Summer commencement moving to Health and Sports Center

Commencement-rotatorPete Kotsiopulos to address 249 graduates

When: 10 a.m., Friday, July 29
Where: UNK Health and Sports Center, 24th Street and 15th Avenue, Kearney
Social Media: Follow @UNKearney and #lopergrad on Twitter to see photos and posts from graduates, their friends and families
Live Broadcast: Watch Commencement live and join in the #lopergrad conversation at http://unk.edu/eventdashboard

KEARNEY – For the first time in recent years, University of Nebraska at Kearney summer commencement will be in the university’s Health and Sports Center.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees for 249 candidates are eligible to participate in exercises beginning 10 a.m. Friday.

Becker-Laramey-1
Laramey Becker
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Pete Kotsiopulos

Pete Kotsiopulos, a 1970 graduate of then-Kearney State College, who is now senior director of development for the University of Nebraska Foundation, will deliver the commencement address. A longtime friend of UNK and a community leader, Kotsiopulos is a former mayor of Kearney, chairman of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees, and member of the Nebraska Postsecondary Education Commission.

Laramey Becker, a Loper basketball standout and graduate, cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, fitness and wellness, will deliver the student address. Becker is a native of Trenton and Hitchcock County High School.

The size of graduating classes and number of family and friends wanting to attend the celebration made the Nebraskan Student Union’s Ponderosa Room cramped and prompted the move to the arena, planners said. They encouraged the community to join the larger venue commencement festivities as part of UNK’s Year of Celebration events marking the 111th anniversary of the institution and 25th anniversary of the move from Kearney State College to University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Shawna Beeler, class of 2016, will sing the national anthem, accompanied by Nolan Pribnow.

Doors to Health and Sports Center will open at 8:30 a.m. Lineup for graduates begins at 9 a.m. in Cushing Coliseum, and procession begins at 9:45 a.m. Parking in the west lots is encouraged. Visitors with handicap parking permits can park east of the Health and Sports Center. Family members transporting a handicapped person will have access to drop off the person on the east side of the complex, but will need to move their vehicle to another lot.

Visitors with wheelchairs can sit in the corner seating sections on the concourse or use the elevator in the northeast corner of the building to sit in the designated section on the arena floor. Ask a student ambassador or host for assistance in finding seating.

For those unable to attend in person, UNK commencement ceremonies are webcast at www.unk.edu

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Candidates For Degrees

Candidates for degrees are listed below in three groups: graduates from Nebraska, graduates from across the United States and international graduates. Nebraska graduates are listed in alphabetical order by hometown. Out-of-state graduates are listed in alphabetical order by state. International graduates are listed in alphabetical order by country. Degrees are listed.

Abbreviations that appear in the listings, and what they represent, are:
Undergraduate Degrees                                   
BA – Bachelor of Arts
BAE – Bachelor of Arts in Education
BS – Bachelor of Science
BSE – Bachelor of Science in Education
BFA – Bachelor of Fine Arts
BGS – Bachelor of General Studies
BM – Bachelor of Music

Graduate Degrees (GR)                   
EDS – Education Specialist
MA – Master of Arts
MAED – Master of Arts in Education
MS – Master of Science
MSE – Master of Science in Education
MBA – Master of Business Administration

COUNTRY STATE CITY NAME DEGREE MAJOR MAJOR 2
USA NE Alliance Michael Odell BS Applied Computer Science
USA NE Alma Gillian Hogeland MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Alma Katie McGuire MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Reading/Special Education
USA NE Atkinson Patricia Schmuecker MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Atkinson Dana Slaymaker BA Philosophy
USA NE Aurora Anna Fox BS Criminal Justice
USA NE Axtell Sara Fecht BS Business Administration
USA NE Bassett Jon Alstrom BS Criminal Justice
USA NE Bassett Feliciana Nahrstedt BS Exercise Science
USA NE Beatrice Taylor Jurgens BS Business Administration
USA NE Bellevue Robert Foresman MA History
USA NE Bellwood Brooke Hough BS Business Administration
USA NE Bertrand Chance Younger BS Business Administration
USA NE Blair Jaclyn Leaders BGS General Studies
USA NE Blue Hill Amanda Novak MAE Supervisor of Special Education
USA NE Bradshaw Adam Kreifels MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Early Childhood Education
USA NE Broken Bow Nathan Hanson BS Criminal Justice
USA NE Callaway Cassidy Pitkin MAE Special Education-Adv Pract: Behav Interventnist
USA Ne Campbell Meghan Rockefeller BS Psychology
USA NE Central City D’Elva Tlustos MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Central City Brandon Wright MSE Science Math Education
USA NE Chadron Nathaniel Abegglen BS Advertising & Public Relations
USA NE Chadron Cathy Kaus MSE Instructional Technology-School Librarian
USA NE Clarks Stephanie Carlson MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Secondary Education
USA NE Clarkson Bailey Bond BA Psychology
USA NE Clarkson Melanie Faltys BS Family Studies
USA NE Columbus Elizabeth Plettner BA Studio Art
USA NE Cozad Allyson Huntley BS Radiography
USA NE Craig Keith Eriksen MAE Special Education-Special Education
USA NE Crete Angela Wagoner MAE Spanish Education
USA NE Curtis NaTani Taylor MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Transitional Certification
USA NE Dakota City Stephanie Norton-McDonald MSE Science Math Education-Mathematics
USA NE Doniphan Stephanie Detamore BGS General Studies
USA NE Elm Creek Kaydra Brodine BS Sports Management
USA NE Elm Creek Jennifer Van Pelt BS Physical Education
USA NE Elwood Dennis Seberger MA English-Literature
USA NE Fremont Alicia Granger MSE Science Math Education-Mathematics
USA NE Gering Janice Embree MA History
USA NE Giltner Keysha Foulk BS Sports Administration
USA NE Gothenburg Kaitlyn Meyer BS Business Administration
USA NE Gothenburg Kersten Nelson BS Family Studies
USA NE Grand Island Grant Bachman MAE School Principalship Pre-K-8
USA NE Grand Island Barry Carlson MAE School Principalship Pre-K-8
USA NE Grand Island Joshua Cleveland BS Social Work
USA NE Grand Island Holly Johnson BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
USA NE Grand Island Rebecca Meyer BS Social Work
USA NE Grand Island Cristian Rodriguez MSE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
USA NE Gretna Lynn Soneson MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Hamlet Jack McGraw BS Construction Management
USA NE Hastings Kimberly Carlin MAE Special Education-Special Education
USA NE Hastings Shayna Eckhardt BS Radiography
USA NE Hastings Candice Nordby MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Instructional Effectiveness
USA NE Hastings Christopher Partin BS Social Work
USA NE Hastings Joseph Vanderpool MAE Special Education-Special Education
USA Ne Hastings Nathan Williams BS Criminal Justice
USA NE Hebron Hannah Kerns BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
USA NE Hershey Shanna Duggan MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Hildreth Amanda Rupe BAED Elementary Education
USA NE Holdrege Karissa Roberg MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Early Childhood Education
USA NE Imperial Michelle Martinez MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Elementary Education
USA NE Imperial Teresa Soltis BS Interior Design
USA NE Kearney Michelle Anderson MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Kearney Shannon Aspen MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Kearney John Bisbee MSE Science Math Education-Physics/Physical Science
USA NE Kearney Megan Buerer MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Elementary Education
USA NE Kearney Steven Cherry MAE School Principalship 7-12
USA NE Kearney Amalia Couto BFA Visual Communication & Design
USA NE Kearney Timothy Crocker BS Radiography
USA NE Kearney Cesar Duran Palacios BS Organizational & Relational Communication
USA NE Kearney Sara Fread MSE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
USA NE Kearney Amanda Garringer MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Elementary Education
USA NE Kearney Jason Gfeller MSE Science Math Education-Biology
USA NE Kearney Debra Gilbertson BS Recreation Management
USA NE Kearney Nichole Griss BS Psychology
USA NE Kearney Katheryn Harouff BS Criminal Justice
USA NE Kearney Spencer Hinrichs BS Business Administration
USA NE Kearney Christiana Howell BS Organizational & Relational Communication
USA NE Kearney Torry Hull BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
USA NE Kearney Christine Johnson MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Kearney Courtney Jones BS Organizational Communication
USA NE Kearney Linda Killion MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Pedagogy
USA NE Kearney Lisa Klingelhoefer MSE School Counseling Student Affairs
USA NE Kearney Ryan Krantz MBA Business Administration-Marketing
USA NE Kearney Erik Long BS Business Administration
USA NE Kearney Jacob Putnam BS Industrial Distribution
USA NE Kearney Emmanuel Reinsch MAE Physical Education-Research & Field Work
USA NE Kearney Lerrin Rowe MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Pedagogy
USA NE Kearney Abigail Sterling MAE Special Education-Adv Pract: Assistive Tech Spec
USA NE Kearney Kevin Stones MA English-Creative Writing
USA NE Kearney Jordan Tucker BS Aviation Systems Management
USA NE Kimball Shelty Webster BFA Visual Communication & Design
USA NE Laurel Shelby Rath BS Exercise Science Fitness & Wellness
USA NE LaVista Natalie Runyon MSE Instructional Technology
USA NE Lexington Diana Lopez BS Business Administration
USA Ne Lexington Alejandro Roman BS Business Administration
USA NE Lexington Elvia Tobias BS Business Administration
USA NE Lexington Ariana Rivas BS Business Administration
USA NE Lincoln Katelyn Carstens MSE Speech Language Pathology
USA NE Lincoln Austin Hans BS Criminal Justice
USA NE Lincoln Patrick Schrodt MAE Physical Education-Thesis
USA NE Lincoln Kaitlyn Smejdir BS Recreation Management
USA NE Lincoln Nicholas White BS Sports Management
USA NE Loup City Cami Bergman MAE Special Education-Special Education
USA NE Madison Andrew Offner EDS School Superintendent
USA NE Maywood Casey Werkmeister MA History
USA NE McCook Cory Dallam BS Business Administration Sports Mngmt.
USA NE McCook Harrison Ford BGS General Studies
USA NE Minden Allison Exstrom MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Transitional Certification
USA NE Minden Tonya McCroden MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Secondary Education
USA NE Nebraska City William Giittinger BS Exercise Science Fitness & Wellness
USA NE Norfolk Matthew Plugge BS Industrial Distribution
USA NE Norfolk Abby Schukei MSE Instructional Technology
USA NE North Platte Laura Alvarez BA Spanish Translation & Interpretation
USA NE North Platte Kelsey Callaghan BSED Communication Disorders
USA NE North Platte Beth Carver MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE North Platte Sydnee Freeze BS Radiography
USA NE North Platte Brooks Greene MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Pedagogy
USA NE North Platte Drew Hergenrader BS Business Administration
USA NE North Platte Taylor Hoeft BS Criminal Justice
USA NE North Platte Brogen Hohnholt BS Business Administration
USA NE North Platte Matthew Jensen BS Physical Education
USA NE North Platte Kristy Morningstar MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Ogallala Jessica Kay BS Family Studies
USA NE Ogallala Jana Lanka MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE Omaha Amy Bauman MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Secondary Education
USA NE Omaha Zachary Brown BGS General Studies
USA NE Omaha Jennifer Cochlin MSE Instructional Technology
USA NE Omaha Kyle Moore MAE Special Education-Special Education
USA NE Omaha Allen Osborn MAE School Principalship 7-12
USA NE Omaha Andrew Perry MS Biology
USA NE Omaha Rachel Poots BS Sports Management
USA NE Omaha Dominique Schafer MSE Instructional Technology-Leadership in Instruction Tech
USA NE Omaha Terence Zimmer MSE Instructional Technology-School Librarian
USA NE Ord Jessica John BFA Studio Art
USA NE Osceola Marcia Ostmeyer MAE School Principalship Pre-K-8
USA NE Overton Laurie Ann Callahan BS Business Administration
USA NE Overton Donna Ecklund BGS General Studies
USA NE Papillion Samantha Citta BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
USA NE Papillion Julia Cooley MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Pedagogy
USA NE Papillion Stephanie Suhr MAE School Principalship 7-12
USA NE Papillion Abigail Whalen MA History
USA NE Pender Eric Miller EDS School Superintendent
USA NE Phillips Christina Peard MSE Clinical Mental Health Counseling
USA NE Plattsmouth Shelby Smith BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
USA NE Plattsmouth Martin VanWesten MAE Special Education-Gifted
USA NE Ravenna Daniel Bolling MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Pedagogy
USA NE Ravenna Kaley Keldsen BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
USA NE Ravenna Ankea Trambly MBA Business Administration-Accounting
USA NE Ravenna Taylor Turek BS Exercise Science Fitness & Wellness
USA NE Roseland Calyn Schulte MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Instructional Effectiveness
USA NE Sargent Jessica Brown BS Social Work
USA NE Sargent Hyojung Kim BM Music
USA NE Schuyler Alan Parsons BS Industrial Distribution
USA NE Scottsbluff Jana Mason EDS School Superintendent
USA NE Scottsbluff Rosy Villa BS Radiography
USA NE Scottsbluff Shane Weyrich BS Radiography
USA NE Seward Craig Barjenbruch MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Secondary Education
USA NE Seward John Rech BS Exercise Science Fitness & Wellness
USA NE Shelton Shanna Hellerich MAE Spanish Education
USA NE Shelton Chelsea Herter BS Radiography
USA NE Sidney Mitchell Pope MAE Curriculum & Instruction-English as a Second Language
USA NE St. Paul Angela Blankenship MSE Instructional Technology-School Librarian
USA NE Syracuse Quentin Danner BS Health Science
USA NE Taylor Kirsty Dunbar BS Journalism
USA NE Taylor Amy Sabatka MSE Instructional Technology-Information Technology
USA NE Thedford Courtney Jameson BS Radiography
USA NE Trenton Lacey Alig MSE Instructional Technology-School Librarian
USA NE Trenton Laramey Becker BS Exercise Science Fitness & Wellness
USA NE Trumbull Laney Ginn BGS General Studies
USA NE Valentine Shevaun Adams MS Biology
USA NE Valentine Jade Sandoz BS Construction Management
USA NE Waco Victoria Dreifurst BS Exercise Science
USA NE Western Michelle Weyer MAE Special Education-Special Education
USA NE Wolbach Travis Nelson BS Construction Management
USA NE York Mikaela Boss MAE Reading PK-12
USA NE York Nathan Brackhan BS Athletic Training
OUT-OF-STATE
USA AK Anchorage Stefanie Wall MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Reading/Special Education
USA AZ Phoenix Makenzi Dallas BS Psychology
USA AZ Phoenix Cory Halvorson MA History
USA AZ Snowflake Kimberly Orzel MA History
USA CA Bonita Raquel Kirk MAE Spanish Education
USA CA La Crescenta Bryan Luna BS Business Administration
USA CA Palm Springs Patricia Valdivia MAE Spanish Education
USA CA Placerville Marny Youngdahl MA History
USA CO Rifle Sarah Bates MAE Spanish Education
USA CO Woodland Park Shawna Beeler MAE Music Education
USA CO Fort Collins Molly Murphy MAE Spanish Education
USA CO Arvada Laura Saunders MAE Music Education
USA CO Strasburg Ashley Snipes MA History
USA CO Littleton Jessica Van Dyke BGS General Studies
USA CT Killingworth Lindsay Gorman MS Biology
USA CT Stonington Kristin Michalak MSE Science Math Education-Biology
USA FL Orlando Joseph Prater MA History
USA FL Lakeland Corine Waters MAE Art Education-Classroom Education
USA GA Leesburg Lindsey Tucker MAE Art Education
USA IA Council Bluffs Debralee Lithimane MAE Art Education-Classroom Education
USA IA Sergeant Bluff Brenda Waugh MAE Special Education-Adv Pract: Behav Interventnist
USA ID Nampa Heidi Blessing MAE Music Education
USA IL Wheaton Stephen Lillyman BA International Studies
USA IL Sterling Brendon O’Donnell MAE Music Education
USA IL Lewistown David Roddis MAE Art Education-Classroom Education
USA IN Seymour Rebecca Helmer MA History
USA KS Shawnee Kelle Carver BS Business Administration
USA KS Dodge City Ann Lundin Daniels BS Criminal Justice
USA KS Manhattan Mari Jo Massanet BS Industrial Distribution
USA KS Hays Alexa Shoaff BS Family Studies
USA MA Newton Seth Schy MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Pedagogy
USA MD Abingdon Kevin Coons MSE Instructional Technology-Leadership in Instruction Tech
USA MD Odenton Allison Deal LeMay MA History
USA MD Frederick Preston Lewis Jr. MS Biology
USA MI Grand Rapids Nicholas Stevenson MS Biology
USA MN Bloomington Sadie Hart MA History
USA MN East Grand Forks Kelsey Holien MAE Physical Education Master Teacher-Special Populations
USA MN Saint Paul Jay Mastrud MA History
USA MO Springfield Tiffany Tarvestad MBA Business Administration-Generalist
USA NC Charlotte Brittany Gabriel MS Biology
USA NC Charlotte Michael White MA History
USA NJ Sicklerville Angela Cardamone MSE Science Math Education-Biology
USA NJ Livingston April Hart MAE Art Education-Classroom Education
USA NM Bloomfield Shannon Brown BS Early Childhood & Family Advocacy
USA NY Bronx Robert Perez BGS General Studies
USA OH Newark Audrey Hager MSE Science Math Education-Biology
USA OH Martins Ferry David Nelson MSE Science Math Education-Mathematics
USA OK Shawnee Johnathon Watson BS Business Administration
USA OR Oregon City Stephanie Benischek MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Instructional Effectiveness
USA PA Murrysville Jesse Carnevali MAE Spanish Education
USA PA Halifax Shannon Jones MA History
USA PA Carrolltown Robert Valeria MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Secondary Education
USA SC Sumter Christina Neely MA History
USA TX Austin Paulina McGuire MAE Curriculum & Instruction-Transitional Certification
USA VA Rocky Mount Michele Jones MA History
USA WA Bellingham Rachel Grogan MAE Spanish Education
USA WA Bellingham Ronald Judd MA History
USA WA Rochester Collin MacLeod MS Biology
USA WV Sandyville Elizabeth Bradley MA History
USA WY Casper Savana Kraft MAE Physical Education-Research & Field Work
USA WY Carpenter Deanna Thrush BA Theatre
INTERNATIONAL
China Jiangsu Suzhou Zhenyu Chen BS Business Administration
China Hebei Shijiazhuang Yixuan Du BFA Studio Art
China Liaoning Shenyang Huitian Li BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
China Anhui Wuhu Qianyi Li BA Music
China Gansu Lanzhou Hongyue Yao BS Business Administration
China Hebei Handan Bowen Zhang BS Information Technology
Ivory Coast Cote D’ivoire Abidjan Patrick Guiai-bi BS Organizational Communication
Colombia Bogota D.C. Bogota D.C. Andres Campo BS Industrial Distribution
Japan Ibaraki Inashiki Kohei Eguchi MAE Physical Education-Research & Field Work
Japan Aichi Nagoya Ruiko Saji BS Recreation Park Tourism Management
Japan Tokyo Minato-ku Mikio Suga BS Aviation Systems Management
Vietnam Danang Duc Nguyen BS Construction Management