Area students graduate from University of Mary

On May 1, the University of Mary held its 50th commencement, awarding 929 degrees in the Bismarck Civic Center.

Honorary doctorates were conferred on three individuals who have made outstanding contributions to education and health care. Drs. Riffat "Riff" and Margaret Morgan were awarded the Doctor of Leadership, honoris causa, and U-Mary Pres-ident Emerita Sister Thomas Welder, OSB, was honored with the Doctor of University, honoris causa.

As president of the University of Mary from 1978-2009, Sister Thomas guided the school to phenomenal growth.

Born Diane Welder on April 27, 1940, to Sebastian and Mary Ann Welder, in Linton, N.D., Sister Thomas moved with her family from the Napoleon, N.D., area to Bis-marck when she was 2. After graduating from St. Mary's in 1958, she enrolled at the Coll-ege of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. Returning home in 1959, she entered the Benedictine community of the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery. After completing her bachelor's degree in music at the College of St. Scholastica in 1963, she became Mary College's choir director. In 1968, she was awarded the Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. She went on to chair Mary College's Humanities Division and serve as director of deferred giving. Ten years later, she was appointed Mary's fifth president.

Under her leadership, the school achieved university status; added undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in physical therapy; created on-site and online adult learning programs; more than doubled the number of its facilities; moved to NCAA Division II; and more than tripled enrollment.

Sister Thomas' many honors include: the 1998 GNDA Educator Award, the 2002 Greater North Dakotan Award and the 2007 Missouri Slope Areawide United Way Lifetime of Caring Award. In May 2004, she was presented with North Dakota's highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award. Following her retirement in June 2009, she was made an honorary alumna of the University of Mary and named president emerita.

The University of Mary Alumni Association also recognized nominees for the Outstanding Senior Award at the annual President's Breakfast on May 1. Nominees for 2010 Outstanding Senior included, from this area, Kristen Burgad and Stacy Schaffer, both Wishek, and Daniel Wikenheiser, Linton.

Area graduates include:

Adrian: Abby Schrader, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Ashley: Breanna Meier, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy; and Lindsay Schock, Master of Education.

Binford: Sarah Hoeckle, Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude.

Carrington: Cole Monson, Doctor of Physical Therapy; and Casey Schroeder, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude.

Fessenden: Maria Wei-gelt, Bachelor of Science.

Hurdsfield: Danielle Schmitt, Bachelor of Science.

Jamestown: Erica Clayton, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude; Mallory DeWald, Bachelor of Science; Rachel Dupree, Bachelor of Science; Carla Edinger, Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude; Erin Engel, Doctor of Physical Therapy; Trisha Fennern, Master of Science in Nursing; Mindy Hochhalter, Doctor of Physical Therapy; Ashley Jacobs, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude; Cami Kleinknecht, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy; Jordan Koushkouski, Master of Business Administration; Thomas Lawrence, Master of Project Management; Brook Maier, Master of Business Adminstration; William Miller, Bachelor of Science; Jeffrey Moser, Master of Business Administration; Callie Olson, Master of Science in Counseling; Lesha Page, Bachelor of Science; Chelsey Stark, Doctor of Physical Therapy; and Ashley Zimmerman, Bachelor of University Studies.

LaMoure: Allison Ar-bach, Bachelor of Science.

Linton: Alan Ibach, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude; and Daniel Wilkenheiser, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude.

Lisbon: Lori Mennis, Bachelor of Science; and Richard Sitte, Bachelor of Science, cum laude.

Litchville: Holly Johnson, Master of Business Administration.

Medina: Steve Inglish, Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude.

Napoleon: LeAnn Johs, Doctor of Physical Therapy.

New Rockford: Ste-phanie Tollefson, cum laude.

Oakes: Amber Swanson, Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Robinson: Kelsey Bowerman, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Sanborn: Richard Lee Blumler, Bachelor of Science, cum laude; and Nicolette Daschendorf, Bachelor of Science.

Spiritwood Lake: Amanda Kleni, Bachelor of University Studies.

Steele: Matthew Bak-kum, Doctor of Physical Therapy; Jason Goltz, Master of Business Administration; Mandy Rath, Master of Science in Nursing; and Jonathan Scherbenske, Bachelor of University Studies, cum laude.

Streeter: Jonah Schmidt, Bachelor of Science, cum laude.

Sykeston: Robert Win-andy, Master of Business Administration.

Tappen: Maxi Fischer, Bachelor of Science.

Valley City: Ryan Lorenz, Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Windsor: Kaylee Lang, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Wishek: Michael Bechtle, Bachelor of Science, cum laude; Kristen Burgad, Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude; and Stacy Schaffer, Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude.

Zeeland: Sarah Meidinger, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude; and Chelse Weigel, Bachelor of Science.