By NCTA News
CURTIS, Neb. (May 17, 2023) Friends, family, and supporters filled the Curtis Memorial Community Hall with pride and anticipation as the Class of 2023 entered at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, for the NCTA Spring Commencement.
Students hailed from 13 states, including Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, California, Vermont, Virginia, New Jersey, and Minnesota.
NCTA dean Dr. Larry Gossen welcomed attendees and congratulated the 87 graduates with enthusiastic opening remarks on the graduates' high achievement and quality of character.
The audience was then moved by the national anthem sung acapella by Emma Yarolimek of Papillion, followed by a heartfelt invocation from Allison Wilkens of Gibbon, later honored as Aggie of the Year and Class Valedictorian.
Honored guest speakers Regent Kathy Wilmot, IANR Vice President/Vice Chancellor Dr. Mike Boehm, and University President Ted Carter each brought words of high praise to the graduates and gratitude for the student's supporters.
President Carter shared the commencement address, noting that the graduates were living proof of the value of a college education. He praised the students for the many faculty comments that they hated to see them go.
He asked students to appreciate that they each have a unique story and path to how they arrived at this moment, saying, "Don't underestimate the power of what you've learned, the experiences, the academic excellence, and be grateful for those that got you this far. But at the end of the day, you did it."
He closed by reminding students not to forget their special relationship with the town of Curtis and called it "one of the most defining rural communities in the country."
Dr. Gossen announced the Valedictorian as Allison Wilkens of Gibbon and Trevor Schneider of Cozad as Salutatorian.
Dr. Jennifer McConville, Associate Dean, recognized 12 graduates as Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Members, 12 graduates achieving Magna Cum Laude (3.73-3.99 GPA), and 14 earning Cum Laude (3.5-3.74 GPA).
Dr. Gossen presented the candidates, and Dr. Mike Boehm conferred degrees to graduates. They received diplomas for Associate of Science degrees or Associate of Applied Science degrees in Agribusiness Management Systems (AMS), Agricultural Production Systems (APS), or Veterinary Technology Systems (VT).
Dr. Boehm also conferred 22 certificates for one-year or two-year programs. Some graduates had multiple degrees and certificates.
Tanner Ostrander of Ogallala, Student Senate president, closed the joyful ceremony with the benediction.
Spring 23 Graduates
(Nebraska cities, unless otherwise noted.)
Anselmo - Joel Finney, APS
Arnold - Logan Peterson, APS
Ashland - Ellie Stohlmann, APS
Atwood, KS - Christina Frink, VT
Axtell - Jayden Robinson, VT
Benkelman - Gillian Fell, APS
Bertrand - Amanda Patterson, VT
Callaway - Brandi Coons, APS, Certificate Equine Training Mgt
Callaway - Reagan Ross, APS
Cambridge - Kyle Borland, APS
Cozad - Trevor Schneider, APS
Colby, KS - Wyatt Tubbs, APS
Curtis - Austin Niemoth, APS, Certificate Irrigation Tech
Derby, VT - Celeste Tanguay, APS, Certificate Equine Training Mgt
Doniphan -Taylor Lautenschlager, APS
Dorrance - Garrett Thielen, APS
Elwood - Cauy Bennett, APS, Certificate Agricultural Welding
Ewing - Emma Hollenback, VT
Faulkton, SD - Koltyn Forbes, APS
Fordyce - Claudia Stevens, APS
Franklin - Levi Lennemann, APS
Gatlinburg, TN - Casey Podsobinski, APS
Geneva - Reid Richards, APS
Gibbon - Allison Wilkens, APS, AMS, Certificate Irrigation Tech
Grand Island - Madolyn Clark, VT
Grand Island - Chastity Gaunt, VT
Hillsboro, KS - Cheyenne Bernhardt, VT
Hoxie, KS - Gavin Tremblay, APS
Indianola - Ty Bennett, APS
Kearney - Gabrielle Post, VT
Lawrence - Konnor Thompson, APS
Lexington - Christian Del Palacio, VT
Lincoln - Emily Hasse, VT
Lincoln - Aubrey Kelley, VT
Lincoln - Lauren Kelley, APS
Long Pine - Ellie Welke, VT
Loomis - Katie Morten, VT
Lumberton, TX - Heidi Wilkerson, APS
Maywood - Wilhelmina Albaugh, APS
McCook - Shelby Kofler, VT
Midland, GA - Braeden Theriault, VT
Milliken, CO - Codi LaBorde, APS
Minden - Dane Teel, APS
Nelson - Keith Miller, APS
North Platte - Abbey Paul, VT
Norton, KS - Carson Harting, APS
Norton, KS - Emily Miller, VT
Oakland - Rheanna Paul, APS
Ogallala - Tanner Ostrander, APS
Omaha - Laureline Orr, APS, Certificate Equine Training Mgt
Pleasanton - Jack Berggren, APS
Pleasanton - Austen Cronin, APS, Certificate Irrigation Tech
Pleasanton - McKenna Darby, APS
Potter - Cooper Mazza, APS
Rapid City, SD - Hadley Geigle, VT
South River, NJ - Ashley Kowalski, VT
Spalding - Grace Glaser, VT
Spencer - Andrea Hipke, APS
Stanton - Eva Searight, APS, Certificate Equine Training Mgt
Stapleton - Saige Johnson, VT
Stockton, KS - Nolan Buss, APS
Twin Valley, MN - Abigail Gebhardt, APS
Victoria, KS - Payden Leiker, APS
Wolbach - Larista Barner, VT
Wray, CO - Riley Brown, VT
Part of the University of Nebraska system, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a two-year institution with a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, and related industries. NCTA is known for its affordable tuition, high job-placement rate for its graduates and the success of student teams in competitive activities, including crops judging, ranch horse events, livestock judging, shotgun sports, stock dog trials, and intercollegiate rodeo. The college is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year schools in the nation.
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