ROCK ISLAND, IL (06/06/2016)-- Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., held its spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 22. Eric Christian Olsen, an actor, and Paul Olsen, Augustana professor of English and head men's cross country and track and field coach, delivered the commencement speech as father and son. Around 530 students participated in the ceremony.
Those graduating were given advice by Eric Christian Olsen, who encouraged the graduates to live a life driven by hope rather than fear.
Among the graduates who participated in the ceremony:
Timothy Acri of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Biochemistry.
Carolyn Maynard of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Communication Studies.
Amanda Monaco of LeClaire (61264), was recognized with a major in English Education.
Kassandra Anderson of Silvis (61282), was recognized cum laude with a major in Communication Studies.
Wesley Bell of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Business Administration-Management.
Emma Bowman of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Business Administration-Marketing.
Grace Brasel of East Moline (61244), was recognized with a major in Biology.
Hailey Coulter of Silvis (61282), was recognized with a major in Communication Studies.
Rowan Crow of Coal Valley (61240), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in History Education.
Sarah English of Hillsdale (61257), was recognized summa cum laude with a major in Philosophy and Neuroscience.
Elizabeth Gehrmann of Bettendorf (52722), was recognized cum laude with a major in Chemistry and German.
Analysia Gomez of East Moline (61244), was recognized with a major in Biology and Women and Gender Studies.
Nathan Gray of Rock Island (61201), was recognized with a major in Art.
Ryan Greene of Hampton (61256), was recognized with a major in Political Science.
Robert Holmquist of East Moline (61244), was recognized with a major in Physics, Mathematics and Philosophy.
Michael Hoover of Bettendorf (52722), was recognized with a major in Political Science.
Scott Irwin of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Business Administration-Finance.
Tyler James of Davenport (52806), was recognized with a major in Graphic Design and English.
Jillian Jespersen of Rock Island (61201), was recognized summa cum laude with a major in Biology and Pre-Medicine.
Ruth Jessee of Moline (61265), was recognized cum laude with a major in Sociology-Social Welfare and Women & Gender Studies.
Amanda Johnson of Milan (61264), was recognized with a major in Neuroscience, Biology and Pre-Medicine.
Emily Johnson of East Moline (61244), was recognized with a major in Elementary Education.
Tayvian Johnson of East Moline (61244), was recognized with a major in Pre-Medicine and Biology.
Alyssa Kendell of Davenport (52806), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Biology and Pre-Medicine.
Matthew Klyman of East Moline (61244), was recognized cum laude with a major in Chemistry.
Rebecca Knapper of Davenport (52806), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Creative Writing, English and Scandinavian Studies.
Marisa Lara of Silvis (61282), was recognized with a major in Graphic Design.
Emalee Leigh of Hampton (61256), was recognized with a major in Business Administration-Management.
Makenzie Logan of Moline (61265), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Mariah Logan of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Music Education.
Anne Malinowsky of Rock Island (61201), was recognized with a major in Business Administration-Finance.
Garrett Miner of Moline (61265), was recognized cum laude with a major in Graphic Design and Business Administration-Management Information Systems.
Adrian Moreno of East Moline (61244), was recognized with a major in Accounting.
Dorothy Mutum of Milan (61264), was recognized with a major in Psychology.
Lubna Omar of Bettendorf (52722), was recognized with a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Anish Reddy of Rock Island (61201), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Pre-Medicine.
Omar Rizvi of Bettendorf (52722), was recognized with a major in Pre-Medicine and Religion.
Keith Sands of Silvis (61282), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Mathematics and Math Education.
Austin Schoeck of Rock Island (61201), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Political Science.
Grant Slater of Coal Valley (61240), was recognized with a major in Accounting and Business Administration-Finance.
David Soliz of Silvis (61282), was recognized with a major in Geography.
Andrew Statz of Davenport (52804), was recognized cum laude with a major in Pre-Medicine and Biology.
Danya Tazyeen of Bettendorf (52722), was recognized cum laude with a major in Computer Science.
Sergio Tekeli of Bettendorf (52722), was recognized cum laude with a major in Pre-Medicine.
Haley West of Rapids City (61278), was recognized cum laude with a major in Neuroscience and Spanish.
Rong Zheng of Silvis (61282), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Biochemistry and Biology.
Taylor Anderson of East Moline (61244), was recognized cum laude with a major in Graphic Design.
Sydney Crumbleholme of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Art.
Omar Garcia-Martinez of Moline (61265), was recognized with a major in Pre-Medicine.
Andrea Hult of Moline (61265), was recognized magna cum laude with a major in Accounting and Business Administration-Management.
Charles Bald of Blue Grass (52726), was recognized with a major in Music Education.
Samantha Noble of Geneseo (61254), was recognized with a major in Spanish Education.
Sara Tilp of Rock Island (61201), was recognized with a major in Geology.
Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 161 Academic All-Americans, two Nobel laureates, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.
(submitted by Sam Schlouch)
