Graduate Commencement Program 2024

PROCESSIONAL

Angus Scott Pipe Band Processional led by Mark Lupton ’99, ’24, Whitworth Board of Trustees

WELCOME

Scott McQuilkin ’84, ’88, Ph.D., President

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Micki Abercrombie-Donahue, Ed.D., Associate Dean, School of Education

INTRODUCTION OF PROGRAM DIRECTORS & FACULTY

Stacy Withrow Hill ’98, Ed.D., Associate Provost & Registrar

John Pell, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Timothy Wilkinson ’16, Ph.D., Dean, School of Business

Ronald Jacobson, Ph.D., Dean, School of Education

Michael Ediger, Ph.D., Dean, School of Health Sciences

INVOCATION

Micki Abercrombie-Donahue, Ed.D., Associate Dean, School of Education

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:3-8

Nicholas Vernon Rogers, Master of Arts: Theology, Class of 2024 Colossians 3:15-17

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

“Your Whitworth Advantage”

HYMN

Holy, Holy, Holy

Song Leader: Lael Finley ’25

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Alyssa Miller ’22, Master of Education: Teaching & Learning, Class of 2024

Dawn Keig, DBA, Professor of Strategic Management

Early in the morning, our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinfulness Thy glory may not see; Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

STUDENT SPEAKER

Holly Rasmussen, Master of Education: School Counseling, Class of 2024

CONFERRAL OF GRADUATE DEGREES

Scott McQuilkin ’84, ’88, Ph.D., President

Stacy Withrow Hill ’98, Ed.D., Associate Provost & Registrar

Graduate Program Deans and Directors

Whitworth

ALMA MATER

Centennial text by Leonard Oakland and Darrell Guder

Mater by Lawrence J. Mitchell

Centennial Text, 1990 Lyrics by Leonard A. Oakland and Darrell Guder Song Leader: Lael Finley ’25

Centennial text by Leonard Oakland and Darrell Guder

Whit

Whit

by Lawrence J. Mitchell

your be praise,

worth Al we ma hon Ma or, ter, proud we ly sing we’ll your be praise,

Her Hail sons no and ble Whit daughters, worth, dar our ing col to ors see; raise; In Lead her ing great us vi on sion, ward,

Her Hail sons no and ble Whit daughters, worth, dar our ing col to ors see; raise;

In Lead her ing great us vi on sion, ward, so striv true ing and for just, right. Our Draw no ing ble us cal up ling, ward,

BENEDICTION

Rhosetta R. Rhodes

’99, ’12,

Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students

RECESSIONAL

Angus Scott Pipe Band

The audience will remain seated until the graduates have recessed.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER 2024

Dawn Keig is a professor in the Whitworth School of Business. Keig joined Whitworth in 2014, bringing 30-plus years of pre-academic experience in international management and technology consulting to her classrooms, where she teaches strategic management at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Her research has been published in top business journals including Journal of International Business Studies and Journal of Management Studies. She has held numerous leadership roles on campus, including most recently faculty president. Off campus, Keig is the leader of a menagerie of animals including 45 chickens and the newest additions, three adorable angora goats, at her family acreage in Green Bluff.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Master of Arts: Theology

Tom Davis Anacortes, Washington

Alex Michael Fergus Spokane, Washington

Jamie Renee Gipson Spokane, Washington

Alisa May Johnson Spokane, Washington

Kylan Anton Kracher Spokane, Washington

Christine Mabile Spokane, Washington

Kristianne Therese Knight Rogalsky Richland, Washington

Nicholas Vernon Rogers Spokane, Washington

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Master of Business Administration

Patricia Anne Abantao Spokane, Washington

Savannah-Ryann Kapualeihi‘ilani Acpal Maple Valley, Washington

Emily Grace Agnew Spokane, Washington

Mitchell Anderson Puyallup, Washington

Trina Dee Andrew Wellpinit, Washington

Brenden R. Archer Spokane, Washington

Jemima Katherine Ballou Spokane, Washington

Iona L. Cairncross Gateshead, United Kingdom

Inder Chahal Spokane Valley, Washington

Colten S. Chelin Kennewick, Washington

Kokanee Ellingson Spokane, Washington

Antonius R. Ghanim Spokane Valley, Washington

Amelia Gaye Hewson Seattle, Washington

Cole Hinrichs Cheney, Washington

Josh King Chewelah, Washington

Amy Koon Spokane, Washington

Heather Anne Menzer San Diego, California

Emily Moline Meyer Chico, California

GRADUATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

Cami M. Nelson Spokane, Washington

Scott Dennison Piepel Spokane, Washington

David Lawrence Swanson Spokane, Washington

Atticus Jack Templeton Richland, Washington

Regis Dinh Thola Jr. Spokane, Washington

Jon Thompson Tekoa, Washington

Master of Business Leadership

Timothy Joel Caldwell Mansfield, Ohio

Debbie K. Cozzetto Spokane, Washington

Andrew T. Dolan Spokane Valley, Washington

Jill Hughes Spokane, Washington

Eric C. Kenworthy Spokane, Washington

Reegan Moore Spokane, Washington

Maria E. Vazquez Calderon Spokane Valley, Washington

Deborah Weber Spokane, Washington

Master of Science: Financial Planning

Courtney Altringer Sandpoint, Idaho

Sten Eugene Carlson Albany, Oregon

Michelle L. Decaire Kirkland, Washington

Jacob A. Jensen Vancouver, Washington

Mark Lupton Spokane, Washington

Cain Kohl Martin Spokane, Washington

Nathan Migliazzo Spokane, Washington

Jayden Patterson Lakewood, Washington

Gerald Twenge Spokane, Washington

Chelsea Ewing Updegrove Spokane, Washington

GRADUATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Master of Arts: Administrative & Nonprofit Leadership

Cameron Todd Kailua, Hawaii

Christopher Welch Phoenix, Arizona

Master of Arts: Behavior Analysis

Megan Elizabeth van Hilten Bend, Oregon

Madison Dior Wade Loma Linda, California

Master of Arts: Marriage & Family Therapy

Emma Marie Hooley Almquist Canton, Ohio

Aisha Mosaed Alnassim Spokane, Washington

Nashoni Boyd Omak, Washington

Payton Erdmann Moses Lake, Washington

Sara M. Garcia Homer, Alaska

Sienna Henson Spokane, Washington

Emily Kuho‘oki‘eki‘e Ferreira Holt Honolulu, Hawaii

Stephen Phillip Lewis Redlands, California

Megan McCarty Spokane, Washington

Mark Ponce Fife, Washington

Ian Redfield Zillah, Washington

Bailey Ann Reifenberger Great Falls, Montana

Kelsea Riley Spokane, Washington

Matthew Russoniello Spokane, Washington

Kaeden Roderick Schmidt Sumner, Washington

Aria Schreibman Deer Park, Washington

Joel Richard Wadsworth Spokane, Washington

Nicole Williams Colbert, Washington

Olivia Ybarra-Arizmendi Quincy, Washington

Master of Arts in Teaching: Gifted & Talented

Hillary K. Shearer Everett, Washington

Master of Arts in Teaching: Gifted Education & Equitable Instruction

Jayne Grimes Pullman, Washington

Master of Arts in Teaching: Special Education

Heather A. Reither Cheney, Washington

Ashley Rodriguez Spokane, Washington

Brittany Thompson Spokane, Washington

Master of Education: Educational Administration

Yolanda Marie Bone Tekoa, Washington

Marcoantonio Caballero-Castillo Waterville, Washington

Marcos Antonio Nunez Sunnyside, Washington

Ryan Smedley Cheney, Washington

Jennifer M. Walker Spokane Valley, Washington

Master of Education: Montessori

Renata Cassemiro Dickerson Atlanta, Georgia

Jodi Kay Enomoto Oakland, California

Emalee A. Fisher Spokane, Washington

Eileen Galindo Franco Alameda, California

Yang Jiang Shanghai, China

Antara Kshettry Singapore, Singapore

Julia Murray Portland, Oregon

Reilly Ann Parr Seattle, Washington

Kathleen Picanco Spokane, Washington

Chanel Ariana Retasket Tulalip, Washington

Margaux Anne Sajous New York, New York

Jacqueline Xiaopeng Shi Melbourne, Australia

Morgan Inga Swor Portland, Oregon

Ambica Thakur Fremont, California

Master of Education: Counseling Studies

Allan A. Corrales San Ramon, Costa Rica

Master of Education: School Counseling

Yessenia M. Delcid Spokane, Washington

Jennifer M. Hardy Spokane, Washington

DB KARKI Spokane, Washington

Kirsten Pinkney Red Deer, Alberta

Holly Rasmussen Cheney, Washington

Melissa J. Smidt Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Master of Education: Social Emotional Learning

Rebecca Jean Gregerson Chewelah, Washington

Haliee Breanne Hunter Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Samantha Keane Scottsdale, Arizona

Jessica O’Reilly Moraga, California

Master of Education: Teaching & Learning

Wayne Blehm Spokane, Washington

Carlos Miguel Llaverias Spokane, Washington

Emily McDonald Spokane, Washington

Alyssa Miller Spokane, Washington

Evan Norden Spokane, Washington

Jennifer M. Porter Pierson, Michigan

Stacey Ramone Tomasello Sacramento, California

Tanner A. Tyson Cheney, Washington

Master in Teaching: Elementary Education

Erin Michelle Gray Eatonville, Washington

Danielle Hilmes Spokane, Washington

Damaris Dawn Nelson Kenai, Alaska

Fatima Rodriguez Perez Spokane, Washington

Devin Marie Savage Spokane, Washington

Sharon Evelyn

Rose Wilkes Mead, Washington

GRADUATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

Master in Teaching: Secondary Education

Andrew S. East Spokane, Washington

Caleb Elias Eby Portland, Oregon

Emily Elise Graham Spokane, Washington

Josephine Greenwood Spokane, Washington

Josiah Hunter Chelan, Washington

Payton Janee Ritchy Wilbur, Washington

Emily K. Stiles Spokane, Washington

Genevieve Clary Symons Seattle, Washington

Anna Lutsyk VanDiest Moses Lake, Washington

Sophie Mollola Wilson Mukilteo, Washington

Emily Zacek Spokane, Washington

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Master of Science: Athletic Training

Kira Belnap Pleasant Grove, Utah

Alayna Renae Davidson Roy, Washington

Quentin Posada Tacoma, Washington

Katelyn Emily Pounds Spokane, Washington

Kelsey Elise Ramsey Quincy, Washington

Addisyn Baylee Samuelson Loveland, Colorado

ACADEMIC REGALIA

Academic regalia is a tradition dating from the Middle Ages, when long robes and hoods were everyday attire designed to protect against the cold and drafts of medieval university halls.

The many variations in academic dress are not incidental, but are rich in meaning. Each costume represents both the degree held by the wearer and the institution that awarded it. While in Europe each university has been free to adopt whatever design it wishes, a considerable degree of standardization has been achieved in the United States. Some of the elements of the code of academic dress follow.

HOOD: The hood, which is draped down the back, carries more symbolic significance than any other part of the costume. The border, extending over the shoulders to meet in a “V” at the front, indicates by its colors the discipline in which the degree was earned. Colors for some of the faculties are white (arts, letters, humanities); cream (social science); dark blue (philosophy); light blue (education); scarlet (theology); pink (music); golden yellow (natural science); lemon (library science); nugget (business, accounting); and sage green (physical education).

The lining of the hood, partly exposed, is in the colors of the degree-granting institution (for Whitworth, crimson and black). Doctoral hoods are longer than those of master’s degree recipients and have a wider border. Recipients of the bachelor’s degree do not wear hoods.

GOWN : Black gowns are the rule, but a few universities use other colors. A doctor’s gown is recognizable by the three horizontal velvet bars on each sleeve, either in black or in the color of the discipline in which the degree was granted. Typically, a doctor’s gown also has velvet panels down the front. The typical gowns for master’s degree and baccalaureate degree candidates do not have decorated panels or sleeves.

CAP : The familiar hard-topped mortarboard, or Oxford cap, has long been standard, but a soft tam is increasingly common. The tassels are usually black or the color of the discipline. The tassel on a doctor’s cap is usually metallic gold.

THE BANNERS

The banners carry the Celtic cross, representing the university’s Scottish Presbyterian heritage, and the seal of Whitworth University. These banners are a permanent part of the commencement exercises.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

As followers of Christ, we are compelled to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. It is our love of God and neighbor that leads us to offer the following statement: a xest sxľxaľt. Welcome, everyone. We acknowledge

that we gather today on the traditional homelands of the four bands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians: Sntut úlixw, Snxwméne , Scqesciłni and Sčewile . Since time immemorial, the Spokane Tribe of Indians has lived prosperously on this land, identifying themselves as “sqélix w,” or “flesh of the land.” We pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging – and we acknowledge their continuing connection with the land, waters and culture. We honor God with gratitude for the land itself and the peoples who have fished, hunted, harvested and gathered here for generations. This acknowledgment recognizes the first custodians of this land, the suffering they endured, and the continued restoration and healing needed. It is important to understand the history that has brought us to reside here, because such understanding fosters a more united community that honors and embraces the first peoples of Spokane. We thank the Spokane Tribe members for sharing their stories, culture and language to develop this welcome. lem lmtš šey u hoy.

THE QUASQUICENTENNIAL PINECONE

Whitworth’s ceremonial icon, to be carried at commencement, convocations and other official university ceremonies, is the Quasquicentennial Pinecone. The icon was commissioned and presented to the university by President Beck A. Taylor to honor the institution’s 125th anniversary, in 2015. It was designed by Professor of Art & Design Katie Creyts and was first used at Spring Convocation 2016. The icon depicts the cone of the ponderosa pine, long a symbol of Whitworth’s beautiful tree-lined campus. Crafted of cast bronze and glass, the Quasquicentennial Pinecone reflects a lamp of learning as well as the characteristics of the cone itself. The top of the piece includes a quotation from the original 1890 Whitworth College catalog, and 12 of the castglass pinecone scales feature moral and intellectual virtues that reflect the Whitworth community’s highest aspirations for its members. The text for each of the virtues was handwritten by a different member of the Whitworth community, signifying that from many voices and perspectives, we come together as a single body, united in celebration of and dedication to Whitworth’s Christian mission.

CLARIFICATIONS

(1) Participation in commencement and inclusion in the commencement program do not guarantee official granting of a degree. Each graduate office verifies completion of all degree requirements for master’s degree candidates. The registrar’s office then completes the final degree requirement verification and posts all completed degrees. (2) The official document verifying degree completion is the Whitworth transcript, signed and sealed by the registrar. . ’