
Commencement Program
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Garrett Freier
Vice President of Experiential Learning
Processional
Administration, Faculty, Graduates
Welcome
Dr. Paul Alexander
President
Commissioning of the new Undergraduate Dean
Dr. Paul Alexander
President
Opening Prayer
Autumn Shamala
Salutatorian
recognition of first generation graduates
Garrett Freier
Vice President of Experiential Learning
Introduction of Valedictorian
Amy Freier
Chair of the Teacher Education and Exercise Science Department
Valedictory Address
Rachel Naylor
Valedictorian
Introduction of Graduate Speaker
Dr. Carol Alexander
Dean of Graduate School
Graduate Address
Yesenia Mojarro
Special Music
“I Will Sing”
by Phil Barfoot and Cliff Duren
Introduction of Speaker
Dr. Paul Alexander
President
Commencement Address
Dr. Sandra Ogunremi
Dr. Sandra Ogunremi, DHA, is the Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging for
Monument Health. In her role, she oversees Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives,
Spiritual Care Services, Patient Experiences, Patient Relations, Guest Services, Volunteer Services and Valet Services. She has been with Monument Health since 2008. She is a nationally sought out conference speaker because of her subject matter expertise.
Ogunremi earned a Doctorate in Health Administration from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 2009. She has a Master of Science in Administration from CMU and a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. She is a Certified in Diversity Management with the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. She is a Cornell Certified Diversity Practitioner and holds several other certifications that enable her to deliver her best.
Rev. Sandra Ogunremi is an Assemblies of God ordained minister and is the published author of the books, “Casting Down Disruptive Imaginations” and “Overcoming Threats, Thoughts and Triggers.”
She has taught throughout the United States, Canada, Africa, and England. She is most fulfilled when being used as a conduit to positively impact lives.
She enjoys adding value and being involved with the communities she serves. As such, she recently fulfilled her term as the Board President of Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity. She is the treasurer at First Assembly of God in Rapid City. She serves as the director of the South Dakota Assemblies of God Women’s Ministry and is a Board of Trustee with Trinity Bible College and Graduate School.
She has been married to Dr. Ayodele Ogunremi, a Board-Certified Nephrologist and Board-Certified Internist, since 1993 and they are blessed with three adult children.
Congregational Worship
Led by Graduating Seniors
The Warren D. Schlect Teacher of the Year Award
Dr. Paul Alexander
President
Pack Your Bags Recognition
Mary Beth King
Director of Pack Your Bags
Introduction of Degrees
Dr. David Bennett
Director of Accelerate
Awarding of Degrees
Associate of Arts Degrees
Dr. David Bennett and Department Chairs
Bachelor of Arts Degrees
Dr. David Bennett and Department Chairs
Master of Arts Degrees
Dr. Carol Alexander and Dr. Scott Townsend
Click Here to See List of Graduates
President's Award
Dr. Paul Alexander
President
Presenting the Graduating Class of 2023
Dr. David Bennett
Director of Accelerate
Charge to the Graduating Class
Dr. Paul Alexander
President
Commission and Dedication
Rev. Steven Schaible
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Closing and Benediction
Matt Payne
Vice President of Student Services
Please join us for refreshments in the Prayer Center Atrium
Congregational Worship
Firm Foundation (He Won’t)
Names
Graduates
Pack Your Bags
Leidy Bochman
Christopher Diephuis
Amy Etue
Hanna Jacob
Michaela Kleppinger
Kyli Ladd
Alexander Lawhead
Isaiah Longhenry
Angela Mergen
Jaydon Palsma
Luke Pederson
Bianca Philbeck
Madison Spenser
Jocelyn Steffensen
Associate of Arts Biblical Studies
Dillon Erickson
Rachael Reul
Associate of Arts Biblical Studies and Associate of Arts Church Ministries
Jacob Reul
Associate of Arts Business Administration
Joe Erlien
Associate of Arts General Studies
Emma Gessinger
Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Valerie Carey, Cum Laude
Aaron Miller
Jonathan Skaar
Rebecca Sundholm, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies and Bachelor of Arts Psychology (dual degree awarded through vanguard university)
Jessica Danzl, Summa Cum Laude
Autumn Shamala, Salutatorian, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Aleksander Gibson
Joshua Stoughton
Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Jennifer Busch
Bethany Riggan
Bachelor of Arts Exercise Science and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Khalil Bolden
Coltan Page
Bachelor of Arts English Education and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Acacia White, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts Intercultural Studies and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Rachel Naylor, Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian, Sigma Chi Pi
Breonna Rance, Summa Cum Laude
Abbigail Wadholm, Magna Cum Laude
Colton Waldie, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts International Entrepreneurship and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Skyler Bennyhoff, Summa Cum Laude
Paige Danzl, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts Pastoral Ministry and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Liberty Flores
Sierra Hampton, Summa Cum Laude, Delta Epsilon Chi
Ian Robinson
Bachelor of Arts Pastoral Ministry, Bachelor of Arts Worship Ministry, and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Blake Hedrick
Bachelor of Arts Children's Ministry and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Sarah Stoughton, Summa Cum Laude, Sigma Chi Pi
Levi Titus
Bachelor of Arts Youth Ministry and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Austin Molan
Bachelor of Arts Worship Ministry, Bachelor of Arts Youth Ministry, and Bachelor of Arts Biblical Studies
Luke Jacob, Summa Cum Laude, Delta Epsilon Chi
Master of Arts Chaplaincy
Timothy Hammye
Master of Arts Global Theology
Jennifer Nogueira-Schillinger, Degree Earned with Merit
Aaron Phoenix, Degree Earned with Merit
Abigail Townsend, Degree Earned with Distinction
Master of Arts Missional Leadership
John Baker, Degree Earned with Merit
Michelle Bear
Andrew Christie, Degree Earned with Distinction
Keith Culer, Degree Earned with Distinction
Craig Duvel, Degree Earned with Distinction
Tshala Katshunga, Degree Earned with Merit
Hope Mayes, Degree Earned with Merit
Blake Mendel, Degree Earned with Distinction
Pieter Pretorius
Makenzie Robertson, Degree Earned with Merit
Dennis Solomon, Degree Earned with Distinction
Gregory Stevens, Degree Earned with Distinction
Tori Troen, Degree Earned with Distinction
Marthinus Venter, Degree Earned with Distinction
Terran Williams
Master of Arts Rural Ministries
David Bright, Degree Earned with Distinction
Benjamin Hart, Degree Earned with Distinction
Mark Hoffman, Degree Earned with Distinction
Master of Arts World Religions
Yesenia Mojarro De Roufail, Degree Earned with Distinction
Melissa Hennessy, Degree Earned with Distinction
Graduates
The Meaning of Academic Dress
The history of academic dress dates to the medieval European universities of the 14th century. The gown style varies with the degree held: Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate. The cap or hood colors and style vary by the degree type and university where the faculty member was granted the award.
Honor Cords and Designtations
Undergraduate
Gold: Summa Cum Laude, “with highest honors,” 3.80 GPA and above
Silver: Magna Cum Laude, “with high honors,” 3.65-3.79 GPA
White: Cum Laude, “with honors,” 3.50-3.64 GPA
First Generation: A first-generation graduate is someone who grew up in a home where the parent(s) and/or grandparent(s) has not completed a Bachelor’s Degree.
Graduate
Gold: Distinction
Silver: Merit
First-Generation Graduate
A first-generation graduate is someone who grew up in a home where the parent(s) and/or grandparent(s) has not completed a Bachelor’s Degree.
This recognition is reserved for Bachelor Degree students only.
Delta Epsilon Chi
The Honor Society of the Association for Biblical Higher Education recognizes graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves by: Intellectual Achievement (GPA 3.30 or higher), Christian Character, and Leadership Ability. Three Greek words, (dokimos en Xhristos), found in Romans 16:10, are translated “approved in Christ,” and begin with the three Greek letters delta epsilon chi, and thus the name and meaning of the ABHE Honor.
Sigma Chi Pi
The name of this honor society shall be Sigma Chi Pi, meaning “Diligent Christian Leader,” taken from Romans 12:8, “…one who leads, with diligence” (NKJV). The purpose of the Sigma Chi Pi honor society is to encourage and honor outstanding academic scholarship, approved Christian character, and Christian leadership demonstrated by graduates of postsecondary schools endorsed by The Alliance for Higher Education of the Assemblies of God. Qualifications include: (1) a scholastic average of no less than 3.0 GPA, (2) approved Christian character, and (3) diligent servant leadership.