| (MSU Northern) Montana State University-Northern will celebrate its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. in the Armory Gymnasium Complex. Doors will open at 9:00 a.m., with the academic processional beginning at 10:00 a.m. A reception honoring graduates and their families will immediately follow the ceremony in the library entryway. Commencement will be livestreamed on YouTube. Click the link available on the commencement masthead at msun.edu to watch the ceremony. The livestream link will become active on Saturday at 9:45 a.m.
The ceremony will recognize students completing degree requirements by the end of the upcoming summer sessions. According to the Registrar’s Office, 266 students are currently eligible to receive a combined total of 309 degrees and certificates. Those numbers include 20 certificates, 123 associate degrees, 146 bachelor’s degrees, and 20 master’s degrees. The graduating class consists of 103 women and 163 men, though final numbers will not be confirmed until after spring semester final exams.
MSU-Northern is thrilled to have Montana native Jeff Ament serve as the 2026 Commencement speaker. Born in Havre and raised in Big Sandy, Ament is best known as the co-founder and bassist of the iconic rock band Pearl Jam. Since the band’s rise to international success in the early 1990s, Ament has earned Grammy Awards, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and built a distinguished career as a musician, songwriter, and visual artist.
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Ament has remained deeply connected to Montana through his charitable efforts, including the creation of Montana Pool Service, which has helped build skateparks in rural communities across the region. He also recently established the Dan Ulmen Memorial Scholarship to support students from Big Sandy and North Star High Schools attending MSU-Northern. Dan Ulmen was a long-time friend of Jeff’s who recently passed away.
Ament’s journey from rural Montana to worldwide success, combined with his continued commitment to giving back to his home state, makes him an inspiring choice to encourage and celebrate the graduating class of 2026.
The following graduation candidates are listed in alphabetical order under their appropriate degree:
Master of Education
Counselor Education
Paige Catherine Henderson
Laurissa Herbert
Kaitlyn Dawn Indreland
LeeAnn Lawrence
Master of Science in Education
Instruction & Learning
Rainey Jo Azure
Zachary Michael Brooks
Leo J. Bullchild Jr.
Selena G. Eagle Speaker
Gwendolyn Honeycutt
Cody O’Neill
Krystee R. Tailfeathers
Dorian M. Talks Different
Emma Wass
Allison Windy Boy
Master of Science
Teaching in a Content Area
Luke C. Triplett
Cody Matthew Wendlandt
Bachelor of Science in Education
Elementary Education (K-8)
Stephen Harold Carlson Jr.
Morgan Ann Marie Golie M
Alexis Haney D C
Josie Lyn Hasler
Melissa Ann Kozma
Britton Claire Paulson C
Alyssa Pretty Weasel
Mikenna Schauer
Kaylee Jo Scott
Macee Belle Selman D
Lorena Shaw S
Brandi Lea Tellesch
Austin Wilson M
Secondary Education:
Health and Physical Education (K-12)
Owen Curtis Smith C
Secondary Education:
General Science (5-12)
Willie LaSmith
Emily Magdalene Tripp C
Secondary Education:
Social Science Broadfield (5-12)
Samantha Kylee Johnson
Bachelor of Science
Agricultural Operations Technology
Allec Knapton
Dakota E. Krass M
Automotive Technology
Maxwell Paskewich D M
Mason J. Peterson
Quentin Patrick Schraeder D C
Biology
Willie LaSmith D
Business Administration
Shane Robert Barrett D M
Jacyne R. Bill
Kobi M. Burchard
Amy Jo Byrd
Brittney Cox M
Ashton Grover D S
Morgan Johnson
Keylee M. Kline
Gib R. Medicine Cloud
Rebecca Marita Melcher
Aiden Wayne Perkins C
Allison Powell D M
Jade Saddler
Brant Clifford Seewald
Leonel Sewell C
Arielle Kari Sutherland
Kade David Willis
Criminal Justice
Joaquin E. Calderon Cetina
Meaghan Ariela Calderon Fisher C
Keshia A. Flaten D C
Ian Michael Johnson
Annabelle Noel Kambic M
Caleb Jason Nau D M
Joshua Nau M
Lacy Preeshl M
Kaitlynne Tocher D
Airianna Asha Vij D M
Diesel Technology:
Equipment Management
Daniel Arant
Hunter Holobaugh D C
Diesel Technology
Chane Carlson D C
Rory Cozzens D C
Carter Derks
Aaron Michael Gomke D C
Blake Jensen
Weston Kay D M
Grace Elizebeth Loose D M
Gavin McLean
Mason Jarek Smith
Blake Andrew Taylor
Diesel Technology:
Field Maintenance
Gabriel Kizans
Shane Kole Mattson
Dante Otsuka
Engineering Technology:
Civil Engineering Technology
Baily Elizabeth Egan
Cade. S. Gubler D M
Jace D. Leeds D
Dexter Monson
Theron Peterson
Cannan John Smith
Crawford Terry D M
Orion A. Thivierge D C
Integrated Health Sciences
Brooklin Baukol D C
Katelynn Amanda Forner C
Ryan Graves D C
Makaela A. Kelly D M
Jackson Kink
Addisen Kiefer D M
Brooklyn Elizabeth Minden
Sarah Rose Parisian
Kenda J. Statham D M
Taya Trottier
Nursing
Carmen Marie Bessette D C
Laura Elizabeth Blow D M
Sarah Michelle Giles
Christine Kirsch D C
Kirsten Skye LaMere D C
Jessica Virginia Majerus D C
Jill Marcenko
Bradley M. Patricks
Isaias J. Patricks
Mylene R. Snow
Jamie Steenson
Erin Verploegen C
Bachelor of Applied Science
Trades Management
Spencer James Lehnerz
Jason Lynn Rice D M
Devin J. Shelton
Bachelor of Arts
Graphic Design
Ellen Nicole Collins
Randi M. Gormley
Choral Rose Salveson D M
Liberal Studies
Louie Durwood
Keshia A. Flaten D C
Randi M. Gormley
Lisa Marie LaTray-Bigby
Raefe McEnroe
Victoria Nina Messineo C
Elizabeth Ann Morrigan
Jordan Rader
Airianna Asha Vij D M
Associate of Arts
Program of Study in General
Education
Adrienne Lynn Gibson
L’Tia Lawrence
Sierra Marie Summers
Latria Noel Washington
Associate of Science
Nursing
Joseph D. Abate Jr.
Tahnee Danae Brown
Rylee Shaye Gilkey
Sierra Elizabeth Hudson
Sara Faith Kopp D C
Kaley Mackenzie Kuhn
Taylor Rae Lee-Strange
Tyler Majerus
Patience Malley
Abigail Catherine McBeth
Sean Michael Overbaugh
Carly Wesely
Hannah F. Williams
Program of Study in Business
Rope John Ramone
Ryan Edward Vaughn
Associate of Applied Science
Agricultural Mechanics Technology
Mason Jarek Smith
Joshua Stene M
Agriculture Technology
Delbert G. Blackman
Automotive Technology Fast Track
Kyle Kirby Allen Duran
Houston Michael Waddell
Automotive Technology
Braxton C. Berg C
Trevor J. Brinkman
Isaac Theodore Cantlon C
Patrick J. LaMere
Carter Marquardt D S
Journey Solorio
James Stensland-Plymale
Blake Andrew Taylor
Design Drafting Technology
Jessica Lee Zarske D M
Diesel Technology
Statten Ackerman D S
Craig Gage Berg D C
Tanner J. Bergh D M
Braedan Bilden
Bradyn L. Brown
Ashton Curtiss
Andrew Shaw Davis
Jordan P. Davis D C
Carter Derks
Christopher Dykema D M
Brody Nickolas Gebhardt D M
Trevor Hill
Blake Jensen
Weston Kay D M
Dalton Koosman
Hunter T. Learn D C
Clint Lien
Grace Elizabeth Loose D M
Landon Molitor
Simeon J.P. O’Hara D M
Cameron O’Neill
Kendall O’Neill D M
Mason J. Peterson
Quentin Patrick Schraeder D C
Joshua Stene D M
Aliyah A. Stiffarm D C
Morgan J. Watson
Electrical Technology
Reese Brown
Talan Kaston Cummins
Giomani Enea
Kaden L. Green
Samuel Richard Hurr
Logan Josephson D M
Andrew Thunder Kipp
Spencer James Lehnerz
Tyler J. Massey
Darrow Levi Messerly
Jackson Nordboe D C
Trevor O’Hara
Grant O’Neill D C
Maurice Redhorn
Leon Rudolph Sayers IV
Sam Schnackenberg
Gavin Severeide D C
Gavin R. Slade D C
Reilly J. Slater C
Addison Stentoft D
Cyrus Tebay D C
De’Amoni Wright
Nathaniel Young D M
Metals Manufacturing
Tabitha Van Dalen
Plumbing Technology
Ezekiel James Antonich
Phoenyx Budd
Joseph Q. Demontiney
D’Kane Treybien Grant C
Jude Mia Gray
William Houston
Mason Joseph Kinsella
Jordan Owen Kittleson
Martin Manuel
Zack May
Tommy Joe McCormick
Deshon Louis Gilbert Shambo D
Bryce N. Shettel
Pipefitter Technology
Ezekiel James Antonich
Certificate of Applied Science
Welding Technology
Ezekiel James Antonich
Soren Gregory Antonich D
McKade Billy D
Noel Groves
Nic Johnson
Gavin McLean
Markita Meyers
Dante Otsuka
Aiden Posthumus D
Teagan T. Reimer
Jacob Schauer
Deshon Louis Gilbert Shambo
Tristan Sterner
Aliyah A. Stiffarm D
Kash Stiles D
D=Departmental Distinction, C=Cum Laude, M=Magna Cum Laude, S=Summa Cum Laude |
