This year's pandemic did not divert the efforts of 83 area residents who completed the requirements for their respective programs at Parkland College in May. Nearly a quarter of the graduates in the Class of 2020 received degrees in the medical field.
Due to successive executive orders put in place to stop the spread of the Coronavirus by Governor J.B. Pritzker, Parkland's 53rd Commencement Exercise was held online back on May 22, 2020 via YouTube for the first time in school history. Originally live-streamed, the virtual ceremony included speakers, award presentations, and the reading of the graduates' names.
This summer, Parkland sent graduates a green mortarboard, a Parkland tassel with new signet and a padded diploma cover as well as other memorabilia to commemorate their academic achievement.
The college also plans to extend an invitation to 2020 graduates to walk across the stage at the 2021 exercise.
Here is a list of area graduates enter the job market or continuing their education at a four-year institution:
Briley C Ackerman, Tolono
AAS, Nursing John M Acklin, Ogden
AES, Engineering Science Elizabeth K Alt, Tolono
AA, Elementary Education Cody W Argo, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Roger S Ayers, Sidney
AAS, Nursing Kayla J Balsbaugh, St. Joseph
AAS, Child Development Hollie N Baltzell, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing Jennifer A Barnard, Sidney
AA, General Jason T Bowman, Ogden
AAS, Agricultural Business: Precision Ag Technology Kira J Brinkley, Tolono
AFA, Music Education Melanie L Broch, St. Joseph
AAS, Surgical Technology Bryson D Chancellor, Tolono
AS, Aviation Austin R Chilton, St. Joseph
AS, Biological Sciences Britney F Christman, Sidney
AA, Psychology Jarrett L Clem, St. Joseph
CER, Construction: Electrical Inside Wireman Destiny H Coffey, Sidney
AA, Social Work Bonnie G Collins, Ogden
AAS, Digital Media Elena K Cotter, St. Joseph
AS, General Christine M Danielson, Philo
AS, General Zach T David, Ogden
AGS, Associate in General Studies Logan J Dobbs, St. Joseph
AAS, Diesel Power Equipment Technology Kenzie L Dodds, Tolono
AA, Psychology Austin M Downen, Tolono
AAS, Diesel Power Equipment Technology Brandon G Downen, Tolono
AA, Sociology Emily C Eastin, Tolono
AA, General Trevor B Elliott, St. Joseph
AA, Criminal Justice Education Mickaela J Fleming, Royal
AAS, Nursing Hope A Frost, Royal
AAS, Nursing Lauren N Frost, Tolono
AA, Criminal Justice Education Justyn R Fruhling, St. Joseph
AAS, Radiologic Technology Bryce M Haake, St. Joseph
AA, General Webb T Hancock, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Grant C Harper, Ogden
AAS, Automotive Technology Christian M Hasler, Philo
AA, History Ashley N Holm, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Devinne D Horton, Sidney
AAS, Nursing Brandi L Huson, Ogden
AGS, Associate in General Studies Allyson K James, Philo
AA, Elementary Education Sophia A Kaisner, Philo
AS, General Zachary A Kohlmann, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Joseph H Lamendola, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Kaitlyn M Landis, St. Joseph
AAS, Occupational Therapy Assistant Payton J Lareau, Tolono
AAS, Emergency Medical Services: Paramedic Brianna S Lilly, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing Alicia A Maxey, St. Joseph
AAS, Criminal Justice Emily M McCrone, Tolono
AS, General Emma L Messman, Sidney
AS, General Devon M Miezio, Ogden
CER, Practical Nursing Billie J Miller, Philo
AGS, Associate in General Studies Leah J Miller, Tolono
AAS, Nursing McKayla R Norton, Philo
AGS, Associate in General Studies Brendan Z Olauson, St. Joseph
AES, Engineering Science Kristen A Polizzi, St. Joseph
AAS, Business: Management Austin R Rein, Ogden
AAS, Agricultural Business: Precision Ag Technology Ileana L Roberts, Sidney
AAS, Nursing Carson T Robinson, Sidney
AGS, Associate in General Studies Samantha J Roderick, Tolono
AA, General Cori B Rodriguez, Ogden
AAS, Nursing Paige N Sappenfield, Philo
AAS, Nursing Megan K Schumacher, St. Joseph
AAS, Veterinary Technology Sydney J Schurvinske, Sidney
AA, General Briley L Smith, Tolono
AA, Elementary Education Katleyn M Smith, Ogden
AAS, Radiologic Technology Nash C Stanfield, Sidney
AAS, Business: Management Derek L Stevens, Tolono
AAS, Emergency Medical Services: Paramedic Andrew J Stewart, St. Joseph
AA, Psychology Kaitlyn R Taylor, St. Joseph
CER, Practical Nursing Mitchell R Thompsen, St. Joseph
AS, General Carrie J Turner, Tolono
AAS, Business: Management Jordan M Turner, St. Joseph
CER, Automotive Technician Kyle E Vansickle, Sidney
AGS, Associate in General Studies Kimberly A Vecchio, Philo
AAS, Business Administrative Technology Jason M Waldeck, St. Joseph
AS, Computer Science/Computer Information Systems Emilee M Walters, Tolono
AA, Psychology Ethan F Warren, Philo
CER, Automotive Technician Israel D Wells, Sidney
AGS, Associate in General Studies Kenneth A Wells Jr, St. Joseph
AAS, Respiratory Care Madison R Wilson, Philo
AS, General Sarah E Wiseman, St. Joseph
AFA, Art and Design Nicole L Woller, St. Joseph
AS, General Casey J Young, Tolono
AA, General Jordan T Hall, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing Tenneal Frerichs, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing
AAS, Nursing John M Acklin, Ogden
AES, Engineering Science Elizabeth K Alt, Tolono
AA, Elementary Education Cody W Argo, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Roger S Ayers, Sidney
AAS, Nursing Kayla J Balsbaugh, St. Joseph
AAS, Child Development Hollie N Baltzell, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing Jennifer A Barnard, Sidney
AA, General Jason T Bowman, Ogden
AAS, Agricultural Business: Precision Ag Technology Kira J Brinkley, Tolono
AFA, Music Education Melanie L Broch, St. Joseph
AAS, Surgical Technology Bryson D Chancellor, Tolono
AS, Aviation Austin R Chilton, St. Joseph
AS, Biological Sciences Britney F Christman, Sidney
AA, Psychology Jarrett L Clem, St. Joseph
CER, Construction: Electrical Inside Wireman Destiny H Coffey, Sidney
AA, Social Work Bonnie G Collins, Ogden
AAS, Digital Media Elena K Cotter, St. Joseph
AS, General Christine M Danielson, Philo
AS, General Zach T David, Ogden
AGS, Associate in General Studies Logan J Dobbs, St. Joseph
AAS, Diesel Power Equipment Technology Kenzie L Dodds, Tolono
AA, Psychology Austin M Downen, Tolono
AAS, Diesel Power Equipment Technology Brandon G Downen, Tolono
AA, Sociology Emily C Eastin, Tolono
AA, General Trevor B Elliott, St. Joseph
AA, Criminal Justice Education Mickaela J Fleming, Royal
AAS, Nursing Hope A Frost, Royal
AAS, Nursing Lauren N Frost, Tolono
AA, Criminal Justice Education Justyn R Fruhling, St. Joseph
AAS, Radiologic Technology Bryce M Haake, St. Joseph
AA, General Webb T Hancock, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Grant C Harper, Ogden
AAS, Automotive Technology Christian M Hasler, Philo
AA, History Ashley N Holm, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Devinne D Horton, Sidney
AAS, Nursing Brandi L Huson, Ogden
AGS, Associate in General Studies Allyson K James, Philo
AA, Elementary Education Sophia A Kaisner, Philo
AS, General Zachary A Kohlmann, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Joseph H Lamendola, Tolono
AGS, Associate in General Studies Kaitlyn M Landis, St. Joseph
AAS, Occupational Therapy Assistant Payton J Lareau, Tolono
AAS, Emergency Medical Services: Paramedic Brianna S Lilly, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing Alicia A Maxey, St. Joseph
AAS, Criminal Justice Emily M McCrone, Tolono
AS, General Emma L Messman, Sidney
AS, General Devon M Miezio, Ogden
CER, Practical Nursing Billie J Miller, Philo
AGS, Associate in General Studies Leah J Miller, Tolono
AAS, Nursing McKayla R Norton, Philo
AGS, Associate in General Studies Brendan Z Olauson, St. Joseph
AES, Engineering Science Kristen A Polizzi, St. Joseph
AAS, Business: Management Austin R Rein, Ogden
AAS, Agricultural Business: Precision Ag Technology Ileana L Roberts, Sidney
AAS, Nursing Carson T Robinson, Sidney
AGS, Associate in General Studies Samantha J Roderick, Tolono
AA, General Cori B Rodriguez, Ogden
AAS, Nursing Paige N Sappenfield, Philo
AAS, Nursing Megan K Schumacher, St. Joseph
AAS, Veterinary Technology Sydney J Schurvinske, Sidney
AA, General Briley L Smith, Tolono
AA, Elementary Education Katleyn M Smith, Ogden
AAS, Radiologic Technology Nash C Stanfield, Sidney
AAS, Business: Management Derek L Stevens, Tolono
AAS, Emergency Medical Services: Paramedic Andrew J Stewart, St. Joseph
AA, Psychology Kaitlyn R Taylor, St. Joseph
CER, Practical Nursing Mitchell R Thompsen, St. Joseph
AS, General Carrie J Turner, Tolono
AAS, Business: Management Jordan M Turner, St. Joseph
CER, Automotive Technician Kyle E Vansickle, Sidney
AGS, Associate in General Studies Kimberly A Vecchio, Philo
AAS, Business Administrative Technology Jason M Waldeck, St. Joseph
AS, Computer Science/Computer Information Systems Emilee M Walters, Tolono
AA, Psychology Ethan F Warren, Philo
CER, Automotive Technician Israel D Wells, Sidney
AGS, Associate in General Studies Kenneth A Wells Jr, St. Joseph
AAS, Respiratory Care Madison R Wilson, Philo
AS, General Sarah E Wiseman, St. Joseph
AFA, Art and Design Nicole L Woller, St. Joseph
AS, General Casey J Young, Tolono
AA, General Jordan T Hall, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing Tenneal Frerichs, St. Joseph
AAS, Nursing
While gathering for Thanksgiving is intended to be a joyous occasion, everyone who has hosted the feast knows it can also come with a lot of stress, and expenses.
