2024 Drake University Winter Commencement

drake university commencement

two thousand twenty four drake knapp center — des moines, iowa

The One Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Commencement of Drake University

December Fourteenth, Two Thousand Twenty-Four

Saturday Morning at Ten O’Clock

doctorate, master, specialist, bachelor degrees

knapp center — des moines, iowa

Our mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.

Our inspiration is that together we transform lives and strengthen communities.

Commencement Program

december the fourteenth, two thousand twenty-four, ten o’clock in the morning

the academic processional ...........

Land of Hope and Glory: Pomp and Circumstance

March No. 1

Edward Elgar

the call to order Craige Wrenn University Marshal

the national anthem

Delaney Jade Henry the drake hymn

introduction of

platform party and remarks

student remarks ..................

Class of December 2024

Sue J. Mattison

Provost

Kenia Calderon Ceron

Class of December 2024

the presentation . .................

Craig N. Owens of candidates Dean of John Dee Bright College

the conferring of degrees

the presentation of diplomas

Provost Mattison

Provost Mattison and Deans of the Colleges and Schools

the academic recessional Pomp and Circumstance

March No. 1

Edward Elgar

university marshal

Craige C. Wrenn

Professor of Pharmacology

assistant marshals

Rachel Paine Caufield

Professor of Political Science

Kelly B. Bruhn

Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication/Associate Dean

Stacy L. Gnacinski

Associate Professor of Health Sciences

Thomas H. Root

Associate Professor of Finance

faculty marshals

Catherine W. Gillespie

Professor of Education

John P. Rovers

Professor of Pharmacy Practice

student marshals

John D. Edwards

Associate Dean for Information Resources, Professor of Law

Sandy L. Henry

Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication

Jill Caton Johnson

Professor of Education

Claire C. Muselman

Assistant Professor of Practice in Leadership, Human Resources, and Organizational Behavior

announcing of graduates

Charles R. Phillips

Professor of Pharmacy Administration

school of education

Dean Ryan M. Wise

doctorate

Michael J. Dayton

Ph.D., Education

dissertation title:

Examining the Cosmopolitan Attitudes of Iowans: An Exploratory Quantitative Study

dissertation advisor: Dr. Matt Hayden and Dr. Robyn Cooper

Megan Elsinger

Ed.D., Leadership

capstone title: Professional Learning Communities: Cultivating Relevance and Collaboration for Specialist Teachers

capstone advisor: Dr. Ryan Wise

Ioseb Gabelaia

Ed.D., Leadership

dissertation title: Examining Pedagogical Analytical and Digital Literacy in Higher Education: Predicting Faculty's Readiness for and Adoption of Learning Analytics

dissertation advisor: Dr. Robyn Cooper

Michael Gossen

Ed.D., Leadership

capstone title:

Operationalizing a Systems Approach for School Improvement

capstone advisor: Dr. Doug Stilwell

Ngozi Igbokwe

Ph.D., Education

dissertation title:

Cultivating Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Examining Women's Experiences in a Virtual High-Potential Leadership Program

dissertation advisor: Dr. Jen Thoma

Jay Pennington

Ph.D., Education

dissertation title:

Progressive Versus Regressive Spending: The Utility of School Expenditure Data in Supporting Student Needs

dissertation advisor: Dr. Ryan Wise

Johanna Russell

Ed.D., Leadership

capstone title:

Evaluating the Implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Student Absenteeism Using Stufflebeam's CIPP Model

capstone advisor: Dr. Doug Stilwell

Nataliya Boychenko Stone

Ph.D., Education

dissertation title: The Effectiveness of Leader Support: A Phenomenology Examining Employee Lived Experiences During a Personal Life Crisis or Life Transition

dissertation advisor: Dr. Robyn Cooper

Keegan Joel VanDevender

Ph.D., Education dissertation title:

Grading Teacher Education: Examining How Undergraduate Teacher Education Programs are Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Enter Standards-Based Grading Environments

dissertation advisor: Dr. Thomas Buckmiller

master and specialist degrees

Kent Adams

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Ellen Ballard

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Dejah Banks

M.S.E., Effective Teaching

Heather H. Barrett

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Paulina Chambers

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Hali Christensen

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Shawna Kay Cooper

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Chidananda Dahal

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Jessica Davenport

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Sierra DeVries

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Darouth Douch

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Rachel Dunn

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Aaron Eisler

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Abby Fosselman

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Shaina Rose Gaul

M.S., Counseling

Stacy Gnacinski

M.S., Counseling

Morgan Godwin

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Sara Green

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Emma Gruhn

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Kristy Hall

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Teylor Hamilton

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Arthur Daniel Hill

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Cheyenne Holliday

Ed.S., Educational Administration

Ashley Margaret Hoyer

Ed.S., Education Leadership

Charles Hubbard

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Theresa Lorraine Jackson

Ed.S., Educational Administration

Karl Jacobs

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Sydney L. Jamison

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Kassadie Mink

M.S., Counseling

Sam Juhl

Ed.S., Educational Administration

Alice Kim

M.A.T., Secondary Education

Ryan Knott

Ed.S., Education Leadership

Jordan Kroneman

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Melissa A. Lewis

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Marisa Maniglia

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Taylor McDonald

M.S., Counseling

Bryan McDougall

M.A.T., Secondary Education

Melissa Miller

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Caitlyn O'Conner

M.S., Counseling

Melanie KH Parham

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Noelle Radechel

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Brett Reyes

M.S., Counseling

Hannah Riedinger

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Katherine E. Rinken

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Elizabeth Rocha

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Erica J. Rugama

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Rebecca Sanchez

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Benjamin Sinnwell

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Corey Spiess

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Sarah Stern

M.S.T., Elementary Education

Tyler Stodghill

M.S., Counseling

Madeline Summerville

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Michael Tarin

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Glenna P.T. Whiteman

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Jenniferlyn Trout

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Natalie Vasquez

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Leah Voorhees Jackson

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Abigail Audene Wilcox

Ed.S., Education Leadership

Lauren J. Williams

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Andrea Wilson

M.S.E., Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction

Madison Yoakum

M.S., Counseling

bachelor degrees

Osnaika Augustin

B.S.E., Secondary Teacher Education

Juwan H. Greene

B.S.E., Secondary Teacher Education

Joann Nguyen

B.S.E., Elementary Teacher Education

school of education honors

summa cum laude

Emma Richards

magna cum laude

Hannah Smith

Emma Richards

B.S.E., Elementary Teacher Education

Hannah Smith

B.S.E., Secondary Teacher Education

Jennifer Lee

B.S.E., Elementary Teacher Education

departmental honors

Emma Richards

Hannah Smith

kappa delta pi

Alice Kim

Bryan McDougall

college of arts and sciences & school of fine arts

Dean Gesine Gerhard

bachelor degrees

Rhent Collins Addis

B.A., Politics, International Relations

Lane M. Affield

B.S., Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence

Maddie Mae Backhaus

B.A., English

B.S., Computer Science

Bree Chapin

B.A., History

Sameer Chaudhary

B.S., Computer Science

Julia Madalena Civettini

B.A., Psychology

Sabrina Marie Delaney

B.A., Biology

B.S., Zoo & Conservation Science

Sidney Rain Dickenson

B.A., Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology

Shannon Doner

B.S., Environmental Science

Dylan W. Engelbrecht

B.A., Economics

B.S., Data Analytics

Mackenzie Flatt

B.M., Instrumental Performance

B.M.E., Music Education

Roger W. Ipson

B.A., Philosophy

Carissa Johnson

B.S., Psychology

Caton Johnson

B.A., Psychology

Serena Johnson

B.A., Law, Politics & Society

Madelyn Jones

B.A., Biology

Payton Kane

B.S., Mathematics

Madissen Kerman

B.A., Psychology

Kai Knuchel

B.S., Chemistry

Krystal Linhart

B.S., Psychology

Patrick Thomas Lucas

B.F.A., Graphic Design

Aryn Marner

B.A., Music

Kennedy McCarthy

B.S., Zoo & Conservation Science

Alexandra Joann McGinnis

B.A., Painting

B.S., Environmental Science, Biology

Madeline M. Mills

B.A., American Politics, International Relations

Emmaline Nau

B.S., Math for Secondary Education

Timothy Rallo Nesslage

B.A., Law, Politics & Society

Sadaiveon Newell

B.F.A., Theatre/Acting

Huy Nguyen

B.S., Computer Science

Annabel Norman-Webb

B.S., Psychology

Abby Kristine North

B.A., Law, Politics & Society, Politics

Cael James Ormsby

B.M.E., Music Education

Jackson Alexander Phillips

B.A., Psychology

Tyler Radocha

B.A., International Relations

Lara Rahman

B.A., International Relations

Jo Revers

B.A., Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology

Emma Richards

B.A., Spanish

Adya Ahi Satapathy

B.A., Law, Politics & Society

Allison Schlessman

B.A., Law, Politics & Society

Cassandra Schoene

B.A., Theatre

Macy Snyder

B.A., Psychology

Robert Stewart

B.A., Psychology

Skylar Stock

B.A., Sociology

Madelyn Swan

B.S., Psychology

Alex Ulin

B.S., Environmental Science

DeVon Walker

B.A., Writing, History

Duchovny White

B.A., Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology

Kelti Wise

B.S., Data Analytics

Tenzin Youdon

B.S., Neuroscience, Biology

college of arts and sciences & school of fine arts honors

summa cum laude

Bree Chapin

Dylan W. Engelbrecht

Carissa Johnson

Serena Johnson

Madeline M. Mills

Emma Richards

magna cum laude

Sabrina Marie Delaney

Sidney Rain Dickenson

Caton Johnson

Madelyn Jones

Lara Rahman

Jo Revers

Cassandra Schoene

Alex Ulin

Duchovny White

cum laude

Rhent Collins Addis

Lane M. Affield

Maddie Mae Backhaus

Shannon Doner

Madissen Kerman

Kennedy McCarthy

Adya Ahi Satapathy

Allison Schlessman

Skylar Stock

Madelyn Swan

departmental honors

Maddie Mae Backhaus

Bree Chapin

Sabrina Marie Delaney

Dylan W. Engelbrecht

Carissa Johnson

Serena Johnson

Madeline M. Mills

Jo Revers

Emma Richards

Allison Schlessman

beta beta beta (biology honor society)

Alexandra Joann McGinnis

Sidney Rain Dickenson

kappa mu epsilon (mathematics honor society)

Dylan W. Engelbrecht

omicron delta epsilon (economics honor society)

Dylan W. Engelbrecht

phi delta epsilon (pre-medicine honor society)

Sidney Rain Dickenson

pi sigma alpha (political honor society)

Madeline M. Mills

psi chi (psychology honor society)

Carissa Johnson

Evan Carlson

Krystal Linhart

Madelyn Swan

Madissen Kerman

Dean

Alejandro J. Hernandez

zimpleman college of business

master degrees

Yusuf Ahmed

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Eric Alaniz

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Camryn Elizabeth Arps

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Tia Bacon

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Hannah Boecker

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Neelea Boell

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Rachel Mariko Brown

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Anna Marie Brown

M.Acc., Masters of Accounting

Danny Brummel

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Kayla Ann Louise Burkett

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Kenia Alejandra Calderon Ceron

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Riley Chartier

M.S., Business Analytics

Ashley Courtney

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Airelle Dodson McNeal

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Joshua Duden

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Ondrea Elmquist

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Jason Farver

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Seana Godbold

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Megan Hinkle

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Samuel Keen Hutchisson

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Hunter Robert James

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Alisha Kauten

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

William Klein

M.S., Business Analytics

Mark J. McCulloch

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Molly Kubitz

M.S., Business Analytics

Josh McQuillen

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Jordan R. McTaggart

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Steve Mercer

M.S., Business Analytics

Nicholas Nolan

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Damir Omerhodzic

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Rhea Parekh

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Zak Risken

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Natalie Rolling

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Chelsea Tabetha Sapp

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Dominic Seivert

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Emma Shannon

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

John Shaw

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Ashleigh Sheehy

M.P.A., Masters Public Administration

Katharine Springer

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Lucas Perry Stalzer

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Doug Stych

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Jess Steven Truby

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Diana Isamar Urbina

M.S., Business Analytics

Kyle Wallman

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Allison Faye Wheeler

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Matthew C. Williams

M.Acc., Masters of Accounting

Luke Joseph Williams

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

Jada Marie Wills

M.B.A., Masters Business Administration

bachelor degrees

Alexandria Acosta

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Jun Ahn

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership

Anthony James Barmes

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Brendan Berry

B.S.B.A., Business Studies

Vu Bui

B.S.B.A., Information Systems, Management & Organizational Leadership

Evan Carlson

B.S.B.A., Finance

Jason Christenson

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Angelina Chuong

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership

David Finn Claypool

B.S.B.A., Business Law

Li An Natalie Dambrine

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Joe Frommelt

B.S.B.A., Finance, Economics

Jameson M. Gaertner

B.S.B.A., Actuarial Science

Delaney Jade Henry

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Eloge Iradukunda

B.S.B.A., Finance

Chase C. Janssen

B.S.B.A., Actuarial Science, Finance

Benjamin Jarchow

B.S.B.A., Actuarial Science

Kayla Jenkins

B.S.B.A., Accounting

Brenna Johnson

B.S.B.A., International Business

Bennet Krebs

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Brandon Langdok

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Owen Luetke

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Tate Marsh

B.S.B.A., Actuarial Science

Natalie Maxwell

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership

Tushar Mittal

B.S.B.A., Actuarial Science, Data Analytics, Finance

Mikayla Neaton

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership

Matthew J. Nickel

B.S.B.A., Accounting/Finance

Eric Northweather

B.S.B.A., Accounting

John Maxwell Olsen

B.S.B.A., Accounting

Ross Palmer

B.S.B.A., Data Analytics

Joshua Patterson

B.S.B.A., Finance

Riley Jo Reed

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership, Marketing

Sam Richeson

B.A., Economics with Business Emphasis

Luisa F. Rincon Guerrero

B.S.B.A., International Business

Trey Radocha

B.S.B.A., Economics

Sam Rodriguez

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership

Fianna Marie Sanchez

B.S.B.A., Accounting, Management & Organizational Leadership

Campbell Soncarty

B.S.B.A., Actuarial Science

Eli Stewart

B.S.B.A., Entrepreneurial Management

Lily Tahara

B.S.B.A., Marketing, International Business

Shun Loong Tiong

B.S.B.A., Data Analytics

Jack Vermeer

B.S.B.A., Management & Organizational Leadership

William R. W. Wanty

B.S.B.A., Marketing

Eleanor Worth

B.S.B.A., Business Studies

zimpleman

summa cum laude

Li An Natalie Dambrine

Joe Frommelt

Kayla Jenkins

Natalie Maxwell

Tushar Mittal

Matthew J. Nickel

John Maxwell Olsen

magna cum laude

Jameson M. Gaertner

Delaney Jade Henry

Chase C. Janssen

Benjamin Jarchow

Brenna Johnson

Mikayla Neaton

Lily Tahara

Shun Loong Tiong

cum laude

Evan Carlson

Angelina Chuong

Bennet Krebs

Owen Luetke

Eric Northweather

Joshua Patterson

William R. W. Wanty

departmental honors

Angelina Chuong

Li An Natalie Dambrine

Joe Frommelt

Jameson M. Gaertner

Delaney Jade Henry

Benjamin Jarchow

Kayla Jenkins

Natalie Maxwell

Tushar Mittal

Mikayla Neaton

Matthew J. Nickel

John Maxwell Olsen

Lily Tahara

pi alpha alpha (national honor society for public administration)

Camryn Elizabeth Arps

Rachel Mariko Brown

Samuel Keen Hutchisson

Dan Jansen

Alisha Kauten

Jordan R. McTaggart

Ashleigh Sheehy

Dean Erik D. Maki

master degrees

college of pharmacy and health sciences

Krashenda Argo Adule

M.S., Health Informatics & Analytics

bachelor degrees

Octavius Endale

B.S., Health Sciences: Clinical & Applied

school of journalism and mass communication

Dean Catherine M. Staub

master degrees

Kristina Baker

M.A.C., Brand Communication

Adrienne Marie Bergman

M.A.C., Brand Communication

Tammy L. Bernhard

M.A.C., Communication Leadership

Tia Brewer-Footman

M.A.C., Brand Communication

bachelor degrees

Daniel R. Bauer

B.A.J.M.C., Digital Media Production

Nicole Keepes Cox

B.A.J.M.C., Digital Media Production

Sam Fowler

B.A.J.M.C., Digital Communication

Thomas J. Karandjeff

B.A.J.M.C., Multimedia Journalism

Madissen Kerman

B.A.J.M.C., Digital Media Production

Ellen Converse

M.A.C., Communication Leadership

Ethan Fickau

M.A.C., Communication Leadership

Emili Leigh Johnson

M.A.C., Communication Leadership

Emi Smith

M.A.C., Public Affairs & Advocacy

Abigail King

B.A.J.M.C., Digital Media Production

Erich Legut

B.A.J.M.C., Public Relations

Cassandra Schoene

B.A.J.M.C., Multimedia Journalism

Ethan Williams

B.A.J.M.C., Public Relations, Strategic Political Communication

school of journalism and mass communication honors

magna cum laude

Sam Fowler

Cassandra Schoene

cum laude

Daniel R. Bauer

Nicole Keepes Cox

Madissen Kerman

departmental honors

Cassandra Schoene kappa tau alpha

Ellen Converse

Cassandra Schoene

Dean Roscoe Jones

juris doctor

Trinity K. Hopkey

J.D., Law

William Robert Kunkle

J.D., Law

Jessa Marfal

J.D., Law

Benjamin Alexander Toal

J.D., Law

master of jurisprudence

Elvin Deumić

M.J., Compliance and Risk Management

Angel Eggerson

M.J., Compliance and Risk Management

Benjamin Michael Hager

M.J., Compliance and Risk Management

Ashleigh Sheehy

M.J., Compliance and Risk Management

Eric Van Drew

M.J., Compliance and Risk Management

law school

high honors

William Robert Kunkle

honors

Jessa Marfal

*The degree may be conferred with “Highest Honors” upon a student who graduates in the top 10 of their graduating class, with “High Honors” upon a student whose final cumulative grade point average is 3.5 or above, but is not included in the top 10, and with “Honors” upon a student whose final cumulative grade point average is 3.25 to 3.49. A degree may be conferred “with honors” upon a student only if that student’s final cumulative grade point average places him or her in the top 40 percent of his or her class. The honors designations in the program are based upon grades earned through the Spring 2024 semester, without regard to the top 40 percent requirement and are subject to change based upon grades earned thereafter. This commencement program, therefore, does not constitute an official list of confirmed graduates or confirmed academic honors for the December 14, 2024, commencement at Drake University. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not signify that degrees and academic honors have been awarded unless all pertinent academic requirements have been met.

academic program certificates**

business law certificate

Trinity

K. Hopkey

** Students who complete a required set of courses and internships receive a certificate recognizing their area of specialization.

Honors at Graduation

Students who have attained academic excellence and high scholastic achievement on the basis of cumulative grade point average of 60 or more undergraduate hours at Drake University are recognized with the following honors:

Cum Laude - Students who have achieved a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.69

Magna Cum Laude - Students who have achieved a grade point average between 3.70 and 3.89

Summa Cum Laude - Students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.90 and above

Transfer students who have fewer than 60 hours may receive honors based on criteria outlined in the Drake catalog.

The Honors Program

The Honors Program is an all-University concentration with an interdisciplinary curriculum that allows students to supplement their personal educational goals by exploring unique subjects and pursuing special projects.

Students in the Honors Program earn University Honors by completing 19 credit hours in honors seminars, conducting and presenting a three-credit Honors senior thesis project, and achieving a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point average.

HONOR SOCIETIES

Alpha Kappa Delta — Sociology

Beta Alpha Psi — Accounting

Beta Beta Beta — Biology

Chi Omega Lambda — Chemistry

Kappa Delta Pi — Education

Kappa Mu Epsilon — Mathematics

Kappa Tau Alpha — Journalism

Lambda Alpha — Anthropology

Nu Rho Psi — Neuroscience

Omicron Delta Epsilon — Economics

Order of Omega — Greek

Phi Alpha Theta — History

Phi Beta Kappa — Scholarship

Phi Delta Epsilon — Pre-Medicine

Phi Lambda Sigma — Pharmacy Leadership

Pi Alpha Alpha — Public Administration

Pi Kappa Lambda — Music

Pi Sigma Alpha — Political Science

Pi Theta Epsilon — Occupational Therapy

Psi Chi — Psychology

Rho Chi — Pharmacy

Sigma Tau Delta — English

IAPLS — Undergraduate Research

Academic excellence, outstanding performance, leadership, upholding the highest standards and ideals, character, personality, promise of success and high level of ability, talent, and potential are the various criteria for membership in these organizations.

The honors designations are based upon grades earned through the Spring 2024 semester and are subject to change based upon grades earned thereafter.

This commencement program does not constitute an official list of confirmed graduates or confirmed academic honors for the December 14, 2024, commencement at Drake University. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not signify that degrees and academic honors have been awarded unless all pertinent academic requirements have been met.

the honors program

university honors

Rhent Collins Addis

Madeline M. Mills

Annabel Norman-Webb

Lara Rahman

order of omega

William R. W. Wanty

Cassandra Schoene

alpha lambda delta

Maria Leonard Senior Book Award

Graduating seniors with the highest grade point average

Not determined until Spring 2025

omicron delta kappa

Not determined until Spring 2025

The Academic Costume

The pageantry and dress of the University commencement have been inherited from the medieval universities of the 12th and 13th centuries. Academic life as we know it today began in the Middle Ages, first in the Church and then in the guilds. The teaching guild was the Guild of the Master of Arts, where the Bachelor was the apprentice of the Master and the dress was the outward sign of privilege and responsibility.

Principal features of academic dress are the gown, the cap, and the hood. It became necessary for universities to set rules to preserve the dignity and meaning of academic dress. Both Cambridge and Oxford, since the 15th century, have made academic dress a matter of university control even to its minor details, and have repeatedly published revised regulations. American universities agreed on a definite system in 1895. In 1932, the American Council on Education presented a revised code. In 1959, the Council appointed a committee on academic costumes and ceremonies. Since 1960, the revised guidelines have provided guidance for the latest developments in higher education— the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees granted by the community and junior colleges. The Specialist in Education degree also is recognized and regulated by the latest revisions in the code for academic dress.

the gown

The flowing gown comes from the 12th century. While it originally may have been worn as protection against the cold of unheated buildings, today it has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it covers any dress of rank or social standing underneath. It is black for all degrees with pointed sleeves for the bachelor’s degree; long closed sleeves with a slit at the arm or wrist for the master’s degree; and full bell double sleeves for the doctorate degree. Bachelor’s and master’s degree gowns have no trimming. For the doctorate degree the gown is faced down the front with velvet and has three bars of velvet across the sleeves, in the color distinctive to the faculty or discipline of the degree. The code allows institutions to adopt their own design and color that better expresses the individuality of the institution.

the cap

When Roman law freed the slaves, he won the privilege of wearing a cap. And so the academic cap is a sign of freedom of scholarship and the responsibility and dignity with which scholarship endows the wearer. Old poetry records the cap of scholarship as square, to symbolize the book. In the 15th century, some caps were stiff, some soft, some square; and some round with a tuft in the center. The tassel used today is an elaboration of the tuft. While some institutions still use the round cap, most have adopted the mortar board style, which comes from Oxford. A different style, called the Cambridge cap, resembles a large beret and is appropriate for doctorate degrees only. The color of the tassel denotes the discipline. Those holding doctorate degrees are entitled to wear metallic-gold tassels.

the hood

The hood is trimmed with one or more chevrons of a secondary color on the ground of the primary color of the college. The color of the facing of the hood denotes the discipline represented by the degree; the color of the lining designates the university or college from which the degree was granted.

The colors associated with the different disciplines are as follows:

Agriculture — Maize

Athletic Training — Sage Green Journalism — Crimson Philosophy — Dark Blue Arts, Letters, General Studies — White Law — Purple Physical Education — Sage Green Business and Commerce — Drab Library Science — Lemon Public Administration — Peacock Blue Economics — Copper Medicine — Green

The Ceremonial Mace

Science — Golden Yellow Education — Light Blue Music — Pink Social Work — Citron Fine Arts — Brown Nursing — Apricot Occupational Therapy — Slate Blue Speech — Silver Grey Forestry — Russet Pharmacy — Olive Green Theology — Scarlet

Since the Middle Ages, the mace has been used in the courts by rulers to signify their power and authority. When placed on the rostrum, it indicated that the governing body was in formal session. The ceremonial mace is carried by a mace bearer or by the beadle, an official in the British university who leads the academic procession. The symbol has been adopted in American higher education and is carried by the marshal of the University at official academic convocations.

The ceremonial mace was carried in the academic procession of Drake’s annual commencement ceremony for the first time in 1983. The mace and stand were created by Professor Emeritus Condon Kuhl, then professor of art at Drake University. The mace is handcrafted from ebony and overlaid and appointed with silver. It measures two and one-half feet in length and weighs about five pounds.