Commencement 2023

Thank you for joining us for the Saint Mary's College 176th Commencement. Congratulations to all of our graduates and their families!

 
Outstanding Senior Award
Outstanding Senior Award
Lumen Christi Award
Lumen Christi Award
Madeleva Award
Madeleva Award
 
Cover of Commencement Program 2023

Welcome to the 176th Commencement at Saint Mary's College. Below is the program for today's ceremony. A pdf version is available to download by clicking here.

Academic Procession

National Anthem

Andrea Lindback ’23

Invocation

Sister Veronique Wiedower ’70, CSC
Member, Board of Trustees
President, Sisters of the Holy Cross

Welcome

Katie Conboy, Ph.D.
President

Lumen Christi Award

Julianne E. Wallace, D.Min.
Vice President for Mission

Madeleva Award

Colleen M. Hoover, Ph.D.
Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies

Presentation of Valedictorian Medals

Barbara May, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President

Valedictorians

Emily Morin
Chyan Rangel
Natalie Volling

Valedictory Address

Chyan Rangel

President’s Medal

Katie Conboy, Ph.D.

Conferral of Honorary Degrees

Barbara May and Katie Conboy

Commencement Address

Molly A. Burhans

Citations for Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees in Course

Barbara May

Presentation of Graduates

Tracy P. White
Senior Academic Advisor

Conferral of Degrees and Charge to the Class

Katie Conboy, Ph.D.
President

The Bells of Saint Mary’s

Cailynn Murphy ’23

Recession

Guests are asked to remain seated until the recession is complete.

Class of 2023

The Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice

Casey Crawford Brighton
Manchester, NH
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Nicole Mentag

Zeinab Mohamed EL-Housseini
Indianapolis, IN
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Sue Anderson

Emily James Forney
Huntington Beach, CA
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Kim Minich

Laura Kanyimbo
South Bend, IN
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Dani Edson

Kelly Nicole Lyp
Valparaiso, IN
Adult Gerontology Primary Care
Director: Nicole Mentag

Ann Mazza Crowe
Chicago, IL
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Kim Minich

Bancy W. Mwangi
Granger, IN
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Jenna Bauer

Yumi Otsuka
Elkhart, IN
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Patricia Keresztes

Olivia Caradene Rhoades
Chicago, IL
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Nicole Mentag

Renee Lynn Schutze
Niles, MI
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Kim Minich

Devin Matthew Sullivan
Stevensville, MI
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Nicole Mentag

Gina LaVonna Thornton
Granger, IN
Family Nurse Practitioner
Director: Kim Minich

Jillian Sophia Witt
Erie, PA
Adult Gerontology Acute Care
Director: Dani Edson

Ellen Martha Wray
Chicago, IL
Adult Gerontology Acute Care
Director: Annette Peacock Johnson

The Degree of Master of Autism Studies

Kathleen Marie Brewer
Clarkston, MI
Autism Studies

Emily Lauren Jezek
Bloomingdale, IL
Autism Studies

Isabella Irma LaFemina
Tinley Park, IL
Autism Studies

Mikayla Sarai Lanzillo
Murrieta, CA
Autism Studies

Meghan Carol Martin
Aurora, IL
Autism Studies

Rebecca Lynn Sites
Pottsville, PA
Autism Studies

Lucero Varela Zavala
Chicago, IL
Autism Studies

Kelsie Louise Verhoeve
Crown Point, IN
Autism Studies

Megan A. Wilcoxon
Emmett, MI
Autism Studies

The Degree of Master of Science

Emma Valeria Ault
Valparaiso, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Kathleen Marie Brewer
Clarkston, MI
Speech Language Pathology

Madison Sean D’haenens
Gilbert, AZ
Speech Language Pathology

Sarah M. Fletcher
Indianapolis, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Kayla N. Harretos
Valparaiso, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Katelynn P. Harris
Frankenmuth, MI
Speech Language Pathology

Katherine Quinn Haseley
Mount Prospect, IL
Speech Language Pathology

Claire Elizabeth Hatton
Carmel, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Miranda Nicole Hettinger
Winamac, IN
Data Science

Emily Michelle Hoffer
Plymouth, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Katie Rose Huiskens
Macomb, MI
Speech Language Pathology

Emily Lauren Jezek
Bloomingdale, IL
Speech Language Pathology

Alayna Lynn Kriegel
Fort Wayne, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Erin Terese LaCourt
South Bend, IN
Data Science

Meghan Carol Martin
Aurora, IL
Speech Language Pathology

Madison McCulloch
Portage, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Meghan Marie McNamara
Harrison Township, MI
Speech Language Pathology

Elizabeth Medina
Kenosha, WI
Data Science

Isabelle Catherine Minnich
Redkey, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Vivian Nguyen
South Bend, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Emily Elizabeth Paul
Clearwater, FL
Speech Language Pathology

Lindsey Michelle Pelletier
Mishawaka, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Molly Paige Ryan
Kalamazoo, MI
Data Science

Zaniya Naomi Sconiers
South Bend, IN
Data Science

Jillian Joy Seger
Jasper, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Ashley Nichole Sherman
Walkerton, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Hannah Marie Spore
Howell, MI
Speech Language Pathology

Manuel Steele
Tempe, AZ
Data Science

Lucero Varela Zavala
Chicago, IL
Speech Language Pathology

Alexia Carolina Velazquez
Plano, TX
Data Science

Kelsie Louise Verhoeve
Crown Point, IN
Speech Language Pathology

Megan A. Wilcoxon
Emmett, MI
Speech Language Pathology

The Degree of Bachelor of Arts

Emma Marie Abrahamian
Arlington Heights, IL
Theatre

Georgina Acquah
Ghana, West Africa
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Aliyah J. Anderson
Willmar, MN
Psychology
Summa Cum Laude

Grace Anspach
Miamisburg, OH
Humanistic Studies

Carstyn Reese Barna
South Bend, IN
Communication Studies

Taylor Marie Bean
South Bend, IN
Communication Studies
Cum Laude

Kelsie Josephine Bies
Grand Rapids, MI
Communication Studies

Nicole Elizabeth Bilyak
Chesterton, IN
Creative Writing/Communication Studies

Mackenzie J. Bledsoe
Youngstown, OH
Political Science

Allison Eileen Bogs
Clarendon Hills, IL
Speech Language Pathology

Rachel Borg
South Bend, IN
Speech Language Pathology
Magna Cum Laude

Moira Clare Boyle
Munster, IN
Psychology

Sydney Marie Brooks
Cassopolis, MI
Speech Language Pathology

Peyton Wynne Buss
Plainfield, IL
Elementary Education
Summa Cum Laude

Kendall Jane Carnes
Argos, IN
Global Studies
Cum Laude

Alexia Jasmine Ceja
East Chicago, IN
Global Studies

Miya Necole Cepeda
Chicago, IL
Speech Language Pathology

Maggie Jane Clancy
Hickory Corners, MI
Speech Language Pathology
Summa Cum Laude

Genevieve Olivia Coleman
South Bend, IN
Literature in English and Creative Writing/Secondary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Grace Kathleen Conlon
Springfield, IL
Literature in English/Secondary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Fiona Elizabeth Connelly
Grand Beach, MI
Philosophy
Cum Laude

Mariah Marie Contreras
Schererville, IN
Psychology

Lillian Mary Corso
Palos Park, IL
Communication Studies

Julianna Baily Cortes Martinez
Portage, IN
Psychology

Amelia Elizabeth Crowe
Evanston, IL
Communication Studies
Cum Laude

Jaden Daher
Aurora, CO
Literature in English and Creative Writing
Summa Cum Laude

Libbey Rose Demske Detcher
Garrett, IN
Political Science
Magna Cum Laude

Eliza Yvonne Dobrzelewski
Vanderbilt, MI
Communication Studies/Gender and Women’s Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Dianna Isabel Dorantes
Indianapolis, IN
Psychology

Sarah King Downs
Elkhart, IN
Psychology

Claire Elizabeth Doyle
Murphy, TX
Elementary Education
Summa Cum Laude

Maura Colleen Doyle
Glen Ellyn, IL
Psychology
Cum Laude

Cara Christina Dunn
Taylor, MI
Psychology

Sydney Nicole Ellis
Hobart, IN
Global Studies
Magna Cum Laude

Mary Carolyn Elsinger
Woodstock, IL
Global Studies/History
Magna Cum Laude

Clarissa Guadalupe Espinoza
Valparaiso, IN
Communication Studies/Gender and Women’s Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Christina Esposito
Chicago, IL
Psychology

Riley Kathryn Eviston
Peotone, IL
Psychology
Cum Laude

Emma Elizabeth Feller
Palm Desert, CA
History
Cum Laude

Zelia Alycia Peña Flores
San Antonio, TX
Computing and Applied Mathematics

Isabel Ann France
Wabash, IN
Mathematics/Secondary Education
Cum Laude

Jessica Frear
Johnstown, PA
Sociology
Magna Cum Laude

Francesca Marie Giuliano
Elgin, IL
Gender and Women’s Studies/Religious Studies and Theology

Olivia Elizabeth Goodwin
Frankfort, IL
Psychology
Cum Laude

Guetzemany Guardado
Chicago, IL
Global Studies/Spanish

Haley Marie Gustad
Novi, MI
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Josephine Santina Haas
New Lenox, IL
Spanish/ Secondary Education
Summa Cum Laude

Emma Haigh
South Bend, IN
Humanistic Studies

Julia Margaret Hannigan
Chicago, IL
Creative Writing
Magna Cum Laude

Margaret Clare Harper
West Chicago, IL
Speech Language Pathology
Magna Cum Laude

Shannon Rose Haverty
Mishawaka, IN
Literature in English/Secondary Education
Cum Laude

Kirsten Symone Hayes
West Palm Beach, FL
Psychology

Katherine Marie Hopkins
Traverse City, MI
Communication Studies

Margaret Mary Hopper
Algonquin, IL
Elementary Education

Jessica Leigh Hudson
Chicago, IL
Psychology

Caroline Marie Jakalski
Schererville, IN
ISDM: Psychological Health Care

Sinai Jimenez
Dallas, TX
Speech Language Pathology

Ja’Kaylah La-Neice Johnson
South Bend, IN
ISDM: Youth and Community
Non-Profit Outreach

Jessica Lyn Joyce
Ave Maria, FL
Speech Language Pathology
Cum Laude

Jacquelyn A. Junco
Forest Park, GA
Global Studies

Sophie Keller
Dallas, TX
Psychology

Alexis Marie Kilcoi
Granger, IN
Creative Writing
Summa Cum Laude

Elliott Kostielney-Hurley
South Bend, IN
Mathematics/Secondary Education
Cum Laude

Ashley Rose Kraker
Westerville, OH
Speech Language Pathology
Summa Cum Laude

Alaina Kraus
Huntsville, AL
Mathematics/Secondary Education

Karenna Anne Lamm
Green Bay, WI
Sociology

Isabelle Orion Latsch
Cheboygan, MI
Speech Language Pathology
Cum Laude

Olivia Madison Lauck
Indianapolis, IN
Psychology

Madeline Grace Law
Petoskey, MI
Literature in English/Communication Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Delia Lopez
Portage, IN
Communication Studies

Angeline Lorenz
Pittsburgh, PA
History/Secondary Education
Cum Laude

Kassandra Loza
Lake Station, IN
Gender and Women’s Studies

Dixie Lucas
Pontiac, MI
Psychology
Cum Laude

Ashley Anne Lurquin
Oak Lawn, IL
Psychology

Emily Jane Mack
Rochester, MI
Elementary Education

Sarah MacLachlan
Syracuse, NY
Statistical & Actuarial Mathematics

Abigail Marie Maday
Grand Rapids, MI
Communication Studies

Paige Jay Madden
Davenport, IA
Philosophy/Humanistic Studies

Anne Elizabeth Maher
South Bend, IN
Environmental Studies/Communication Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Hanna Maheras
Palos Heights, IL
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Trinity Marie Marshall
Western Springs, IL
Communication Studies
Magna Cum Laude

Anna Frances Martin
Iowa City, IA
Speech Language Pathology
Magna Cum Laude

Brianna Marie Martinez
Bakersfield, CA
Physics

Angela Michelle Martinez Camacho
Fort Worth, TX
Sociology/Psychology
Cum Laude

Anna Mason
Rochester, NY
Art

Hannah Mathis
Coloma, MI
Psychology/Sociology
Summa Cum Laude

Kaitlin Mary McCann
Woodstock, IL
Global Studies/Spanish
Magna Cum Laude

Megan Anne McIntyre
Troy, MI
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Caledonia McLeod
Plymouth, NH
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Elizabeth Mendez
Plymouth, IN
Global Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Alexandra Victoria Mesquita
Goodyear, AZ
Statistical & Actuarial Mathematics

Abagail Louise Middendorf
Hamilton, OH
Speech Language Pathology
Summa Cum Laude

Catalina Ann Milbrand
Ramona, CA
Physics

Kasey M. Miljenovich
Johnstown, PA
Psychology

Ashley Jean Miller
Bloomington, IL
Communication Studies
Magna Cum Laude

Anna Marguerite Mojica
Glen Ellyn, IL
Psychology
Magna Cum Laude

Emily Nicole Morin
South Bend, IN
Elementary Education
Summa Cum Laude
Co-Valedictorian

Molly O’Mara Mullett
Grand Rapids, MI
Computing and Applied Mathematics
Magna Cum Laude

Ariel Muñoz
Schererville, IN
Global Studies
Cum Laude

Katherine Yarmain Murray
Beverly Hills, MI
Elementary Education

Janet Nantumbwe
Uganda, East Africa
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Mariela Nevarez
Forest View, IL
Speech Language Pathology/Spanish
Cum Laude

Alexis Nunez
Chicago, IL
Elementary Education

Julia Claire O’Grady
Mount Prospect, IL
Speech Language Pathology
Summa Cum Laude

Nina Palma
Hinsdale, IL
Speech Language Pathology
Magna Cum Laude

Megan Kathleen Palmer
Fort Wayne, IN
Literature in English/Secondary Education
Summa Cum Laude

Madelyn Pascale
Frankfort, IL
Psychology

Adriana Kekoa Patacsil
San Antonio, TX
Political Science

Courtney Ann Pelletier
Mishawaka, IN
Psychology

Mackenzie Pepper
Monument, CO
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Magdiel Perez
Yuma, AZ
Elementary Education
Magna Cum Laude

Neal E. Perkins
Los Angeles, CA
Communication Studies

Alexandria Perns
Mokena, IL
Communication Studies

Kelsey Marlaine Pettrone
La Grange, IL
Computing and Applied Mathematics
Cum Laude

Alexis Janel Polite
Chesterton, IN
Sociology
Magna Cum Laude

Anna Quinn
Granger, IN
Sociology
Cum Laude

Shania Quintana
Chicago, IL
Global Studies
Magna Cum Laude

Crystal Ramirez
Dallas, TX
Global Studies/Political Science

Grace Beatrice Reid
Naperville, IL
Psychology
Magna Cum Laude

Kaitlynn Renee Riba
South Bend, IN
Elementary Education
Cum Laude

Kathryn Elizabeth Risner
Nashville, TN
Communication Studies

Jamie Lee Roberts
Niles, MI
Psychology

Yajali Rodriguez
Chicago, IL
Environmental Studies/Economics

Roberta Anne Ross
Medford, NJ
Psychology
Cum Laude

Madeleine Grace Rzepka
Walled Lake, MI
Speech Language Pathology
Summa Cum Laude

Kayla Anne Sachs
Libertyville, IL
Elementary Education

Elena Sarmiento
Northbrook, IL
Psychology/Economics
Summa Cum Laude

Audrey Rose Schlueter
Lemont, IL
History/Secondary Education

Sophia Marie Severson
Valparaiso, IN
Sociology

Christina Rose Shadid
Norman, OK
Communication Studies

Erin Margaret Shea
Fort Wayne, IN
Psychology/Sociology
Summa Cum Laude

Rylee Sites
Pottsville, PA
Psychology

Savannah Brooke Smallwood
Fort Wayne, IN
Sociology/Political Science
Summa Cum Laude

Annika Kierstin Smith
South Bend, IN
Mathematics
Summa Cum Laude

Gabrielle Jane Soller
Cincinnati, OH
ISDM: Health and Human Services

Delaney Makay Stacey
Niles, MI
Creative Writing

Bridget Ann Flynn Starner
Hershey, PA
Psychology

Scout Nicole Steinhiser
Michigan City, IN
ISDM: Environmental Education

Sarah Stephenson
Knox, IN
History/Humanistic Studies/Gender and Women’s Studies
Magna Cum Laude

Brittany Stewart
Austin, TX
ISDM: Sustainable Fashion

Erin Lynn Stiner
Tipton, IN
Political Science/History
Magna Cum Laude

Sofie Layne Stratton
South Bend, IN
Speech Language Pathology
Magna Cum Laude

Emily Ann Stross
Strongsville, OH
Elementary Education

Madison Suseland
Cassopolis, MI
Literature in English and Creative Writing
Summa Cum Laude

Cecilia Joyce Swanson
Muskegon, MI
Psychology
Cum Laude

Annika Marie Sweetland
Vero Beach, FL
Communication Studies
Cum Laude

Sofia Taskey
Kokomo, IN
Global Studies/Political Science
Summa Cum Laude

Mia Loren Tobar
Chicago, IL
ISDM: Health and Human Services

Anahy Torres-Vega
Atlanta, GA
Global Studies/Psychology
Magna Cum Laude

Mikayla Marie Trumbla
Dearborn Heights, MI
Sociology

Marissa Ann Underwood
Chicago, IL
Philosophy

Shannon Darenka Vergara
Rochester Hills, MI
Psychology
Cum Laude

Anna Volpe
Louisville, KY
Art

Jocelyn D. Walters
Goshen, IN
Spanish/Secondary Education
Cum Laude

Emma Rose Watford
Mishawaka, IN
Psychology

Brianna Marie Willison
East Grand Rapids, MI
Communication Studies
Cum Laude

Hannah Kathleen Fritz Yeager
San Clemente, CA
Literature in English/Secondary Education

The Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration

Julia Larkin Allen
Bloomington, IL
Accounting
Cum Laude

Reese Kuniko Allen
Downers Grove, IL
Business Administration

Elizabeth Terese Andersen
Hinsdale, IL
Marketing

Kathryn Barnes
Naperville, IL
Business Administration
Cum Laude

Emily Ann Bennett
Martinsville, IN
Accounting
Magna Cum Laude

Erin Taylor Bennett
Martinsville, IN
Marketing
Cum Laude

Julia Ann Bobosky
Batavia, IL
Business Administration

Julia Marie Brett
Schererville, IN
Business Administration

Olivia Faustina Busk
Niles, MI
Business Administration
Cum Laude

Hannah Margaret Cavanaugh
Jackson, MI
Accounting
Magna Cum Laude

Camille Ann Coenen
Charlotte, MI
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Gabrielle Leanne Cortier
Mishawaka, IN
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Anna Grace DeMars
Crown Point, IN
Business Administration/Statistical & Actuarial Mathematics
Cum Laude

Carmen Denja
Plymouth, MI
Marketing
Cum Laude

Anna Doyle
Villa Park, IL
Business Administration

Nicole Christine Drummond
Holland, MI
Business Administration/Economics
Magna Cum Laude

Sophia Grace Fleming
San Diego, CA
Business Administration

Nancy Galindo
South Bend, IN
Business Administration

Megan Elizabeth Galvin
Lake Orion, MI
Marketing
Magna Cum Laude

Brianna Geary
Mokena, IL
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Sydney Nicole Haislip
Munster, IN
Business Administration

Madison Mabel Hansen
Crown Point, IN
Marketing

Erin Lynne Harrington
Plantation, FL
Business Administration

Claire Katherine Hemmelgarn
Dayton, OH
Business Administration

Alyssa Michelle Hernandez
Santa Barbara, CA
Business Administration

Hannah Eve Huelskamp
Lookout Mountain, GA
Accounting

Elise Karaman
Niles, MI
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Sydney Lynn Kasperski
Peru, IL
Business Administration

Madison Elizabeth Kinniry
Fort Wayne, IN
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Stephanie Marie Lee
Fort Wayne, IN
Accounting
Cum Laude

Leslie Jane Lynch
Wheaton, IL
Accounting
Magna Cum Laude

Grace Anne Marcheselli
Wheaton, IL
Marketing
Magna Cum Laude

Morgan Louise Martin
Mishawaka, IN
Business Administration
Cum Laude

Jessica Rose Messano
Tampa, FL
Business Administration

Mary Catherine Mihalik
Naperville, IL
Accounting

Gabrielle Jolie Miles
Fort Wayne, IN
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Nicole Lynn Murphy
Chicago, IL
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

Molly O’Shea
Clarklake, MI
Business Administration
Cum Laude

Sarah Fagen Page
Valparaiso, IN
Business Administration
Cum Laude

Katherine E. Peak
South Barrington, IL
Accounting
Cum Laude

Shana Warner Rosenbaum
Hagar Shore, MI
Business Administration
Cum Laude

Emily Ann Rusch
Fond du Lac, WI
Accounting
Magna Cum Laude

Emma Rose Scheibert
Sanford, MI
Accounting
Magna Cum Laude

Hannah Shoemake
Schererville, IN
Marketing
Cum Laude

Ioanna George Skiadopoulos
Schererville, IN
Accounting

Sara Frances Steve
Pittsburgh, PA
Accounting
Summa Cum Laude

Mary Caroline Joy Sturm
Fort Wayne, IN
Marketing

Maria Kathryn Ugo
Indianapolis, IN
Accounting
Magna Cum Laude

Hillary Nicole Ziemba
Clarklake, MI
Business Administration
Magna Cum Laude

The Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts

Grace Anne Aubry
Toledo, OH
Art
Magna Cum Laude

Elisabeth Gangwer
Chaska, MN
Art
Magna Cum Laude

Hannah Elizabeth O’Farrell
DeWitt, MI
Art
Summa Cum Laude

The Degree of Bachelor of Music

Meaghan Grace Gould
Philadelphia, PA
Music Education
Magna Cum Laude

Andrea Ann Lindback
Muskegon, MI
Music Education
Magna Cum Laude

Cailynn Gabriele Murphy
Mishawaka, IN
Music Education

The Degree of Bachelor of Science

Rachel Lois Adams
Westchester, IL
Mathematics

Kayla Ambrose
Joliet, IL
Mathematics
Magna Cum Laude

Angela Rachele Bannan
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Computing and Applied Mathematics

Grace Isabelle Beauchamp
Plainwell, MI
Physics & Applied Mathematics

Kalyn McCue Borger
Bristol, IN
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Alexis Marie Bowdish
Manteno, IL
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Jillian Elizabeth Bowen
Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Mathematics
Cum Laude

Jenna Nicole Bowman
Martinsville, IN
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Abigail Frances Brown
South Bend, IN
Physics
Magna Cum Laude

Madeleine R. Brown
Battle Creek, MI
Chemistry

Diana Cervera
South Bend, IN
Biology/Art

Lucille Alice Chamberlin
Harbor Springs, MI
Biology
Cum Laude

Megan Irene Jue Lin Collantes
San Diego, CA
Chemistry
Magna Cum Laude

Kathleen Anne Connick
Flower Mound, TX
Physics

Julia Lorraine Crowley
Lemont, IL
Chemistry
Cum Laude

Lydia Rose Csaszar
Osceola, IN
Computing and Applied Mathematics

Krista M. Dockery
South Bend, IN
Neuroscience

Alexis Christine Dukesherer
Grandville, MI
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Belen Flores
Peru, IN
Chemistry
Cum Laude

Genevieve Marie Giannetti
Darien, IL
Neuroscience

Annika Gilman
Muncie, IN
Biology

Paige Sophia Hays
Highland, IN
Biology
Cum Laude

Anna Elise Heger
Fremont, MI
Mathematics
Summa Cum Laude

Avery Rose Higgerson
Prairie Village, KS
Biology
Cum Laude

Abigail Marie Houser
North Liberty, IN
Chemistry/Mathematics
Summa Cum Laude

Varsha Jay
Naperville, IL
Biology/Psychology
Magna Cum Laude

Mary Jo Johnson
Three Oaks, MI
Biology

Rebecca Jones
Atlanta, GA
Biology

Kalli Rae Jungles
Manteno, IL
Biology
Summa Cum Laude

Caroline Agnes Kopack
Delphos, OH
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Kellie Elizabeth Krohn
Houston, TX
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Hana Noell Larkins
Birmingham, AL
Biology

Elnora Mariner
South Bend, IN
Neuroscience
Cum Laude

Kathleen Franklin McLeod
Nashville, TN
Mathematics
Cum Laude

Hailey Josephine Meyer
Kendallville, IN
Chemistry
Magna Cum Laude

Olivia Milnamow
Granger, IN
Biology

Brooke Elizabeth Montgomery
Godley, IL
Biology
Cum Laude

Annabelle Rose Murray
Atlanta, GA
Biology

Brandi Nicole Muys
Tinley Park, IL
Biology
Summa Cum Laude

Katherine Mary O’Connell
Natrona Heights, PA
Chemistry
Cum Laude

Tyana Phillips
South Bend, IN
Biology

Clara Prasse
Naperville, IL
Biology
Summa Cum Laude

Chyan Rangel
Munster, IN
Neuroscience
Summa Cum Laude
Co-Valedictorian

Eleanor Riddell
Zionsville, IN
Biology
Summa Cum Laude

Clare Anna Ruddy
Kings Mills, OH
Mathematics

Hannah Sanchez
Dunkirk, NY
Computing and Applied Mathematics

Jennifer Schrader
La Grange, IL
Neuroscience

Maria Elisabeth Carole Schudt
Macomb, MI
Physics

Skye Sharp
Granger, IN
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Aranza Sabrina Sierra
Indianapolis, IN
Mathematics

Jane Elizabeth-Jawahir Sypniewski
Grand Rapids, MI
Biology
Magna Cum Laude

Coleen Joelle Tapang Valencia
Dededo, GU
Computing and Applied Mathematics
Magna Cum Laude

Natalie Elizabeth Volling
Crystal Lake, IL
Statistical & Actuarial Mathematics
Summa Cum Laude
Co-Valedictorian

Samantha Vorderer
Mokena, IL
Physics

MacKenzie Weaver
Nappanee, IN
Chemistry

Alexandria Weihs
Lake Villa, IL
Chemistry

Alexa Marie Zeese
New Carlisle, IN
Mathematics

The Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Alyssa Nicole Aguilar
Schererville, IN
Nursing

Grace Genevieve Benak
Naperville, IL
Nursing

Eknoor Bhullar
La Porte, IN
Nursing

Isabella Monroe Burke
Naperville, IL
Nursing

Elizabeth Bai He Campbell
Evergreen Park, IL
Nursing

Sophia Mary Campos
Canfield, OH
Nursing

Alma Rosa Carrillo Flores
Mexico City, Mexico
Nursing

Kira Laneita Chong
San Diego, CA
Nursing

Josephine Marie Ciaravino
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
Nursing

Makenzie Deane
Houston, TX
Nursing
Cum Laude

Margot Hufford Deely
Chicago, IL
Nursing

Erin Alexis Dotson
Oak Park, CA
Nursing

Brynne Elick
South Bend, IN
Nursing

Emily Marie Farley
Pittsburgh, PA
Nursing
Summa Cum Laude

Caroline Marie Foster
Mill Creek, IN
Nursing

Caitlin Joan Fox
Shakopee, MN
Nursing

Megan Michelle Galgano
Little Falls, MN
Nursing
Cum Laude

Nina Michele Gante
Harrisburg, PA
Nursing

Giuliana Josephine Geati
Arlington Heights, IL
Nursing

Claire Louise Hawkinson
Frankfort, IL
Nursing

Sabina Aniela Jaromin
Des Plaines, IL
Nursing

Anna Maria Kampe
Benton Harbor, MI
Nursing

Kathryn Anne Knapke
Fort Wayne, IN
Nursing

Chloe Elizabeth Koehr
Corolla, NC
Nursing
Magna Cum Laude

Lauren Elizabeth Lambros
Chicago, IL
Nursing
Cum Laude

Trang Thanh Le
South Bend, IN
Nursing
Cum Laude

Skyler Leach
Niles, MI
Nursing

Graciella Kristi Lintner
Grand Rapids, MI
Nursing

Grace Mahon
Glenview, IL
Nursing

Allison Jade McPeek
Tinley Park, IL
Nursing

Ashley Giselle Moreno
Elkhart, IN
Nursing
Summa Cum Laude

Emily Mariette Moriartey
Davison, MI
Nursing
Cum Laude

Katherine Rose Murphy
Frankfort, IL
Nursing

Jillian Dayle Nalepinski
South Bend, IN
Nursing

Cindy Sarahi Nunez Gomez
Chicago, IL
Nursing

Gianna Marie Pusateri
Chicago, IL
Nursing

Sarah Elizabeth Reuschlein
Kalkaska, MI
Nursing

Madelyn Elizabeth Rongers
Valparaiso, IN
Nursing

Hannah Marie Rypma
South Bend, IN
Nursing
Magna Cum Laude

Rosali Francesca Sorrentino
Dyer, IN
Nursing
Cum Laude

Cassidy Nicole Swartz
South Bend, IN
Nursing

Brenna Grace Taylor
Granger, IN
Nursing

Christina Marie Thomas
Dallas, TX
Nursing
Summa Cum Laude

Samantha Grace Veome
La Grange Park, IL
Nursing

Michelle Anne Zeiger
Bremen, IN
Nursing

The Degree of Bachelor of Social Work

Therese Rosemary Diamond
Lockport, IL
Social Work/Humanistic Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Galilea Falcon
Chicago, IL
Social Work/Spanish
Cum Laude

Breyona Jewell Gray
South Bend, IN
Social Work
Summa Cum Laude

Citlalli Guadalupe Jurado
Plymouth, IN
Social Work

Isabel Nakoa Patacsil
San Antonio, TX
Social Work

Isabel Angelina Reid
Joliet, IL
Social Work
Summa Cum Laude

Suzanne Alejandra Rivas
Westfield, IN
Social Work

Hannah Danielle Roberts
Three Rivers, MI
Social Work

Kaitlin Eliza Ward
Mishawaka, IN
Social Work
Cum Laude

Honors

Department Awards

Art

Saint Luke’s Medal – Hannah O’Farrell
Sister Edna Service Award – Diana Cervera

Biology

Mother M. Rose Elizabeth, CSC Award – Annabelle Murray
Sister M. Rosaleen Dunleavy, CSC Award – Alexis Dukesherer
George and Juanda Bick Nature Award – Hana Larkins

Business Administration and Economics

Frank A. Yeandel Service Award – Sarah Page
Jerome L. McElroy Outstanding Achievement Award – Gabrielle Miles
Academic Achievement Award – Sara Steve
Achievement Award (Accounting) – Sara Steve
Achievement Award (Economics) – Nicole Drummond
Achievement Award (Finance) – Hillary Ziemba
Achievement Award (Management) – Anna DeMars
Academic Achievement Award (Management Information Systems) – Gabrielle Cortier and Kathryn Barnes
Academic Achievement Award (Marketing) – Gabrielle Miles
Ernst & Young Award – Emma Scheibert
Deloitte Award – Emily Bennett
PricewaterhouseCoopers Award – Hannah Cavanaugh

Chemistry and Physics

Mother M. Rose Elizabeth, CSC Award – Megan Irene Collantes, Abigail Houser and Hailey Meyer
American Institute of Chemists Award – Abigail Houser
Richard Tarara Academic Excellence in Physics Award – Abigail Brown
The F.Lee Benton Exceptional Service and Research in Physics Award – Kathleen Connick

Communication Studies, Dance, and Theatre

Ann Plamondon Award for Excellence in Communication Studies – Eliza Dobrzelewski and Anne Maher
Terpsichorean Award for Excellence in Dance – Elena Sarmiento

Education

Mary A. McDermott Award – Claire Doyle and Emily Morin
Mary (Mimi) Cabrini Doherty Junior Elementary Education Award– Anne Goralczyk ’24
IACTE Outstanding Future Educators Award – Claire Kloska, Angeline Lorenz, Megan McIntyre and Magdiel Perez
Schmuhl Early Childhood Education Award – Madeleine Rzepka
Grace Sullivan McGuire Award – Meaghan Gould and Josephine Haas

English

Elisabeth A. Noel Literature Prize – Madeline Law and Megan Palmer
The Laura Haigwood Literary Citizenship Prize – Genevieve Coleman
The Laurie A. Lesniewski Creative Writing Award – Jaden Daher and Alexis Kilcoin

Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies Award – Anne Maher and Yajali Rodriguez

Gender and Women’s Studies

Mary Frances Eder Halpin Award in Gender and Women’s Studies – Kassandra Loza

Global Studies

Outstanding Achievement in Global Studies – Sofia Taskey
Outstanding Senior Comprehensive Award in Global Studies – Mary Elsinger

History

Martha Montgomery Schurz Memorial Award for Excellence in History – Erin Stiner
Martha Montgomery Schurz Memorial Award for Excellence in the Senior Seminar Research Paper – Angeline Lorenz
Martha Montgomery Schurz Memorial Award for Excellence in Writing in the Women’s History Program – Sarah Stephenson

Humanistic Studies

Thomas More Award – Therese Diamond

Mathematics

Milko Jeglic Award – Abigail Houser
Elizabeth Lin Lo Award – Madeline Pooler ’24
Donald E. Miller Award – Anna Heger and Natalie Volling

Modern Languages

Leonilda Francesca Acerra and Dominico Enrico Christofaro Award in Italian – Elena Sarmiento
Anne Cashore Borjas Award in Spanish – Josephine Haas
Spanish Service Award – Galilea Falcon
The Bayhouse-Marcy Award in French – Fiona Connelly and Shania Quintana

Music

Emma Krost Eder Award for Musical Excellence – Meaghan Gould

Nursing Science

Evelyn McGuiness Award for Excellence in Nursing – Christina Thomas
Humanitarian in Nursing Award – Makenzie Deane and Ashley Moreno
DNP Daisy Award – Bancy Mwangi and Ellen Wray
Outstanding DNP Practice Innovation Project Award – Zeinab EL-Housseini

Philosophy

Award for Excellence in Philosophical Writing – Paige Madden

Political Science

Juliette Noone Lester Award – Libbey Detcher

Psychology

Animating Spirit Award – Cecilia Swanson Joseph Miller Outstanding Scholarship Award – Aliyah Anderson and Erin Shea

Religious Studies

Helen Carroll Award – Francesca Giuliano and Alexis Kilcoin
David J. Murphy Carmelite Award – Kathleen Hannon ’24 and Margaret McNabb ’24

Social Work and Gerontology

Academic Excellence Award – Therese (“Tess”) Diamond
Leadership Award – Isabel Reid and Suzanne Rivas
Josephine Murphy Kuhl Research Award – Breyona Gray, Isabel Patacsil, and Hannah Roberts
Kristi A. Morris Award – Galilea Falcon

Sociology

Sociology Award – Angela Martinez Camacho

Speech Language Pathology

Ancora Imparo Award – Maggie Clancy
Carolyn S. Langley Award (Graduate Program) – Lucero Varela Zavala

College Awards

Mary Ellen Smith Academic and
Athletic Achievement Award
Madeleine Rzepka

Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Association
2023 Outstanding Senior Award
Libbey Detcher

Kappa Gamma Pi

National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society

Erin Bennett
Jillian Bowen
Peyton Buss
Kendall Carnes
Maggie Clancy
Makenzie Deane
Anna DeMars
Libbey Detcher
Therese Diamond
Sydney Ellis
Emily Farley
Breyona Gray
Margaret Harper
Avery Higgerson
Kalli Jungles
Alexis Kilcoin
Chloe Koehr
Kellie Krohn
Lauren Lambros
Caledonia McLeod
Elizabeth Mendez
Ashley Miller
Ashley Moreno
Ariel Muñoz
Nicole Murphy
Katherine O’Connell
Chyan Rangel
Grace Reid
Isabel Reid
Skye Sharp
Sara Steve
Christina Thomas
Anahy Torres-Vega
Maria Ugo
Hillary Ziemba

Formal Academic Regalia

The formal academic regalia worn by today’s graduates and faculty have their origin in the clerical costumes of medieval Europe and have evolved into a great variety of patterns and styles. Late in the last century, American colleges and universities agreed to standardize their regalia; however, there is now a movement to return to individual designs for each institution.

The gown worn by those holding or receiving the bachelor’s degree is plain black with pointed sleeves. The master’s gown is characterized by a uniquely long, closed sleeve with a slit at the elbow, through which the arm protruded; this peculiarity is now being replaced by a sleeve more like that of a bachelor’s. The doctoral gown has very full bell sleeves and is trimmed with velvet panels down the front and stripes across the sleeves.

The familiar mortarboard cap bears only a faint resemblance to its close relative, the clerical biretta. Some institutions now specify that a soft cap somewhat like a tam o’shanter is worn. The cap worn by those with a bachelor’s degree is decorated with a black tassel or a color indicative of the area of study. Those earning a master’s degree wear black tassels. Those earning a doctorate wear either black or metallic gold.

Most symbolic and informative of the regalia is the hood, which is no longer raised over the head but is hung down the back just as a cleric wore it when baring the head in church. The bachelor’s hood is three feet long, the master’s is three-and-one-half feet, and the doctoral’s is four feet long with a rectangular panel which once served as a shoulder cape when the hood was raised. All of the hoods have a velvet border in the color of the degree according to the same system used for the trim of the doctoral gown (see below).

Degree colors (tassels and hood trim)

*Arts and Humanities White
*Science Golden Yellow
*Fine Arts Brown
*Music Pink
*Business Drab (Light Brown)
*Social Work  Citron
*Nursing  Apricot
Philosophy  Dark Blue
Education  Light Blue
Theology  Scarlet
Library Science  Lemon
Engineering  Orange
Law  Purple

*Saint Mary’s College degrees

Other colors may be found on faculty hoods, although most hold a Ph.D. or doctorate of philosophy, so their hoods will have dark blue trim.

The colors and patterns of the satin lining of the hood identify the college or university conferring the degree; most prominent in the procession today is the light blue background and white chevron of Saint Mary’s College.

Richard C. Pilger Jr.
Marshal Emeritus

Sister Madeleva Walking Stick

The walking stick of Sister Madeleva Wolff, CSC serves as a reminder of the College’s founders and sponsors, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. As one of the College’s longest serving presidents, Sister Madeleva guided Saint Mary’s to its status as the country’s premiere Catholic liberal arts college for women, and it is appropriate that an artifact from her life serves as a link to the College’s history.

Sister Madeleva associated walking sticks with the pilgrim’s staff used to traverse the Camino de Santiago in Spain. So this walking stick also serves as a symbol of both the path our students will tread as they leave the College as pilgrims in life and the support they will need on the way.

Each new president chooses which, of the many walking sticks that Sister Madeleva collected over her life, is to be used during that president’s tenure. The selected symbol leads the processions at academic ceremonies, much as a ceremonial mace does at other colleges. The stick used in the procession today is a brightly colored cane attributed to southern Mexico. It contains a series of carvings and paintings celebrating some of the cultures that melded over the years to create today’s Mexico, including Aztec and Spanish images.

Board of Trustees

Maureen Karnatz Smith ’85
Chair, Board of Trustees

Jill Tiefenthaler ’87
Vice Chair

Colleen Flynn Roohan ’85
Secretary

Michael J. Mathile
Treasurer

Katie Conboy
Sister Esther Adjoa Entsiwah, CSC
Sister Veronica A. Fajardo, CSC
Sister Vanessa Cruz Ferreira, CSC
Donald R. Fischer
Gregoire Gallant
Sister Taposi Gomes, CSC
Sister Judith Hallock, CSC ’65
Mary McEnery Harding ’84
Fr. Stephen Katsouros, SJ
Reverend Paul V. Kollman, CSC
Susan Olney Latham ’91
Jacqueline Leskovec ’74
Eileen Gallagher Loranger ’90
Elizabeth Mendez ’23
Joseph A. Miller
Theresa Sullivan Norton ’92
Tina M. Patton
Jennifer Mathile Prikkel ’95
Linda Schultz Salvi ’79
Michael Schmitt
William J. Schmuhl Jr.*
Renee R. Schultz ’92
Amy C. Shelly ’91
Christine Ashford Swanson
Kimberlyn Martin Troy ’00
Kathleen Murphy Villano ’79
Sister Veronique Wiedower, CSC ’70
Lorraine Sheehan Wilson ’85
*Trustee Emeritus

Officers of the College

Katie Conboy, Ph.D.
President

Barbara May, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President

Dana Strait, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Strategy and Finance

Redgina Hill, Ph.D.
Vice President for Inclusion and Equity

Holly C. Johnson
Vice President for Advancement

Lori E. Johnson ’91
Vice President for Student Enrollment and Engagement

Julianne E. Wallace, D.Min.
Vice President for Mission

Commencement Committee

Michelle Poeppe Egan ’93
Chair

Christopher Dunlap, Ph.D.
Marshal

James “Phil” Bambenek
Phillip Batalis
Richard Baxter
Dawn Bell
Benjamin Bowman
Kathleen Carlson
Amelia Carpenter
Rebecca Gearhart
Susan Good
Sandy Harmacinski
Susan Kletka
Mark Kubacki
Nicole Labadie
Susan Olney Latham ’91
Grace Maher ’21
Caledonia McLeod ’23
Ariel Muñoz ’23
Kara O’Leary ’89
Dan Patterson
Lisa Peppers ’87
Adriana Petty ’01
Marc Poklinkowski
Sarah Pressey ’08
Melissa Rodriguez
H. Shay Jolly Schneider ’05
Art Wager
Tracy P. White

Mission Statement

Founded by the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1844, Saint Mary’s College promotes a life of intellectual vigor, aesthetic appreciation, religious sensibility, and social responsibility. Saint Mary’s is a Catholic, residential, women’s, liberal arts college offering undergraduate degrees and co-educational graduate programs.

A pioneer in the education of women, the College fosters an inclusive, academic community where students discover and develop their talents as they prepare to make a difference in the world. All members of the College contribute to this mission in their response to the complex needs and challenges of contemporary life.

Statement of Philosophy and Purpose

As a center of higher education, Saint Mary’s fosters an academic climate of scholarship and learning for faculty and students alike. Through excellence in teaching and the example of its own active scholarship, the faculty challenge students to expand their horizons and support them in their intellectual pursuits. A broad-based course of study invites students to think critically and creatively about the natural world and human culture. Acknowledging the need to prepare women for an array of careers, the College provides a liberal arts foundation for all students. Through their years at Saint Mary’s, students acquire depth and breadth of knowledge, competence in quantitative skills and modern languages, the ability to think clearly about complex problems, and the capacity to communicate with precision and style.

As a Catholic college, Saint Mary’s cultivates a community of intellectual inquiry, liturgical prayer, and social action. The College creates an open forum in which students freely and critically study the rich heritage of the Catholic tradition, raising the questions necessary to develop a mature religious life. The celebration of liturgy encourages students to explore the fullness of life and its mysteries. The College nurtures awareness and compassion for a troubled world and challenges students to promote human dignity throughout their lives. In preparing women for roles of leadership and action, Saint Mary’s pays particular attention to the rights and responsibilities of women in the worlds of work, church, community, and family.

Dedicated to the personal and social growth of its students, Saint Mary’s cultivates a community of students, faculty, and staff, which responds to the needs of women. In order to offer the richest educational experience possible, the College strives to bring together women of different nations, cultures, and races. It provides a residential environment where women grow in their appreciation of the strengths and needs of others. Through a host of co-curricular programs on campus and in the local community, Saint Mary’s initiates students in the habits of civic responsibility. Engaging in all aspects of the college experience, students acquire the hallmarks of a liberally educated woman: keen self-knowledge, lively imagination, lifelong intellectual and cultural interests, and the ability to make socially responsible choices about the future.

The Class of 2023

 

  • Emma Marie Abrahamian After graduation, I’ll be pursuing a life long dream of mine, and Attending Cosmetology School at The Institute of Beauty and Wellness in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (an Aveda Institute).

         Emma Marie Abrahamian ’23 Theatre
  • Sr. Georgina Acquah As it is said, "Where determination exists, nothing can demolish the flag of success." So, the secret to success is being determined.

         Sr. Georgina Acquah ’23 Elementary Education
  • Rachel Adams I will be finishing my dual degree at the University of Notre Dame and graduating with a bachelors of science in Civil Engineering. Rachel Adams ’23 Mathematics
  • Alyssa Nicole Aguilar I love all that Saint Mary's has embodied and has made me become. I could not have asked for a better experience that made me who I am today. I am grateful for the loving people that this institution brought to me and have accompanied me through this beautiful journey. I am who I am because of the self-discovery that Saint Mary's has led me to. I am a Belle. Forever and always. Alyssa Nicole Aguilar ’23 Nursing
  • Reese Allen One memorable moment from my Saint Mary’s experience dates back to freshman year. One Friday night in September, there was a massive rainstorm and McCandless flooded. The roof caved in and the first floor was underwater. We had to miss the dorm parties and were forced to stay in. They wouldn’t even let boys leave the building! We ended up having such a fun night. It is forever engrained on my memory! Reese Allen ’23 Business Administration
  • Kayla Ambrose In the summer, I have a software engineering internship at 84.51 in Chicago and next school year I will be completing the Five-Year Dual Degree Engineering Program at Notre Dame, graduating with a computer science degree.

         Kayla Ambrose ’23 Mathematics
  • Elizabeth Andersen Savor every moment at Saint Mary’s and enjoy the ride! Elizabeth Andersen ’23 Marketing
  • Aliyah Anderson Everyone says it, but college goes by so unbelievably fast! Try to make the most out of your college experience, because in the end, you’ll regret the chances you didn’t take. Challenge yourself and proceed with courage and kindness!

         Aliyah Anderson ’23 Psychology
  • Angela Bannan My favorite memories are made with my friends. During every cross country meet I race with my team, laughs I share with my roomies, and the nights spent studying with my classmates. Saint Mary’s has brought me some of my best friends! Angela Bannan ’23 Computing & Applied Mathematics
  • Carstyn Barna Don’t be afraid of being different, be afraid of being the same as everyone else.

         Carstyn Barna ’23 Communication Studies
  • Taylor Bean My favorite memory of Saint Mary’s is the amazing opportunity to study abroad in the European Summer Program with my friends. Taylor Bean ’23 Communication Studies
  • Grace Benak After graduation, I will be working as a nurse in the Chicago area. This fall, I will be returning to Saint Mary's for the DNP program! I’m excited to see where my nursing career takes me!

         Grace Benak ’23 Nursing