WILLISTON Williston State College’s 54th commencement will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the Thomas Witt Leach Center (The Well) and the public is encouraged to attend with a reception to follow in the front entryway. This year’s graduation speaker is Kathleen Neset, the president of Neset Consulting Service, Inc.. Neset is currently the State Board of Higher Education vice chair and will be the incoming president as of July 1.

In addition to Neset, two student speakers will be part of the commencement, Emma Keller and Dan Plucknett.

Williston State College will be awarding 203 students an estimated 261 degrees and approximately 130 students will participate in Friday’s commencement. Of these 261 degrees, 117 will be transfer degrees, 144 CTE Associate in Applied Science, Certificates, Certificates of Completion and Diplomas.

Linda Tharp, who is retired, will be awarded professor emeritus status at the ceremony. Emeritus status is awarded to a retired faculty member or administrator for distinguished service at Williston State College. The Emeritus Status is a means for a retired educator to retain an honorary position at the college. Tharp began her career as a nurse and later transitioned into education at Williston State College when she worked as nursing coordinator. For more than 20 years, Tharp served on numerous committees, taught classes, advised students, mentored staff, received tenure, and was a founding member and later led the Dakota Nursing Program. Tharp was the past chair of the health and wellness Department and later the dean for instructional effectiveness and curriculum until her retirement in 2014.

The college’s nursing program will hold its pinning ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Well. Sixty-four nursing students will be graduating from Williston State’s nursing program this year, 36 with an associate degree in nursing and 28 with a certificate in practical nursing.

Graduates from the area follow: Bottineau: Angela Stratton, certificate in practical nursing; Crosby: Chris Berosik, associate in applied science in accounting; Douglas: Brittny Riemer, certificate in practical nursing; Garrison: Mykle Rud, Garrison, associate in arts; Glenburn: Houston Lavachek, associate in arts and associate in science; Hazen: Lacey Shefstad, associate in applied science in health information management, certificate in medical coding and associate in medical administrative assistant, with high honors; Kenmare: Jill Edwards, associate in applied science in nursing; Maddock: Anthony Benson, associate in science; Minot: Josie Anderson, certificate in practical nursing; Crystal Babcock, associate in applied science in nursing; Rachel Berdahl, certificate in practical nursing; Hope Buchweitz, certificate in practical nursing, with honors; Tiffany Drago, associate in applied science in nursing; Jacy Geer, , certificate in practical nursing; Kyle Gerding, associate in applied science in petroleum production technology; Catherine Herrod, Minot, associate in applied science in mental health/addictions technician, with high honors; Tisha Kamrowski, associate in applied science in nursing; Isaac Key, Ray, certificate of completion in transportation technician, basic light/medium duty vehicle maintenance and certificate of completion in transportation technician, light/medium duty vehicle systems; Kimberly Kongelf, associate in applied science in nursing; Amy Korslien, certificate in practical nursing; Sharidel Lanterna-Ragsdale, associate in applied science in nursing, with honors; Kasey Larson, associate in arts, with honors; KeliJo Lemer, associate in applied science in nursing; Danielle Mikula, certificate in practical nursing, with high honors; Jessica Pigeon, certificate in practical nursing, with honors; Alycia Saunders, associate in applied science in nursing; Briana Smith, certificate in practical nursing; JoAnn Thongphet, associate in applied science in nursing; New Town: Shawnta Everett, certificate in practical nursing and associate in science; Erika Fazardo, certificate in practical nursing, with high honors; TaylorJean McGrady, New Town, associate in arts and associate in science; Powers Lake: Karla Haugenoe, associate in arts, with honors; Ray: Austin Emly, certificate of completion in transportation technician, basic heavy duty vehicle maintenance and certificate of completion in transportation technician, heavy duty vehicle systems; Adam Liesener, associate in arts; Tonya Weyrauch, associate in applied science in business management, with high honors; Stanley: Lauren Lumley, certificate in practical nursing; Surrey: Judy Hammer, associate in applied science in nursing; Tioga: Kelsey Bail, associate in applied science in nursing, with honors; Christopher Carlson, associate in applied science in nursing; Jordan Larson, associate in applied science in nursing, with honors; Erin Moore, Tioga, associate in applied science in nursing; Velva: Emma Keller, associate in arts and associate in science, with high honors; Hannah Lintelman, Velva, associate in applied science in nursing; Jaylen Newman, associate in arts and associate in science, with honors; Watford City: Madison Brown, associate in arts, with high honors; McKayla Haugeberg, two associates in science, with high honors; Mandy McElderry, associate in applied science, administrative assistant; Taylor Sparby, associate in applied science in business management and associate in arts; Westhope: Britany Butterfield, associate in applied science in nursing; Misty Vogel, associate in applied science in nursing; Williston: Heather Arnold, associate in science; Kayla Bauste, associate in applied science in business management, associate in arts and associate in science, with honors; Wayne Beard, associate in arts; Ramona Bevre, associate in applied science in mental health/addictions technician, with high honors; Andrew Bodin, certificate of completion in petroleum production technology, lease operator, with high honors; Derek Booth, associate in applied science in diesel technology, with honors; Jessie Burwell, associate in science; Austin Cerkoney, certificate in residential carpentry, with high honors; Haley Clark, certificate in practical nursing, with honors; Kimberly Clark, associate in arts and associate in science; Jordan Cooley, associate in applied science in information technology, network, with high honors; Colton Dixon, associate in applied science in information technology, network, with honors; Jace Engelbrecht, associate in arts and associate in science; Isaac Erickson, associate in arts; Amanda Evans, associate in applied science in nursing; Alexander Evanson, associate in science; Alexis Fixen, associate in applied science in nursing, with honors; Bridget Foust, associate in applied science in massage therapy, with honors; Rose Frisque, associate in arts, with high honors; Kyle Gjelsness, associate in arts and associate in science; Michael Guillen, associate in applied science in petroleum production technology, certificate in petroleum production technology, automation and control; certificate of completion in petroleum production technology, automation and control, certificate in petroleum production technology, elase operator, certificate of completion in petroleum production technology, lease operator, with high honors; Sarah Hanson, associate in applied science in nursing; Lexis Haux, associate in arts and associate in science, Melanie Heller, associate in arts and associate in science; Meghan Henderson, associate in arts; Kelcie Hutchins, associate in applied science in massage therapy; Chelsey Johnson, associate in science; Amber Jordan, associate in arts; Felicity Kindt, associate in applied science in business management; Stevie Kindt, associate in applied science in business management; Shawna Kirk, certificate in business management and associate in arts; Lori Larsen, associate in applied science in business management, with honors; Conner Long, associate in arts and associate in science; Katalin Magyar, associate in arts and associate in science; Bailey McLaughlin, associate in applied science in nursing; Olivia Mortenson, associate in arts and associate in science, with honors; Wyatt Olson, associate in arts and associate in science, with honors; Brittney O’Neill, associate in arts and associate in science; Kimberly Osburn, associate in applied science in nursing, with honors; Sarah Remington, certificate in practical nursing; Timothy Rockstad, associate in arts; Jacey Routh, certificate in massage therapy; Deavon Shafer, associate in arts; Katie Sperling, associate in arts and associate in science; Jacob Stevens, associate in arts and associate in science; Victoria Teskey, associate in arts and associate in science; Casey Walker, associate in applied science in transportation technician; Cari Zavalney, associate in arts.