VCSU Celebrates Graduates at Tenth Winter Commencement
Valley City State University (VCSU) celebrated the success of more than 100 graduates Thursday afternoon at the Tenth VCSU Winter Commencement Exercises.
VCSU president Alan LaFave presided over the ceremony in historic Vangstad Auditorium where 17 students were recognized for completion of master’s degrees and 103 students for undergraduate degrees.
“Our graduates have proven they are prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference,” said President Alan LaFave. “We value the contributions they made on campus, whether it’s through athletics, the arts, student organizations or student government. We are proud of our students graduating today.”
A recording of the entire ceremony is available at www.youtube.com/vcsuvikings. Photos from the ceremony will be available online at VCSU’s Flickr page.
Jazmine (Hill) Truax – an elementary education graduate – delivered the undergraduate reflection.
“In a world that’s increasingly fast-paced, we’ve had the rare opportunity here to slow down and build relationships that go beyond the surface,” said Truax, speaking to her fellow graduates in the audience. “At Valley City State, our professors knew us—not just as students in their classes, but as individuals with personalities and passions. We were never just a number. We were individuals with unique perspectives and stories. Our professors weren’t just lecturers—they were mentors, advisors, and often, friends.”
Truax is the ninth teacher in her family to graduate from VCSU and has already started a full-time job as a kindergarten teacher in West Fargo.
Dr. Heather (Metcalf) Kvilvang – associate professor in the School of Education and Graduate Studies – delivered the faculty reflection.
“All of us here are so proud of you,” she said, addressing the graduates directly. “You’ve all had challenges to overcome but you overcame them. You stayed focused and kind… All of us here know you can achieve anything you set your mind to. And you can do that with kindness. After all, it’s the Viking Way.”
VCSU has now conferred 27,909 undergraduate degrees and 652 master’s degree in its proud history dating back to 1890.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Mark Potts by emailing mark.m.potts@vcsu.edu or calling 701-845-7228.
VCSU Tenth Winter Commencement
Candidates for Graduation
Dec. 19, 2024
* Completed requirements July 26, 2024
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING
Allison Hennings Keller,* Valley City
Jaiden Elizabeth Langlie, Moorhead, Minnesota
Megan James Lindquist, West Fargo
Kimberleigh Anne Hephzibah Shirkey, Parshall
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Susan Bleken,* Butte, Montana
Megan E. Blessum, Kindred
Haley Bowman,* Fredonia
Jazmyne Nicole Reinke Breitbach,* Fargo
Daniel Catizone,* Randolph, New Jersey
Kecia Ellison, Napoleon
Jolie Johnston, Devils Lake
Suzanna Koll, Wimbledon
Krista Little, Blackwood, New Jersey
Brady Victor Matheny,* Lisbon
Kara McKaiden Roth, Elgin
Thressa B. Wolla, Valley City
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Riley Anne Perryman,* Cottage Grove, Minnesota
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
Sydney Donell Anderson, Page
Jennifer Kelly Barrera, West Chicago, Illinois
Zachary Paul Baumgartner, Valley City
Brooke Lynn Blessum, Valley City
Morgan Rae Bossingham, Jamestown
Jennifer Marie Brayton, Hunter
Emma Catherine Bumann, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Jamie Lee Burkle, Fredonia
Megan Connie Carrizales, Gackle
Emma Citrowske, Moorhead, Minnesota
Allyson Grace Conn, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Hannah Ruby Davis, Markesan, Wisconsin
Hailee DeLaurier, Valley City
Joplin Rayne Dietrich-Fink, Bismarck
Troy Randall Dietz, Gwinner
Meredith Linda Dumas,* Grafton
Joslyn Avery Dupree, Breckenridge, Minnesota
Mikaela Ann Easton, Gillette, Wyoming
Braden Robert Femling, Milbank, South Dakota
Justin Alexander Flowers, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Sara Lynn Glass, Lincoln
Sarah Beth Good,* Greybull, Wyoming
Ciel Groff, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Morgan O. Haerer, Bottineau
Alyssa Henning, Fargo
Bryndyn Ada Hesby Rode, Steele
Grant Richard Inniger, Barnesville, Minnesota
Henrik Hrothgar Jacobsen, Bismarck
Chelsey Rae Jahner, Bottineau
Patrick Michael Johns, Casper, Wyoming
Brooklyn Rose Keller, Beulah
Shaunna Knife, White Shield
Kaylee Jo Lancaster, Grand Forks
Lauren Mae LeBlanc, Little Falls, Minnesota
Stacey Lynn Lilja, Tower City
Savanna Louwagie, Cottonwood, Minnesota
Erik R. Peterson, Pillager, Minnesota
Connor Andrew Leo Piatz, Bismarck
Melanie Marissa Uhde Platt, Champlin, Minnesota
Makena Ann Raap, Mohall
Samuel James Rieger,* Lisbon
Grace Lila Robinson,* Bismarck
Rachel Elizabeth Sand, Valley City
Matthew Schlottman, Hastings, Minnesota
Afrah Sharif,* Glendale Heights, Illinois
Autumn Grace Sieg, Harvey
Shanell Marie Smith, Green River, Wyoming
Kenna Mae Sorby, Fort Ransom
Hayley Spurgeon, Wimbledon
Indigo Stankiewicz,* Bismarck
Riley Stief, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Robert Strand, Barnesville, Minnesota
Gretchen Marie Theis, Crookston, Minnesota
Erin Olivia Thomas, Bismarck
Jazmine Jane Truax, Wahpeton
Nicole Lynn Williams, Gillette, Wyoming
Faith Marie Wollschlager, Moorhead, Minnesota
Sarah Elizabeth Yunker, Center
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Abbi Marie Myers,* Valley City
Jon Sorensen,* Jonesboro, Louisiana
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Jaycee Mae Andel, Cooperstown
Chloe Ann Anderson, Sheldon
Kenny Excel Azoadam Ayongaba, Valley City
Chase Royal Bladow, Valley City
Alexander Bracken, Fairbanks, Alaska
Derick Lyle Carl, Valley City
Benjamin Reece Carter, Grand Forks
Granger Lawrence Dick, Lisbon
Stephanie Ford, Valley City
Thomas M. Frias,* Hastings, Minnesota
Easton Soren Hesch,* Valley City
Jordyn Ann Klein, Valley City
Alex Joseph McBride, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Brooklyn McCullough, Cooperstown
Dustin Lee Mertz, West Fargo
Tayla Jade Louise Mullings, Redditch, United Kingdom
Erica Munoz, Yuma, Arizona
DeAnna Renee Nolan,* Cheyenne, Wyoming
Frances Allison Pinlac, Makati City, The Philippines
Antonio Jacob Romero, El Paso, Texas
Tyler Christopher Ross, Surprise, Arizona
Skot Knight Sandmann,* Upton, Wyoming
Madison M. Schwartz, Buffalo, Minnesota
Robert E. Schwiesow, Morris, Illinois
Austin Drue Scott, Fargo
Leon Smith Jr., El Paso, Texas
Salvador Soto III, Valley City
Jeremiah Sullivan, Casselton
Lexi Elizabeth Thorsgard, Valley City
Corey Dean Young,* Cody, Wyoming
Jerome Kwame Bedell Zamgba, Jamestown
BACHELOR OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES
Trisha Jane Austin, Bowdon
Gretchen A. Baer, Devils Lake
Paige Marie Beach,* Moorhead, Minnesota
Taryn Rebecca Beers,* Watford City
Shannon Arlene Deitz, Valley City
Michaela Christine Hamilton, Valley City
Abigail M. Ingstad,* Valley City
Garrett Pemelton, Glyndon, Minnesota
Josie Rae Quick, Dazey
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Keaton John Goldade, Bismarck
Erica Elise Herr, Velva
Georgie Stowers Mageo, Pago Pago, American Samoa
Mason R. Nelson, Lisbon