OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) presented degrees to 187 graduates during commencement on May 16 at the Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse on campus.
“At College of Saint Mary, your education was never only about what you know. It was also about who you are becoming,” said President Heather Smith. “You learned how to think critically. How to advocate for others. How to approach challenges with both intellect and empathy. You learned that leadership is not about titles or status. It is about using your gifts in service of something greater than yourself. And perhaps most importantly, you learned that courage and compassion can exist together.”
Of the 187 graduates, 46 received doctoral degrees, 46 received master’s degrees and 95 received bachelor’s degrees. Thirty-two students also received certificates.
The commencement address was delivered by OBI Creative founder and CEO Mary Ann O’Brien. A pioneer in modern marketing, O’Brien has led national and global strategic initiatives for Advanced Auto Parts, Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, Gateway, Intel, the Iowa Department of Transportation, Lenovo, Microsoft, Miller Electric, Nomi Health, Sony, Stericycle and ViewSonic.
“You found your spark here. Now it’s your responsibility to protect it. To grow it. To fuse it with others. To use it for good. Stay connected. Lift each other up. Lead with heart. And never let fear make your world smaller than it was meant to be,” O’Brien said. “Go out there and build a life that burns so brightly that it lights the way for someone else.”
During commencement, Kimberly Allen, vice president of academic and student affairs, gave the welcome and Sister Jeanne Christensen, a 1966 CSM graduate and current board member, gave the invocation. Sue Weiler Doke, a 1985 CSM graduate and chair of the board, gave the board authorization.
Other graduation activities included a Baccalaureate Mass, an Honors Convocation, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pinning Ceremony and a Practical Nursing Pinning Ceremony.
CSM has one commencement each spring. Below are graduates who completed their programs in fall 2025 and spring 2026. They are listed by degree with hometowns and honors.
Doctor of Education
Nimia Guerrero, Longmont, Colo.
Erin Johnston, Omaha
Kesha King, Omaha
Amanda Klida, Bay City, Mich.
Mary Minto, West Hartford, Conn.
Shelby Schmidt, Omaha
Nipaporn Somyoo, Phoenix, Ariz.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Caitlyn Ahlin, Las Vegas, Nev.
Zahir Bakhtiari, Omaha
Matthew Case, Lincoln, Neb.
Benjamin Chamberlin, Omaha
Angel Colon-Aviles, Mission, Kan.
Ryan Dewhirst, Tarkio, Mo.
Zachary Dickerson, Lincoln, Neb.
Kaitlyn Evans, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Sara Ginkens, Gordon, Neb.
Kendall Halbur, Estherville, Iowa
Karen Hanna, Colleyville, Texas
Emily Harris, Lakewood, Colo.
Rawda Hefny, Frisco, Texas
Savannah Lukasiewicz, Fort Calhoun, Neb.
Shaghayegh Mehrvarz, McKinney, Texas
Margaret Miller, Omaha
Sonya Nunez, Granger, Wash.
Alexander Pang-Riddle, Gold Hill, N.C.
Kaylie Ratzlaff, Papillion, Neb.
Jordan Ritzdorf, Omaha
Dalton Sanford, Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Grace Schipper, Valley, Neb
Emily Shaji, Garland, Texas
D’Mitris Singleton, Laurens, S.C.
Trenton Smith, Columbus, Neb.
Anna Weber, La Crosse, Wis.
Sydney Weirich, Columbia, Mo.
Morgan Wilke, Plattsmouth, Neb.
Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Liliana Alfaro, Denison, Iowa
Ava Dross, Norfolk, Neb.
Morgan Faust, Lincoln, Neb.
Samuel Homan, Omaha
Lauren Kepler, Lincoln, Neb.
Lillie O’Connor, Hayfield, Minn.
Jasmine Ramos, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Emily Reis, Homer, Neb.
Emma Riedel, Kearney, Neb.
Grace Souerdyke, La Vista, Neb.
Haley Vredenburgh, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Mary Wiles, Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Catherine Wilson, Omaha
Haylie Wong, Omaha
Master of Arts in Teaching
Daniel Charron Jr., Omaha
De’Ja Combs, Omaha
Roselie Fitzmorris, Great Falls, Va.
Rhys Plowcha, Papillion, Neb.
Cyle Ryan, Louisville, Neb.
Abril Serrato, Ralston, Neb.
Olivia Stange, Omaha
John Sullivan, Omaha
Nikki Wilson, Blair, Neb.
Matthew Wulf, Omaha
Master of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Hugo Cervantes, Modesto, Calif.
Brian Clausen, Papillion, Neb.
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Emmanuel Antwi, Macon, Ga.
Elizabeth Dlouhy, Omaha, Cum Laude
Matthew Peitz, Omaha
Madilyn Phelps, Omaha
Amy Reiner, Ceresco, Neb.
Jordan Sherbondy, Oakland, Iowa
Cassandra Smith, Ashland, Neb.
Sean Soliva, Newburgh, N.Y.
Emily Sutton, Ralston, Neb.
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Jaden Autey, Naples, Fla.
Grace Baker, Maple Grove, Minn.
Richard Carter, Winchester, Calif.
Brooke Chambers, Ashland, Neb.
Sydney Dose, McClelland, Iowa
Sonya Flores, Omaha
Natalie Garner, Boulder, Colo.
Rebecca Jerina, Crete, Neb.
Mayuri Kanji, Nebraska City, Neb.
Haley Kennedy, Incline Village, Nev.
Marti Kennedy, Omaha
Madeline Lowe, Gurnee, Ill.
Brianna Martinez Melendez, Omaha
Jaclyn Negrete, La Vista, Neb.
Renae Otto, Apple Valley, Minn.
Samuel Pond, Watertown, S.D.
Mikayla Reeves, Wahoo, Neb.
Samarth Saini, Maple Grove, Minn.
Victoria Simon, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Sydney Stephens, Olathe, Kan.
Samantha Sterbenz, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Bryan Tran, Omaha
Matthew Trotter, Omaha
Sidney Wells, Cedar Creek, Neb.
Madison Ybarra-Gustav, Redlands, Calif.
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology & Human Services
Tylina Cookman-Booth, Omaha
Alize Gonzalez-Osuna, Omaha, Cum Laude
Adriana Padilla Molina, Kansas City, Kan., Cum Laude
Aubrey Sharp, Salt Lake City, Utah, Magna Cum Laude
Victoria Traudt, Omaha
Bachelor of Arts in Art
Angelina Wagle, Omaha
Bachelor of Arts in English
Hannah Steinmetz, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Summa Cum Laude
Caish Seto Solis, Olathe, Kan.
Bachelor of Arts in Language Arts
Madeline Mollner, Omaha, Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies
Georgia Carroll, Fort Worth, Texas
Ashley Zuniga Solorio, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts Psychology
Hailie Bloom, Omaha
Megan Collins, Omaha, Summa Cum Laude
Skye Giddings, Omaha
Halima Hussein, Omaha, Cum Laude
Marwinta Inchin, Omaha
Meghan Keil, Loveland, Colo.
Bachelor of General Studies
Haley DeBuse, Elkhorn, Neb.
Jaheesa Figueroa, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Jacqueline Koch, Omaha
Gabriella Sinnett, Ashland, Neb., Cum Laude
Latoya Thomas Omaha
Mikayla VanCleave, Omaha
Madison Warren, Elkhorn, Neb.
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Clare Dahlhoff, Vermillion, S.D., Summa Cum Laude
Vanessa Duncan, Puyallup, Wash., Magna Cum Laude
Emily Faubel, La Vista, Neb.
Ariel Fitzpatrick, Bellevue, Neb.
Blanca Guevara-Rangel, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Erika Headlee, Omaha, Magna Cum Laude
Emily Hebenstreit, Yutan, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Abigail Ridout, La Vista, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Carolyna Truong, Monument, Colo., Summa Cum Laude
Jaidyn Vanschoiack, Beatrice, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Peyton Bell, Oak Grove, Mo., Summa Cum Laude
Natalie Briggs, Plattsmouth, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Mira Fosmer, Louisville, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Business
Cristina Constancio-Martinez, Omaha
Kiley Craft, Fargo, N.D., Magna Cum Laude
Lesli Donis Osorio, Lincoln, Neb.
Jocelyn Esquivel Hernandez, Omaha
Elisabeth Franke, Valley, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Evelyn Martinez, Omaha, Magna Cum Laude
Corinne Mead, Elkhorn, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Rosa Rivas Barahona, Sioux City, Iowa
Chainey Thompson, Elkhorn, Neb.
Bailey Woodward, Bennington, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Katie Freeman, Haltom City, Texas, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
Kayla Miller, Exira, Iowa, Magna Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Daysha Hall, Bellevue, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Angelina Nixon, Bellevue, Neb.
Paige Roberts, Bellevue, Neb.
Madalyn Welp, Sioux City, Iowa, Magna Cum Laude
Madelyn Gaughen, Omaha, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Human Biology
Evelin Cidranes Morales, Omaha, Magna Cum Laude
Raven Thomas, Bellevue, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Jessica Tienda Rangel, Sedalia, Mo., Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kaitlyn Busby, Yucaipa, Calif.
Joslynn Clark, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Magna Cum Laude
Reagan Gordon, Glenwood, Iowa, Magna Cum Laude
Taylor Hrabik, Ralston, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Allison Isaacson, Omaha, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Claire Koile, Valley, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Lili McCready, Macedonia, Iowa, Summa Cum Laude
Autumn Neale, Lincoln, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Kelsey Pederson, Omaha, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Jadeyn Smidt, Omaha, Summa Cum Laude
Darece Van Auken, Omaha
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Renee Marie Acena, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Cum Laude
Madison Ausdemore, Minden, Iowa, Cum Laude
Jordyn Chandler, Omaha, Magna Cum Laude
Ivy Cole, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Aubrey Dutton, Omaha, Summa Cum Laude
Anahi Guzman, Dakota City, Neb.
Sarah Kopun, Omaha
Lana Langdon, Omaha , Summa Cum Laude
Stephanie Lay, Gretna, Neb., Cum Laude
Emma Lee, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Cum Laude
Milvian Lopez Chajon, Omaha , Cum Laude
Nicole Miller, Omaha, Cum Laude
Anna Moore, Arlington, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Lorena Newton, Omaha
Nevaeh Nielsen, Omaha
Glory Ogu, Abakaliki, Nigeria, Magna Cum Laude
Lilly Praest, Dodge, Neb., Summa Cum Laude
Kayla Reed, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Marissa Ring, Neola, Iowa, Cum Laude
Kimberly Viegelmann, Omaha, Cum Laude
Angel Watts, Omaha
Paige Wemhoff, Omaha
Jasa Wiedel, Hebron, Neb., Magna Cum Laude
Nicole Zimmerman, Omaha, Summa Cum Laude
Anh Trinh, Da Nang, Vietnam , Magna Cum Laude
Bachelor of Science in Special Education
Carrie Keating, Omaha
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Lyndsey Ashley, Nebraska City, Neb.
Hannah Goltl, Kearney, Neb.
Gabriela Guevara Madrigal, Columbus, Neb.
Raeed Haydar, Lincoln, Neb.
Renee Horsley, Lincoln, Neb.
Abigail Huffmann, Omaha
Carly Schmitt, Omaha
Practical Nursing Certificate
Ariana Alvarado, Schuyler, Neb.
Karen Amaya Campos, Omaha
Kara Collins, Omaha
Shyrenna Devers, Omaha
Olivia Diaz, Omaha
Maria del Carmen, Estrada Cruz, Omaha
Hope Franklin, Omaha
Ashley Gomez, Omaha
Ella Heineman, Lincoln, Neb.
Reyna Jimenez-Uribe, Omaha
Alicia Juan, Omaha
Nichole Kurtzuba, Persia, Iowa
Kallie Langmack, Omaha
Denni Layne, Omaha
Kirsten Limbach, Fremont, Neb.
Luz Lopez, Omaha
Juana Lopez Lopez, Omaha
Ariel Marin, Omaha
Kenzie Miller, Bennington, Neb.
Brenda Mims, Bellevue , Neb.
Thaligia Roeun, Omaha
Madison Schneckenberger, Waterloo, Neb.
Tinasia Smith, Omaha
Samantha Witcher, Ralston, Neb.
Jessica Yepez-Martinez, Omaha