CMN Photo by D.Kakkak Participants in the College of Menominee Nation commencement ceremonies Saturday include, from left, Amy Jensen, of Gresham, and Megan Welk, of Shawano, both highest honors graduates with Bachelor of Science degrees in early childhood/elementary education; Sarah Steinback, of Shawano, associate degree in accounting; Brennan Waupoose, of Keshena, associate degree in biological and physical sciences, and Jaime Wheelock, of Oneida, a high honors graduate in biological and physical Sciences.
Contributed Photo Trenton Miller Sr., of Shawano, was chosen to speak on behalf of the College of Menominee graduates at commencement ceremonies Saturday. Miller earned an associate degree in natural resources.
Saturday’s commencement ceremonies at the College of Menominee Nation represented a special milestone for the college.
The 111 students eligible for graduation from CMN’s Keshena and Green Bay campuses brought the college’s total number of alumni above the 1,000 mark.
Candidates received bachelor’s and associate degrees, technical diplomas and certificates of mastery in 15 programs of study. The group included members and descendants of 11 American Indian tribes and residents from 28 communities in Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina.
Commencement speakers included CMN President Verna Fowler, guest speaker Alton (Sonny) Smart, Trenton Miller Sr., who spoke on behalf of the graduating class, and Justin Gauthier, a 2011 CMN graduate who welcomed the new graduates to the ranks of alumni.
Smart, of the Bad River Band of Ojibway, is a member of the social work faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and was one of the first four instructors at CMN when it opened in January 1993.
Miller, a Shawano resident, received his CMN degree in natural resources. He is a son of the late Glen Miller, a Menominee leader during whose tenure the idea of the tribal college was conceived.
After earning his associate degree at CMN, Gauthier enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and recently completed his baccalaureate there in English.
A special President’s Award was given during ceremonies to Loretta Webster of the Oneida Tribe. Webster was recognized for her aid in the 1992-93 academic year in the establishment of the College of Menominee Nation while she served as associate vice chancellor for cultural diversity at UW-Stevens Point. Fowler cited Webster for facilitating discussions with the Stevens Point chancellor that led to a credit-transfer agreement as CMN began offering classes.
Webster, who is a UW Law School graduate, subsequently served as land management attorney and in other capacities for the Oneida Tribe. More recently, she has practiced and fostered traditional arts. The award commended her work on behalf of American Indian students and communities.
Professor Ruth (Cyndi) Pyatskowit of the college’s teacher education program received the 2015 American Indian College Fund Teacher of the Year Award. She is project director and principle investigator on several education and literacy grants at the college focused on young children. She is a respected educator with more than 30 years professional experience and substantial work with Head Start and other early childhood initiatives.
The college, which opened for students in 1993, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is one of only three Land Grant institutions in Wisconsin and one of 36 recognized tribal colleges in North America. It enrolls American Indian and non-Indian students on its Keshena and Green Bay campuses.
COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION
Spring 2015 graduates
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Public administration: Shane A. Dixon Sr., Shawano; Bryan L. Waukau, Keshena.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Business administration: Mani A. Boyd, Shawano; Denise M. Madosh, Susan M. Waukau and Arlyne L. Wayka, Keshena. Madosh earned academic honors.
Early childhood/elementary education: Theresa M. Carroll and Amy L. Jensen, Gresham; Pauline A. Centers, Seymour; Andrew G. Manthey and Megan L. Welk, Shawano. All five earned highest academic honors.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Accounting: Sarah L. Steinback, Shawano.
Biological and physical sciences: Lucille R. Martin, Bowler; Brennan A. Waupoose, Keshena; Jaime L. Wheelock, Oneida. Wheelock earned high academic honors.
Early childhood education: Lucille R. Martin, Bowler; Nakoa D. Chiltoskie, Cherokee, North Carolina; Noelle A. Madosh and Deidre A. Caldwell, Keshena.
Liberal studies/humanities: Larry Madden, Bowler; Amellia F. McGeshick, Green Bay. McGeshick earned high academic honors.
Liberal studies/social sciences: Carol J. Bogda, Carol L. Brunette, Angela S. Hernandez, Jesse D. Kaquatosh-Williams, Amber F. Webster and Melissa J. Wilber, Green Bay; Mason S. Powless, Seymour; Denise L. Nacotee and Mary A. Shawanokasic, Keshena. Brunette and Powless earned high academic honors.
Natural resources: Luis A. Kakkak and Timothy B. Waupoose, Keshena; Trenton T. Miller Sr., Shawano.
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
Nursing: Vincent H. Bilotti, Tara R. Rysewyk, Crystal R. Thiem and Renee M. Williams, Green Bay; Katie M. Borntreger, Rhonda A. Lindstrom, Nicole R. Mertz and Chanda N. Oviedo, Shawano; Melanie George, Kaukauna; Ashley A. Gipp, Clintonville; Katie J. Lowney and Houa K. Moua, Appleton; Carrie L. Rozoff, Denmark; Steven J. Seidl, Luxemburg; Laura L. Thayer, Bonduel; Kenlee M. Wasurick, Greenleaf; Colleen M. Wayka, Keshena
TECHNICAL DIPLOMA
–Business Office Technician: Kode-Ray C. Adams, Gresham; Jodie L. Davids, Bowler; Maria L. Frechette and Marsha L. Miller, Keshena; Desma M. Wayka, Neopit. Adams and Frechette earned high academic honors.
–Electricity: Dana A. Bergeon and Benjamin M. Rudolph, Shawano; Allen G. Grignon and Brian L. Grignon, Keshena; Daniel J. Hebert, Gresham. Rudolph earned high honors.
–Practical Nursing: Brenda K. Balthazor, Amber L. Bodoh, Sally E. Kauth, Sarah M. Krueger and Nicole L. Zabel, Clintonville; Stephanie M. Bishop, Pulaski; Gina M. Blazek, Daggett, Michigan; Stephanie L. Bugler, Keshena; Audra E. Demmith, Mountain; Jason J. Boucher, Karissa A. Donley and Kayla C. Prichard, Shawano; Gaudalupe M. Guzman, Lori L. Hanson, Lana J. McVeigh, Katie E. Muellenbach, Lorna L. Odeen, Cassie L. Petersen, You Vang, Constance R. Wray and Tiffany N. Young, Green Bay; Rachel E. Huested, Wrightstown; Stephanie A. Miller, Marinette; Tiffany A. Nennig, Manitowoc; Melissa R. Rass, Stevens Point; Ariel J. Schmidt and Christine A. Van Dahm, Appleton; Angela M. Schneider, De Pere; Jill M. Seefeldt, Wild Rose; Heidi L. Spurlock-Mondragon, Krakow; and Paula K. Wojtalewicz, Iola.
– Sustainable Residential Building Systems: Anthony Brown, Crystal K. Lyons and Richard A. Tourtillott III, Keshena; Jesse J. Hugginis, Clintonville; Jared Skenadore, Oneida. Skenadore earned academic honors.
–Welding: Shawn C. Behnke, Mitchell J. Mazemke and George A. Swett, Shawano; Jesse Downs, Bonduel; Kyle J. Grignon, Neopit; Antonio V. Waukau Sr., Kyle J. Wilber and Christopher J. Wynos, Keshena; Lucas B. Huntington, Gresham; Raymond J. Mickelson and Ohkwalli Skenandore, Green Bay; Aaron M. Vele, Tigerton. Downs earned high academic honors. Mickelson earned academic honors.
CERTIFICATE OF MASTERY
Criminal Justice: Forrest Perez, Keshena.