Phi Beta Kappa Inducts UW Students and Honorary Member
The University of Wyoming’s Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa inducted 22 UW students into the prestigious honor society along with one honorary member, Peter Parolin, Thursday, April 24, at 4 p.m. in Room 506 of Coe Library.
Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is one of the most respected academic societies in the world. The Wyoming chapter received its charter in 1940 and is among the 293 colleges and universities in the United States that host chapters.
Each year, UW faculty and administrators elect fewer than one-tenth of the leading scholars of the senior class of majors in arts and sciences into Phi Beta Kappa. A handful of outstanding juniors also are selected. In addition to having distinguished academic records, electees must pursue a balanced and broad course of study, including foreign language, math and the liberal arts and sciences. All members who are current seniors or who graduated in fall 2024 had an overall grade-point average of 3.73 or higher. There were four juniors elected this year, each with an overall 4.0 GPA.
“Our selection committee was very impressed by every inductee,” says Sarah Collins, an associate professor in UW’s Department of Zoology and Physiology and Phi Beta Kappa vice president, who oversees the selection of inductees. “They all have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and also have pursued coursework across the liberal arts and sciences.”
The Phi Beta Kappa honorary member-elect is not an alumnus of the specific chapter’s institution but is chosen for scholarly achievement and contributions to the liberal arts. This year’s selection is UW Honors College Dean Parolin, who holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and B.A. from the University of British Columbia.
“I’m honored to be invited to join Phi Beta Kappa in the company of so many distinguished University of Wyoming scholars, past and present,” Parolin says. “The society’s commitment to open inquiry and the free advancement of knowledge is a beautiful thing, as important now as it has ever been.”
He has been at UW since 1997, has served as Department of English chair and assistant chair, and teaches English literature courses, including the long-standing summer study-abroad course, “Shakespeare in England and Italy.” Additionally, Parolin lectures for a summer seminar series at the Stratford Festival of Canada, acts in productions for UW’s Department of Theatre and Dance and Relative Theatrics, and serves on community boards. He will give the keynote address at Thursday’s Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony.
Shaylee Messersmith, of Alliance, who is studying History, was inducted.
Concordia University Hosts Commencement
On May 10, Concordia University, Nebraska awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees to more than 430 graduates. The class of 2025 was honored during an undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremony.
Erica Haskell of Alliance earned a Master of Education
Bailey Swanson of Alliance earned a Master of Education
Dr. Gene Edward Veith, writer and retired professor of literature, delivered this year’s commencement address. Veith previously served as the Provost of Patrick Henry College and a Professor of English at Concordia University Wisconsin. He has written over 20 books and 100 scholarly works, including The Spirituality of the Cross and God at Work.
Veith reminded graduates to remember God’s hand at work in their lives throughout both the insignificant and significant moments, citing Concordia Nebraska’s theme verse for the 2024-25 school year: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). He said that students must always look to God’s purpose for them rather than their own.
“God will call you to tasks and relationships in the family, the workplace, the society and the church,” Veith said. “Sometimes you may not see how all things are working together for good in all of your vocations…but realize that God is with you now and will continue to be with you in the future, just as He has been with you in the past.”
Mount Marty University Announces Spring 2025 Dean’s List
Mount Marty University is pleased to announce the Spring 2025 Dean’s List honorees.
At the end of each semester, all full-time undergraduate students who complete a full-time load of graded coursework — pass and fail credits are not included — with no incomplete classes and a minimum term grade point average of 3.5 will be named to the dean’s list.
Chase King, of Alliance, and Brinna Phillips, of Hemingford, were named to the Dean’s List.
UNK Degrees for 729 Conferred at Spring Commencement
Graduate and undergraduate degrees were conferred for 729 spring graduates at University of Nebraska at Kearney commencement exercises 10 a.m. Friday (May 16) at UNK’s Health and Sports Center.
Candidates for degrees are listed below in three groups: graduates from Nebraska, graduates from across the United States and international graduates.
Students graduating with honors have the honors noted after their names. Honors, along with grade-point averages necessary to earn those honors, include: summa cum laude, 3.90-4.00; magna cum laude, 3.80-3.89; cum laude, 3.70-3.79; and honorable mention, 3.50-3.69.
Courtney Kay Cox, of Alliance, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Payten Gibson, of Alliance, graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education.
Andrew Shannon, of Alliance, graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies.
CSC Honors Graduates at Commencement
CSC honored 245 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 65 candidates for master’s degrees Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in the Chicoine Center.
Undergraduate senior Ella O’Brien of Chadron offered the opening moment of reflection and graduate student Kylie Kempf of Carroll, Nebraska, will offer the closing moment of reflection. The speaker for the event will be Charles Welch, CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
Honor graduates are as follows: summa cum laude: 3.9-4.0 GPA; magna cum laude: 3.75-3.89 GPA; and cum laude: 3.6-3.74 GPA.
Alliance
Kayla Campos, Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude
Sara Hicks, Master of Arts in Education
Jessica Johnson, Bachelor of Science in Education
Kyndal Paterakis, Bachelor of Arts
Katelyn Varner, Bachelor of Science in Education, magna cum laude
Hemingford
Alexis McGowan, Bachelor of Arts
Rashell Neefe, Bachelor of Science in Education
Kenneth Wyland, Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude
Hastings College Honors Convocation Recognizes Students
During Hastings College’s Honors Convocation April 30, 2025, students and faculty were recognized for their outstanding achievements during the academic year.
Students listed below were among one of more than 40 students from across the country who were recognized during the event.
Chloe Blumanthal, of Alliance, Outstanding Criminology Senior
UNMC Congratulates Nearly 1,000 Graduates in Commencement Ceremonies
Diplomas and certificates were conferred on nearly 1,000 University of Nebraska Medical Center students during ceremonies held May 8 in Lincoln, Norfolk and Kearney and May 10 in Omaha and Scottsbluff.
Calysta Trevino, of Alliance, graduated from the College of Nursing Kearney Division with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Kelsey Horton, of Alliance, graduated with Distinction, from the College of Nursing Norfolk Division with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Kaitlyn Johnson, of Alliance, graduated from the College of Nursing Scottsbluff with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Regan Lambert, of Alliance, graduated with High Distinction from the College of Nursing Scottsbluff with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Nebraska Awards 3,681 Degrees in May Ceremonies
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conferred 3,681 degrees during commencement exercises May 3, 16 and 17.
The 3,591 graduates are from 57 countries, 46 U.S. states and 250-plus Nebraska communities.
A ceremony for College of Law graduates took place May 3 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts; a ceremony for students earning graduate and professional degrees occurred May 16 at Pinnacle Bank Arena; and two ceremonies for undergraduates were May 17 at the arena. Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett presided over the ceremonies.
The following is a list of local graduates:
Crystal Garza, of Alliance, College of Education and Human Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences with high distinction.
Darian Aleyna Wilson, of Alliance, Graduate Studies, Master of Arts.
Local Students Named to President’s List at Chadron State College
Chadron State College has announced the names of students who qualified for the President’s List for the Spring 2025 semester. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 12 credit hours of coursework, be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 4.0, and have no incomplete grades.
The students recognized on the President’s List, by hometown:
Alliance, Neb.
Olivia Behrends
Sonya Behrends
Kayla Campos
Kyndal Paterakis
Carlie Schneider
Katelyn Varner
Isaac Weems
Hemingford, Neb.
Kenneth Wyland
Local Students Named to Dean’s List at Chadron State College
Chadron State College has announced the names of students who qualified for the Dean’s List for the Spring 2025 semester. To be eligible, students must have completed at least 12 credit hours of coursework, be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, and have no incomplete grades.
The students recognized on the Dean’s List listed by hometown:
Alliance
Chase Boyer
Lizbeth Carrillo
Maribel Carrillo
Krish Chaudhari
Jessica Johnson
Hemingford
Catherine Bryner
Danea Hanson
Rashell Neefe