Lamar Community College (LCC) graduates from the class of 2021 and the class of 2020, which was unable to have an in-person ceremony last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, were recognized during the 82nd Annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 8. 

The ceremony was held outdoors to minimize risk and, with the exception of a bit of wind, it was a beautiful Southeast Colorado blue-sky day. Colorado Community Colleges Chancellor Joe Garcia conferred degrees and certificates during the commencement and represented Dr. Linda Lujan, president of LCC, who was attending her daughter’s graduation.

“Graduates, on behalf of every single member of the LCC family, I want to wish you a lifetime of success,” Garcia said during the ceremony. “Be proud of being an alum of Lamar Community College. Don’t forget this wonderful little college on the plains. It will always be an important part of your life.”

Student speakers included Sarah Walsh, Kendal Fletcher and Micah Middleton. Walsh previously completed a degree in horse training and management at LCC prior to her completion of a nursing degree in 2021. Fletcher and Middleton are both Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team Workforce Pathway students. 

Chancellor Garcia also conferred a posthumous degree to Curtis Logan Bender which was accepted by his parents, Tera and Curt Bender.

Faculty Senate President Dr. David Frankel certified the graduating class during the ceremony. Dr. Lisa Schlotterhausen, vice president of academic and student services, and Chad DeBono, vice president of administrative services and institutional effectiveness, announced student names.

The commencement program is available digitally on the LCC graduation page at lamarcc.edu. In addition to the students listed, Summa Cum Laude student Trace Cox, Summa Cum Laude student and Basic Welding student Fred Garcia Kinzie; Nursing student Karla Hernandez-Alvarado and Oscar Maldonado were inadvertently omitted from the program. Cox completed an Associate of General Studies degree and is an honors student and member of Phi Theta Kappa. Garcia Kinzie earned a certificate, Hernandez-Alvarado earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, and Maldonado earned an Associate of General Studies. 

Dr. Lujan recorded a message for graduates which is available on the LCC graduation page. 

“Commencement is a very special day and you have much to celebrate,” Lujan said in the recorded message to graduates. “Thank you also for allowing us to celebrate those members of the class of 2020 who have returned to walk in person. At LCC, we have a saying, ‘We enrich lives through learning.’ Students, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to enrich your lives. We are so proud of you and we know, as a Lamar Lope, you will go into the world and continue to make us proud.”

The ceremony was live-streamed and the recording can be viewed on the college website on in the video below.

To view Dr. Linda Lujan’s prerecorded message for graduates, click here: youtube.com/watch?v=iF6-x100qMY. 

HONORS DISTINCTION KEY 

• *** Summa Cum Laude 4.0 GPA 
• ** Magna Cum Laude 3.99-3.75 GPA 
• Cum Laude 3.50-3.74 GPA 
• Φ Phi Theta Kappa Member

Students who walked during the commencement ceremony are:

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS 

• Jose Alvarez 
• Kristyna Jade Arguello
• Joshua Bachicha ** 
• Curtis Bender Tess Camp ** Φ 
• James Clark ** 
• Dakota Cook 
• Caleb Dorenkamp * 
• Eldon Elarton *** Φ 
• Angelica Gomez ** 
• Viviana Guzman 
• Alisse Caitlyn Hall *** Φ
• Jaxon Himel 
• Brandon Huffman
• Aaron Hunter 
• Dylan Jutze 
• James Moses *** Φ 
• Jacob Perez 
• Noah Brent 
• Kell Prince * 
• Hope Quinones 
• Haven Jiselle Quintana Φ 
• Leah Rivera * 
• Mason Togher ** Φ 
• Sophia Trujillo
• Brayton Vaughn 
• Sandra G. Villaseñor 
• Naya Youtsey 

BUSINESS 

• Colbey Klepper *
• McKenzie Middleton 
• Abigail Propst 
• Alexander Ruggles *** Φ 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE 

• Hagen Escoto
• Ana Martinez 

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 

• Alexus Gomez 

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION 

• Tayler Dossey ** Φ 

HISTORY 

• Cuauhtemoc Mosqueda Garcia 

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE 

• Mireya Karina Aranda ** Φ 
• Tyler Joseph Barcelon *** Φ 
• Andrew Duran * Φ 
• Kendal Fletcher *** Φ 
• Maria Flores
• Cal Garcia 
• Xhané Greenidge * Φ 
• Bradley Hallock ** 
• Sage Higbee *** Φ 
• Adolfo Iturralde 
• Angelina Lopez *** Φ
• Davis Martinek 
• Elizabeth Mathews ** Φ 
• Maria Rebecca Morales * 
• Abagail Nidey Brandon Orozco ** Φ 
• Whear Puot 
• Katelynne Russell *** 
• Daniel Stroh 
• Ryan Trinkaus * 
• Alex Truitt 
• Marisa Vazquez 
• Sloane Vigoren 
• Sheridan Wayne 
• James Edward 
• Wills Kyrie Wright *** Φ

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES  

• Trace Cox *** Φ  
• Oscar Maldonado **
• Nicholas Bowermaster 
• Luis De La Cueva 
• Katrina Lopez-Santis 
• Michaela Loveless * Φ 
• Jazelle Moreno 
• Michael Polson 
• Kerry Saldana 
• Brady Sides ** Φ 
• Andrew Vigil 
• Rechaséa Deonta Watson 
• Blayton Williams ** Φ 
• Blake Wilson *** Φ

AGRICULTURE 

• Madison Buxton ** Φ 
• Austin Cook *** Φ 
• Dakota Cook 
• Jett Claton 
• Harmon Chantry Hoskinson *
• Lindsey Martinez 
• Carl McKenzie 
• Samantha Lynn Peavey ** Φ 
• Amiya Lee Sinn 

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

AGRICULTURE BUSINESS 

• Kyle Klann 

AG PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 

• Steven Octavio Ramos 

BUSINESS 

• Joseph Garduno 
• Antonio J. Malacara 

COSMETOLOGY 

• Jessica Dieterle * 
• Amber Hunt 
• Kelsey Poe *** 
• Nicole Schale 

EQUINE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 

• Amanda Hope Baker *** 
• Jordyn Bishop ** 
• Macayla Brickell * Φ 
• Nadine Cooke 
• Meaghan Greenwall ***
• Brooklynn Jones ** 
• Shae Robinson ** Φ 
• Taylor Russell ** Φ 
• Darby Shouse * 
• Brittney Sjoblom 
• Kayla Tornabene ** 

FABRICATION WELDING 

• Chandler Broughton 
• Matthew Fischer 
• George Gutierrez 
• Bryce Reese 

HORSE TRAINING MANAGEMENT 

• Randi Arena Allen ** Φ 
• Amanda Hope Baker *** 
• Tyler Barber * 
• Madison Bianco * 
• Katelyn Bookman * 
• Keiarra Durbin 
• Madison Helch ** 
• Brooklynn Jones ** 
• Lorenzo Jones Acosta * 
• Alexis Lopez *** 
• Jessica Lopez ** Φ 
• Samantha Lynn Peavey ** Φ 
• Taylor Russell ** Φ 
• Emma Templeton *** 
• Kayla Tornabene ** 
• Lauren Lee Urista *** Φ 
• Grace Wilson ** 

NURSING 

• Megan Carson 
• Naya Cordova ** Φ 
• Jennifer Hayes 
• Tristan Horn 
• Basil Iche 
• Megan Jones 
• Jessica Maldonado 
• Andreya Suzanne Martinson 
• Dawn Marie Oakes *** 
• Chyann Sewell 
• Shelly Suji 
• Julianna Tidwell 
• Heather R. Trujillo 
• Sarah Nicole Walsh ** Φ 
• Trella Wollert * Φ
• Karla Hernandez-Alvarado

CERTIFICATES

AGRICULTURE 

• Brianna Marie Mike 

BARBER 

• Jesus Fernandez 
• Tanisha Hernandez 
• Shayla Dawn Lane 
• Micah Middleton 
• Tyler “tWiz” Salis 

BUSINESS 

• Aliana Gutierrez 
• Angelina Lopez Φ 
• Lacey Montez 
• Danisha Quezada 

COSMETOLOGY 

• Miranda Mitchek 
• Frida De La Paz 
• JoHannah McKinley 

EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR 

• Claudia Veronica Coronado Marta 
• Alexus Gomez 

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER 

• Makayla Torres Φ 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN -  BASIC 

• Steven Schmidt 
• EQUINE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 
• Kaitlyn Barrero 
• Jaqueline Cooper 
• Alexandria Dainko 
• Emma Rothbauer 
• Abigail Schmidt 
• Keelin Wright 

FUNDAMENTAL HORSE MANAGEMENT 

• Kaitlyn Barrero 
• Nina Callavini 
• Alexandria Dainko 
• Kayce L. Edwards Φ 
• Meaghan Greenwall 
• Cierra Marker 
• Haidyn Phillips 
• Emma Rothbauer 
• Abigail Schmidt 
• Marcie Southfield 
• Kathryn Thorp 

HAIRSTYLIST 

• Kaitlin Hall 
• Amber Hunt 
• Tiffany Nunez 
• Alexis Haiven Qualls 
• Katiri Sandoval 
• Belem Guadalupe Villalobos Proaño 
• Marlen Zavala 

HEALTH & WELLNESS 

• Kendal Fletcher Φ 
• Xhané Greenidge Φ 
• Angelina Lopez Φ 
• Sloane Vigoren 
• Sheridan Wayne 
• Kevon Wiggins 

MARKETING TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST 

• Antonio J. Malacara 

NAIL TECHNICIAN 

• Alexis Haiven Qualls 

NURSE AID 

• Julissa Adan 
• Makenzia Michelle Blodgett 
• Sulma Cocoba 
• Jennifer May Gomez 
• Sage Ann Higbee Φ 
• Aalia Marie Jaramillo Φ 
• Alexi Lawrence 
• Guadalupe Marquez 
• Ayisha Martinez 
• Zandalee Melton 
• Brandi Reyes 
• Aliyah Turner-Reale 
• Cesar Chavez Vazquez 

PRACTICAL NURSING 

• Kayla Bronson 
• Sheridan Lynn Choat
• Felicia Cisneros 
• Ellie Jennings Φ 
• Judith Ramirez 
• Cynthia Elena Rodriguez
• Kaitlei Salgado 
• Emily LeMarie Smith Sena 

VETERINARY SCIENCE 

• Sierra D. Swank 

WELDING ADVANCED 

• Chandler Broughton 
• Orrin Edwards 
• Matthew Fischer 
• Dylan Gonzales 
• Raymond Montgomery 
• Chad Williams 

WELDING BASIC 

• Tyler Beebe 
• Hunter Callison 
• Coltan Davis 
• Allan Duval Φ 
• Greg Feather 
• Gabriel Flores 
• Fred Garcia Kinzie ***Φ 
• Christian La Cost 
• Westin Langston 
• Gabriel Martinez 
• Luis Mendoza 
• Aiden Michael 
• Marileyn Ramos 
• David Saldana 
• Latrell Stine 
• Christopher Torres 
• Martin Vela
• Brinden Williams 

WELDING INTERMEDIATE 

• Allan R. Duval Φ 
• Pedro Gomez 
• Ross Gruenloh Φ 
• Dillon Hall 
• EmManuel Holguin 
• Tate Krentz 
• Adrian Lopez 
• Gabriel Nathaniel Martinez 
• Luis Mendoza 
• Kevin Pearson 
• Steven Octavio Ramos
• David Saldana 
• Noah Sheffield 
• Martin Vela

2020 GRADUATES

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS 

• Karina Cazares *** Φ 

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 

• Alicia Fraire *

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION 

• Veronica Losa Φ 

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

HORSE TRAINING & MANAGEMENT 

• Elizabeth Parnell 

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES 

• Rachel Minika Kodavatikanti 

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE 

• Taylor Lallmann 
• Kami Steinbacker 
• Cassidy Dotter 

CERTIFICATES

EARLY CHILDHOOD ENTRY 

• Anna Marie Morris 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN-BASIC 

• Clara Sherrill 

FUNDAMENTAL HORSE TRAINING 

• Tyler Barber

BARBER 

• Isaiah LaTour