Spring Commencement Brings Graduates and Families Together

Pacific University's spring commencement exercises took place at Hanson Stadium on Saturday, May 21 to the delight of family members and friends.

In all, a record 410 undergraduate students and 346 graduate students participated in their respective ceremonies. 

President Lesley Hallick told the bachelor’s candidates during the morning ceremony that commencement is the culmination of countless hours of hard work, sacrifice and pursuit of new knowledge. "It is a time for you to reflect on your well-deserved accomplishments that have led up to this day, and an opportunity to contemplate the possibilities of the future," she said.

Valedictorian Bruno Gegenhuber, a biology major from Roseburg, told his fellow graduates to look within themselves to help guide them toward their futures. “The only true measure of success is your own measure of happiness, something that can never be quantified so simply by a salary or grade point average,” he said. “Find where you have to be and stay there for a lifetime, whether it’s with a person or a place or a feeling. Open yourself to the world and find it and never let it go. For life passes like the speed of light, a speed which we do not truly comprehend. Do not feel trapped by the normal conventions of success: a comfortable job, college degree and clear future. If you reach your person or place or feeling, and it feels true in your head and in your heart, then nothing else matters.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Dave Boersema, distinguished professor of philosophy who is retiring after 31 years at Pacific, reflected on the future success of two students of his whose unconventional paths began thanks to Pacific's emphasis on the liberal arts. "The fundamental, underlying aspect of liberal arts is to liberate," Boersema said. "It's to make one free. Not simply in the sense of being free from some constraint, but in the sense of being free to do something. The knowledge and skills and values that come from the liberal arts are ones that transcend any single major or any particular job."

Those attending the afternoon ceremony witnessed the hoodings and awarding of diplomas to the first graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences' Master of Social Work program and the College of Business' Master of Business Administration program.

Other graduates came from the College of Business' Master of Science in Finance program, as well as the colleges of Education, Health Professions and Optometry.

College of Education students received diplomas for master's degrees in speech-language pathology, education and teaching. Within the College of Health Professions, students in the schools of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy were also hooded as they received diplomas for either a doctorate in pharmacy, doctorate in physical therapy or master's degree in athletic training.

College of Optometry students received diplomas and were hooded for earning a doctorate of optometry or a master's degree in vision science.

Prior to the awarding of degrees, Pacific honored one of its own in bestowing the Kamelia Massih Distinguished Prize for an Optometrist on alumnus and current Board of Trustees member Doug Weberling '72, OD '74.

The honor is named after the late Kamelia Massih, a 1985 Pacific University College of Optometry alumna who passed away in March 2010 following a three-year battle with cancer. Massih served her patients and members of her community with a level of compassion and care that exemplifies Pacific University College of Optometry alumni.

Distinguished graduates of both ceremonies were honored in the days prior to commencement with awards presented by their respective academic programs as well as other university departments. Following is a list of the honorees.

Bachelor’s Degree Candidate Award Honorees

  • Valedictorian - Bruno Gegenhuber
  • Fulbright Award - Bruno Gegenhuber, Mia Prohaska.
  • American Association of University Women - Liann Yamashita
  • The Browning Gift for Excellence - Lesya Kravets
  • Center for Civic Engagement - Kelsi Gammon, Tyler Gilmore, Mia Prohaska.
  • Center for Gender Equity - Kevin Alfaro-Martinez, Esbeida Ramos, Janae Sargent.
  • Confederation in Oregon for Language Teaching: Chinese - Celine Yip; French - Kelsi Gammon; German - Sara Rodgers; Japanese - Erica Clark; Spanish - Katherine Tougas.
  • College of Arts & Sciences Dean of Students Award - Taylor Farris, Jeffrey Ness.
  • Dean’s Academic Achievement Award - Victor Rielly; Liann Yamashita.
  • Female Athlete of the Year - Rachel Roberts
  • Male Athlete of the Year - Walker Olis
  • Mary Fehrs Award in Gender and Sexuality Studies - Chelsea Hill
  • Oregon Health & Science University Murdock Research Scholar Award - Devon Christian, Erin Helms.
  • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants Outstanding Accounting Student - Katie Fuller
  • Outstanding Contribution to Student Life - Cameron Chow, Jessica Caves, Nicole George, Trey Kodama, Dannika Sullivan.
  • Outstanding Instrumentalist - Dannika Sullivan
  • Outstanding Senior, Accounting - Katie Fuller
  • Outstanding Seniors, Biology - Bruno Gegenhuber, Erin Helms, Benjamin Weeder.
  • Outstanding Senior, Business Administration - Rachel Poluhowick
  • Outstanding Senior, Chemistry - Allan Sykes
  • Outstanding Senior, Computer Science - Nicole Lewey
  • Outstanding Seniors, Creative Writing - Sally Wies, Emily Woodworth.
  • Outstanding Senior, Dance - Jassa Gunn
  • Outstanding Senior, Economics - Michelle Tran
  • Outstanding Seniors, English Literature - Joshua Young
  • Outstanding Seniors, Exercise Science - Katelyn Hennes, Kathryn Rock, Benjamin Weeder.
  • Outstanding Senior, Finance - Andrew Harris
  • Outstanding Senior, Fine and Performing Arts - Emily Miller
  • Outstanding Senior, Humanities - Emily Woodworth
  • Outstanding Senior, Learning and Teaching - Zhwan Sadiq
  • Outstanding Senior, Marketing - Steven Armes
  • Outstanding Senior, Mathematics - Victor Rielly
  • Outstanding Seniors, Media Arts - Mahala Nelson, Jonathan Schell, Nicole Vickers, Iris Young.
  • Outstanding Senior, Music Education - Mitchell Gaylord
  • Outstanding Senior, Natural Science - Victor Rielly
  • Outstanding Senior, Philosophy - Luke Berdahl
  • Outstanding Senior, Physics - Victor Rielly
  • Outstanding Seniors, Psychology - Colin Scott, Amy VanderZanden
  • Outstanding Senior, Political Science - Natalie Morgan
  • Outstanding Senior, Social Sciences - Liann Yamashita
  • Outstanding Senior, Speech and Debate - Luke Berdahl
  • Outstanding Senior, Studio Arts - Emily Miller
  • Barbara Story Award for Outstanding Theatre Contribution - Lindsay Partain, Sierra Saplan.
  • Brad Blair Award for Theatre Performance - McKenzie Brock, Sierra Saplan.
  • Tom Miles Award for Technical Theatre - Griffin DeWitt, Megan Moll.
  • Outstanding Vocalists - MacKenzie LaMotte, Brett Peldyak.
  • Peggy Cadd Award for Service in the Arts - Alec Lugo
  • Alumni Association Outstanding Graduate - Luke Berdahl

Professional Degree Candidate Award Honorees

Valedictorians

  • Athletic Training - Nathan Hannah
  • School of Physical Therapy - Laura Perry
  • College of Optometry - Kathryn Dailey

School Of Pharmacy

  • Dean’s Excellence Award - Mary Heiken
  • Professionalism Award - Cameron Brock, Kyle Meeuwsen.
  • Leadership Award - Elizabeth Levins, Masseeh Rahman, Dana Shimabukuro, Marta Stueve.
  • Community Service Award - Jasmine Huynh
  • Boxer Spirit Award - Ali Karmally, Joel Nakamura, Jordyn Nelson, Cris Thach.
  • School of Pharmacy Ambassador Award - Sarah Hansen, Lauren Kanda, Sarah Siddiqui, Uyen Vo.
  • Facts and Comparisons/Lexi-Comp Excellence in Clinical Communication Award - Louis Kouch
  • Lexi-Comp Excellence in Drug Information Award - Kelli Cadelinia
  • Eli Lilly Excellence in Diabetes Care Award - Amanda Hurley
  • The Merck Award - Anna Boglayeva, Brianna Cote.
  • Mylan Pharmaceuticals Excellence in Pharmacy Award - Kirsten Rothacker
  • Natural Products Database Award - Creighton Thomas
  • Pharmacy Lifelong Learner Award - Mary Flack, Alison Shafer.
  • Pfizer Excellence in Patient Care Award - Andre Vo
  • Excellence in Acute Care Award - Melissa Ferguson
  • Excellence in Ambulatory Care Award - Molly Hoff

School Of Physical Therapy

  • Community Service Award - Krista Dunton, Daniel Fernandez.
  • Director’s Award - Annie Johnson
  • Outstanding Service to the School of Physical Therapy - Luke Dumyahn, Trinh Le.
  • Director’s Award, Athletic Training - Michael Yoshinaga.

College Of Optometry

  • Alcon Clinical Case Report Award - Breanne McGhee
  • AOF/Vistakon Award of Excellence in CL Patient Care - Kellen Robertson
  • Brian Lee Hill Memorial Award - Kory Botelho
  • BSK Chapter Award for Exceptional Research - Brooke Harkness, Rachel Murphy.
  • BSK Silver Medal Award - Kathryn Dailey
  • COVD Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy - Daphne Cheng
  • Dean’s Award - Brooke Harkness, Breanne McGhee.
  • Designs for Vision William Feinbloom Low Vision Award - 
  • Donald A. Bybee Memorial Award for Vision Therapy - Kory Botelho
  • Eschenbach Low Vision Award - Taylor Blanco
  • GP Lens Institute GP CL Clinical Excellence Award - Danni Griffith
  • Johnson & Johnson Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care - Kellen Robertson
  • Lion's Club Award - Breanne McGhee
  • Marchon Practice Management Award - Shannon Soper
  • NBEO Part 1 Highest Score - Brooke Harkness
  • Optelec Low Vision Award - Nicholas Jankowski
  • Pacific University Outstanding Clinician Award - Patrick Williamson
  • PUCO Private Practice Scholarship - Jacob Gilbar, Rachel Knutson.
  • Tole Greenstein Award - Heather Mironas, Felicia Rai.
  • Varilux Student Grant Award - Breanne McGhee
  • VSP/AOF Practice Excellence Scholarship - Kathryn Dailey, Brooke Harkness.
  • William Fleinbloom Low Vision Award - Trent Colberg.

Alumni Association Graduate and Professional Schools & Colleges Outstanding Graduates

  • School of Communication Sciences and Disorders - Amanda Mason, Skipp Thomsen.
  • School of Pharmacy - Genevieve DeLuze
  • School of Physical Therapy - Mariah Miller
  • School of Physical Therapy, Athletic Training - Miho Arai
  • College of Optometry - Alanna Louie

Other Awards

  • Trombley Faculty Award - Dr. Adam Rafalovich
  • Kamelia Massih Prize For Distinguished Optometrist - Dr. Doug Weberling '72, OD '74
Tuesday, May 24, 2016