ROCK ISLAND, IL (07/06/2015)(readMedia)-- Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., held its spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 24. Executive director of Gallup Education, Brandon Busteed, delivered the commencement speech. Around 600 students participated in the ceremony.
Those graduating were given advice by Brandon Busteed, who said, "Talent is like a fingerprint, every human being has unique talents. The key is using yours to become the best you."
President of Augustana College, Steven Bahls, speaking on life after graduation, said, "Though you may be apprehensive about your future, you now have the skills and confidence to build rewarding lives of leadership and service." President Bahls added, "Augustana students do not shy away from deep intellectual conversations, nor are they afraid of great passion in their work. Augustana students are, in a word, awesome."
Representing the class of 2015, Ebony Allen spoke on what an education at Augustana has done for them. "The class of 2015 is full of rebels, class clowns, athletes -- intelligent, funny, caring and ambitious students," she said. "Students who have been accepted into grad programs nationwide. Students who have jobs waiting for them after we leave here today." In her final comments she said, "Though some of us may not know what we'll do after graduation, we face the future without fear, knowing Augustana -- our home, our alma mater -- has prepared us to be everything we want to be in life."
During the ceremonies, an honorary doctor of humane letters degree was presented to Brandon Busteed.
Among the graduates earning a bachelor of arts degree during the 2014-2015 academic year:
Leo Anderson of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in business administration- management and accounting.
Megan Boedecker of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in English and neuroscience.
Nichole Brammer of Davenport (52808) graduated with a major(s) in biology and pre-medicine.
Alexsis Brummet of Geneseo (61254) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in teaching math.
Carine Christal of Coal Valley (61264) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - marketing and communication studies.
Beth Cole of Muscatine (52761) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in chemistry.
Elizabeth Kuster of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in English- creative writing.
Collin Leigh of Hampton (61256) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - finance.
Angela Norton of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in biology.
Erin White of Geneseo (61254) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in biology.
Katelyn Benge of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in biology and neuroscience.
Erin Gehn of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in applied mathematics.
Shai Gonzales of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in political science.
Christopher Hildreth of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - management.
Sarah Kerres of Taylor Ridge (61284) graduated with a major(s) in accounting and business administration- finance.
Nicholas Krantz of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in graphic design.
Alison Niebuhr of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in geography and environmental studies.
Michael Zeitler of East Moline (61244) graduated with a major(s) in teaching math.
Alexander Anderson of Geneseo (61254) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - finance and accounting.
April Anderson of Davenport (52803) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in Asian studies.
Jessica Bacon of Rock Island (61201) graduated magna cum laude with a major(s) in elementary education.
Hassan Baig of Moline (61265) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in religion.
Kyle Bennett of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in environmental studies and geography.
Courtney Camlin of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in neuroscience.
Brandee Cole of Davenport (52722) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in pre-medicine and biology.
Alyssa Copeland of Davenport (52806) graduated with a major(s) in communication studies.
Gabrielle Council of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in biology and pre-medicine.
Haley Fox of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - management.
Catherine Gehrmann of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in biochemistry.
Nicholas Hansen of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in political science.
Christine Harb of Davenport (52807) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in biology and pre-medicine.
Nicholas Hoepfner of East Moline (61244) graduated with a major(s) in biology.
Brandon Jasper of De Witt (52742) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - management.
Samantha Kammerman of Milan (61264) graduated with a major(s) in psychology.
Katherine Karstens of Moline (61265) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in business administration - finance and accounting.
Reed Kottke of Davenport (52804) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in applied mathematics and computer science.
Elizabeth LaBotte of Moline (61265) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in political science.
Christopher Madison of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in graphic design.
Bailey McChesney of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in communication studies.
Samantha McGreer of Illinois City (61259) graduated magna cum laude with a major(s) in pre-medicine and biochemistry.
Elyzia Powers of Silvis (61282) graduated with a major(s) in psychology.
Sarah Riedel of Long Grove (52756) graduated with a major(s) in creative writing.
Benjamin Rudy of Geneseo (61254) graduated with a major(s) in biology.
Cammie Ruhl of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in biology and neuroscience.
Ingrid Schneider of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in music general and psychology.
Christian Schroeder of Coal Valley (61240) graduated with a major(s) in computer science and business administration - management information systems.
Andrew Shearouse of Coal Valley (61240) graduated summa cum laude with a major(s) in business administration - management information systems and computer science.
Roman Shepard of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in anthropology.
Rosalie Starenko of Rock Island (61201) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in geography and Spanish.
Hali Strobel of Port Byron (61275) graduated with a major(s) in pre-medicine.
Anthony TouVelle of Bettendorf (52722) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in German and international business.
Jessica Tuckey of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in biology.
Samantha Turner of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in history and anthropology.
Rachel Vens of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - finance.
Daniel Zahn of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in geography.
Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 158 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.
