December 13, 2024 11:00 A.M.
Northwest Florida State College Board of Trustees
Lori Kelley, Chair
Maj. Gen. Thomas “Rudy” Wright, Ret. USAF, Vice Chair
Cory Fosdyck
Kristen “Rhea” Goff
Megan Harrison
Maj. Gen. Don Litke, Ret. USAF
Tanner Peacock
Dr. Jon Ward
Dr. Cristie Kedroski, Interim President
Vision
To transform lives through exemplary, relevant programs and educational experiences, meeting the workforce demands of our ever-changing economy.
Mission
As Northwest Florida’s premier educational institution, we prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s success.
Northwest Florida State College Background
The College was founded in April 1963 as Okaloosa-Walton Junior College, the 18th of the state’s eventual 28 junior and community colleges. The College fi rst opened its doors to students in August 1964 at a temporary campus in Valparaiso. The first student body consisted of 767 students. The first commencement of 85 charter students took place on May 1, 1966, in Perrine Park, Valparaiso. Today, the College serves nearly 6,500 students each year in credit and non-credit programs. In additi on to the College’s Niceville campus, Northwest Florida State College operates a joint campus with the University of West Florida in Fort Walton Beach and delivers instruction and service at the Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs, the Robert L.F. Sikes Education Center and the Aviation Center of Excellence in Crestview, and centers at Hurlburt Field, and in South Walton.
Throughout 60 years of service, Northwest Florida State College has earned a reputation for educational excellence and community involvement. The College offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas.
The College’s 264-acre campus in Niceville includes instructi onal faciliti es, administrati ve offices, the Raider Arena sports complex and wellness center, the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center and Amphitheatre, the Mary Lou O’Connor Child Development & Educati on Center, a Criminal Justi ce Training Center, the Susan Myers Learning Resources Center, an observatory, the Veterans & Military Success Center, and the Collegiate High School.
On commencement day, Northwest Florida State College celebrates the achievements of its students who are the true measure of the College’s success. Congratulations!
Accreditation
Northwest Florida State College is accredited by the Southern Associati on of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting insti tutions also may offer credentials such as certi ficates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Northwest Florida State College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
History of Academic Regalia
The origins of academic regalia date back as early as the 12th century. Scholars defined as either a teacher or student were required to wear the dress of a cleric. Long gowns and hoods were necessary to keep warm due to unheated buildings. The traditional gown and hood have transformed into the academic regalia worn during commencement today.
There are several characteristics for the gown. The sleeves are pointed for the bachelor’s degree. The gown for the master’s degree has oblong sleeves and doctor’s degrees has bell shaped sleeves. The gowns for the bachelor’s or master’s degrees are untrimmed. The doctor’s degree gown has three bars of velvet used across the sleeve and down the front. The facings and crossbars may be velvet of the color distinctive of the disciplines for the degree earned.
Hoods are generally black and made out of the same material as the gown. The length of the hood varies for each level. A bachelor’s degree must be three feet, master’s degree three and one-half feet, and doctor’s degree, four feet. The hood for the doctor’s degree should only have panels at the sides. The hoods are lined with the official color or colors of the college conferring the degree. The edging of the hood should be velvet or velveteen, two to five inches wide for the bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s degrees. The color is indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains.
The cap worn for commencement is called a mortarboard. The color is black as well as the tassel. The tassel can vary depending on the subject area and level of education. The doctor’s cap may have a gold tassel.
Academic regalia have been worn by many scholars throughout the centuries. The tradition continues at Northwest Florida State College.
Recognition Levels
For a degree program (Baccalaureate and Associate), a student’s total academic record is reviewed to determine eligibility for recognition of outstanding academic achievement. The levels of recognition for students enrolled in degree programs include the following:
Summa Cum Laude
Magna Cum Laude
Laude
For a certificate or diploma program (Career and Technical, Vocational, College Credit or Applied Technology Diploma), all coursework pursued for the certificate or diploma will be reviewed to determine eligibility for recognition of outstanding academic achievement. The level of recognition for the students enrolled in certificate or diploma programs includes the following:
Highest Honors
High Honors
Summer graduates – Final GPA used for program and ceremony.
Fall prospective graduates – Summer GPA is used because fall grades are not posted until after the ceremony.
Graduates wearing Red, White, and Blue Cords represent Military Active Duty, Retired, and Veterans.
Graduates wearing Gold Stoles and Tassels represent Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society members.
Fall 2024 Commencement
11:00 a.m.
guest speaker
Sean Dietrich
Sean Dietrich is an author, musician, and standup storyteller. He began playing piano in church at age nine. By age fifteen, he was playing with adult bands in establishments his foot-washing Baptist mother would have preferred he avoided. A multiinstrumentalist, he started playing mandolin when he was seven, guitar at age eight, and threw away all hopes of a musical career by taking up accordion at age nine.
Having lived through enough heartache, joy, embarrassment, love, and renewal for several lifetimes, Sean condenses our human failures and triumphs into stories that make the Southern heart resound.
His wildly popular blog and musical podcast, “Sean of the South,” is suited for anyone with red clay on their car and sand in their shoes. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and he has authored fifteen books.
His one-man shows have earned him a cult-like following in the southeastern United States and among closeted accordion players worldwide. Sean is a master storyteller in the tradition of Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and Lewis Grizzard. His brutally candid, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes painful tales remind us that we are not alone in our human experience.
Taking lessons learned from his hardscrabble childhood, this middle-school dropout and former construction worker/ice-cream dipper has earned a following for his painfully honest writing, songs, humorous observations, and blue-collar love of life. His tales of covered-dish suppers, camp meeting sing-alongs, funerals gone awry, and hounds that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge have audiences drying their eyes one minute and slapping their knees the next.
His latest book, “You Are My Sunshine”, published by Zondervan Books, is a true tale of a how two novice cyclists, a husband-and-wife duo who share the last name of “Dietrich”, tackled a 350-mile trail and not only lived to tell about it, but emerged more resilient and in love than ever.
Sean Dietrich, and his wife, Jamie, along with dogs Thelma Lou, Otis Campbell, and Marigold the Blind Wonder Dog are residents of Birmingham, Alabama, but cannot shake the Florida panhandle out of their system.
Sean Dietrich is an alumnus of Northwest Florida State College and received the NWFSC Foundation Against the Odds Alumni Award in 2018.
Program - Ceremony
*Processional “Pomp and Circumstance,” composed by Edward Elgar
*Singing of the National Anthem Voices of Northwest Florida
*Invocation Lillian Roller, Student Representative
Welcome Lori Kelley Chair, Board of Trustees
Introduction of Board of Trustees, Recognition of Dignitaries, Introduction of Guest Speaker .....................................................
Dr. Cristie Kedroski
Interim NWFSC President
Commencement Address ..................................................................... Sean Dietrich
Instructions to the Candidates .....................................................
Dr. Jenna Sheffield Vice President for Academic Affairs
Recitation of the NAEYC Statement of Commitment and the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida.........................................Brittany Wyatt Director of Teacher Education
Recitation of the Nursing Pledge......................................Dr. Tanya Beauregard Director of Nursing
Presentation of Candidates ..........................................................
Dr. Jenna Sheffield Vice President for Academic Affairs
Conferring of Degrees ................................................................... Dr. Cristie Kedroski
Interim NWFSC President
*Recessional .............................................................................................. Music Mix
Student Marshals
Lisa Walton
Rhonda Springfield
Julie McSwain
Colin Lipnicky
Jason Masters
*Audience stands
Faculty Marshals
Elissa Miller
Keith Burns
Please remain at your seat until the stage party, faculty, and graduating class have exited the Arena. Thank you.
Fall 2024 Commencement
Professional Workforce & Development Program
Culinary Apprenticeship
Gabrielle Grace Goetzke ***
Career Certificate
Welding Technology
Jeremias Daniel Rodriguez
Welding Technology - Advanced
Sean Michael Bennett
Sean Joseph Connolly
Catarino P. Esparza
Kaitlyn Elizabeth McLeod **
Aviation Powerplant Mechanics
Emilie Anne McMillan
College Credit Certificate
Accounting Management
Rebecca Ann Brown *
Morgan Rogers
Business Management
Khanh Hoang ***
Culinary Arts Management
Jennifer D. Russell
Medical Coder/Biller
Trenecia Brown
Associate in Science
Business Administration
Jabari Jeffrey Clayton ◊
Khanh Hoang ◊◊◊
Kayden Powell
Kera D. Tharpe
Computer Information
Technology
Jacob Ryan Gostomski ◊◊
Alexia A. Lee
Computer Programming and Analysis
David William Spicer
Early Childhood Education
Josselyn Espinosa
Gioia Nasato ◊
Regina Zavala
Emergency Medical Services
Michael Allen Klinger ◊
Engineering Technology
Nicholas R. Arnett ◊
Kylar L. Palmer
Health Services Management
Cristian Corona ◊
Medical Laboratory Technology
Heidy R. Anderson ◊
Alizah Bonilla
Devin Marie Fritz ◊◊◊
Alyssa Paige Harper
Tatiana Oriann Decordeva Miller ◊
Breeanna Denise Nowling
Madelyn Reeder
Patrick John Rooney ◊◊◊
Rachel M. Von Eberstein
Julie Yale
Nursing
Stephanie Alvarenga
Chassidy Brooks
Emmy Xiang Brown ◊
Brandi Lee Burkhalter ◊
Taylor Paige Burkhart ◊◊
Sarah Bush ◊
Rachell L. Cairns
Porscha Durden
Kerrstin Embry
Brian Scott Fincher
Lynn Nicole Gage Myers
Kiari Alejandra Harling
Chelsie Marie Hayden ◊◊
Alexis Elaine Herring
Kimberly Shane Janssen
Victoria Emily Susan Paige Little ◊◊
Christopher C. Martin ◊
Madison McCormick
Amanda Michele Naimi
Justhiena Peppas ◊
Cara Riccio
Sheryl K. Rohan
Barbara M. Sariol
Tiffany Jade Prokop Savoie ◊
Jessica Lynn Souza
Sabrina Suzanne Stoney Austin
Ashleigh Harman Tyson
Summer Victor
Ellie J. Virts
Shelby Voigt
Adrienne V. Williamson ◊
Associate in Arts
Katherine Acosta
Frida Sofia Alvarado
Ryder Anderson
Nicholas R. Arnett ◊
Kylie Malai Bauer ◊◊
Ekaterina Igorevna Beliaeva ◊
Hannah Beltran
Farrah Braden ◊◊
Rebecca Ann Brown ◊
Rebecca Bryan
Zidane Y. Bucuka
Isabelle Budzinsky ◊◊
David Bui ◊◊◊
Taylor Paige Burkhart ◊◊
Rachell L. Cairns
Fransico Jesus Isaiah Cerda ◊
Tori Chapel
Brennen Alexander Cobb
Gabrielle Ariana Collins ◊
Mackenzie R. Collins ◊
Emily Kate Cypret
Alivia Dabney
Hayden Noel Dates ◊◊
Karen Elizabeth David
Porter Devane
Giulia Donini
Jeanae Marie Dupuy ◊
Tamarra Eichberger ◊◊
Kerrstin Embry
Joshua Filion
Juliana Alice Fitzwilliams
Matthew Gletty
Hailey Godwin
Kerrianne Hallman ◊◊
Baleigh Jade Hannah
Lauren Hansel
Alyssa Paige Harper
Alexis Elaine Herring
Tobie Jaeda Hickman ◊
Deloris Dell Hill
Cierra Briann Holbrook
Gwendolyn Hollomon
Jake Dillon Hutchison ◊
Jacqueline Allyn Hyman
Wutthichai Jansai ◊◊
Jazyah Marie Jarboe
Rachel L. Jones ◊◊
Betthany Keller
Kaylee Koelsch
Amber Kolarick
Victoria Paige Lemire
Victoria Emily Susan
Paige Little ◊◊
Jessica Nicole Lockhart ◊◊◊
Leslie Lopez
Mary Jewel Gomez Madrid
Shannon Marie Marlowe
Zachary Mathers ◊◊◊
Brian McCalla
Jar’Nea McCaskill
Brandon McClendon
Stephen Gary McCosker
Crystal Michelle McCullers
Thalia Fey Mendoza
Veda L. Merrell ◊◊
Lauren Mae Moeller
Emma Joy Moore
Nicole Francis Morgan
Marquis Alberto Muniz
Skylar Tristan Murray
Alexandria Ciaria Nagy
Leslie Autumn Penrod
Kayla Leigh Perez
Sierra Faith Petty
Zackary Andrew Radka ◊
Amber Lynn Reinke
Lillian Rhea Roller
Patrick John Rooney ◊◊◊
Emma Grace Rushing ◊◊◊
Izaiah Christian Sapp
Tiffany Jade Prokop Savoie ◊
Ava LaRae Shaw
Brady Lawton Shaw ◊◊
Chyann B. Simpler
Simonique Sherone Simpson
Emma Kay Spalding ◊
Elissa Strickland
Marion Strom
Clara Sweat
Daniel James Theriot
Kendall Thrasher
Braden James Turnpaugh
Brady Thomas Vann
Rina Vo
Jaden Susanna Wallace
Tyler Walters ◊◊
Hannah M. Whitlock ◊◊
Sara-Ann Shea Williams
Sarah Woodward
Balyn Wind Wright
Bachelor of Science in Education
Early Childhood Education
Chiquita Burns ◊◊
Donna Flanagan
Abbie Infinger
Joanne Louissaint ◊◊◊
Rachael M. Norris ◊◊
Maria Esdareley Ramirez ◊◊
Dorothy Sanders ◊
Mindy Lee Sandidge
Brittany Verzani
Elementary Education
Brooklyn J. Bernard ◊
Kasey Danielle Bishop
Erica Caballero
Shelby Dixie Dunbar ◊
Emmalie Langston ◊
Lydia Renee Macias ◊
Stephanie Marie Mitchell ◊
McKenna M. Steele ◊◊
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Ana Blanchard
Paola Bravo Cervantes
Catherine Davis
Gavin Galvin
Daisy Garcia
Michael Grace ◊
Jessie Greene
Josephine Jeter
Christine Kenyon
Ayako Inoha Listo ◊
Jaime McCabe
Ashlyn S. McDevitt ◊◊
Bachelor of Applied Science
Management & Supervision
Belinda Lin Acevedo Borough
Amy M. Chancey
Katie Caroline Crouch ◊◊
Rhiannon S. Duff
Sarah B. Galigher ◊
Lauren A. Garro
Victoria Guarrasi ◊
Gwendolyn Hollomon
Ambria Joy Irlbeck ◊
Victoria Paige Lemire
Matthew Mark Lewellyn
Alyssa A. Marshall
Ebony Mone’ Matthews
Breyanna McClendon
Mary Nichole Moreland
Adriane Elisabeth Rivera ◊
Morgan Rogers
Alexandra Louise Scheaffer
James Anlong Smith
Rebecca Ann Williams
Diana Wilson
Francis B. McGill
Kacie L. McLean
Roderick Peacock ◊
Shoko Thompson
Cristal Alicia Tye
Katherine Lynn Wessel ◊
Project Management
Dennis Steven Carter
Christina Lauraine Cary ◊◊
Lucrezia Di Ieva ◊
Shoko McMillian ◊
Andres E. Santiago
Brittney N. Shaffer ◊
Rebecca Addie Taylor
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Statement of Commitment
Led by Brittany Wyatt, Director of Teacher Education
“As an individual who works with young children, I commit myself to furthering the values of early childhood education as they are reflected in the ideals and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. To the best of my ability, I will…
◊ Respect colleagues in early childhood care and education and support them in maintaining the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
◊ Serve as an advocate for children, their families, and their teachers in community and society.
◊ Stay informed of and maintain high standards of professional conduct.
◊ Engage in an ongoing process of self-reflection, realizing that personal characteristics, biases, and beliefs have an impact on children and families.
◊ Be open to new ideas and be willing to learn from the suggestions of others.
◊ Continue to learn, grow, and contribute as a professional.
◊ Honor the ideals and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.”
Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida
Led by Brittany Wyatt, Director of Teacher Education
“I will value the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurturing of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.
My primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student’s potential. I will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.
I will maintain an awareness of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of one’s colleagues, of students, of parents, and other members of the community. I will strive to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct.”
Pledges
Nursing Pledge
(Based on the original Florence Nightingale pledge)
Led by Dr. Tanya Beauregard, Director of Nursing
“In the full knowledge of the obligations I am undertaking, I promise to care for the sick with all of the skill and understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics, or social status.
I will respect at all times the dignity and religious beliefs of the patients under my care, holding in confidence all personal information entrusted to me and refraining from any action that might endanger life or health.
I will endeavor to keep my professional knowledge and skill at the highest level and to give loyal support and cooperation to all members of the health team.
I will do my utmost to honor the international code of ethics applied to nursing and to uphold the integrity of the nurse.”
