Morningside College conferred 156 bachelor’s degrees and 96 Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degrees during its 109th spring commencement exercises held Saturday, May 12, at 2 p.m. on the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center lawn.

In addition to the 252 spring graduates, degrees were conferred upon August and December 2006 graduates, as well as students expected to graduate in August 2007.

An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree was conferred upon Dr. Stephen Davis, professor emeritus at Emporia State University in Kansas and visiting distinguished professor of psychology at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas. The college presented this honorary degree in honor of his commitment to life-long learning, civic responsibility, and ethical leadership, the tenets of Morningside’s mission.

Joe Shufro, associate professor of music, received the 2007 Lucille and Charles Wert Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. The award recognizes the faculty member judged by his peers to best exemplify the ideas of the academic teaching profession at Morningside.

Shufro, pictured at right, joined the faculty in 1977. He serves as orchestra conductor and teaches cello and various classes in music theory and literature. He established the Electronic Music Studio at the college and teaches classes in its use. In 2004, he established the Morningside Intensive Chamber Music Seminar and coordinates the annual event. In 2005, he organized the Morningside Camerata, a faculty-student collaborative string ensemble, and continues to perform with the group. As a member of the Morningside Trio, he performs recitals on campus and across Iowa. He also serves as a conductor and teacher for the Leo Kucinski Academy of Music.

Shufro is currently serving on the Promotion and Tenure Committee at Morningside. In addition to his responsibilities at Morningside, he is conductor of the Siouxland Youth Symphony and is principal cellist of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, performing as a soloist and guest conductor for the organization.

Outstanding graduates were recognized with special awards in their fields of study. Jenna Christianson, Audubon, Iowa; and Paul Farley Wamburg, Sioux City, received the Dr. Tom Curry Outstanding Business Student Award, given in memory of the late Tom Curry, who was associate professor of business administration and economics at Morningside from 1991 to 2005.

Other graduates and their awards included: Stacy Pearson, Sioux City, Graduating Senior Art Award; Elizabeth Kelly, Falls City, Neb., Lawrence Bandholz Award in Mathematical Science; Megan Hinds, Sioux City, Marie Bandholz Award in Special Education; Stacy Baldus, Grand Meadow, Minn., Dr. B. G. Knepper Award in English; Kara Mickelson, Sioux City, Lorraine E. Knepper Award in Nursing; Shauna Heiden, Denison, Iowa, Montford and Gertrude Knepper Award in English; and Lisa Cunningham, Anthon, Iowa, Dr. Dan A. Keast Award in Education.

Four graduates were recognized with Dean’s Awards, for their outstanding academic achievements in one of the four areas that comprise the Morningside College curriculum, including: Derek Rowedder, Denison, Iowa, Dean’s Award in Fine Arts; Maria Tran, Sioux City, Dean’s Award in Humanities; Kari Skalisky, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Dean’s Award in Professional Services and Influence; and Elizabeth Kelly, Falls City, Neb., Dean’s Award in Sciences.

Morningside College awards general honors based on undergraduate work completed at the college and according to the grade point averages (GPAs) designated as follows:

*Cum Laude (with honor) at 3.50
**Magna Cum Laude (with great honor) at 3.66
***Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) at 3.81.

General honors noted are based upon GPAs as of the end of the fall 2006 semester.

The spring graduates were as follows:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: Trisha Anderson, Rachel Castillo, Hope Chapman***, Amber Clausen***, Julie DeLaRosa**, Nicole DeVries, Abraham Esquivel, Jacque Eviglo, Martha Gascon, Benjamin Goins*, Elizabeth Green**, Amy Hecht, Zachary Hindman***, Tiffnee Hummel, Betsy Ingenthron, Rachel Jacobson, Jacob Jorgensen, Sara Keleher**, Casey Lee, Trish Miller, Casaday Nguyen*, Brooke Niles***,Stacy Pearson**, Cindy Rasmussen***, Laura Roost***, Kimberlee Steele, Alethea Stout, David Streeby***, Maria Tran***, Tara Triplett, Daniel Widrowicz**, Stephanie Williams, Ashley Wood**, Matthew Young, and John Zevenbergen.

Iowa: Jennifer Ball**, Sergeant Bluff; Joshua Binneboese, Hinton; Ashley Bress*, Spencer Danielle Bueltel, Glenwood; Drew Calhoon, Avoca; David Clabaugh, Eagle Grove; Aimee Corporon, Cedar Rapids; Melissa Deuhr, Hinton; Brian Hamilton, Spencer; Justin Hargens, Denison; Shauna Heiden**, Denison; Logan Judd, Ankeny; Emily Kesten*, Oakland; Trevor Lally, Charter Oak; Kelly Pulatie*, Harlan; Jennifer Renken, LeMars; Katie Ripley, West Des Moines; Shawn Robinson, Davenport; Derek Rowedder*, Denison; Brandilynn Shipler***, Algona; and Dustin Wadlington, Estherville.

Nebraska: Jaclyn Buttermore, South Sioux City; Brian Drew, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Matthew Ellis, Meadow Grove; Sharona Ernst, Falls City; Natalie Fenton*, Omaha; Heather Graf, Aurora; Ashley Lewis, Neligh; Jesse Lieber, South Sioux City; Rafael Monasterio, Grand Island; Brandon Mueller, Seward; Dana Rossmeier, Norfolk; and James Schmidt, Fremont.

Other states and countries: Stacy Baldus***, Grand Meadow, Minn.; Jason Burris, Oakes, N.D.; Earl Infanger, North Sioux City, S.D.; Tamara Lostan, Apo, United Arab Emirates; Dalton Meyers, Uniontown, Ariz.; and Lindsay Smith*, Liberty, Mo.

Bachelor of Music Education

Maggie McDermott, Oto, Iowa

Bachelor of Science

Sioux City: Brittany Anderson, Erin Eckerman**, Jama Farah, Paul Farley Wamberg***, Jose Garza, Drew Hahn, Courtney Held, Megan Hinds, Krista Koster, Robert Lorenzo*, Catherine Posey, Elizabeth Reynolds**, Talon Sowienski**, and Ryne Young***.

Iowa: Amy Anderson***, Estherville; Steven Barnhart, Sergeant Bluff; Bryan Batterton, Des Moines; Brianna Blake**, Wiota; Ashley Brewer, Sergeant Bluff; Jenna Christianson**, Audubon; Sara Courter*, Rockwell City; Rebecca Dreager, Council Bluffs; Jonathan Goodin, Sloan; Hilary Hansen, Atlantic; Heath Horsley, Lawton; Vanessa Houston, Charter Oak; Heather Huntley**, Charter Oak; Joshua Johnson***, Sergeant Bluff; Allison Kirby, Whiting; Paula Kloewer*, Defiance; Kellsey Kock***, Breda; Jonathan Lenhart, Bondurant; Corey Lloyd, Moville; Austin McDonald, Dunlap; Bryce Miller, Battle Creek; Timothy Moose, Garnavillo; Ryan Norgelas, Salix; Casey Sturgill, Dunlap; Jacob Thomas, Moville; Jayme Wetzel, Des Moines; and Megan Wunsch, Garner.

Nebraska: Laura Andersen***, Omaha; Elizabeth Kelly***, Falls City; Trish Martin, South Sioux City; Reed Nuss, Nebraska City; Jeramiah Schrock, Central City; Matthew Steffens, Lincoln; and Lacey Watson, South Sioux City.

Other states: Nicole Allen**, North Sioux City, S.D.; Matthew Butler, Rapid City, S.D.; Travis Hemmingson, North Sioux City, S.D.; Julia Husk, Littleton, Colo.; Jessica Jensen, Hutchinson, Kan.; Melissa Keiper**, Lennox, S.D.; Michael Laue, Fairmont, Minn.; Jennifer Nelson***, Joel Nelson, Bremerton, Wash,; Saint George, Utah; Kate Rakow*, Champlin, Minn.; William Robinson, Parker, Colo.; Saul Salinas, Alamo, Texas; and Chantel Stratton, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Sioux City: Tara Felton, Phyllis Fisk**, Mary Johannsen, Kara Mickelson*, and Melissa Rowe.

Iowa: Tristan Gray, Holstein; Amber Lemkau, Fort Dodge; Holly Lorenzen, Arthur; Jacquelyn Otto***, Auburn; Rachel Post, Titonka; Amos Schonrock, Moville; Kari Skalisky, Sergeant Bluff; Candice Whitney, Hinton; and Jill Zeman, Ottosen.

Nebraska: Michael Gale, South Sioux City; Tanya Huwaldt, Osmond; and Rena Pedersen, Hartington.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree

Sioux City: Rachel Barrett-Gardner, Ryan Nourse, Jennifer Rasmussen, Angela Turner, and Beverly Weseman.

Iowa: Jeremy Allar, Ottumwa; Dawn Anderson, Oskaloosa; Jenny Andrew, Fort Dodge; Michelle Armitage, Humboldt; Teresa Bettin, Lake View; Claudia Blozovich, Centerville; Marie Boeckman, Lake View; Eric Boge Sioux Rapids; Todd Bontrager, Wall Lake; Karen Brandt, Ottumwa; Jill Brockschink, Cedar Rapids; Nicole Cadena, Mason City; LynDee Capper, Williamsburg; Kristine Castelluccio, Davenport; Deb Chaney, Badger; Ruth Christensen, Grafton; Nancy Conner, Mason City; Jenisha Crooks, Osage; Denise De Waard, Sioux Center; Tammy Delaney, Lake Park; Ericka Downie, Sheldon; Laura Elsbernd, Cedar Rapids; Katherine Evenson, Sioux Center; Anita Fagen-Miller, Humboldt; Cara Fah, Bettendorf; Jill Gardner, Ottumwa; Ivan Gentry, Cedar Rapids; Amy Gifford, Ankeny; Wendy Glenn, De Soto; Megan Green, Moulton; Angela Greiner, Keota; Angela Grubb, Oskaloosa; Shari Hansen, Correctionville; Carol Heissel, Everly; Jody Herbold, Kingsley; Betty Hizer, Oskaloosa; Sara Hogenson, Oskaloosa; Kellie Hogg, Cleghorn; Dana Hols, Ottumwa; Michelle Huntress, Milford; Norberto Ibarra, Muscatine; Kelly Lee James, Grimes; Jill Jamieson, Fort Dodge; Scott Johnson, Wall Lake; Patricia Johnston, Fairfield; Cathy Kaska, Fairfield; Marcia Koch, Fairfield; Lanice Kock, Breda; Cindy Koehler, Udell; Ginny Kraus, Cumming; Jennifer Madden, Donnellson; Melanie Marreel, Clear Lake; Kristen Marshall, Keosauqua; Amy Meyer, Alta; Sara Miller, Ottumwa; David Moeller, Muscatine; Esther Mullen, Fonda; Lorie Neff, Swisher; Darcie Olson, Remsen; Bryon Owen, Ottumwa; Renee Persinger, Council Bluffs; Marilyn Peters, Lake View; Cheryl Peters-Johnson, Humboldt; Pamela Pottorff, Sergeant Bluff; Natalie Probst, Eddyville; Amber Reed, Albia; Kristy Samuelson, Fort Dodge; Karen Sandberg, Harcourt; Kathleen Schippers, Muscatine; Elizabeth Schlueter, University Park; Janelle Schorg, Remsen; Bridget Schuster, Cedar Rapids; Amanda Schwartzhoff, Davenport; Alison Seuntjens, Kingsley; LuAnn Slayton, Manson; Michelle Spry, Oskaloosa; Kim Stevens, Ottumwa; Mary Tice, Des Moines; Kayti Vander Schaaf, Sioux Center; Andrea Walsh, Fort Dodge; Jill Watson, Fairfield; Leticia Wedgbury, Mason City; Denise Werkmeister, Lake View; Karen Whipka, Eldridge; Jeffrey White, Central City; Jill Wilgenbusch, Winthrop; and Dawn Williams, Osage.

Other states: Erin Newell Salt Lake City, Utah; Christopher Rooney, North Sioux City, S.D.; Susan Sierk, South Sioux City, Neb.; and Dina Vander Wilt, Mitchell, S.D.

The following students are expected to graduate in August 2007 and participated in the exercises:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: James Cornelia II, Kiel Ploen, Katherine O’Byrne, and Lisa Theisen.

Iowa: Benjamin Walker, Moville.

Other states and countries: Nicole Kranz, Columbus, Neb.; and Casandra Peck, Scribner, Neb.

Bachelor of Music Education

Tyler Schnuckel, Odebolt, Iowa.

Bachelor of Science

Sioux City: Barbara Rohlena***, and Angela Uher.

Iowa: Alicia Baier, Sergeant Bluff; Katie Bowen, Keystone; Kayla Joslin, Odebolt; and Ilisja Sheri*, Des Moines.

Other states and countries: Virgilio Aguirre, Jr., Elsa, Texas; Matthew Stachowitz, La Crosse, Wis.;

The following August or December 2006 graduates participated in the exercises:

Bachelor of Arts

Sioux City: Jennifer Dziurawiec*, Jeremy Glade, Andrea Gleiser, Robb Rusk, and Patrick Simons.

Iowa: Libby Brock, LeMars; Tiffany Castle, Mapleton; Casey Gibbs, Garnavillo; Annie Harms, Onawa; Rachel Lenhardt, Council Bluffs; Stephanie Mugge, Grimes; John Palmer, Cedar Rapids; Dawn Phelps, West Amana; Andrew Sciorrotta, Johnston; and Molly Turman, Hinton.

Other states: Cathleen Ann, Grosse Pointe, Mich.; Jill Bottolfsen, Hartington, Neb.; Bryan Dowd, Bonita Springs, Fla.; Kyle Heflin, Bandera, Texas; Jess Horsley**, Saint Louis, Mo.; Crystal Quibell*, Blue Springs, Mo.; and Mallory Trudell, Omaha, Neb.

Bachelor of Science

Sioux City: Mary Bleil, Angela Conway, Nathan Halbur, Travis Paulson***, Brenton Watkins***, and Michael Winklepleck.

Iowa: Lisa Cunningham**, Anthon; William Foval, Fort Dodge; Vanessa Hasley, Ottumwa; Sarah Landis, LeMars; Eric Lawson*, Harlan; Theresa Loveall***, Sergeant Bluff; Robert McLey, Hamburg; Himi Mizutani, Paullina; Molly Moser, Mapleton; and Debbie Noble*, Oakland.

Other states: Kevin Forristall, Omaha, Neb.; Jennifer Francescon, Moline, Ill.; and Lisa Schoenberner, Omaha, Neb.