- News
- Rio Awards 379 Graduates at Commencement Ceremony
Despite early morning rain and lingering clouds, University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College held its 148th Commencement Ceremony on the afternoon of Saturday, May 11. The annual ceremony celebrated the academic achievements of the 2024 graduating class.
Elaine Armstrong, a 1986 graduation of University of Rio Grande, was this year’s Commencement Speaker. Armstrong spoke to the graduates about the importance of resilience and chasing their dreams.
A total of 379 students received certificates and degrees, with 26 earning more than one. The full ceremony can be seen on Rio’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/@uofriogrande
A full list of graduates is below.
Master Degrees
Master of Education
Aaron Thomas Jr – Coaching Leadership
Baden Stevens – Coaching Leadership
Brandy Joy Fitzhugh – Coaching Leadership
Ciara Raeann Spurlin – Coaching Leadership
Dana Tenney – Coaching Leadership
Erwin Gutić – Coaching Leadership
Jacob Henderson – Coaching Leadership
Jason Lee Fitzhugh – Coaching Leadership
Jay Michael Moore – Coaching Leadership
Jess Nicole Youse – Coaching Leadership
Leah Deaner – Coaching Leadership
Lucas Neville Hutton – Coaching Leadership
Mallory Katelyn Stonebraker – Coaching Leadership
Marcus Sanford Illingworth – Coaching Leadership
Oluwatobi Emmanuel Ojo – Coaching Leadership
Otón Merín Torró – Coaching Leadership
Rodrigo Ignacio Basso Alfaro – Coaching Leadership
Vilius Labutis – Coaching Leadership
Bachelor Degrees
Bachelor of Science
Abagael Brier Webb - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Abby Elizabeth VanSickle - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Acacia Kauffman - Biology
Aleea Lynn Crites - History
Alejandra Garrett - Adolescent to Young Adult: Language Arts/English AA
Alyssa Dingus - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Anna Loree Ackley - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Audrey Bliss Tracy - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Austin Kendall - Business Management
Beiker Williams Fuentes Reyes - Sports & Exercise Studies
Benjamin Cam Orellana - Sports & Exercise Studies
Braam Sebastian Hein - Sports & Exercise Studies
Brennen Greene - Business Management
Caden Reese Donaldson - Psychology
Carmen Doherty - Psychology
Ciara Mae Jones - Wildlife Conservation
Ciera Lambert - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Cierra Roberts - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Cody Brumfield - Business Management
Dalton Skinner - Business Management
Daniel Gross - Computer Science
Darcie Walters - Environmental Science
Darcy Williams - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Darius Malachi Jordan - Business Management
Diana Lee Roush - Environmental Science
Diego Martinez - Business Management
Drew Christopher Hanning - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Elizabeth Jewel Jenkins - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Gabriel L. Terry - Adolescent to Young Adult: Mathematics/Mathematics BS
Gabriella Faye Lawrence - Wildlife Conservation
Haden Wesley Karshner - Business Management
Hailey Thornburg - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Jacob A. Wells - Intervention Specialist K-12
Jacquelynn Sue-Anne Dailey - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Jakob M. Johnson - History
Jalin Ragland - Business Management
Jaxon H. Harris - History/Liberal Studies BA
Jessica Marie Dyson - Wildlife Conservation
Jocelyn R. Abraham - Psychology
Jonas P. McCreedy - Business Management
Jordan Leland Carey - Wildlife Conservation
Kaitlyn Jarrell - Adolescent to Young Adult: Language Arts/English AA
Kali Brickman - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Katie Walters - Middle Childhood: Language Arts/Social Studies
Kayleigh Osborne - Adolescent to Young Adult: Language Arts/English AA
Konstantinos Kounnou - Psychology
Kori Robie - Wildlife Conservation
Kristin Louise Mannon - Biochemistry
Kyle Jeffery Lightner - Business Management
Kyli Faith Ricker - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
LaFette Johnson - Sports & Exercise Studies
Leanne Marie Young – Psychology
Lexi Woods - Sports & Exercise Studies/Multi-Age Physical Education/Multi-Age Health Education
Lucas George Bateman - Sports & Exercise Studies
Luke Mason Lindamood - Sports & Exercise Studies
Lyndsey Skeens - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Mackenzie McCarthy - Business Management
Madison Elizabeth Callahan - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Mason E. Dishong - Business Management
Mickale Regine Bates - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Mindi D. Gregory - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Miroslav Tadic - Business Management
Morgan Elizabeth Nutter - Business Management
Morgan Rae Jenkins - Pre-K-Grade 5/K-12 Intervention Specialist
Natalie Kalaydjiev - Psychology
Nathan Michael - Computer Science
Nathaniel Thomas Davis - Business Management
Oliver Pete O’Dell - Business Management
Payten Elisabeth Davis - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Pietro Barbera - Computer Science
Rachal Colburn - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Randi M. Gheen - Business Management
Reagan Willingham - Business Management
Reece Jakab Collins - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Samantha A. Smith - Pre-K-Grade 5/Pre-K-Grade 5 Intervention Specialist
Seth Patrick Mills - Business Management
Shalea Marie Byrd - Business Management
Sydney Dickson - Sports & Exercise Studies
Taylor Stephan Elijah Mack - Sports & Exercise Studies
Traven Walker - Computer Science
Whitney Byrd - Wildlife Conservation
Zachary Keith Daft - Business Management
Bachelor of Social Work
Brittney E. Qualls - Social Work
Emma Gayle Shamblin - Social Work
Rebecca Lynn Vaughn - Social Work
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Abigail McCain - General Visual Arts
Emily Boggs - General Visual Arts
Johnathan William Boggs - General Visual Arts
Bachelor of Technical Studies
Jennifer Rachel Leeann Mabe - Applied Healthcare Administration
Jillianne M. Davis - Educational Studies
Lavender Yvette Ward - Applied Healthcare Administration
Lucas James Chess - Educational Studies
Marinda Irene Cook - Educational Studies
Megan Wise - Applied Healthcare Administration
Rachael Burgett - Applied Healthcare Administration
Rachel Danielle Frances Payne - Diagnostic Imaging Administration
Shelby Nicole Jones - Applied Healthcare Administration
Stephen Andrew Ball - Funeral Home Administration
Sydney Campolo - Applied Healthcare Administration
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology
Austin L. Wilkett - Industrial Technology
Claytin L. Neutzling - Industrial Technology
Landon K. Acree - Industrial Technology
Seth Thomas McDonald - Industrial Technology
William Freeman Harmon - Industrial Technology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Aaron Bailey - Nursing
Brandy Gilbert - Nursing
Breaunna Marie Large - Nursing
Briley M. Lusk - Nursing
Brittany Simpson - Nursing
Claire Elizabeth Hamilton - Nursing
Danielle Nicole Steiner - Nursing
Elisabeth Christine Moffett - Nursing
Gabriel Jean Wiseman - Nursing
Hannah Leigh Karnes - Nursing
Heather Calhoun - Nursing
Jennifer S. Errett - Nursing
Kayla Virginia Richards - Nursing
Kimberly D. Mayes - Nursing
Kristen Tarap - Nursing
Kristina Paige Reese - Nursing
Lora May Kinney - Nursing
Madison Brooke McCormick - Nursing
Madison Combs - Nursing
Megan L. Davis - Nursing
Megan Nicole Schmidt - Nursing
Melony Ann Cain - Nursing
Merritt T. Lambert - Nursing
Michelle Ziegler - Nursing
Samantha K. Johnson - Nursing
Samantha LuAnn Shropshire - Nursing
Sarah Blain - Nursing
Sydney Reese Holden - Nursing
Taylor R. Moore – Nursing
Associate Degrees
Associate of Arts
Abbigail Marie Hollanbaugh - General Studies
Alexis Paige Nolan - General Studies
Allison Elaine Guhl - General Studies
Alyssa Zornes - Psychology
Anna Kate Grace Fraley - General Studies
Aurora Best - Psychology
Ava Reanne Green - General Studies
Baylee J. Haggy - General Studies
Braedon Keith Neece - Visual Art
Brailee Clarion Marie Rathburn - General Studies
Breanna Michelle Moore - Social Services
Breanna Noel Blackburn - Visual Art
Brooklyn D. Spencer - General Studies
Brynna Mackenzie Weaver - Social Services
Carolina Faye Folden Sola - General Studies
Caroline Ritchie - General Studies
Chloe McIntire - General Studies
Elliot James Colley - Visual Art
Emily Brooke Masters - General Studies
Gabrielle Elizabeth Myers - General Studies
Garrett Carper - General Studies
Gwendolynn Gail Mullett - General Studies
Hailey Maris Edwards - Social Services
Haley-Beth Noel Smith - Psychology
Hannah Bearhs - General Studies
Isabella Roush - English
James A. Blankenship - General Studies
Jolynne Sedeyn - General Studies
Kaitlyn Easton - Visual Art
Kasey Cheyanne Glaze - General Studies
Kenneth I. Cooke - General Studies
Kerrigan Weber - General Studies
Koen Sellers - General Studies
Leah Skidmore - General Studies
Lexie A. Bevins - Social Services
Monica Joy Thompson - General Studies
Morgan Sager - General Studies
Norah Layne Brown - General Studies
Olivia Grace Smith - General Studies
Rachael Puckett - General Studies
Rylee Haggy - General Studies
Timothy Ivan Moore - General Studies
Victor Jackson - General Studies
William Eli Lambert - General Studies
Associate of Science
Broderick J. Moore - Biology/General Studies AA
Grace Elizabeth Forrest - Chemistry
Harley Towne - Mathematics
Isaac L. Saunders - Sports & Exercise Studies
Julia Lovemark - Biology
Kassidy JoAnna Shaffer - Mathematics
Lauren Jolly - Sports & Exercise Studies
Nicholas Ty Mayes - Chemistry/Mathematics AS/Pre-Engineering ATS/General Studies AA
Scott Kenneth Gray - Sports & Exercise Studies
Westyn Moyer - Sports & Exercise Studies
Associate of Applied Business
Abigail L. Kimble - Business Management
Addison Dickens - Business Management
Aften Ann Walters - Business Management
Alexis Mercedes Bouska - Business Management
Ashley Nicole Hatfield - Business Management
Benjamin Thomas Rutherford - Business Management/Biology AS
Chelsie L. Young - Business Management
Emmalyn Corinne Hayes - Business Management
Erin Rose McKibben - Business Management
Evan Lewis - Business Management
Gabrielle Imani White - Business Management
Georgia Rene Brown - Business Management
Grant C. Sanders - Business Management
Haley Victoria Brammer - Business Management
Holly Alvoid - Business Management
Jacelynn Grace Northup - Business Management
Janetta L. McAllister - Business Management
Jarrell Christepher Scott - Business Management
Jessica De’An Russell - Business Management
Joshua F. Calvert - Business Management
Kameron Wade Maple - Business Management
Kaylor Jordan Offenberger - Business Management
Mackensie Marie Gump - Business Management
Natalie A. Swain - Business Management
Ryleigh Halley - Business Management
Shelby Lynn Whaley - Business Management
Terri Alexis Lorraine Johnson - Business Management
Associate of Applied Science
Abbie B. Bickenheuser - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Adam Bailey - Nursing
Adexa Anne Rose Muhn - Nursing
Alexandria Pierce - Medical Assisting
Alexandria Wood - Radiologic Technology
Alexis Jenkins - Nursing
Alisia Nicole Johnson - Nursing
Allison Fitzpatrick - Nursing
Allorah Lea McCoy - Nursing
Alysa Mitchell - Nursing
Amanda Beth Evans - Nursing
Amber Nichole Cook - IT: Network Systems
Amelia Grace Huck - Radiologic Technology
Andrea Lyn Dickerson - Nursing
Angela Morgan - Nursing
Artie Annette Windon - Nursing
Ashley Lynn Rucker - Nursing
Ashley Nichole Cheesebrew - Nursing
Baylee Rae Tracy - Radiologic Technology
Bethany Riane Blanton - Nursing
Betsy Ellen Munday - Nursing
Bradley James Hagen - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Brianna Brock - Nursing
Bridget Heldreth - Medical Assisting
Brittany Dengel - Nursing
Brooke Danielle Rucker - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular/General Studies AA
Charley Nicole Fink - Nursing
Chloe Carney - Nursing
Cidney Huff - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Clara Havens - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Cole Young - Nursing
Debra Dawn Nicole Hill - Nursing
Earl Emerson Schreck III - IT: Network Systems
Elizabeth Rene Brown - Nursing
Emma Elizabeth Bartram - Nursing
Erica Rain Scott - Nursing
Faith Evans - Respiratory Therapy
Faith H. McCoy - Nursing
Franklin Weston Nile Peters - IT: Network Systems
Gabrielle Mae McConnell - Nursing
Ginger Faye Payne - Nursing
Grace Olivia Gilmore - Respiratory Therapy
Gracie Mae Hannum - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Hannah Elizabeth Conley - Respiratory Therapy
Hannah M. Hurt - Nursing
Haylee Bachtel - Nursing
Hayley Marie Grooms - Nursing
Heather D. Riffle - Nursing
Hunter M. Rife - IT: Network Systems
Ian Grey Eblin - Nursing
Jala Hope Nance - Nursing
Jason Springer - IT: Network Systems
Jaydyn Daquan Armstrong - IT: Network Systems
Jazzmyn Grooms - Nursing
Jennifer Nicole Peters - Nursing
Jeremy Imler - Nursing
Jeridan Remy - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Jessica Coughenour - Nursing
John Christopher Hill - Nursing
Jordan LeRae Campbell - Nursing
Jorja McManaway - Nursing
Josie Lynn Cremeans - Nursing
Justus Steward - Nursing
Kathryn E. Fisher - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Katlyn Eileen Moore - Nursing
Kayla Dawn Carder - Nursing
Kayla Jo Hicks - Nursing
Kaylee Madison Jones - Pre-Kindergarten
Kelly Hughes - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Kennadi Dawn Rockhold - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Kiki Louise Barlow - Nursing
Kristen Rena Oliver - Respiratory Therapy
Lacie Jo Williams - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Landen McDaniel - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Lauren E. Fellenstein - Radiologic Technology
Lauren Nichole Cooper - ..Respiratory Therapy
Levi Warren - IT: Network Systems
Lillian Allen - Pre-Kindergarten
Lindsay Switzer - Nursing
Lindsey Canaday - Nursing
Madison Grace Hatfield - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Madison Petro - Nursing
Madison Sanders - Respiratory Therapy
Madison T. Staley - Nursing
Makala Lynn Elberfeld - Respiratory Therapy
Makayla Jade Carpenter - Nursing
Makayla Leigh Gaines - Nursing
Marilyn Kay Gearhart - Nursing
Matthew R. Finn - Nursing
Mattie Petry - Nursing
Megan Elizabeth Hammond - Nursing
Megan Knope - Radiologic Technology/Sports & Exercise Studies AS
Mindy Marie Steele - Nursing
Morgan Elizabeth Radcliff - Radiologic Technology
Morgan Stansberry - Nursing
Morgan Ziegler - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Nicole Cundiff - Nursing
Nolan Johnson - IT: Network Systems
Olivia Snyder - Nursing
Payton Michael Britton - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Rachel Marie Kasler - Nursing
Rebekka McNichols - Nursing
Renci Lee Ricker - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Rhiana Danielle Dyer - Nursing
Rick Southworth - Nursing
Samantha D. MacFarland - Nursing
Sasha Nicole Johnson - Nursing
Savanna Faith Wenz - Nursing
Shelby Loudermilk - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Shelby Mullins - Nursing
Teddilyn Marie Craft - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-Cardiovascular
Tequilla Dawne Chloe Young - Nursing
Tessa Marie Pritt - Nursing
Tessa Rockhold - Diagnostic Medical Sonography-General
Tiffany Sullivan - Nursing
Valerie Foster - Nursing
Victoria Lung - Nursing
Associate of Technical Studies
Alan Reid McCain - Industrial Automation
Breanna Lynn Taylor - Allied Health
Chance Thorpe - Funeral Home Administration
Collin Ghearing - Allied Health
Dacoda Keith Chapman - Welding
Jaylan Ryliegh Johnson - Allied Health
Kelsey Price - Meat Science
Landon Erwin - Allied Health
Laura Plybon - Funeral Home Administration
Michael Theodore McKinniss - Allied Health
Myca Ann Michael - Medical Assisting
Nathaniel D. Wiles - Welding
Nickolas Ball - Industrial Automation
Raelle Lorain Barnett - Medical Assisting
Todd R. Elliott - Industrial Automation
