2026 Northwestern Spring Commencement set for May 9
May 1, 2026
A group of Northwestern graduates from the 2025 Spring commencement exercises. 2026 Spring commencement exercises at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be held Saturday, May 9, at Ranger Field beginning at 10:30 a.m.
ALVA, Okla. — Spring commencement exercises at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be held Saturday, May 9, at Ranger Field beginning at 10:30 a.m. In the case of inclement weather, the spring commencement exercises will be held in Percefull Fieldhouse.
Businesswoman and community leader Connie Sturgeon, a Northwestern graduate from 1986, will be speaking at the commencement.
Music will be provided by the Ranger symphonic band under the direction of Alexander Perkins, director of bands and instructor of instrumental music.
The parking tiers on the south end will be available for people to park and watch the ceremony from their vehicle. The tier parking is first-come, first serve availability unless handicap parking is needed. Handicap parking will be available on the first tier.
Six candidates will receive Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.
Forty-five candidates will receive master degrees; six will receive a Master of Arts in American Studies degree, ten will receive Master of Business Administration degrees, 11 will receive Master of Counseling Psychology degrees, and 18 will receive Master of Education degrees.
A total of 212 candidates will receive bachelor’s degrees with 48 graduating with honors. Students with cumulative grade point averages between 3.70 and 3.79 are designated cum laude, those with GPAs between 3.80-3.89 are magna cum laude, and those above 3.90 are summa cum laude.
A live internet stream of the graduation can be found on the Northwestern Athletics YouTube channel.
Doctoral graduates and their hometowns are as follows:
DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE
OKLAHOMA
ALTUS – Juane Russell
ALVA – Teirna Rae Adair
CHEROKEE – Sarah Garvie-Wilber
ELK CITY – Kyndall Jean O’Donnell
PIEDMONT – Michelle Milligan
MASSACHUSETTS
WESTBOROUGH – Alyssa Los
Master’s graduates, their degrees and their hometowns are as follows:
MASTER OF ARTS IN AMERICAN STUDIES
OKLAHOMA
ALINE – Nathan Michael Sacket
ALVA – Lisa Marie Turner
WOODWARD – Elizabeth Christine Terbush
CALIFORNIA
APPLE VALLEY – Heatherene Merrill
GEORGIA
WOODSTOCK – Paige B. Cornacchione
KANSAS
EUDORA – M’Cheila Rader
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
OKLAHOMA
HENNESSEY – Mary Kay Henderson
INDIAHOMA – Brooklynn Dawn Pierson
KINGFISHER – Cora Beth Taylor
STUART – Shylo Durrell Glover
TEXHOMA – Carlos Iván Flores Melgar
WOODWARD – Chris Lauderdale
COLORADO
KIM – Saddie Lynn Hammond
IOWA
STATE CENTER – Emmet D. Edler
KANSAS
PRESTON – Addie Lea Huber
NEW JERSEY
PENNSAUKEN – Donovan Hines
MASTER OF COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
OKLAHOMA
ENID – Jordan Leanne Bergdall; Tanya Gordon; April Marie Morrow; Emily Paige Riggs; Theresa von Schultes
FAIRMONT – Sarah Davis
PONCA CITY – Taylor J. Diveley
YUKON – Amy Elena Brandley
CALIFORNIA
MURRIETA – Lillian Grisso
TEXAS
CHINA SPRING – Taylor Grace Larsen
WYLIE – Emily Victoria Flores
MASTER OF EDUCATION
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Austin Jay Rankin, adult education management and administration; Christine Marie Vickers, educational leadership; Sadie M. Wilson, reading specialist
EDMOND – Tammy LeBlanc Sandifer, curriculum and instruction
ENID – Loura Cantrell, curriculum and instruction; Matthew Womack, curriculum and instruction
HOOKER – Draven Hidalgo, adult education management and administration
LAVERNE – Justin Arvin Massee, adult education management and administration
MOORELAND – Jayna G. Gullic, adult education management and administration
PONCA CITY – Kennedy Ashton Harmon, curriculum and instruction
TUTTLE – Shayna Elaine Miller, educational leadership
WAYNOKA – Sagelyn Chanielle Budy, adult education management and administration
KANSAS
HOLCOMB – Damon David Kepley, adult education management and administration
SOUTH CAROLINA
DUNCAN – Zaccheus RS Beasley, adult education management and administration
TEXAS
HOUSTON – Trevin Ashtenn Chandler, adult education management and administration
KEMP – Justin Tyler, educational leadership
WISCONSIN
MADISON – Dominic Hogan, adult education management and administration
CANADA
TORONTO – Shehna Akbary, adult education management and administration
Bachelor’s graduates, including honors, their degrees and their hometowns are as follows:
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Ingrid Valeria Maldonado, Bachelor of Science in media and communication
BARTLESVILLE – Naomi Rose Soderstrom, Bachelor of Science in Education, elementary education
BEAVER – Edna Renee Riojas, Bachelor of Science in psychology
BLANCHARD – Zachary Gavin Castro Cox, Bachelor of Science in biology, chemistry
BUFFALO – MaKynlee Mulbery, Bachelor of Science in Education in elementary education
ENID – Kaylee Breanne Beck, Bachelor of Science in Education in elementary education
FAIRMONT – Teagen Grace Wright, Bachelor of Science in Education in elementary education
FAIRVIEW – Jacob Samuel Allen Setzer, Bachelor of Science in computer science
HINTON – Haley Rae Combs, Bachelor of Science in health and sports science education
JET – Nathan Layne Campbell, Bachelor of Science in agriculture
NEWCASTLE – William C. Kates, Bachelor of Business Administration
RINGWOOD – Hadley Joy Bohlen, Bachelor of Business Administration, accounting
SEILING – Jaxyn Cloud, Bachelor of Science in media and communication
WATONGA – Piper Jaye Gallagher, Bachelor of Science in media and communication
WOODWARD – Isabella Kate Bowers, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Jaime Rocha-Lopez, Bachelor of Science in computer science; Justyce Lauren Wilson, Bachelor of Science in health and sports science education
KANSAS
HUGOTON – Summya Pearl Adigun, Bachelor of Science in psychology
NEBRASKA
BELLEVUE – Carson Wright, Bachelor of Science in biology
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Derrick Lawayne Galindo, Bachelor of Science in media and communication; Jenna Maier, Bachelor of Social Work
ENID – Sarah Decker, Bachelor of Science in nursing; James Michael Fanning, Bachelor of Social Work; Ashlan Skye Light, Bachelor of Science in Education, mathematics; Jessica L. Myers, Bachelor of Arts in Education, social science; Taryn Elisabeth Smith, Bachelor of Science in psychology; Johnathan David Ylitalo, Bachelor of Science in biology, chemistry
HENNESSEY – Madison Root, Bachelor of Science in Education, early childhood education
HOPETON – Dalon Neal Percival, Bachelor of Science in agriculture
RINGWOOD – Wyatt Elden Shaffer, Bachelor of Business Administration
ARIZONA
CLARKDALE – Marcus Robert Bueno, Bachelor of Science in nursing
CUM LAUDE
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Bentley Zane Cox, Bachelor of Arts, visual arts
BARTLESVILLE – Jake LaSpisa, Bachelor of Science in health and sport science education
ENID – Maria Consuelo Almaraz, Bachelor of Science in Education, elementary education; Paige Michelle Bailey, Bachelor of Science in psychology
FAIRVIEW – Thomas Dean Pope, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
HENNESSEY – Ashland Summer Sueallen Crites, Bachelor of Arts in Education, English
LAVERNE – Braeden Michael Mack, Bachelor of Science in computer science
POND CREEK – Michael Joseph Soucek, Bachelor of Science in computer science
PRAGUE – Mattie Rich, Bachelor of Science in criminal justice
RINGWOOD – Evan Tadeo Silva, Bachelor of Science in nursing
TALOGA – Mattie Gore, Bachelor of Social Work
WOODWARD – Tatum Brown, Bachelor of Science in nursing; Erika Hannah White, Bachelor of Science in psychology
KANSAS
MEDICINE LODGE – Lainey Coley Fisher, Bachelor of Science in nursing
NEBRASKA
DAWSON – Olivia DiAnn Saner, Bachelor of Science in health and sports science education
TEXAS
KILLEEN – Kira Rena Bass, Bachelor of Arts in general studies
LITTLE ELM – Jaida N. Shipp, Bachelor of Science in psychology
BACHELOR OF ARTS
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Jacob Clark Gould, general studies; Kaleigh Lynn Henke, history; Bennett I. McComas, general studies
CORDELL – Lilith Ferrero, speech and theatre
DEL CITY – Keyondre Isaiah Young, general studies
ENID – Scericka Bates, general studies; Chandler Beasley, general studies; Ann Marie Graham Blodgett, general studies; Kinzie Martin, general studies; Shelly L. McGregor, general studies; MaryChristine Faith Semrad, English
FREEDOM – Brooke Marie Davis, general studies
GOLTRY – Sophie Anne Yarnell Cummins, sociology
PONCA CITY – Corey Fincher, general studies
TULSA – Gracie Paige Doke, general studies
YUKON – Kayleigh Kahoe, general studies
INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS – Antonio Lisenbee
LOUISIANA
ARCADIA – Kentayveion Deshun Graham, general studies
MISSOURI
NEOSHO – Emma Dodd, general studies
TEXAS
BROWNWOOD – Megan Valdez, visual arts
HOUSTON – Bailee Davenport, general studies
TOMBALL – Basheer Aldulaimi, general studies; Muneer Aldulaimi, general studies
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
OKLAHOMA
COVINGTON – Dylan McLane, social science
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
OKLAHOMA
ADA – Alexa Lane Thompson
ALVA – Michelle Reine Kingcade, accounting
CANUTE – William C. Shelton
CHEROKEE – Taylor Reese, accounting; Raylen Nicole Weve
ENID – Delta Dawn Alexy, accounting; Dorothy Benton; Bryce Neahring; Brayan Alvarado Orozco
LEXINGTON – Kimberly Wenthold
MUTUAL – Heather Vick-Shryock, accounting
NORMAN – Dalton Gaither, accounting
NORTH ENID – Janet Sue Jones
OKLAHOMA CITY – Deitric Benard Pierson
OWASSO – Aiden Maddox Lewis, accounting
PAWHUSKA – Tonya Marie Hutson
PERKINS – Anthony Garner
PERRY – Kade C. Webb
PONCA CITY – Mia Shelby Steelmon
RINGWOOD – Adriel Lora
SAND SPRINGS – Blake Jones
SHATTUCK – Baylee M. Kraft, accounting
WOODWARD – Logan Hunter
CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES – Kenneth N. Burns, III
COLORADO
HIGHLANDS RANCH – Reese Welch
CONNECTICUT
ENFIELD – Wendy Ann Henderson
INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS – Dirin J. Birhiray
KANSAS
MACKSVILLE – Madison Shea Wright
MCPHERSON – Maxwell Erving Alexander
TEXAS
FORT WORTH – Uriel Gavino Ramos-Renteria-McKnight
FRISCO – JaKobi Amir Alvin; Jordan Dean Bedell
BACHELOR OF MUSIC
OKLAHOMA
CUSHING – Alevian Gray Crumpton, vocal music
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Jaydan Alexis Coffman, psychology; Jackson Joe Feely, mathematics; Braden Hofen, health and sports science education; Payden Nusser, agriculture; Elisabeth Ridgway, psychology; Zachary Mason Thomas, health and sports science education
AMBER – Taygan Janee Graham, biology
BRAMAN – Halie B. Shirley, psychology
BRISTOW – Camille Marie Pritchard, health and sports science education
BROKEN ARROW – Temitope Michaels, biology
CARMEN – Sarita Elena Kephart, biology
COALGATE – Chloe Mae Brown, health and sports science education
DUKE – Corky Hall, media and communication
EDMOND – Emily Elizabeth Bules, agriculture
ELGIN – Jeremy Conner Smith, health and sports science education
ENID – Laura Danielle Castellanos, criminal justice; Tasi Maureen Hughes, psychology; Kamryn Loza, psychology; Maria Fernanda Palma, organizational leadership; Wilalei Faith Tommy, health and sports science education; Jenny Weinstein, psychology
FAIRVIEW – Madison Wallace, agriculture
FORGAN – Michael Wayne Wakefield, agriculture
INDIAHOMA – Katelyn R. Kimble, agriculture
KINGFISHER – Jayden Newkirk, health and sports science education
LAHOMA – Reagan Marie Brakhage, biology; Tobie Diane Moore, psychology
LAVERNE – Maria Del Pilar Sosa Martinez, biology
LAWTON – Sadie Keith, agriculture
MOORELAND – Benjamin David Cronister, health and sports science education
MOUNTAIN VIEW – Skyler Kimberlin, health and sports science education
NEWKIRK – Kristyn Ford, computer science
OKARCHE – Evan P. Endres, agriculture
OKEMAH – Emmalee Osborn, psychology
PONCA CITY – Kylie ReAnn Jones, criminal justice
RINGWOOD – Sydnie Michelle Caywood, psychology
SHATTUCK – Reagan Hiner, psychology; Ma Sophia Penaflor, biology
STRATFORD – Tate Schwerdtfeger, agriculture
TULSA – Mickeul Anthony Tyson Jr., health and sports science education
WOODWARD – Allie Marie Alexander, biology; Katlynn Rochelle Henderson, psychology; Mariana Tapia, psychology
YUKON – Rebekah Marie Williams, psychology
ARIZONA
PHOENIX – Benjamin Morfin, criminal justice
CALIFORNIA
ANAHEIM – John Fonseca, IV, health and sports science education
FALLBROOK – Jordan Hailey Fawcett, biology
COLORADO
KIM – Sage Kelly Bader, agriculture
FLORIDA
THE VILLAGES – Caleb Ryan Bevis, computer science
HAWAII
KAILUA – Makanalei Ka’ulawena Lapera, health and sports science education
KANSAS
CLEARWATER – Cole Alan Keesling, health and sports science education
COPELAND – Dalton Winfrey, agriculture
HANSTON – Ethan Ray Burns, health and sports science education
KINGMAN – Jacob Clover, agriculture
SHARON – Avery Ryann Grieve, criminal justice
VALLEY CENTER – Anna Eldridge, health and sports science education
WICHITA – Devynn Raile, biology
LOUISIANA
NEW ORLEANS – Ivory D. Wilright, IV, psychology
MICHIGAN
LIVONIA – Ashleigh Engle, computer science
MISSISSIPPI
D’IBERVILLE – Kenneth Irving, media and communication
NEVADA
LAS VEGAS – Joel Robert Lindahl, III, health and sports science education
OREGON
CANBY – Katie Ayres, agriculture
SOUTH DAKOTA
HIGHMORE – Grady Aasby, agriculture
REE HEIGHTS – Dale Lee Marie Forman, psychology
TEXAS
BROWNFIELD – Cade Ethan Reynolds, agriculture
CANADIAN – Kyler Altmiller, agriculture
HOUSTON – Eric Hunter, II, psychology; Apollo Taylor, health and sports science education
RICHARDSON – Jamaira Ross, biology
THE COLONY – Madalyn Hundt, psychology
BOLIVIA
COCHABAMBA – Luana San Miguel D’Amico, agriculture
IRAN
TEHRAN – Maryam Mohammadi Ashtiani, computer science
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
OKLAHOMA
ALEX – Baylan R. Byrd, agriculture education
ENID – Madison Baylee Morse, elementary education
LAVERNE – Daniel Isaac Riojas, health and sports science education
NEWKIRK – Rhianna Aine Grace, early childhood education
RINGWOOD – Jamie Lynn Niblett, elementary education
UNION CITY – Christina Sue Tuton-Lunow, elementary education
KANSAS
CIMARRON – McKenzie Rose Killian, elementary education
TEXAS
MAGNOLIA – Kaitlyn Corn, early childhood education
UTAH
CLINTON – Mia Elise Graves-Jones, health and sports science education
WYOMING
GILLETTE – Stacy Pedersen, elementary education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
OKLAHOMA
ALVA – Rustin Murrow
BURLINGTON – Nancy Campbell
CHICKASHA – Kylie Bryn Morgan
ENID – Daphne Zevallos de McCaslin; Danae Vendetti
LAHOMA – Katelyn Cooper
MCALESTER – Madison Nicole Reeves
MOORELAND – Cheyenne Ranee Kahoe
MUSKOGEE – Lindsey DeRoche McClelland
MUTUAL – Rachel Dawn Martin
NORMAN – Tejune Stephen Kim
OMEGA – Baleigh Stewart
PONCA CITY – Shayla Nichole Burris
STILLWATER – Ashley Webb
TAHLEQUAH – Shyanna Stopp
TONKAWA – Courtney Koeppen
WAUKOMIS – Patricia Collins
WOODWARD – Elizabeth Lynn Carrillo
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK
OKLAHOMA
BLAIR – Kaydence Dawn Decker
ENID – Guadalupe Melchor
GUYMON – Nicole Garcia
JAY – Alana Natalie Shotpouch
LAVERNE – Itzel Castillo Calderon
KANSAS
HARPER – Tyra Rose Hostetler
NEWTON – Karly Fayth Green
-NW-
Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480