A large crowd of guests celebrated the achievements of 157 graduates who participated in the ceremony. More than 320 students completed degrees or certificates this year.FREEPORT– On Saturday, May 13, Highland Community College celebrated the 54th annual Commencement in the courtyard between the Marvin-Burt Liberal Arts Center and Natural Science Center/Ray and Betty Stamm Health Science Nursing Wing.
The address to the class of 2017 was given by Dr. Karen Hunter Anderson, Executive Director for the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). Dr. Anderson has been with the ICCB since 1999 and became Executive Director in 2013. During her tenure at ICCB, Dr. Anderson has provided leadership and has served as an administrator for nearly all of the Board’s functions in the divisions related to workforce, career and technical education, student services, minority affairs, accountability and assessment, adult education, institutional research, education technology, international education, and academic affairs.
Dr. Anderson’s address focused on the theme of service as the graduates moved on to the next steps in their educational journey and careers.
“As you move forward, I want you to consider how you can serve more people in more ways — consider how you can serve your community, your family, and your friends — and how you can serve your college into the future,” she said.
Following the ceremony, Dr. Anderson said, “As a speaker, I am reminded of why we do what we do. It’s about recognizing accomplishments and telling the graduates that it’s all about their future as they step closer to a chosen career.”
Student speaker and former Student Trustee, Staci Hammer of Lena, stood at the podium and told her peers, “All of us here represent a vast amount of knowledge and courage. We can now take what we have gained and put it to important practice. The best way to reach your potential is to be yourself. The world needs a variety of talents.”
The greeting to the Class of 2017 was presented by alumna Margaret “Peg” Dittmar, Class of 1984, from Elizabeth. A dedicated lifelong learner, Peg received her B.S.N. from Rockford University in 2003 and M.S.N. from Northern Illinois University in 2005. She currently serves as a nurse practitioner at Midwest Health Clinic.
“Highland was the basis for me to be where I am today,” said Dittmar. “For you, this is just the beginning. You’ve just opened the doors to more opportunities. No matter how old you are, those opportunities will persist,” said Dittmar. “You will learn something new every day, and you will have a journey that is unlike anyone else’s.”
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Claire Abele, Davis
Rebecca Alexander, Chadwick
Nexhbedije Aliu, Freeport
Ryan Angell, Cedarville
Hannah Badgett, Orangeville
Dawn Berkeley, Shannon
Chloe Blum, Freeport
Hannah Bollon, Orangeville
Keller Burkholder, Lanark
Rachel Carlson, Freeport
+ Aidan Carr, Leaf River
Fallon Chenong, Freeport
Rachel Clay, Dakota
Kadie Cross, Lena
Jamie Curran, Warren
# Kamryn Czysz, Freeport
Kirstin Dach, Freeport
Chelsea Decker, Lena
Mikayla Dirksen, Forreston
Abraham Doak, Leaf River
# Marius Dornhagen-Schradermeier, Freeport
Angela Edler, Lena
Emily Edler, Leaf River
Markus Edler, Forreston
# Rachel Edler, Lena
+ Coleton Eubanks, Lanark
Hannah Fehr, Rock City
Alexander Feiner, Freeport
+ Whitney Felker, Byron
Shannon Fleming, Dakota
Emilee Fransen, Freeport
Emily Freiburger, Pecatonica
Jack Gaulrapp, Freeport
Abigail Gill, La Plata, MD
Angelique Goswick, Stockton
Hiede Graves, Apple River
Haley Greene, Pecatonica
Amanda Gusloff, Winnebago
Cortney Haight, Dubuque, IA
Staci Hammer, Lena
Zachary Harwick, Warren
Brooke Haug, Stockton
+ Bailey Heckman, Shannon
Jason Heller, Stockton
Kelsey Hobson, Freeport
Michael Hoeft, Freeport
Tiffani Hoops, Freeport
Tyler Hoops, Freeport
Tiffany Horbaczewski, Lanark
Amber Houghton, Durand
D’Angelo Jackson, Freeport
Tylor Jacobson, Dakota
#Celena Josephitis, Forreston
Zachary Kauffman, Ridott
Brooke King, Freeport
Caidin Kloepping, Baileyville
Taylor Koehn, Davis
Derek Kortemeier, Freeport,
Mara Kuberski, Pickneyville,
+Christopher Lafferty, Freeport
+ Ryan Lee, Forreston,
Ziyi Liang, Freeport
Trent Maher, Freeport
# Kaitlyn Marquardt, Durand
# Robert Meiners, Davis
Brooke Mellen, Freeport
Trevor Miller, Mt, Carroll
# Samuel Morgan, Freeport
+ Abigail Mulholland, Elizabeth
Brooke Olberding, Lena
Adam Ortman, Warren,
Melissa Owen, Orangeville
Allison Palmer, Pearl City
Grant Petran, Freeport
+ Glenn Petran, Freeport
Kirsten Piehn, Freeport
Kristen Rogers, Warren
Brandon Rowe, Freeport
Auston Rushing, Coloma, MI
Hannah Sandstrom, Freeport
Aspen Sandy, Lena
Katey Shelly, Freeport
Robert Shumaker, Orangeville
Nicholas Simpson, Lanark
Heidi Smith, Sycamore
Mollie Steele, Elizabeth
Blake Steen, Lanark
Nathaniel Stukenberg, Forreston
Mariah Thompson, Stockton
Kyle Trumpy, McConnell
Reese Vanderheyden, Stockton
Ryan Walton, Freeport
Lindsey Wardlow, Forreston
Gunner Wenger, Warren
John Werkheiser, Pearl City
Michaela White, Pecatonica
# Jennifer Wiegert, Pecatonica
Jessica Willis, Freeport
ASSOCIATE OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE
Joseph Kohn, Monroe, WI
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Branden Aeling, Freeport
Mevludije Aliu, Forreston
Kristina Antonenko, Moscow, Russia
Michael Arndt, Stockton
Isaac Asche, Freeport
Elizabeth Ascher, Forreston
Aleah Bauer, Stockton
Whitney Becker, Lena,
Nathan Bethel, Nassau, Bahamas
Jaclyn Boomgarden, Freeport
# Emily Bullock, Pecatonica
James Burnidge, Lena
Skipper Bushey, Freeport
Grace Cifonie, Freeport
Josie Cobb, Freeport
Nicole Dahm, Freeport
Marshell Davis, Freeport
+ Allie Dawson, Freeport
Timothy Dayton, Jr., Stockton
Alexandria Donaldson, Freeport
Grant Draper, Muscatine, IA
Cara DuBois, Polo
Heidi Duitsman, Forreston
Lucinda Eastlick, Freeport
Shannon Fleming, Dakota
Halle Fransen, Freeport
# Emily Freiburger, Pecatonica
Abigail Gill, Lena
Michaela Gilliam, Freeport
+ Amanda Gusloff, Winnebago
Hannah Harshbarger, Davis
Sierra Harwick, Warren
Leah Hauser, Freeport
Tanner Heppner, Clinton, IA
Danielle Hinshaw, Byron
Patrick Holland, Apple River
Michael Horbaczewski, Lanark
+ Amy Huenefeld, Freeport
Hannah Hunziker, Ridott
Lauren Jacobs, Forreston
+ Alexander Jansen, Freeport
Jennifer Janssen, Freeport
Kori Kalkbrenner, Lena
+ Kolton Kramer, Freeport
Victoria Kronenberg, Milledgeville
Diamondnique Lacy, Freeport
Ryan Lee, Forreston
Ellie Lenkaitis, Winnebago
# Kaitlyn Marquardt, Durand
+ Donna Massey, Freeport
Joshua Meador, Lanark
Ryan Nadig, Stockton
Joseph Nagel, Freeport
Giovonni Offard, Freeport
Allison Palmer, Pearl City
Alexa Patterson, Lanark
Heaven Paul, South Wayne, WI
Deven Raymond, Freeport
Elizabeth Reeser, Pearl City
+ Tatum Regez, Freeport
Andrew Reid, Lena
+ Stacy Sammul, Freeport
Brett Santiago, Freeport
Adam Schubert, Freeport
Kaitlyn Shaw, Winnebago
Bryant Smargiassi, Pearl City
Jon Smith, Apple River
Kyle Smith, Warren
Kaitlynn Smith, Freeport
Farrah Stubbe, Lanark
+ Anicka Stultz, Pearl City
Darren Tippett, Lexington, KY
Nichole Tobler, Davis
Madeleine VanHamme, Freeport
Lindsey Wardlow, Forreston
John Werkheiser, Pearl City
Katie Wingert, Kent
Kelsey Zettle, Dakota
Riley Zettle, Rock City
Makenzie Zueger, Freeport
ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES
Lisa Bauer, Stockton
Nathan Bethel, Nassau, Bahamas
Brenda Boland, Freeport
Sharlene Calvin, Freeport
Frederick Clark, Mt, Carroll
Josie Cobb, Freeport
Alexandria Donaldson, Freeport
Cody Drake, Freeport
Angela Edler, Lena
Kimberly Euler, Warren
Kevin Hill, Freeport
Danielle Hinshaw, Byron
Jada Ivy, Detroit, MI
D’Angelo Jackson, Racine, WI
Angela Johnston, Freeport
Deonte Jones, San Diego, CA
Maurice McDonald, McAllen, TX
Brenda Miller, Stockton
Maurina Montoya, Warren
Sonya Oefelein, Freeport
Kelci Patterson, German Valley
Megan Sheffey, Pearl City
Daniel Skoumal, Juda, WI
Taylor Slothower, Forreston
Jacob Smith, Winnebago
Sarah Vorwald, Freeport
Elizabeth Walker, Lena
John Werkheiser, Pearl City
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
ACCOUNTING
+ Ashley DeMeester, Freeport
Melissa Duvall, Freeport
Heather Kempel, Freeport
Tamra Kurth, Apple River
Heather Schiess, Lena
AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT
John Donaldson, Oregon
Anna Folgate, Pearl City
Christine Krumm, Oregon
Kolton Myrvold, Monroe Center
Taylor Slothower, Forreston
Zachary Stephan, Pearl City
Blake Wetzel, Lindenwood
AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS
Spencer Cruthis, Forreston
Anthony Jackson, Freeport
Jeff Pingel, German Valley
Jonathon Schneider, Freeport
Dillon Schoeny, Shannon
Benjamin Schubert, Lena
Brett Seffrood, Monroe, WI
Faith Swartz, Dixon
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Wendy Reusch, Stockton
Pamela Wool, Freeport
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
Shelby Logemann, Stockton
EQUINE SCIENCE
Kathleen Fox, Freeport
Autumn Quinn, Janesville, WI
Courtney Wilcox, Monroe, WI
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Karen Gempeler, Monticello, WI
Larissa Klemm, Monroe, WI
Jessica North, Pecatonica
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HEALTHCARE
Catherine Cruthis, Forreston
+ Shana Pritchard, Forreston
+ Gwen Ramage, Freeport
+ Erin Welch, Forreston
+ Stephanie Wilken, Forreston
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Linda Book, Freeport
Breanne Field, Mt, Carroll
Jennifer Holcomb, Hanover
Michael Miller, Savanna
Christopher Wolter, Cedarville
MEDICAL ASSISTANT
+ Amanda Erbsen, Pearl City
+ Erin Foster, Savanna
+ Brianna Green, Freeport
+ Danielle Jones, Stockton
+ Rhonda Miller, Davis
+ Mandi Milliken, Freeport
+ Rebekha O’Rourke, Leaf River
+ Paige Rainwater, Davis
+ Melissa Steien, Stockton
NURSING
Melissa Bradbury, Freeport
Josie Cobb, Freeport
Tiffany Cole-Endress, Pearl City
Jennifer Conderman, Dixon
Madison Eshleman, Freeport
Brittani Head, Forreston
Desiree Holz, Freeport
Jackie Johnson, Argyle, WI
Margherita Johnson, Forreston
Jennifer Lane, Davis
Lance Merrill, Mt, Morris
Rebecca Molander, Leaf River
Whitney Near, Mt, Morris
Tracy Pizzolato, Freeport
Latasha Sellers, Freeport
Katey Shelly, Freeport
Sara Sleeman, Elizabeth
Brandi Smith, Hanover
Lindsay Swalve, Freeport
Allison Taylor, Davis
Susanna Thompson, Warren
Jillane Toelke, Dakota
Kelly Tunney, Ridott
Shayna Vanderheyden, Stockton
Morgan Zimmerman, Rock City
WIND TURBINE TECHNOLOGY
Christopher Aspinwall, Pearl City
Frank Baley, Rockford
Michael Donegan, Freeport
CERTIFICATES
ACCOUNTS CLERK
Ashley DeMeester, Monroe, WI
Melissa Duvall, Freeport
Heather Kempel, Freeport
Tamra Kurth, Apple River
Heather Schiess, Lena
Thomas Wittbecker, Freeport
ACCOUNTING
Ashley DeMeester, Monroe, WI
Melissa Duvall, Freeport
Heather Kempel, Freeport
Tamra Kurth, Apple River
Heather Schiess, Lena
Thomas Wittbecker, Freeport
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
John Donaldson, Oregon
Anna Folgate, Pearl City
Kolton Myrvold, Monroe Center
Zachary Stephan, Pearl City
Blake Wetzel, Lindenwood
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE – LEVEL I
Spencer Cruthis, Forreston
Anthony Jackson, Freeport
Jeff Pingel, German Valley
Jonathon Schneider, Freeport
Dillon Schoeny, Shannon
Benjamin Schubert, Lena
Brett Seffrood, Monroe, WI
Faith Swartz, Dixon
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE – LEVEL II
Spencer Cruthis, Forreston
Anthony Jackson, Freeport
Jeff Pingel, German Valley
Jonathon Schneider, Freeport
Dillon Schoeny, Shannon
Benjamin Schubert, Lena
Brett Seffrood, Monroe, WI
Faith Swartz, Dixon
CAD – MECHANICAL
Kevin Hill, Freeport
CLERICAL BUSINESS
Linda Book, Freeport
Breanne Field, Mt, Carroll
+ Shana Pritchard, Forreston
+ Stephanie Wilken, Forreston
CLERK/TYPIST
Linda Book, Freeport
Breanne Field, Mt, Carroll
COMPUTER TECHNICIAN
Christopher Arand, Freeport
Rick Burrington, Freeport
Troy Lieb, Freeport
Jordan Vrazsity, Dakota
Christopher Wolter, Cedarville
COSMETOLOGY
Jennika Alber, Cedarville
Alexandria Ankney, Dixon
Susanna Bayer, Lena
Larissa Gruendler, Forreston
+ Deziray Haight, Freeport
Christina Myers, Elizabeth
Shavonna Reed, Freeport
Brenda Reynoso, Pecatonica
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Linda Piper-Ra, Freeport
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION –
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INFANT/TODDLER
Pamela Wool, Freeport
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION –
INFANT/TODDLER – LEVEL 3
Pamela Wool, Freeport
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – LEVEL 2
Pamela Wool, Freeport
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – LEVEL 3
Pamela Wool, Freeport
EQUINE STABLE MANAGER
Kathleen Fox, Freeport
Cortney Huber, Freeport
Autumn Quinn, Janesville, WI
Courtney Wilcox, Monroe, WI
Gretchen Wojtas-Johnson, Forreston
EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPIST
Cortney Huber, Freeport
Gretchen Wojtas-Johnson, Forreston
EQUINE RIDING INSTRUCTOR
Kathleen Fox, Freeport
Cortney Huber, Freeport
Autumn Quinn, Janesville, WI
Courtney Wilcox, Monroe, WI
EQUINE SCIENCE – GENERAL
Kathleen Fox, Freeport
Cortney Huber, Freeport
Autumn Quinn, Janesville, WI
Courtney Wilcox, Monroe, WI
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Karen Gempeler, Monticello, WI
Larissa Klemm, Monroe, WI
Victoria Kronenberg, Milledgeville
Jessica North, Pecatonica
INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS/CONTROLS
William Baker, Rock City
Darren Dennis, Rock City
Cody Drake, Freeport
INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE
Darren Dennis, Rock City
Cody Drake, Freeport
MACHINE PROCESSES
Cody Drake, Freeport
MEDICAL CODING
Catherine Cruthis, Forreston
+ Shana Pritchard, Forreston
+ Gwen Ramage, Freeport
+ Laura Walls, Rockford
+ Erin Welch, Forreston
+ Stephanie Wilken, Forreston
NAIL TECHNOLOGY
Brandi Rucker, Lena
Crystal Scwartz, Stillman Valley
Tiaira Walker, Freeport
PROFESSIONAL TAX PREPARER
Ashley DeMeester, Monroe, Wi
Melissa Duvall, Freeport
Heather Kempel, Freeport
Tamra Kurth, Apple River
Heather Schiess, Lena
QUICKBOOKS PROFESSIONAL
Ashley DeMeester, Monroe, WI
Brenda Boland, Freeport
Melissa Duvall, Freeport
Kortney Hull, South Wayne
Heather Kempel, Freeport
Tamra Kurth, Apple River
Heather Schiess, Lena
WELDING – BASIC
Wendell Allen, Lanark
Ethan Connors, Freeport
John Donaldson, Oregon
Quintin Heidenreich, Freeport
Shannon McFadden, Lena
Chevy Ottenhausen, Pearl City
Brett Seffrood, Monroe, WI
Kyle Trumpy, McConnell
Jared Wiegmann, Freeport
WELDING AND FABRICATION
Wendell Allen, Lanark
Ethan Connors, Freeport
John Donaldson, Oregon
Quintin Heidenreich, Freeport
Shannon McFadden, Lena
Brett Seffrood, Monroe, WI
WIND TURBINE TECHNOLOGY – ADVANCED
Christopher Aspinwall, Pearl City
Frank Baley, Rockford
Michael Donegan, Freeport
_________________________
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
2998 W. Pearl City Road
Freeport, IL 61032-9341
815-235-6121
Fax 815-235-6130