More than 500 degrees, certificates conferred during 49th annual JWCC commencement ceremony

Graduation 2024-239 copy

John Wood Community College's 49th annual commencement ceremony was held May 17 in the Student Activity Center. | Photo courtesy of John Wood Community College

QUINCY — John Wood Community College held its 49th annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 6 p.m. in the Student Activity Center on the Quincy ampus at 48th and Harrison.

JWCC conferred 322 associate degrees, 201 certificates and six College for Life certificates. Bryan Renfro, JWCC president, conferred degrees and certificates. Bob Rhea, chair of the JWCC Board of Trustees, accepted candidates as graduates.

As part of the college’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration, James A. Rapp received JWCC’s first honorary degree. The degree was conferred in recognition of his longstanding service as JWCC’s legal counsel and his commitment to education and the mission of community colleges.

Grace Meyer of Quincy delivered the invocation.  She was a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, Theatre Guild, JWCC cheer team and the Student Government Association. She is active in the Quincy community through Girl Scouts, St. Francis Catholic Church and the Quincy Humane Society.  Meyer earned a College for Life certificate and plans to work in a local veterinary clinic.

Luka Bagi of Bedford, England, Kaydence Gregory of Bluffs and Alisha Skwara of Quincy delivered the student address.

Bagi was a member of the men’s soccer team, the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and Student Government Association. He was a student worker with JWCC’s maintenance and grounds team and also served as JWCC’s mascot, Woody the Trail Blazer. He earned an associate in arts degree with high honors and will transfer to Knox College to study international business and continue his soccer career.

Gregory was a 2022-24 Trail Blazer scholar, served as JWCC’s Student Trustee for the 2022-23 academic year and was a member of Student Government Association and TRiO. She also served as a student worker for JWCC’s Student Life Office.  She earned an associate in arts degree and will transfer to Western Illinois University to major in communication with a minor in event planning and management.

Swkara was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and an ambassador for the JWCC nursing program. She earned an associate in applied science degree in nursing with high honors in December 2023.  She is working as a nurse focused on dementia and hospice care.

Avery Hayes of Palmyra, Mo., and Brooks Sonethongkham of Quincy delivered closing remarks.

Hayes was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and earned an automation and robotics technician certificate in December 2022. He continued his education and earned an engineering design-SolidWorks certificate and an associate in applied science degree in manufacturing technology in December 2023.

Sonethongkham participated in JWCC’s Smart Start Concurrent Enrollment program and earned his high school diploma from Quincy High School and an associate in science degree with high honors. He is an avid chess player at the Quincy Chess Club, St. Louis Chess Club and QHS Chess Club, which he founded. Sonethongkham will transfer to the University of Missouri to study computer science.

Steven Soebbing, JWCC chair and associate professor, fine arts, humanities and education, played processional and recessional selections and led the JWCC choir in performing the National Anthem.

JWCC Graduates

Cameron Z. LawrenceAlexandriaMO
Laila M. BeckArenzvilleIL
Dennis RatcliffAstoriaIL
Brilyn LantzAugustaIL
Rusty ThurmanAugustaIL
Faith StilleBarryIL
Shayna Leigh LoutzenhiserBarryIL
Ruby FeslerBarryIL
Abigail G. FeslerBarryIL
Mason McTuckerBarryIL
Rebecca WalstonBarryIL
Jonathan GrammerBarryIL
Ryatt JacksonBarryIL
Kyler TobiasBarryIL
Samuel WalchBarryIL
Amy  KeelingBaylisIL
Jewel Alizabeth McEversBaylisIL
Tricia KnousBeardstownIL
Brandon DobrovolnyBeardstownIL
Aspen Nichole MuellerBluffsIL
Maeleigh AlexanderBluffsIL
Remington BoltonBowenIL
Kyle O’NealBowenIL
Clayton BollinBowenIL
James DeCampBowenIL
Elizabeth Van HoveBowenIL
Tiffany SmithBrowningIL
Max DittmerBurnsideIL
Madelyn HamiltonCamp PointIL
Hayleigh MarlowCamp PointIL
Paige MarlowCamp PointIL
Nicole OlpsCamp PointIL
Nicole Suann UtterbackCamp PointIL
Daxton R. WiskirchenCamp PointIL
Gary FiferCamp PointIL
Cydnee Gayle HoustonCamp PointIL
Chloe Diane TurnerCamp PointIL
Cheyenne McQueenCamp PointIL
Sumer Lois MyersCantonMO
Faith E. J. RuddCantonMO
Monica N. G. HenkeCantonMO
Aubrey Lyn Marie BlissCantonMO
Jessica Arlis WhiteCarthageIL
Daniel WelkerCarthageIL
Katelynn BushCarthageIL
Kimberley S. EnzerothCarthageIL
Ethan SchlotterbeckCarthageIL
Aiden MooreCarthageIL
Tyler YagerCarthageIL
Baileigh M. BrannChambersburgIL
Jessica MankerChambersburgIL
Jalyn FrevertChambersburgIL
Peyton Brianne MastClaytonIL
Taylor B. KillClaytonIL
Brianna GrahamCoatsburgIL
Alexia JohnsonCoatsburgIL
Hunter KurkCoatsburgIL
Jamie Michael HawkinsCobdenIL
Samantha Maria BiswellColchesterIL
Jennifer L. HeapColorado SpringsCO
Matthew PriviaConcordIL
Brian A. HartmannDunlapIL
Tyler FarrellEast PeoriaIL
Jonathan BoyerEwingMO
Jadin Cheryl DownsFowlerIL
Luke GirardinFowlerIL
Sarah Ann Xiao Fang ShumakeFowlerIL
Carter Allen HoltFowlerIL
Megan FesslerFowlerIL
Katherine LudlumFowlerIL
Kaylee GraweFowlerIL
Laken SmithFowlerIL
Kourtney K. AustinFrankfordMO
Brandon RossmillerGoldenIL
Tanner LeedyGriggsvilleIL
Kayla McCallisterGriggsvilleIL
Cash KirkGriggsvilleIL
Noah StilleGriggsvilleIL
Rachel BarnesHamiltonIL
Joseph SullivanHamiltonIL
Abigail BeckHannibalMO
Lindsay Noel MohlerHannibalMO
Laura Dawn HootsHannibalMO
Mitcheal HarbisonHannibalMO
Alicia CarlsonHannibalMO
Marisa RiccitelliHannibalMO
Tracy KetsenburgHannibalMO
Tung NguyenHannibalMO
Shyre AbbeyHannibalMO
Matthew WealerHannibalMO
Carmen SmithHannibalMO
Jacob Michael TallmanHannibalMO
Koleena VanSickelHannibalMO
Mikhaela McCuneHullIL
Boston HallHullIL
Matthew MartinHullIL
Taylor CassadyJanesvilleWI
Conner MackKahokaMO
Drayson A. DanielsKahokaMO
Aerith MoreauKampsvilleIL
Melissa Juliet DolterKeokukIA
Kyle James BumphreyKewaneeIL
Jedd  AbneyKinderhookIL
Luke WeirKinderhookIL
Thomas DavisKirkwoodIL
Jordan Mackenzie MooreKnoxvilleIL
Dodge  DareLa BelleMO
Kaleigh BurbridgeLa GrangeMO
Libby Ann IppensenLa PrairieIL
Paige R. BrumbaughLewistownMO
Ciera ClevengerLibertyIL
John Isaac FreyLibertyIL
Kyla FrizzellLibertyIL
Kai GowerLibertyIL
Breiton KlingeleLibertyIL
Logan RobbinsLibertyIL
Jackson TenhouseLibertyIL
Shelly ZengelLibertyIL
Robert Clayton ObertLibertyIL
Ava BlankenshipLibertyIL
Katlyn M. ZangerLibertyIL
Reese Thomas KnuffmanLibertyIL
Jade BlairLibertyIL
William SchoonoverLibertyIL
Joseph JacobsLibertyIL
Lucas ObertLibertyIL
Jared R. PredmoreLibertyIL
Nicole GravittLibertyIL
Cameron PaszkietLibertyIL
Christian PaszkietLibertyIL
Lakoda S. J. WhiteLibertyIL
Seth BruengerLoraineIL
Kassondra BlanchettLoraineIL
Jorie WhitakerLoraineIL
Athenea Cruz MedinaLouisianaMO
Delbert Wells Jr.MaquonIL
Patrick McLainMaywoodMO
Holli M. FuhrmanMendonIL
Zackary NevinsMendonIL
April ShafferMendonIL
Natalie KindleMendonIL
Madison GregoryMeredosiaIL
Emily WhitlockMiltonIL
Kelly StarkMonroe CityMO
Fabian WallsMonroe CityMO
James C. HagerMonroe CityMO
Adam MellenMortonIL
Erin R. BarfieldMt SterlingIL
Melissa Jane DeWittMt SterlingIL
Robert William GroeschMt SterlingIL
Ethan HowellMt SterlingIL
Jacob LaningMt SterlingIL
Cortni LawMt SterlingIL
Kaitlyn Brooke LeenertsMt SterlingIL
Nicole TaylorMt SterlingIL
Joycelyn WeltyMt SterlingIL
Marcus J. PerryMt SterlingIL
Heidi Marie MillerMt SterlingIL
Krista TaylorMt SterlingIL
Aydan KoontzMt SterlingIL
Ashley FearneyhoughNaplesIL
Addy Michelle RubleNeboIL
Breann M. RubleNeboIL
Sumer I. WarnerNeboIL
Richard T. BatesNew LondonMO
Philip Jude PlumbNew LondonMO
Alexis Marie DamronNew LondonMO
Baylee Marie ZeigerNew LondonMO
Sadie StineNew LondonMO
Tara PoorPalmyraMO
McKenna AbbottPalmyraMO
Luke D. TriplettPalmyraMO
Avery HayesPalmyraMO
Abigail Rose BenningPalmyraMO
Jaime ToddPalmyraMO
Victoria Elaine BenjaminPaysonIL
Jairyn HinthornePaysonIL
Zyanne MastPaysonIL
Kaylee SmithPaysonIL
Carley Jean EppersonPaysonIL
Kyler SmithPaysonIL
Amy HughesPaysonIL
Curtis CrimPaysonIL
Evan RobinsonPearlIL
Alexander Brody FaulknerPeoriaIL
Faith Grace BakerPittsfieldIL
Susan Michele BarnesPittsfieldIL
Karley BogatzkePittsfieldIL
Wessley Joel DavisPittsfieldIL
Jackson FishPittsfieldIL
Breanna FoxPittsfieldIL
Kristi A. GravesPittsfieldIL
Jordan LambPittsfieldIL
Bryson Matthew ThometzPittsfieldIL
Nicole CooleyPittsfieldIL
Mason PherigoPittsfieldIL
Morgan R. DeederPittsfieldIL
Colten BirkbeckPittsfieldIL
Sierra Dawn GrimsleyPittsfieldIL
Dana M. FryPittsfieldIL
Jacqueline BaldwinPittsfieldIL
Leif E. CarterPittsfieldIL
Kimber MeyerPittsfieldIL
Savannah NashPittsfieldIL
Ethan HuberPlainvilleIL
Christian J. KlingelePlainvilleIL
Malina Marie SundePlainvilleIL
Jenna Marie Ngulitel EdwardsPlainvilleIL
Bradley EpleyPlainvilleIL
Ashley MoorePleasant HillIL
Marisa AhernQuincyIL
Trayton AndersQuincyIL
Luka BagiQuincyIL
Carson L. BartlowQuincyIL
Adrian BlattnerQuincyIL
Kelsey BockenfeldQuincyIL
Kelsey Nicole ButlerQuincyIL
Henry CannQuincyIL
Kaitlyn CoonsQuincyIL
Emily Jeanné CornettQuincyIL
Makenzie Kayann DavisQuincyIL
Kaleb Austin DieterleQuincyIL
Braylon DiggsQuincyIL
Coulter FryQuincyIL
Kennedy L. FryeQuincyIL
Blaise Michael GenenbacherQuincyIL
Timothy GoehlQuincyIL
Natalie GoerlichQuincyIL
Katelyn GreeningQuincyIL
Kaydence GregoryQuincyIL
Brianna Rose HaleQuincyIL
Charles HallQuincyIL
Michael HallQuincyIL
Gabrielle Julia HarmsQuincyIL
Caroline HaxelQuincyIL
Ellie HaydenQuincyIL
Rylee Ann HendricksQuincyIL
Hannah HightowerQuincyIL
Samantha HindsQuincyIL
Reagan HinkamperQuincyIL
Cayge HughesQuincyIL
Bryce JanssenQuincyIL
Ben KasparieQuincyIL
Bailee Marie KeltyQuincyIL
Jillian KirkpatrickQuincyIL
Rachael LangworthyQuincyIL
Hayden E. LankeyQuincyIL
Shane LeClairQuincyIL
Corbin LeeQuincyIL
Kelsey LeerhoffQuincyIL
Alex LomanQuincyIL
Amanda Leanne LubbertQuincyIL
Kayla MaguireQuincyIL
Payton MansfieldQuincyIL
Kennedy MellonQuincyIL
Jocelyn MeyersQuincyIL
Carson MorenoQuincyIL
Laura Morgason-OllerQuincyIL
Alexander MorningstarQuincyIL
Emma NyeQuincyIL
Grace PetersQuincyIL
Mackenzie PetersQuincyIL
Alexis Christine PohlmanQuincyIL
Savannah Catherine RealQuincyIL
Abbey M. RhodesQuincyIL
Jayden A. RiceQuincyIL
Jackson RichmillerQuincyIL
Jessica Carol RobbinsQuincyIL
Bradyn RobertsonQuincyIL
Nicole RokusekQuincyIL
Logan SchlueterQuincyIL
Connor SchwindelerQuincyIL
Jose David Serrada PenaQuincyIL
Taelor Lynn SheetsQuincyIL
Natalya C. SorensenQuincyIL
Ethan SparrowQuincyIL
Andrew Srebroski IVQuincyIL
Aden StapletonQuincyIL
Abigail StegemanQuincyIL
Andrew SteinkoenigQuincyIL
Joshua StevensQuincyIL
Andrea StupavskyQuincyIL
Joshua TaltonQuincyIL
Josiah TaltonQuincyIL
Emme R. TournearQuincyIL
Deedria WaldropQuincyIL
Amaya WebbQuincyIL
Aaron WeberQuincyIL
Mason Joseph WellsQuincyIL
Keyouna WestQuincyIL
Barrett M. WhitfieldQuincyIL
Alexcis WittlerQuincyIL
Luke Gabriel WittlerQuincyIL
Ethan WoodsQuincyIL
Camila ZbynskiQuincyIL
Gabbriella R. KearnsQuincyIL
Clancy Katherine CrawfordQuincyIL
Garrett Max MeyerQuincyIL
John Albert AndersonQuincyIL
Adonya S. ArchibaldQuincyIL
David Eduardo Castro LarracheQuincyIL
Elizabeth JoAnn ChandlerQuincyIL
Aubrey DallmierQuincyIL
Mackenzie Grace DavisonQuincyIL
Mykaela ElliottQuincyIL
Ava Jaclyn Marie FischerQuincyIL
Addie Belle ForceQuincyIL
Sara Lynn GarlandQuincyIL
Michaelia GoodwinQuincyIL
Avery GraweQuincyIL
Cameron HolfordQuincyIL
Mason HormanQuincyIL
Spencer R. JenkinsQuincyIL
Ashley JuetteQuincyIL
Kieren LeMasterQuincyIL
Krista Michele RittenhouseQuincyIL
Andrew RuddQuincyIL
Eden Olivia ScheuermannQuincyIL
Claire SlyQuincyIL
Brooks Rodhoum SonethongkhamQuincyIL
Keila StapletonQuincyIL
Grayson TedrowQuincyIL
Landon Parker WallaceQuincyIL
Lucas WiegandQuincyIL
Cheyenne Elaine WileyQuincyIL
Reese WilliamsQuincyIL
Thomas YoudenQuincyIL
Megan Dora-Ann McDowellQuincyIL
Isabella DouglasQuincyIL
Morgan BlackQuincyIL
Morgan PettyjohnQuincyIL
Quinton Parker HankinsQuincyIL
Nathaniel R. PabisiakQuincyIL
Benet  Eversden-DuesterhausQuincyIL
Aaron D. WittlerQuincyIL
Ty Ryan RouthQuincyIL
Connor Matthew BrownQuincyIL
Thomas W. MuseQuincyIL
Jesus RamirezQuincyIL
Belinda AbbeyQuincyIL
Marlee Jane AsherQuincyIL
Gesi Danell BakerQuincyIL
Haylie DankerQuincyIL
Julianna EdenQuincyIL
Audrey Caitlyn EvansQuincyIL
Erika FeeQuincyIL
Jamie Renee FergusonQuincyIL
Morgan Christine GoehlQuincyIL
Tawnya HawsQuincyIL
Nick KelleyQuincyIL
Avery KriegermeierQuincyIL
Kaitlyn Marie LaTourQuincyIL
Lacey LewisQuincyIL
Aideen OrrQuincyIL
Alaina K. PylicanQuincyIL
Lexi Nicole SchafferQuincyIL
Alisha SkwaraQuincyIL
Erika WhittakerQuincyIL
Kobe WilliamsQuincyIL
Sarah MasonQuincyIL
Heather A. FrankelQuincyIL
Haley Catherine GrenellQuincyIL
Ashley Marie SchmidtQuincyIL
Payton Renee BakerQuincyIL
Maranda MizeQuincyIL
Justyce StephensonQuincyIL
Jack Deno CrickardQuincyIL
Mathew James JuetteQuincyIL
Grace Bernadette Marie MeyerQuincyIL
Laken AidichQuincyIL
Gabriela G. EscamillaQuincyIL
BobbiCrystina  MonzoQuincyIL
Alexis RobertsQuincyIL
Debbi SloupQuincyIL
Pi-Tumbasa PuliQuincyIL
Wendy WhiteQuincyIL
Allison BarthelQuincyIL
Jacqueline BucknerQuincyIL
Alyssia ComleyQuincyIL
Sonya TurnerQuincyIL
Dustin SchroederQuincyIL
Brenden BlattnerQuincyIL
Jaden Nicole CrawfordQuincyIL
Seth HaughQuincyIL
Alex LoganQuincyIL
Alan PachecoQuincyIL
Jack PalesQuincyIL
Max ParrinoQuincyIL
Braden SheffieldQuincyIL
Shane StottsQuincyIL
Austin DurstQuincyIL
Ryan WandQuincyIL
Jacob ThomasQuincyIL
Jakob GriggsQuincyIL
Devon McBrideQuincyIL
Brendan WandQuincyIL
Hunter LeindeckerQuincyIL
William Jo NortonQuincyIL
Jaden McPhersonQuincyIL
Angel DentonQuincyIL
Taylor HilandQuincyIL
India JohnsonQuincyIL
Brittany SmithQuincyIL
Jodi WinfieldQuincyIL
Amy WrightQuincyIL
Kaitlin GriffinQuincyIL
Justice TaylorQuincyIL
Blake WagyQuincyIL
Jordan BorovayQuincyIL
Tiesha BurkQuincyIL
Amy D. BurtonQuincyIL
Joshua J. Clay-CulverQuincyIL
Christina FeltmanQuincyIL
Racaia FinleyQuincyIL
Tierra LeDonne GallaherQuincyIL
Amber HoenerQuincyIL
Alexandria KeckQuincyIL
Samantha  LambertQuincyIL
Timothy C. LegemetQuincyIL
Milagros Lorraine MendozaQuincyIL
Jordan MeyerQuincyIL
Venessa RankinQuincyIL
Alaina N. ShoopmanQuincyIL
Amanda SillQuincyIL
Mattie TjadenQuincyIL
Kristin WagnerQuincyIL
Alyssa Ann WeechQuincyIL
Nathan HallQuincyIL
Bryce T. GenenbacherQuincyIL
Cooper LeeQuincyIL
Wilbert MaasQuincyIL
Justen NashQuincyIL
Wendy MiracleQuincyIL
Freedom JourneyRivertonIL
Zoey Marie MyersRockportIL
Kaci RiddleRockportIL
Colton SextonRoodhouseIL
Heather LyonsRushvilleIL
Jena N. SmithRushvilleIL
Tyler TroneRushvilleIL
Rachel HackworthRushvilleIL
Tracey HeatherlySummer HillIL
Lisa WeeksSutterIL
Justice SpencerTable GroveIL
Drake HouserTimewellIL
Kristen GrenlundTimewellIL
Joshua Ehrich HumkeUrsaIL
Taylor M. PayneUrsaIL
Madalynn MorrisonUrsaIL
Amber CasleyUrsaIL
Vanessa WalkerUrsaIL
Kaci Elizabeth McKeonVersaillesIL
Brisyn Analeigh HohenberyVersaillesIL
Shaun ManningWashingtonIL
Riley BozarthWest PointIL
Ramsey FryWest PointIL
Kelton James RiceWest PointIL
Kaylene Dale BrunennWest PointIL
Preston J. HubbardWest PointIL
Lindsay RiveraWinchesterIL

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