska Community College holds its 85th graduation commencement ceremony
May 13 at 4 p.m. inside Cougar Palace on the Scottsbluff Campus.
WNCC will confer degrees, diplomas, and certificates to 264 graduates from 34 communities
in Nebraska, 17 states, and 16 countries.
Dr. Paul Gordon Brown delivers this year's commencement address, titled "It Only Takes
a Tweet." Dr. Brown is a speaker and educator specializing in student learning and
development's intersection with technology, social media, and design. Brown has nearly
20 years of professional experience in higher education and student affairs, most
recently as Dean of Students at the Fashion Institute of Technology and as a faculty
member at Boston College and Merrimack College. He currently serves as Director of
Curriculum, Training, and Research for the higher education technology software company, Roompact.
In addition, WNCC culminates its 90th Anniversary with a post-graduation reception
featuring the Drivin' Dynamics, a local band whose roots began in 1961 at the then
Scottsbluff Junior College.
The following is the list of degree candidates.
Associate of Arts
Nebraska
Alliance - Susan E. Banks, Luke Herstdet
Bayard - Mykayla Lynn Brown
Bridgeport - Kimberly Ann Mueller
Burwell - Brooke Ann Doggett
Dalton - Dani Rose McKay
Chadron - Kodi Lee Baumann, Bailey Irenaeai Lesmeister, Danea L. Ray
Chappell - Jennifer A. Blochowitz, Ashley Lynn Burr, Jaime Renee Landwehr
Colombus - Allen Joseph Brzenski
Gering - Sheldon Wayne Ackerman, Kristina M. Baker, Bethany LeeAnn Case, Peter Gene
Hernandez III, Christina Ann Johns, Jeffrey Mason Johns, Ashley R. Lewis-Greer, Kelsey
J. Molina, Brittney D. Morris, Koltn Robert Rowe, Donita Ann Schlaepfer, Krissy J.
Shapland, Brandon Michael Wallace
Gurley - Rebekah Lynn Carlson
Hemingford - Kelsey Jo Towne
Lodgepole - Jessica Russell
Kilgore - Lisa Ann Tabe
Kimball - Jodell R. Schulte
Minatare - Brittani K. Binder, Shannon Giffitts
Mitchell -Alison Grace Bucks, Jeremy N. Carrizales, Larissa Grace Converse, Debbie
Lou Duffield, Nicole E. Houston, Kyle Andrew Kuxhausen, Roger S. McDonald, Joshua
S. Moser, Abigail Victoria Peterson
Newman Grove - Heidi Reinpold
Rushville - Shayley Jean Coburn, Paige M. Eichenberger
Scottsbluff - Mercedes V. Alfaro-Bretthauer, Alexandrea Camille Bauer, Jessica Lindsey
Blombstedt, Patrick Stuart Cassidy, Chad Alexander Dunkel, Jaime J. Gonzalez, Samantha
Palomo Gutherless, Aaron Charles Henry, Dakota Arthur Himmerich, Isaiah James Jaramillo,
Hannah Lynn Kaiser, Terrisita Klemm, Johnathan David Kurth, Tiandra Elizabeth Lively,
Alexandra Jaclyn Lutz, Creighton C. Miller, Kassandra L. Perez, Sarah E. Poynter,
Samuel John Rohrer, Gage Ryan Smith, Brittany Ann Suhr, Shayne M. Tower, Brittli Elizabeth
Wallace, Logan Alexis Williams
Sidney - Lnay Dawn Baggs, Angela M. Borgmann, Kyle W. Burton, Jason R. Hagerman, Mariah
A. Mata, Noe Palomares, Kenneth Robert Steffens
Superior - Paige Elizabeth Herrera
Colorado
Aurora - Omar Guzman, Lucas Michael Piatchek
Briggsdale - Caitlyn Grace Aguirre
Broomfield - Celyn Whitt
Commerce City - Sergio Moreno Ontiveros
Colorado Springs - Emily R. Selby
Kremmling - Julie Ann Aprill
Loveland - Shelby Ann Neubert
Severance - Brevin John Baessler
Yuma - Zujeidy Sotelo-Gallegos
Wyoming
Lusk - Morgan Ann Lamar
Rawlins - Kalli Feddersen
Torrington - Kaye Lynne Cunningham, Taylor Elizabeth Troxel
Other States
CT, Wallingford - Felipe Bustos
FL, Miami Garden - Tyrell J. Williams
HI, Hilo - Maraea Kaleinani O'Connor
IL, Matteson - Jeremy Ruffin
KS, Baldwin City - Brock Allen Randels
KS, Russel - Brandon David Bachar
NC, Salisbury - Michael Milton Connor Jr.
TX, Sweeny - Shane Henderson
UT, Logan - Jesse Rene Michel
UT, Smithfield - Janalynn Karin McKay
International
Sydney, Australia - Zackery Holland Moran
Berlin, Germany - Lara Picht
Lima, Peru - Barbara Briceno
Caracas, Venezuela - Anthony Manuel De Abreu Fernandes
Associate of Science
Nebraska
Alliance - Kristy S. Bolek, Joshua Joseph Boness, Kennedy K. Cyza, Kyle Debus, Lorena
Lopez
Bridgeport - Cherry L. Cooper
Ellsworth - Kendra Nichole Bixby
Gering - Reece Austin Blanton, Molly Christine Bueide, Mikayla Danielle Butler, Riley
Paul Smith, Kaylee Renae Spreier, Adrianna R. Welsh
Gordon - Shelby Lynn Retzlaff
Harrison - Corinne Kling
Minatare - Brittany L. DeCrocker, Kathleen Ann Hedman
Mitchell - Stephanie Lois Spurgeon, Ashley D. Trimble
Rushville - Kathleen Mary Orr
Scottsbluff - Silvia Acevedo, Ty H. Benson, Luis Daniel Delgado-Escamilla, Adam Levi
Harris, Ashley Renee Kisner, Brock D. Leinweber, Alexis Monet Martinez, Lauren Brooke
McAllister, Travis Daniel Mundell, James E. Murray, Shelley Ramirez, Wendy Ramirez,
Juan Gabriel Rejino Jr., Alejandra Sierra Torres, Gage Ryan Smith, Alexis Grace Uttecht,
Ty William Wilson
Sidney - Alexander M. Benzel
Colorado
Aurora - Alex Michael Achtermann, John Ryan Grasser
Broomfield - Bryanna Jean Paulson
Denver - Analece Suszonna Apodaca
Elizabeth - Stuart Allen Eurich
Highlands Ranch - Samantha T. Roe, Madison Eileen Warwick
Longmont - Cassandra Leigh Jones
Loveland - Nathan Charles Giefer
Pueblo - Shelby Hope Martinez
Thornton - Jasmie Jean Wessel
Wyoming
Cheyenne - Isaac J. Taylor, Lincoln Eqequial Trujillo
Evanston - Ian Daniel Fisher
Huntley - Chase Tanner Cushmann
Other States
CA, Elk Grove - Austin Tyler Payne
FL, Miami - Jonathan Fidel Bermudez
Honolulu, HI - Alwaise K. Villa
NV, Las Vegas - Lauren Taylor Oxford
SD, Belle Fourche - Janie J. McAmis
TX, Katy - Trent McKenna Findley
UT, West Jordan - Payten Elyse Davies
International
Porto-Novo, Benin - Akofa Fiona Ines Zannou
Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Matheus Campos Ferreira
Banjul, The Gambia - Musa Bah
Bijelo Polje, Montenegro - Sladjana Rakovic
Milton Keynes. United Kingdom - Michael New
Istanbul, Turkey - Zeynep Melike Canbaz
Associate of Applied Science
Dalton - Kelsey M. Westman
Gering - Amber Renee Andrews
Gurley - Cody D. Armbruster
Hay Springs - Margaret Katherin Scherbarth
Hershey - Cheryl Boggs
Kimball - Rosemarie Dianne Russell
North Platte - Samantha J. Zirnig
Scottsbluff - LeAnn Cassidy Barber, Bobbie Jo Haverick-Kinney, Heather Lynn Kaufman-Beguin
Colorado
Littleton - Erin Renee Baum
Monument - Denise Rae Lee
Yuma - Erik Adrian Nevarez Maldonado
Other States
GA, Atlanta - Ryan L. Daniels
SD, Huron - Kellen Bryant Hood
International
N'djamena, Chad - Emery Wilson Doradji Niahma
Associate of Occupational Studies
Alliance - Jeffrey J. Heckmann, Brian J. Shores
Gering - Molly Christine Bueide, Juan Pablo Rivera Jr.
Scottsbluff - Bryce Meier, David Daniel Olmstead
Sidney - Amanda K. Hart, Taylor J. Lukesh
Stapleton - Cody W. Sierks
Valentine - Kethan Mercure
Wyoming
Cheyenne - Kristopher K. Barrett
Guernsey - Bailey Roth
Other States
SD, Rapid City - Jeffrey P. Bauer
TN, Bristol - Woo Joo Lee
International
Seoul, South Korea - Eom Daeho, Seungin Kim, Younghwa Kim
Associate Degree Nursing
Nebraska
Alliance - Shelby Leigh Grimes, Tonya K. Haller
Chadron - Emily F. Morrow
Gering - Cassandra M. Lucio, Jennifer Kay Moreno
Harrisburg - Niki L. McDonnell
Kimball - Sarah Stull
Hastings - Hannah Rae Loudon
Scottsbluff - Connor J. Ehler, Ashley Renee Kisner, Brooke R. Vogt
Sidney - Courtney Joplin
Wyoming
Torrington - Melissa J. Urbanek
Other States
CA, Huntington Beach - Sharon Anna-Marie Hill
International
New Brunswick, Canada - Amanda Hickey-Gaukel
Lagos, Nigeria - Eniola Yetunde Olanrewaju
Certificates
Nebraska
Alliance - Ezequeil B. Ward
Bayard - Chellani C. Parriott
Bridgeport - Veronica P. Pruneda, Jeremy R. Torres
Chappell - William J. Lohman
Gering - Tyler Fulk
Minatare - Kathleen Ann Hedman
Omaha - Aaron S. Thompson
Schuyler - Andrew M. Buckmaster
Scottsbluff - Travis J. Albertz, Christian Isaac Barajas Villanueva, Mitchell Tanner
Clark, Logan J. Kessler, Jason James Palomo, Hunter D. Staman, Cory Whittaker
Sidney - Joshua M. Baker, Lisa M. Christensen, Andrew Herz, Patrick D. Neal
Colorado
Burlington - Bryan Campbell
Elizabeth - Corbin Allen Kloppenberg
Julesburg - Edgar Villalobos
Otis - Kacee L. Christensen
Wyoming
Laramie - Lee D. Slinger
Rock Springs - Bradley A. Phillips
Other States
AZ, Bullhead City - Tiffany Harms
SD, Lemmon - Brooklynn S. Skjoldal
International
Hongcheon-Gun, South Korea - Hwang Dongchan
Diplomas
Nebraska
Alliance - Tirah L. Cox, Ricardo Garza, Yadira L. Garza, Tara B. Grieser, Jennifer
A. Jensen, Heather J. Jones, Ashley N. Peterson
Crawford - Candace L. Staman
Dalton - Megan R. Jensen
Gering - Rikki Harden, Jasmyn C. Smith
Mitchell - Ashleigh J. McCarthy
Oshkosh - Jacob A. Ashmore
Scottsbluff - Alexander James Godfrey, America Parra, Alicia A. Rosas, Tarkang Bessem
Tabe E, Rebecca Jean Zitterkopf
Sidney - Ashley Kay Kerbel
Colorado
Julesburg - Kaysha Raelynne Hale
Lusk - Jacob Wayne Robinson
Wray - Lukas Bracelin
Wyoming
Glendo - Preston K. Meier
Veteran - Augusta Rose Jurek
Other States
MA, Groton - Ivan Kenneth Hoyt
NJ, Avenel - Storm McRae
International
Bridgetown, Barbados - Natasha Latoya Ekomaye
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Feven H. Gebremeskel