1,300 graduate from Creighton

During commencement ceremonies Saturday, Creighton University honored more than 1,300 graduates, Omahans Mary and Charles Heider, the Boy Scouts of America, the Sisters of Mercy and volunteers who traveled to Haiti.

Graduation was held at the Qwest Center Omaha.

The Boy Scouts of America is marking its centennial this year. Its Mid-America Council covers more than 500 communities in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota and boasts 33,000 Scouts and nearly 10,000 volunteer leaders.

Also in 1910, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas established St. Catherine's Hospital in Omaha, the first hospital in the city to accept maternity patients. St. Catherine's School of Nursing later became affiliated with Creighton University.

Charles and Mary Heider each received an honorary doctorate of humane letters for their leadership in civic organizations as well as their ongoing support for higher education and cancer research. The Heiders have endowed two chairs at Creighton, one for Jesuit faculty and one in the School of Medicine that has received recognition for advances in cancer research.

Creighton also presented a “Magis” award -- a Latin term meaning “the more” -- to volunteers from its medical school and hospital communities who traveled to Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake. Accepting the award was Dr. Charles Filipi, who coordinated the teams from Omaha, and Dr. Brian Loggie, who led the first health care team.

Victoria Roche, a researcher, instructor of pharmaceutical science and assistant dean, was presented the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Award for Teaching Achievement. Students annually select the recipient.

The Spirit of Creighton Award was presented to Creighton University School of Medicine graduate Marley Doyle of Overland Park, Kan., and Arts and Sciences graduate Patrick Carter of St. Paul, Minn. The award is given annually to honor one or two graduates for their initiative, enterprise, academic achievement and outstanding character traits.

These students graduated with honors:

SUMMA CUM LAUDE

Nebraska: Bellevue -- Virginia Thompson; Byron -- Courtney Tietjen; Dodge -- Emily Ruskamp; Fremont -- Danielle Renner; Grand Island -- Rebekkah Fruin, Sarah Redman; Hartington -- Dylan Kathol; Hastings -- Diana Bruguera; Juniata -- Jason Hinze; La Vista -- Natalie Moores; Lincoln -- Nicole Pedersen; Omaha -- Brianna Brei, Brian Carroll, Anthony De Canti, Stephen Ducey, Michael Gibilisco, Stephen Grove, Emily Hurlbut, Anna Johnson, Adam Karnik, Daniel Kohler, William McCune, Christine Pivovar, Nicholas Quinn, Gregory Ramirez, Sara Redlin, Lindsay Templin, Kristin Wakin, Brittany Willer; O'Neill -- Elizabeth Willis; Platte Center -- McKenzie Jarecki; Schuyler -- John Guynan; Valentine -- Jordan Hanson; Wood River -- Cameron Hinkson.

Elsewhere: Chandler, Ariz. -- Claire Wolnisty; Boulder, Colo. -- Patrick Savory; Denver --Michael Carmody, Theresa Hayes; Littleton, Colo. -- Eric Lomas; Parker, Colo. -- Jill Bronk; Honolulu, Hawaii -- Kristen Ho; Altoona, Iowa -- Allison Showalter; Bettendorf, Iowa -- Christine Archibald, Courtney Bohn, Deirdre Gordon; Council Bluffs -- Gregory Dodaro; Crescent, Iowa -- Beth McMullen; Denison, Iowa -- Ashley Petersen; Des Moines -- Jaime Lang; Fort Dodge, Iowa -- Amanda Crimmins; Glenwood, Iowa -- Katherine Garrett; Johnston, Iowa -- Alex Kron; Manning, Iowa -- Alex Eischeid; Missouri Valley, Iowa -- Brian Martens; West Des Moines -- Matthew Dorweiler, Timothy Roemmich; Williamsburg, Iowa -- Laura Meade; Moscow, Idaho -- Aaron Taff; Belleville, Ill. -- Margaret McGlynn; Evanston, Ill. -- Kristoph Haak; Evergreen Park, Ill. -- John Andre; Peoria, Ill. -- Katherine Cusack; Independence, Kan. -- Joy Chaput; Leawood, Kan. -- Steven Hennelly; Lenexa, Kan. -- Kylie Immethun, Sarah Potter; Olathe, Kan. -- Steven Hengeli, Melissa Murphy; Overland Park, Kan. -- Coleen Nelson, Emily Walkup; Prairie Village, Kan. -- Cailan Ruzicka O'Grady; Topeka, Kan. -- James Rankin; Wichita, Kan. -- Kyle Amos, Laura Hund; Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Natalie Weighner; Anoka, Minn. -- Benjamin Johnson; Eagan, Minn. -- Rachel Spangler; Ham Lake, Minn. -- Peter Nickoloff; Richfield, Minn. -- Erik Egeland, Hannah Etnyre; Rochester, Minn. -- David Gaustad; Rosemount, Minn. -- Amanda Raymond; Roseville, Minn. -- Mark Pepin; St. Paul, Minn. -- Kendra Forest; Jefferson City, Mo. -- Hannah Enloe; Springfield, Mo.-- Mary Pomerenke, Jake Schutz; St. Louis -- Andrew Bauer, Andrew Christiansen, Daniel Reynolds, Jenna Strawhun, Aimee Willems; Butte, Mont. -- Callan Driscoll, Clinton, Mont. -- Kristina Nowatzke; Sparks, Nev. -- Noelle Davis-Marinaccio; Gregory, S.D. -- Benjamin Kafka; Hot Springs, S.D. -- Frank Ginsbach; Sioux Falls, S.D. -- Curtis Bankers, Jonathon Bannwarth; Whitewood, S.D. -- Becky Davies; Fort Worth, Texas -- Laura Reichling; Ephraim, Utah -- David Bailey.

MAGNA CUM LAUDE

Nebraska: Alma -- Rachel Huggins; Bellevue -- April Erke, Jane Mathew; Campbell --Jordane Choquette; Columbus -- Michael Blackburn, Taylor Lemke; Hastings -- Dessa Consbruck; Humboldt -- John Maschman; Omaha -- Rajeev Anchan, Emily Arkfeld, Noah Bieber, Mckale Crawford, Jeffrey Feldhaus, John Franco, Olta Gjoca, Carolyn Green, Eric Grieser, Mark Hill, Laura Holt, Molly Jergenson, Brendan Joyce, Abby Locke, Kate May, Colleen McGarry, Jacob Moore, Patrice Jones Ott, Tara Ryan, Samantha Schuett, Rebecca Sibilia, Briana Steen, Kunal Sualy, Te Jung Tsai; Papillion -- David Newman, Kevin Thiessen, Kimberly Williams; Ralston -- Lauren Yager; South Sioux City -- Katie Frank; Spencer -- Mikaela Miller.

Elsewhere: Chandler, Ariz. -- Lisa Wolf; Goodyear, Ariz. -- Barrett Lindsey; Granite Bay, Calif. -- Daniel O'Brien; Moorpark, Calif. -- Colby Keslar; Roseville, Calif. -- Salima Hasham; Sacramento, Calif. -- Kylie Ruzicka; Aurora, Colo. -- Nicole Hesse, Kelley Wanzeck; Centennial, Colo. -- Clare Dibella, Carolyn Wanberg; Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Bard Hovenga; Denver -- Catherine Tammi Warner; Littleton, Colo. -- Kalyn Mikkelson, Megan O'Brien; Pueblo, Colo. -- Stacie Shirley; Sterling, Colo. -- Daniel Lambrecht, Erika Nickel; Mililani, Hawaii John Olley; Waipahu, Hawaii -- Shelby Takeshita; Audubon, Iowa -- Joanna Olson; Bancroft, Iowa -- Samantha Arndorfer; Burlington, Iowa -- Alexander Dehner; Council Bluffs -- Eric Adams, Ross Caniglia, Megan Carrick, Natalie Erbs; Iowa City, Iowa -- Joel Gieswein; Malvern, Iowa -- Sandra Mass; Odebolt, Iowa -- Jenilynn Blair; Panama, Iowa -- Melissa Schwery; Portsmouth, Iowa -- Lydia Reinig; Sergeant Bluff, Iowa -- Elizabeth Sokolowski; Storm Lake, Iowa -- Angela Schmidt; Urbandale, Iowa -- Laura Albright, Kristin Fitzgerald; Boise, Idaho -- Andrew Smith; Paul, Idaho -- Andrea Radabaugh; Chicago -- Joseph Nierzwicki; Crystal Lake, Ill. -- Amanda Schieler; Peoria, Ill. -- Caroline Cusack, Anthony Kouri; Schaumburg, Ill. -- Christopher DeGrande; Wheaton, Ill. -- Rachel Bloom; Easton, Kan. -- Ashley Meinert; Olathe, Kan. -- Colin Smalley, Lindsay Vaught; Overland Park, Kan. -- Adam Hare, Ellen Withrow; Stilwell, Kan. --Sarah Murphy; Topeka, Kan. -- Gregory Wittenburg; Lakeville, Minn. -- Alyssa Grengs; Rosemount, Minn. -- Tyson Hickle; St. Paul, Minn. -- Patrick Carter; Savage, Minn. -- Molly Dawson; Shoreview, Minn. -- Beth Alton; West St. Paul, Minn. -- Lauren Rusch; Kansas City, Mo. -- Kevin Ruprecht; St. Louis -- Teresa Staten; Trimble, Mo. -- Emily Taylor; Minot, N.D. -- Bethany Jensen; Irwin, Pa. -- Alysa Bressi; Aberdeen, S.D. -- Travis Huck; Hartford, S.D. -- Jessica Lammers; Sioux Falls, S.D. -- Filip Mazurczak, Daniel Meyer; Wood, S.D. -- Meghan Vesely; Yankton, S.D. -- James Sullivan; Allen, Texas -- Justine O'Neill-Hedlund; Arlington, Texas -- Courtney Boes; Brenham, Texas -- Sara Schretenthaler; Dallas -- Robert Disque; Mesquite, Texas -- Chadi El-Khoury; American Fork, Utah -- Brian Glazier; Draper, Utah -- Sean Lynch; Ogden, Utah -- Tyler Boss; Mead, Wash. -- Hailey Rademacher; Green Bay, Wis. -- Maria DeMeuse; Milwaukee, Wis. -- Miriam Thorn.

CUM LAUDE

Nebraska: Bellevue -- Alexander Cherubin, Daniel Cole, Timothy Hook, Sarah Ryan; Blair -- Shannon Docken; Brownville -- Thomas Wheeler; Ceresco -- Chad Daniel; Columbus -- Autumn Kresha; Crofton -- Molly Borgmann; Davenport -- David Crockett; David City -- Lesley Schmit Holloway; Farwell -- Megan Lewandowski; Hartington -- Bryce Hansen; La Vista -- Michael Shafer, Tyler Gassaway; Lincoln -- Anne Gerhart Peetz; North Platte -- Jordan Mapes; Omaha -- Hiba Ahmad, Scott Andersen, Reid Bouchard, David Bresel, Teri Brink, Phillip Brown, Katharine Bunke, Mary Burnett, Gage Cobb, Abby Coleman, Phuc Nguyen Dang, Andrew Deaver, Christine Becker Dobel, Carl Erwin, Tracy Farrell, Gregory Gerber, Rebecca Gurnett, Amy Hahn, Thiago Harvey, Cheree Hatfield, Anne Haugen, Jason Hince, Laurin Hogan, Thomas Jensen, David Kingston, Elsbeth Klotz, Katie Knapp, Megan Knowles, David Madden, Frances Maier, Eric Marty, Hiliary Brennan McCarthy, Kelly Mullin, Sarah Nathan, Christopher Neeley, Amanda Oertli, Daniel Pelletier, Lisa Peters, Daria Podsiadlo, Danielle Pressler, Ariel Ramirez, Kara Schiermeyer, Melissa Schilling, Paige Scholer, Monet Loggins Schrodermier, Vanessa Strazdas, Lindsay Wikoff; Sidney -- Jillian Zingula; York -- Donald Stewart.

Elsewhere: Los Gatos, Calif. -- Jamie Smith; Riverside, Calif. -- Lindsay Wettergreen; Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Benjamin Schaechter; Centennial, Colo. -- Katherine Cameron, Corey Wiederholt; Denver -- Andrew Baumgartner; Englewood, Colo. -- Daniel Stoddard; Fort Collins, Colo. -- Ryan LeBaron; Grand Junction, Colo. -- Austin VanDusen, Samantha Miller; Highlands Ranch, Colo. -- Jeffrey Hamilton; Lakewood, Colo. -- Elizabeth Hewitt; Lone Tree, Colo. -- Emily Singleton, Emily Walsh; Westminster, Colo. -- Courtney Elliott; Makawao, Hawaii -- Kelsey Shingo Tengan; Alton, Iowa -- Jeffrey Streff; Avoca, Iowa -- Jessica Ploen; Burlington, Iowa -- Mallory Gustison; Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- Courtney Hanson; Council Bluffs -- Cassara Carroll, Kyle Hanson, Christopher Roth, Samuel Skorepa; Dubuque, Iowa -- Brian Sullivan; Emmetsburg, Iowa -- Heather Stillman; Fort Dodge, Iowa -- Ian Steele; Mason City, Iowa -- Andy Portis; Robins, Iowa -- Geneva Harriman, Sarah Walton; Tabor, Iowa -- Ryann Miller; Dalton Gardens, Idaho -- Kirk Davidson; Idaho Falls, Idaho -- Carl Larson; Post Falls, Idaho -- Matthew Larson; Clarendon Hills, Ill. -- Brett Caplice; Evergreen Park, Ill. -- John Carney; Orland Park, Ill. -- Jaclyn Rinaldi; Springfield, Ill. -- William Nester; Washington, Ill. -- Sarah Roszhart; Leavenworth, Kan. -- Julia Meyer; Leawood, Kan. -- Paul Thompson; Manhattan, Kan. -- Sean Kenney; Olathe, Kan. -- Kyla Hoskins; Overland Park, Kan. -- Rachel Dent, Kelly DiFolco, Daniel McKinzie, Julie Peacock; Prairie Village, Kan. -- Laura Thomas; Topeka, Kan. -- Kelsey Flynn; Bowling Green, Ky. -- Thomas Whetstone; Albert Lea, Minn. -- Logan Helland, Jacquelyn Schrad; Burnsville, Minn. -- Kelly Tangen; Ham Lake, Minn. -- Joseph Merck; Minneapolis -- Colin Gordon; Pine City, Minn. -- Lindsey Erickson; Rochester, Minn. -- Eric Nippoldt; Rosemount, Minn. -- Anna Budinger; St. Cloud, Minn. -- Aaron Broman, Catherine Keating; Arnold, Mo. -- Kevin Weiler, Kansas City, Mo. -- Emily Wirtz; Lee's Summit, Mo. -- Sarah McInerny; St. Louis -- Brian Roustio; Warrensburg, Mo. -- Harrison Roundtree; Bismarck, N.D. -- Trevor Rainwater; Las Vegas -- Lindsay Martin, Bellerose, N.Y. --Eric Gunn; Eugene, Ore. --Melissa Greig; Brandon, S.D. -- Matthew Hubbell; Mitchell, S.D. -- Morgan Olson; Sioux Falls, S.D. -- Sabrina Vasa; Yankton, S.D. -- Leslie Ibarolle; Ogden, Utah -- Brady Powell; Provo, Utah -- David Beeston; St. George, Utah -- Amber Fullwood; Salt Lake City, Utah -- Joel Taylor; Sandy, Utah -- Devin Matsumori; South Jordan, Utah -- Adam Stanley; Bothell, Wash. - Kenneth Harmon; Appleton, Wis. -- Darren Stoop; Cedarburg, Wis. -- Colin Laffey; Pewaukee, Wis.-- Paul Akre.

WITH HONORS

Nebraska: Bellevue -- Emily Simpson; Lincoln -- Julia Rhodes, Therese Ronkar; Omaha -- Anthony Allee, Michelle Cochran, Kayce Seidl; Ravenna -- Amanda Luth.

Elsewhere: Jacksonville, Fla. -- Audrey Tomjack; Kahului, Hawaii -- Stacy Pladera; Boise, Idaho -- Jemma Langland; Meade, Kan. -- Cassandra Mains; Wichita, Kan. -- Jill Henry; Babbitt, Minn. -- Mathew Hupila; Stewart, Minn. -- Elizabeth Knaak; Missoula, Mont. -- Susan Paulson; Charlotte, N.C. -- Doran Smolias; Hermiston, Ore. -- Stephanie Johnson; Fairview, Utah -- Christian Larsen; Richfield, Utah -- Christopher Tuttle.

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