SKC celebrates 167 graduates during year of COVID
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PABLO — Salish Kootenai College marked the end of a difficult school year with an in-person graduation ceremony to honor the 167 graduates who persevered and made it to the finish line despite a global pandemic.
The 41st Commencement Ceremony was held on Saturday, June 5, outside the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center to allow for social distancing. Many watched the celebration from their cars while others brought chairs to set up in front of the stage. In years past, the graduation ceremony was held inside the gym. Teachers of the year Amie Tryon and Michael Munson were honored.
SKC Student of the Year Michelle La Roque addressed graduates. “Life is hard enough” on its own, she said, adding the academic challenges of colleges makes it even more difficult. But this year, she said, students faced difficulty on a whole other level by “topping everything off” with a pandemic. “Oh boy!” Things got difficult,” she said. “It has been a crazy year.”
She recapped the past school year by saying some people weren’t able to work, children were sent home from school, people felt secluded and classes at SKC went online. She said the campus was like a “ghost” school. She was glad students were finally able to come together for graduation.
James Greene, who graduated with an associate of science information technology degree, later said classes went online when the pandemic hit last year. He said some of his friends didn’t do well with online learning and weren’t able to graduate this year.
SKC President Sandra Boham began the commencement address by saying “good glorious afternoon.” She praised the students and families for making it to the end. “I want to acknowledge that this is a year like no other.” Boham said some of the families experienced “unfathomable loss” but the students continued to persevere.
Dan Durglo, vice president of academic affairs, made the student accomplishments official, and before giving them their certificates, he asked them to clench their fists and raise their hands high because they had made it.
The SKC 2021 graduates:
Bachelor of Science
Business Administration
Candace Aldrich, Christa Bethany Cooper, Megan Guardipee, Robin L. Harjo, Tasha McDanal, David Plant, Brittany Kimberly Petra Robles, Ryan C. Running Crane, Makenzi E. Skellenger
Nursing
Audrey M. Blood, Juliann Boes, Kelsey Ann Cote, Kyra R. Mad Plume, Lashaia Meeks, Megan Elizabeth Roberts, Melissa Gail Scott, Tessa Tatsey, Joanne Thompson, Madisen Mazie Wheeler
Early Childhood Education P-3
Kayla Rose Dix, Amy Chantay McKeever, Morgan Valentine
Early Childhood Education
Sally Cordier, Rae Anne Gillingham
Elementary Education
Adri Antoine, Jacob Asencio, Katelyn Barcus, Shanell M. Lavallie, Shayne William Ludwick, Jason Ries
Information Technology
Charles Beauvais and Elizabeth Gard
Life Science – cellular biology
Rachel Louise Matt, Danny Garrett Obrecht, Marietta Louise Stringer, Marshand Vasquez
Forestry: forest management
Ian lssaia McRyhew, Josiah August Pettit, Kaylei Ryan, Jarod Swan
Hydrology
Elijah J. Cahoon Jr., Cody T. Goklish, Carl J. Old Person Ill, Morgan Sage Schultz
Associate of Science
Nursing
Alaina D. Berg, Chelsey M. Bourdon, Tori Lynn Castonguay, Libby Madison, Clay Carley, Jo Correa, Ron Cullis, Charles Decoteau, Kianna Rae Louise Finley, Gretchen Joan Fischer, Elisabeth Ellen-Ashlie Hampton, Hope Thomas Haynes, Jaime Nadell Lawrence, Violet Monique Lewis, Morgan Arlene Malatare, Karlyn Victoria Matt, Meagan Nelson, Jillian Piscopo, Kabrina Rubel, Marlee Raven Seemann, Clayton R. Taylor, Damian L. Taylor, Adrianna Lynn Tracy
Information Technology
James Greene
Mathematical Sciences
Mariah Leigh Durglo
Elementary Education
Shanell M. Lavallie, Christian Adam Lopez, Xavier Paul Old Chief, Hydee Dayne Wilson
Native Language Teacher Education
Steven Florenzio Arca, Daniel Brown, Cierra Jeppesen, Kristina Mays, Nicole R. Perry, Malia Vanderburg
General Science
Bobbie Ann Weimer
Wildlife and Fisheries
Tanner Cook, Mariah Leigh Durglo
Hydrology
Elyssa A. Hawk
Bachelor of Arts
Tribal Administration and Governance
TaNeel Filesteel, Louise Esther Mitchell
Psychology
Keenan L. Barlow, Wade Jacob Burland, Elena Mall DuMontier, Cindy LaRee Erhardt, Flower Gopher, Kimberly Heeren, Skyleesha Shanley Whiteman
Bachelor of Social Work
Jarika Benya Bear Below, Shania Monique Patacsil, Lynell Rose, Joshlynn Joy Snow, April Marie Wood
Associate of Arts
Business Management
Candace Aidrich, Andruw Michael Allen Misty Lea Doss, Megan Guardipee, Lacie M. Lahr, Eve Marie The Boy, Lee T. Plainfeather, Ta’Tah K. Stewart
Early Childhood Education P-3
Jaelynn Kolby Askan
Early Childhood Education
Janelle R. Michel
Psychology
Darcy Egan, Quilanna R. Cheff, Angela C. Evans, Kiya Morsette, Misty Dawn Ostlie, Krystal Poirier, Mindy Sue Schultz
Chemical Dependency Counseling
Raymi Laine Clairmont, Angela C. Evans, Brooke Amber Filesteel, Marcia Joan Fisher, Xavier Paul Old Chief, Dawnelle Sorrell, Jaydee Lynn Weatherwax
Digital Design Technology
Anthony Scott Chaney, Ellie Marie Costilla, Basil Jack Kenmille
Fine Arts
Ian lssaia McRyhew
Health Promotion Practices
Taylor Rose Whitney
Grant Projects Management
Allison Rae Grant
Certificate of Completion
Intensive Salish Language
Steven Florenzio Arca, Daniel Brown, Linda D. Ferris, Jeanette Gardipe, Yolanda Grant, Cierra Jeppesen, Kristina Mays, Nicole R. Perry, Jason Ries, Malia Vanderburg
Medical Assistant
Kayden Marie Burke, Kayla Rae Denny, Kiana L. Howell, Christina Carol Tryon
Dental Assisting
Avery Cooney, Emily Fiddler, Mariah HeavyRunner, Maggie Viola Gibson, Megan Griffith, Lilliana Lanae llac, Tyson J. Kills In Water, Younghun Kim, Emily R McCrea, Lili J. Melendez, Kelly Rae Needham, Myrcedes Roberts, Mercedies Marie Sorensen, Rebecca Vaughan, Juana Venegas
Emergency Services: emergency management
Carmelita Rose Malatare
Emergency Services: emergency health studies
Cassandra Blood
Bookkeeping and payroll
Jordyn M. Bell, Dana Comes At Night, Eve Marie The Boy
Grant Projects Assistant
Dana Comes At Night, Terri J. Currie Durglo, Kayla L. Ridgley, Marcy N. Salmonsen, Sarah Anne Sandoval, Anthony Jade Whiteman
Medical Office Clerk
Eries Noelle Morgan
Office Assistant
Eries Noelle Morgan
Health Science Studies
Alexandra D. Plant
Hospital Operations
Arianna Harjo
Highway Construction
Ronald “Jason” Beavers, Kristian Carpenter, Martika Chief Goes Out, Telson D. Cook, Ernest James Cut Finger Jr., Gregory C. Kramer, Joshua Auaya Gonzales, Jamyn K. Jefferson, John C. Patterson Jr,. Brian R. Payne, Justin Young
