Fallon graduates gather for a group photo at the Western Nevada College 2015 commencement ceremony in Carson City on Monday.
Western Nevada College said goodbye to its latest graduating class Monday.
More than 500 students received their diploma at the Marv Teixeira Pavilion in Carson City for a variety of associate and bachelor’s degrees. This year the college did something a little different and had graduates from both the Carson City and Fallon campuses together at one ceremony. Typically, each campus has their own ceremony but they to come together as for one commencement.
“We are one WNC family, let’s have one commencement,” said WNC President Chet Burton.
Along with the president of the school, multiple members from the Board of Regents and Tim Hoover, the student body president, spoke to the graduates and their families.
Hoover described the journey at WNC like a road trip; it was long, hard and hot, but there was good along the way, and it was all worth it for the final destination because you finally made it.
“Always keep your Western pride because it will be the rock you stand on for the rest of your life,” Hoover said.
With smiling faces and fists pumping in the air, the graduates strolled across the stage to collect their diploma from the Board of Regents.
“It feels so surreal (to graduate) all that hard work and no sleep paid off,” Fallon graduate Nilzara Atchison said. “It has been a rough journey, but such a blessing at the same time.”
One graduate also felt especially grateful walking across the stage as the first person in her family to go to college.
Before the graduates walked off, Burton had one last piece wish for the students.
“Though you have graduated it’s our hope you don’t leave this WNC family,” Burton said.
Fallon
Associate of Applied Science – Accounting
Desiree Raina Fiedler
Associate of Applied Science – Automated Systems Technology
Paula Lynn Swanberg
Associate of Applied Science – Automotive Mechanics
David R. Wilkins
Associate of Applied Science – Criminal Justice
Paula Deanne Fryling, Dallana Medina Soto
Associate of Applied Science – General Business
Desiree Raina Fiedler
Associate of Applied Science – Graphic Communications
Michael Lynn Lakin, Debra Lynn Van Blaricom
Associate of Applied Science – Information Technology
Christopher Ernest Angel
Associate of Applied Science – Machine Tool Technology
Alex Christopher Peden
Associate of Applied Science – Nursing
Kimberley S. Dela Vega, Stacy M. Wallace
Associate of Arts
Cassie Marie Bell, Jennifer A. Ciak, Corey Lyn Cook, Ryan Patrick Crossland, Miguel Evan Garate, Rebecca Ann Glinka, Kris Ann Hadley, Lindsey Elizabeth Haselton, David A. Henderson, Tarin Jones, LaNae Marie Noel, Robyn Bernadette Openshaw, Eric Charles Perazzo, Donita Marie Petean, Jessica Portillo, Jennifer Michele Rechel, Alana Kirsten Rogne, Marcie Grace Smitten, Christina L.A. Sponsler, Jan Stotts, Cassandra Victoria Terrazas, Stacy M. Wallace, Cheddie Wilson
Associate of Arts – Criminal Justice
William J. Few
Associate of Arts – Fine Arts
Gabriella D. Thompson
Associate of General Studies
Nilzara Atchison, Thomas Christopher Bynum, David A. Johnson, Jacque Anne Manley, Marysol Murillo, Rebecca Strong, Matt Eugene Tholl, Rafael David Valdez
Associate of Science
Brooke A. Donahue, Nau Nicole Gill, Drew K. Hepner, Ashlee Jolan Pargett, Edward W. Stahi
Associate of Science – Physics
Brenna A. King
Certificate of Achievement – Graphic Communications
Mary E. Lammel
Fernley
Associate of Applied Science – General Business
Ted Saxe
Associate of Arts
Rebecca Louise Benner, Carlie Nicole Callahan, Rebecca Lynn Pinzon, Kelli Rae Rush
Associate of General Studies
Lori Minch-Winberg
Associate of Science
Britt Samuel Hoashi
Certificate of Achievement – American Sign Language
Lori Minch-Winberg
Certificate of Achievement – Bookkeeping
Ronnie A. Stark
Certificate of Achievement – Early Childhood Education
Rebecca Benner
Hawthorne
Associate of Applied Science – Machine Tool Technology
Evan Michael Wallis
Schurz
Associate of Arts
Chauncee Dennis
Silver Springs
Associate of Applied Science – Accounting
Mae Lynn Calmese
Associate of Applied Science – General Business
Stephanie Ann Wozniak
Associate of Applied Science – Graphic Communications
Delton Pierson Jr.
Associate of Applied Science – Machine Tool Technology
Alfred J. Marshall
Associate of Arts
Jessica Batchelor, Nicole Calmese, Rebecca Lynn Larkin, Sara Rumker, Monica Michelle Spraggins
Certificate of Achievement – American Sign Language
Nicole Calmese
Stagecoach
Associate of Applied Science – Welding Technology
Stoney Lee Reeves
Associate of Arts
Emily Jane Steel