BHC presented 376 new graduates to the world

BHC presented 376 new graduates to the world

A few thousand parents and well-wishers were in attendance as the graduates were awarded associate’s degrees and certificates following addresses from Dr. Truitt, faculty member Todd Linscott and Jessie Golden, herself a graduate and president of the Student Leadership Council for 2014–15 school year.

Black Hawk College presented 376 new graduates to the world at a commencement ceremony at the iWireless Center Thursday, with Black Hawk Collegepresident Bettie Truitt telling them to “embrace the change and never stop dreaming.”


In the near term, Dr. Truitt told the graduates to “celebrate your accomplishment.”

Then she said, “there are only four things I would like each of you to do,” and she elaborated on each one.

The first three are to dream (“dreams help focus us, and provide direction”); make mistakes (“that’s how you learn”); and make a difference (large or small — as an example of the latter she cited BHC alum Chad Pregracke, founder of the environmental group Living Lands & Waters).

The fourth request for the graduates: “Create your story. … You are the author, the main character, the editor and producer. We are grateful that your story includes Black Hawk College."

In her remarks, Ms. Golden asked her peers to reflect on what Black Hawk College means, and said for her it was something she’d looked forward to since middle school.

“It would be my chance to get a good education in order to get a good job and have a good life,” she said. So she worked hard in her classes and initially didn’t involve herself in campus activities she said. That changed with an “impulsive” decision to join the Student Leadership Council.

“This year, being a part of something more than just coming to classes has really opened my eyes,” she said. “I met some really amazing people from all walks of life, planned a good handful of enjoyable events, helped with volunteer work and generally got out of my comfort zone.”

"I’ve had an invaluable experience during my time here, and I hope my fellow graduates have also had the same chance to make a difference for themselves and for those around them,” she said. “I am so honored to be a graduate of Black Hawk College.”

There were no shortage of proud parents in attendance.

“Absolutely I’m proud,” said parent Chris Lubben, whose daughter Sara received her associate’s degree in education. Sara Lubben is headed to Iowa State University, after taking full class loads and working part-time through her time at Black Hawk College.

“She has worked very hard,” Ms. Lubben said. “She has earned this day.”

Black Hawk College Quad-Cities Campus graduation list

The graduates are:

Albany -- Beth Calcote, Rhett Stover.

Aledo -- Andrea Attig, Bryan Goman, Cassandra Kitzman-Johnson, McCala Miller, Shelby Ryckaert, Stephanie Williams.

Alpha -- Heather Kidd.

Andalusia -- Logan Green, Connor Kolls, Rachel Lantau.

Andover -- Martha Aguilera, Nicole Bunton, Michala Mielke.

Annawan -- Jill Arnold, Donovan Kirkhove, Angela Solie.

Atkinson -- Ryan Branham, Devere Gould, Ryan Hamilton.

Barstow -- Hailey Boyle.

Bettendorf -- Jaclyn Frey, Brooke Posey, Lauren Powell, LaSha Rascon, Reiley Rice.

Blue Grass -- Katelyn Borcherding, Jessica Aney.

Buffalo -- Tanner Adams.

Cambridge -- Allen Dullin, John Huyvaert, Jennifer Kruger, Amanda Palmer, Meaghan Robinson, Erika Roden, Brittani Underwood, Ryan VanMelkebeke, Johanna Williams.

Carbon Cliff -- Nicholas Bogs, Marissa Cowart, Taelor McKay.

Cleveland -- Jessica Tucker.

Coal Valley -- Amber Asplund, Alana Bainter, Amanda Bender, Kaitlyn Browning, Tami Clifton, Elissa Daggett, Amanda Duran, Jessica Estes, Elista Fisher, Jennie Gardner, Ben Hamilton, Brandon Head, Sheila Mountain, Damon Nimrick, Lena Parrish, Taylor Peterson, Amber Schneider, Jake Schulenberg, Jesse Shattuck, Jennifer Swofford, Christian Wilcox.

Colona -- Nicole Beeson, Patrick Block, Tanae Boggs, Aaron Borodychuk, Torie Collis, Samantha Copeland, Stephanie Crippen, Daniel Hintzke, Stormy Leidig, Cassidy Preslar, Alyssa Rea, Kayla Reagin, Kamille Short, Darlene Thorndyke.

Cordova -- Amy Meier, Cheyenne Rodriguez, Elizabeth Rogers, Denise VanDeWoestyne.

Davenport -- John Banks, Darcey Boone, Catherine Briggs, Janet Bynum, Susan Cates, Sheri Clark, Noemi De Leon, Jennifer DiBlasio, Karen Foderberg, Melanie Hester, Luke Latham, Melissa McCollom, Tameka Miller, Nikki Munson, Jordan Noel, Linda Norberg, Mary Peters, Julie Petersen, Mariza Potter, Wanda Pruden, Paul Pruden Sr., Max Querin, Patrick Schieving II, Rubicelia Sindt, Amy Soliz, Jacob Wagner, Esther Zaldana.

Donahue -- Christopher Carter.

East Moline -- John Abend, Adjovi Afangnivo, Andrew Allmendinger, Valeria Aparicio, Arslan Arshad, Bernado Awoudi, Jacob Barnes, Tracy Bates, Karla Bernal, April Bowen, Lisa Boyer, Michelle Branch, Melissa Caldwell, Maria Carlin, Carrie Castillo, Charles Cervantes II, Elizabeth Chimal, Chatavia Clark, Sophia Clay, David Clevenger, Kaitlyn Colson, Aubreona Conner.

Kaelynn Davis, Liliana De La Garza, Maria Dominguez, Jennifer Evans, Alleigh Gates, Jason Gavin, John Goeden, Esmeralda Gonzalez, Marcus Hanerhoff, Kayla Harris, Bridget Hernandez, Alysha Hudson, Makenzie Huston, Mohamed Ismail.

Katie James, M. Christine James-Van Sant, Elizabeth Keith, Kossi Kluga, Rita Kosgard, Gnandi Kpante, Diane Kpomassy, Brandy Krebs, Brittnie Larson, Latoya Lee, Kasey Lockett, Moira MacLennan, Josue Marquina, Emily Martinez, Papy Mbambi, Brady McArtor-Tank, Julie McLaughlin, Jose Medina, Jerigael Miranda, Grwuaslly Monarrez-Perez, Cheri Moore, Samantha Moreno, Mushimata Mwansa.

Amy O'Neal, Blake Pancrazio, Ashley Pappas, Melody Patterson, Abbey Petty, Benjamin Quick, Richard Rea, Denita Reed, Amy Rigsby, Angela Ringier, Jeffrey Roberts, Rozanne Robinson, Amanda Rockhold, Karina Rojo, Kevin Roland.

Alexandra Sanchez, Jorge Sanchez, Yolanda Sanchez, Leslie Sierra, Marshelle Smith, Essi Soglo, Promise Solo, Aissatou Sow, Maguette Sow, Malal Sow, Hunter Springer, Tara Sweeney, Ayele Teko, Kristina Todorovic.

Kelsey Van Camp, Bryce Verlinden, Cristobal Villasenor, Kayla Viscioni, Vincent Viscioni, Jennifer Watson, Jason Willey, Alexis Wilson, Jocelin Wilson, Cheryl Yeager, Hessouwe Yeleneke.

Eldridge -- Amanda Crouse.

Erie -- Ian Bebon, Shannon Melton, Connor Nitz, Alec Thruman.

Fenton -- Tracy Bullock.

Fulton -- Codi Herring.

Galva -- Brenda Johnson, Dalton Jones.

Geneseo -- Kelsey Anderson, MacAllister Blakley, Jessica Boone, Benjamin Burk, Grant Burress, Brenna Callahan, Rochelle Canfield, Alyssa Catton, Demi DeBarre, August Denys, Logan Farber, Madison Flaherty, Brandon Gehn, Jennifer Gernant, Emily Gustafson.

Darcy Hankins, Seth Hankins, Taylor Heppner, Zachary Hutchinson, Nicholas Keener, Nicole Lassman, Meghanne LeBlanc, Devin Lindquist, Brittany Murphy, Jacelyn Neuleib, Carlie Newton, Shannon Nowland, Jenny Nyquist.

Joseph Payeur Jr., Rachael Rastetter, Riley Reeves, Brandon Rice, Bailey Ries, Connor Riley, Nichole Schaver-Femali, Bethany Snook, Austin Swanson, Noah Terpening, Amanda Tesmond, Kodie Tomaszkiewicz, Hanna Vanderheyden, Katelyn Welfer, Caiyun Wurslin.

Hampton -- Erika Beeks, Kirsten Brown, Brennan Burklund, Brett Clark, Megan Fanella, Brittany Picaso.

Hillsdale -- Alisha Brown, Brianna Schipper.

Illinois City -- Courtney Kitzman.

Joy -- Jonathan Barnhouse, Niphaphorn Loughead.

Keithsburg -- Amber Gibson, Daniel Simpson.

Kewanee -- Alissa Elgin, Tayler Jackson, Shannon Jannie, Leanne Loughe, Matthew Mols, Kayleen Prins, Paula Rocker, Paul Schaecher.

LeClaire -- Amanda Gordon, Melissa Reller, Janice Vrombaut, Derek Ward.

Long Grove -- Jennifer Evans.

Lyndon -- Jacy Woodworth.

Lynn Center -- Jade Cashen, Nicole Emerick, India Price.

Matherville -- Abby Newton.

Milan -- Ivy Anderson, Wayne Ashenhurst, Steven Bartelt, Ellen Border, Alishia Braden, Rick Breeden, Shaun Brown, Shelby Burroughs, David Cannon II, Jennifer Clary, Connor Cushman, Julie-Ann Elliott, Jennifer Higgins.

Danielle James, Cynthia Johnson, James Lams, Sara Lubben, Caleb Lucas, Rebecca Marquis, Morgan Marshall, Sarah Morgan, Deborah Pond, Jessica Spencer, Charissa Warren, Sarah Willhite, Raeann Zawada.

Moline -- Adenouga Adanlehoussi, Essoninam Agoma, Osama Ali, Katherine Allee, Erik Andon, Donga Assih, Bailey Atkinson-Niemeier, Amevi Avouglah, Akou Ayikey, Laurie Barton, David Beebe, Ryan Behrens, Madeline Blind, JoAnn Bodeen, Michael Boelens, Jordan Bovee, Jessica Brachtel, Katrina Bratton-Ellis, Dominique Brooks, Emily Brooks, Anna Brown, Brooke Bush, Austin Carlson, Crystal Carlson, Cecilia Carrillo, Alexa Carroll, Khadidiatou Cisse, Andrea Clark, Caleb Cockerill, Nayely Cortez, Rachel Cox, Amanda Crouse, Alexander Cunningham.

Amanda Dang, Chonya Davis, Lori DeDoncker, Nathanael Derrick, Jessica DeVolder, Samantha Diehl, Ines Djondo, Pepe Djondo, Megan Dodd, Yaogan Dossou-Solegadji, Sarah Duesterhaus, Ami Eklou, Yawa Eklou, Aurelio Enriquez, Tierney Fischer, Joshua Forbes, Jenna Forsberg, Amanda Frazee, Michael Funaro, Tammie Furr.

Andrea Garcia, Kayla Gasper, Tyler Gasper, Jessie Golden, Adara Griffin, Edivan Guerrero, Ciara Hancks, Caitlin Hanson, Elizabeth Hasson, Dallas Herbert, Jessica Howell, Lucy Hubbard.

Brooke Jordan, Jason Kester, Sara Kitchen, Eric Knapp, Amenvi Koffecto, Dossou Kowou, McKae Larson, Sunshine Lauer, Cheryl LeMaster, Adam Lerschen, Dakota Lieving, Mayra Lopez, Matthew Luckey, Monika Luder, Jessica Luther.

Mazen Marar, Steven Maule, Holly Melton, Leslie Misch, Fallon Moore, Jacob Moore, Ronald Moore Jr., Latosha Morrison, Jordan Myers, Favi Nache, Michael Neels, Natalie Nipper, Lindsey Olson, Maria Ortiz-Herrera, Jessica Overmire, Andrew Owens.

Sara Padilla, Asha Pangrazio, Hailey Petty, Hannah Petty, Stephanie Pilichowski, Sharvia Pritchard, Monserrat Ramos, Teanna Randolph, Daniel Rankin, Julia Rosales, Nicholas Rossa, Andrea Ryckeghem.

Sheridan Saskowski, Samantha Scott, Devin Seams, Brianna Simpson, Gretchen Sink, Angela Skipton, Steven Smith, Jacob Stewart, Jennifer Svetlick, Alyse Tomlinson, Anabel Torres, Odalys Trigueros.

Baylee Valdes, Michael Van Acker, Mitchell VanNatta, Manisha Vishwakarma, Lecy Waldbusser, Jennifer Watson, Brittany Wildermuth, Jessica Willoughby, Cynthia Zaragoza.

Morrison -- Mindy Remmers, Jordan Schaller.

Muscatine -- Ashley Smith.

New Boston -- Nikole Lair.

New Windsor -- Harsimran Kaur, Carlee Kness, Elizabeth Sedlock.

Orion -- Kaitlyn DeBaillie, Caleb DeHamer, Michael Doddroe, Heather Fredell, Morgan Gainey, Samantha Gordon, Madison Gritton, Katlin Jacquin, Adam Killion, Lindsey Sandau, Mackenzie Smith, Pamela Swanson, Tiffany Wilson.

Port Byron -- Kristen Breaux, Olivia Cewe, Jessica Crowe, Brondel Evans, Kaylynn Geigle, Paige Heller, Sierra Hemm, Heather Huisenga, Sue-Ella Mathis, Brittany McConnell, Amanda Robertson, Alexandria Streeter, Kiley Williams.

Prophetstown -- Kristina Medema, Ashley Wagle.

Rapids City -- Julius Chirchir, Elizabeth May.

Reynolds -- Peter Herman, Robin Phillips-McCulley, Jeannie Ruckey.

Rock Island -- Raynikka Adams, Isabell Aguilera, Tina Allen, Allyson Bailey, Catherine Booker, Brandie Carden, Traci Casey-Rocillo, Matthew Claude, Kizzie Conner, Christian Cottingham, Ariel Craig, Christin Cravens, Catelyn Cruz.

Aaron Deneckere, Morgan DeSmet, Reena DeSmet, Jasmine Diaz-Rodriquez, Allyson Dortch-Beserra, Kiana Dugger, Matt Erickson, Ryan Erickson, Joshua Fahrenkrog, Vailete Feliki, Heather Foster, Kelsey Frazelle.

Danielle Garcia, Victoria Gomez, Marian Grandberry, Beegweh Gwesinie, Melva Hearn, Bradley Heitz, Bibian Hickman, Kayla Hicks, Ben Hicock.

Brittney Jackson, Bukuru Jackson, Traneisha Jordan, Brittany Jungwirth, Jacie Just, Jason Just, Elizabeth Kasimu, Courtney Kernan, Ashley Kinnan, Jamie Lane, Cameron Leiby, KayLee Lindburg, Austin Long, Ian Lopez, Tamara Lukac.

Patricia Marquez, Christina Marquis, Claudia Martinez Hernandez, Kaylea Matter, Justin McClendon, Kasey McCracken, Tina McFalls, Ellen Miers, Jacob Miers, Carmen Mojica, Ellie Mooney, Sterling Moore, Roberto Nache, Ashley Neely, Oshiana Nephew, Arthur Ortiz.

Angel Parker, Patricia Parker, Rose Patton, Sydney Pauwels, Eh Paw, Khaalliyah Phanhlathy, Riley Pobanz, Evelyn Reynolds, Shaleka Rhoden, Angelica Richardson, Kailee Riley, Rachel Rock.

David Saelens, DeBrisha Scales, Ellenor Schluter, Haley Schluter, Lindsey Schroeder, Wendy Spencer, Rachel Stallings, Devin Steffen, Haleigh Stegall, Moshe Stewart, Kathryn Strause, Ruth Taylor, Sengiyumva Thiery, Kelly Tyler.

Veronika Wells-McGlothan, Alexandra Whitaker, Nashira Williams, Dan Yeager.

Seaton -- Joann Salmon.

Sheffield -- Emily Thurston.

Sherrard -- Michael Baker, Elias Becker, Skye Corken, Madison Goodley, Josephine Johnson, Samantha Jones, Tiffani Palmer, India Skinner, Anne Winston, Nicole Young.

Silvis -- Saida Adjanakrou, Brady Alley, Kara Bailey, Ferdinand Baraka, Kristal Caudillo, Abigail Ciasto, Stephanie Clark, Tonya Dawes-Gass, Meredith Eldridge, Mikale French, Kelly Gillespie, Dakota Gordon, Abbie Graham, Colton Graves.

Ginny Hayes Manske, Jorge Hernández, Allison Herron, Marisa Hull, Zachary Jeckell, Natalie Lund, Elizabeth Marquez, Michele Moreno, Juan Rivera-Olguin, Kieryn Rockwell, Nicole Smith, Kaitlyn Tidwell, Paul Tomkins, Michael Walter, Kyle Woolfolk, Angelica Zabala, Heidi Zvonik.

Taylor Ridge -- Chase DeKeyrel, Andrew Eagle, Madelin Elliott, Chelsey Grabeel, Gabrielle Lee, Yvonne Leemans, Jacob Miller, Ryan Renteria, Kristin Schmidt.

Viola -- Brittney Baum, Carrie Bushman, Hannah Lingafelter.

Walcott -- David DeVine, Alexander Riessen, Jennifer Rochholz.

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