Bethany College 2022 Commencement

LINDSBORG, KAN., May 25 - Bethany College is proud to announce the 122 students who earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Music Education during the 2021-2022 academic year. Summer, fall, interterm, and spring graduates were honored on May 21 during baccalaureate worship and commencement ceremonies in Presser Hall. 

Amy Truhe, Campus Pastor, presided over baccalaureate. Consistent with tradition, the baccalaureate procession started at Bethany Lutheran Church where ten students met in the church sacristy in October of 1881 for the first classes of Bethany Academy and ended at Presser Hall. 

Ms. Gabriela Hernandez, from Wichita, Kansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, was the senior speaker. Dr. Cheryl Rasmussen, Bethany College Board of Directors, special speaker, spoke about choosing grit, grace, and gratitude as part of the path to one’s purpose.  

Elise Nelson, from Lindsborg, Kansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education sang  “Schafe können sicher weiden” BWV 208 - J. S. Bach accompanied by Dr. Hentis van Rooyen, Assistant Professor of Sacred Music. 

Elizabeth Mauch, President of Bethany College, also addressed the graduates declaring, “Today is about getting to say one last time, ‘we trust you.’ We are not certain where you will go or what you will do, but we trust that you are worthwhile, responsible, and valuable to the world.” 



This year, faculty, staff, and members of the board of directors, celebrated the seniors with their invited family guests in a Senior Social at the Mabee Welcome Center.  Also, in conjunction with commencement celebration, an Honors Banquet was held to recognize the following seniors for academic excellence: Jacob Adams, Lindsborg, Kansas, Biology. Amanda Avila, San Gabriel, California, Elementary Education K-6. Logan Dawes, McPherson, Kansas, Psychology, Religion-Ministry of Service. Ryan Dye, Salina, Kansas, Psychology, Religion-Ministry of Service. Luis Carlos Fierro Cortes, Salina, Kansas, Biology, Chemistry, and Abigail Rishel-Barnett, Lindsborg, Kansas, Vocal Music Teaching PreK-12. The recipients of the Spencer Barlett Senior Respect Award, Julie Callan and Evan Crotinger, were also recognized at the Honors Banquet.  

 
Graduates, their majors, and hometowns are as follows: 

Zachary James Able, Management, Lindsborg, KS 

Jacob Efrain Adams, Biology, Lindsborg, KS 

Carla Aguilar, Mathematics, Salina, KS 

Frita Leinua Roberta Amor, Elementary Education teaching K-6, Makawao, HI 

Elijah Lee Anderson, Economics, Wake Forest, NC 

Kristin Lenore Anguiano, 3D Computer Animation, McPherson, KS 

Dylan Archuleta, Video Game Design, Lindsborg, KS 

Amanda Hailey Avila, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, San Gabriel, CA 

Cassandra Rose Baldino, Psychology, Vancouver, WA 

Daniel Beck, Business Administration, Keller, TX 

Tatiana Elise Bell, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Wichita, KS 

Samuel Brett Benstead, Exercise Science, Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia 

Jaden Blansett, Business Administration, Holcomb, KS 

Hollie Marie Blomberg, Psychology, Lindsborg, KS 

Masen Wayne Bosworth, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Alma, KS 

Addison Nicole Botkin, Management, Topeka, KS 

Nicholas Brackney, Sports Management, Allen, TX 

Sean Brogdon, Management, Denton, TX 

Tanner Browne, 3D Computer Animation, Hesston, KS 

Kelsee Burks, Psychology, Spring, TX 

Hope Leah Burton, Mathematics, Bakersfield, CA 

Sydney Carrasco, Criminal Justice, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 

Dylan R. Carrier, Accounting, Hoisington, KS 

Rayleen Castro, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Redlands, CA 

Trevin Ashtenn Chandler, Exercise Science, Houston, TX 

Tannah Marie Colson, K-12 Health and Physical Education, Huntington, TX 

Sean P. Conklin, Biology, Salina, KS 

Chelsey Crawford-Cline, Social Science Teaching 6-12, Salina, KS 

Evan William Crotinger, Biology, Tribune, KS 

Samantha Ann Crowther, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Lindsborg, KS 

Brandie L Cruz, Psychology, Garden City, KS 

Bailey Cumberland, Exercise Science, Salina, KS 

Michael Davis, Exercise Science, Las Vegas, NV 

Logan Mae Dawes, Psychology, McPherson, KS 

João Façanha De Menezes Neto, Business Administration, Caucaia, Brazil 

Mason Steven Dyck, Criminal Justice, Moundridge, KS 

Ryan R Dye, Psychology, Salina, KS 

Matthew Alexander Eades, Music Liberal Arts, Great Bend, KS 

Leah Eddings, Finance, Gypsum, KS 

Carlos Lorenzo Escobar, History-Political Science, San Juan Capistrano, CA 

Hannah Marie Ferguson, Business Administration, Clay Center, KS 

Luis Carlos Fierro Cortes, Biology, Salina, KS 

Derell Ray Finch, Finance, Brookville, KS 

Maria Flores, Biology, Salina, KS 

Lindsey Marie Gack, Psychology, Salina, KS 

Brandon Garza, Business Administration, Lyford, TX 

Halle Giddings, Studio Art, McPherson, KS 

Taylor Jade Goff, Video Game Design, Manhattan, KS 

Keyvan A. Grenald Hernandez, Sports Management, Cleveland, OH 

Wyatt Guthrie, Accounting, Dryden, WA 

Daniela Gutierrez-Holguin, Pre-Engineering, El Paso, TX 

R.J. Haberer, Business Administration, Luray, KS 

Brooke McKenzie Harrison, Communication & Theatre Arts, Santa Clarita, CA 

Ben Harvey, Exercise Science, Liverpool, UK 

Alyssa Hedges, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Salina, KS 

Gabriela Anna Hernandez, Communication & Theatre Arts, Wichita, KS 

Randall Hernandez Garcia, Psychology, Lynwood, CA 

John Robert Johnson, Psychology, Salina, KS 

Paige Joyce, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Castle Rock, CO 

Keith Klassen, Business Administration, Salina, KS 

Kyle J. Kronmiller, Management, Salina, KS 

Noah C Lackey, Business Administration, Lindsborg, KS 

Keagan D. Larson, Business Administration, Wichita, KS 

Akhiri Breanna Lester, Psychology, Bastrop, TX 

Millenni Ann Lucero, Mathematics Pre-Engineering, Denver, CO 

Zackary Luttrell-Fields, Biology, Olathe, KS 

Jose Francisco Madrid, Management with International Mngt, Caracas, Venezuela 

DeLaynee Higgins Malone, Elementary Education teaching K-6, Clute, TX 

Marcelle Simone Rose Manatrey, Elementary Education teaching K-6, Valparaiso, IN 

Andres Mata, History-Political Science, Salina, KS 

Brena Mitchell, Finance, Long Beach, CA 

Joep Mokkink, Business Administration, Voorburg, Netherlands 

KayLa-Shahnee Moore, Psychology, New Bern, NC 

Daniel Morgan, Exercise Science, Bloomington, IN 

Tyesha Nauslar, Criminal Justice, Salina, KS 

Pearl Nydile Navarro, Exercise Science, Glendale, CA 

Kaetlyn Newell, Biology, Salina, KS 

Kenneth O'Farrill, Exercise Science, Loiza, PR 

Dominique Niamh Palmer, Psychology, Canyonleigh, NSW, Australia 

Mauricio A. Palomino Mendoza, Exercise Science, Mexico City, Mexico 

Rebecca Peregrino, Business Administration, Hooper, CO 

Ryan Michael Pierce, Marketing, Colorado Springs, CO 

Victoria Quintana, Biology, Westminster, CO 

Zackary James Reddin Jr, Criminal Justice, Tampa, FL 

Zephra Eden Rice, Studio Art, McPherson, KS 

Abigail Kate Rishel-Barnett, Vocal Music Teaching Pre-K-12, Lindsborg, KS 

Marissa Roberts, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Salina, KS 

Gabriela Rodriguez, Mathematics, San Diego, CA 

Manuel David Rodriguez Talavera, Biology, Anasco, PR 

Matthew D. Rodriguez, Business Administration, New Rochelle, NY 

Luis Esteban Rodriguez Gorritz, Exercise Science, Cidra, PR 

Madison Ann Scholl, Biology, Lindsborg, KS 

Julie Alanys Schwindt, Exercise Science, Lubbock, TX 

Madison Marie Kahealani Scott, Biology, Granbury, TX 

Trace Samuel Scott, Biology, La Crosse, KS 

Hannah Nicole Seals, Sports Management, Oklahoma City, OK 

Sarah A. Sheppard, Studio Art, Rigby, ID 

Kevin Sithole, Accounting, Marondera, Zimbabwe 

Nicolas T. Slavin, Management, Olathe, KS 

Dalton Allen Smyres, Finance, Hutchinson, KS 

Rayan Sousa Silva, Exercise Science, Fortazela, Brazil 

Holly Yvonne Stanley, Exercise Science, Clydebank, Scotland 

Kayla Arianna Starkweather, Exercise Science, Redlands, CA 

Shelbey Paige Talbott, Management, Ellsworth, KS 

Maya Lorena Telles, Exercise Science, Garland, TX 

Jackson Thaemert, Health & Physical Education Teaching PreK-12, DeSoto, KS 

Rayna Lynne Thomason, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Blanchard, OK 

Makayla Thull, Criminal Justice, Salina, KS 

Jordan Valentine, Health & Physical Education Teaching PreK-12, Colorado Springs, CO 

Logan Vessar, Biology, Coeur d'Alene, ID 

Elaina Kristin Wald, Elementary Education Teaching K-6, Newton, KS 

Jalen Jamal Washington, Management, Norwalk, CA 

Michael Earl Wick, Jr., Finance, Conroe, TX 

Jennessa Wickersham, Exercise Science, Clay Center, KS 

Ambreenique Da'Shanae Williams, Exercise Science, Longview, TX 

Tanner Williams, Biology, Rose Hill, KS 

Noah Wineteer, Finance, Euless, TX 

Kailey Wolf, Biology, Peyton, CO 

Hannah Danielle Wolting, Exercise Science, Sylvan Grove, KS 

Timothy Ray Yoder, Management, Phoenix, AZ 

Bryant M. Young, Exercise Science, Keller, TX 

Bryce T. Young, Business Economics, Keller, TX 

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is online at bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.