Program

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Southwestern Illinois College Board of Trustees

Chair Nick Raftopoulos, Granite City; Vice Chair Steve Campo, Belleville; John S. Blomenkamp, Freeburg; Charles Hannon, Swansea; Robert G. Morton, O’Fallon; Richard E. Roehrkasse, Red Bud; Sara Soehlke, Collinsville

Southwestern Illinois College BOARD APPOINTEES

Beverly Fiss, Garrett Hoerner, Missy Roche

SWIC President

Nick J. Mance

STATE OF ILLINOIS
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
&
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION CEREMONY

PROCESSIONAL 6 P.M.*

Pomp and Circumstance – Edward Elgar

INVOCATION

Dr. Michael Farar, Chaplain, Major, USAF
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

NATIONAL ANTHEM

National Anthem: Star-Spangled Banner –
Members of the SWIC Community Choir,
Director, Dr. Andrew Jensen

WELCOME

Director of Adult Education and Literacy – Mereadith Shivers

INTRODUCTIONS

Assistant Director of Adult Education and Literacy
Dr. Cynthia Jenkins

STUDENT SPEAKER

Student – Khadija Lawhorn

GUEST SPEAKER

Bob Novack
Foundation Board Member

AWARDING OF CERTIFICATES AND HONORS

Director of Adult Education and Literacy – Mereadith Shivers
English as a Second Language Director – Leslie Wagner Program and
Assessment Coordinator – Jenny (Mary) Margarida

BENEDICTION

Dr. Michael Farar, Chaplain, Major, USAF
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS

BELLEVILLE NEWS-DEMOCRAT GED ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

2022-2023

Ah’Reishia Stanley
Raven Brock
Paul Schneeberger
Ashlen Soulney
Tabith Gilley
Paul J. Warren

ELMER AND JOAN KIRCHOFF ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

2022-2023

Lindsay Schnoonover

DR. MARTHA GIORDANO ENDOWMENT

2022-2023

Kathryn Klepaz
Thomas Sullivan
David Vickers
Stephanee Carter

DR. VALERIE THAXTON AWARD

2022-2023

Ashlen Soulney

TAYLOR, WHISMAN, ROBICHAUX AND WILLIAMSON AWARD

2022-2023

David Vickers
Raven Brock

Congratulations
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA GRADUATES
Class of 2023!

Don’t forget to submit your custom announcement using the Graduation Submission form.
Your custom announcements will be linked to your name below.

• Christian Alexander
• Daisy Baron
• Kelsie Beard
• Brendan Bode-Will
• Raven Brock
• Olivia Captain
• Kaylie Childers-Schaefer
• Zachary Daenzer
• James Elder Jr.
• Aiden Elledge
• Karigan Forcum
• Esthefany Gomez
• Haylie Gonzalez
• Kyanna Grau
• Mattox Greer
• Morris Hannon
• James Hayes
• Auentina Hicks
• Lucas Jolly
• Vieng Khounsana
• Brooke Kite
• Paola Lara Barradas
• Khadija Lawhorn
• Adam Ledbetter
• Zachery Lloyd
• Diana Mendiola Gonzalez
• Cameron Miller
• Angel Moore
• Alejandro Moya
• Benjamin Novack
• Starkeyta Phifer
• Amy Pigg
• Malachi Raines
• Zachary Raglin
• Parthenia Robinson
• Lindsay Schoonover
• Dakota Scroggins
• Justin Sims
• Kemorvion Stanley
• Abbigail Stirling
• Andrew Tehandon
• Alexandrea Wathen

Congratulations
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRADUATES
Class of 2023!

Don’t forget to submit your custom announcement using the Graduation Submission form.
Your custom announcements will be linked to your name below.

• Diana Marcela Grajales
• Saori Gray
• Victor Lobanov
• Sandra Medina
• Pedro Mora
• Nhung Thi My Nguyen
• Kanittha Rueanghirun
• Merfat M Sakr

STUDENT SPEAKER

KHADIJA LAWHORN

Khadija Lawhorn earned her Illinois High School Diploma in June of 2022. The following fall, she enrolled in SWIC’s Certified Nursing Assistant program.

She earned her CNA certification in December 2022 and has been employed as a CNA since January 2023.

Khadija is a proud mother of two
young daughters. She strives to set a positive example for her daughters as she meets the challenges of balancing parenthood while achieving her academic goals.

Currently, Khadija is in the process of enrolling in LPN classes at Southwestern Illinois College. Khadija is a wonderful example of perseverance when it comes to achieving one’s desired academic goals despite life’s challenges.

TOP 20 PERCENT TUITION SCHOLARSHIP

Kaylie Childers-Schaefer	St. Clair County
Kyanna Grau	St. Clair County
Mattox Greer	Madison County
Auentina Hicks	St. Clair County
Lucas Jolly	Madison County
Brooke Kite	Madison County
Khadija Lawhorn St. Clair County	St. Clair County
Alejandro (Alex) Moya	Madison

NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION HONOR SOCIETY

*Designated by the wearing of gold cords

Kelsie Beard
Brendan Bode-Will
Kaylie Childers-Schaefer
Zach Daenzer
Kyanna Grau
Lucas Jolly
Paola Lara
Khadija Lawhorn
Diana Mendiola Gonzalez
Amy Pigg

ADULT EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTORS

ADULT EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

Mereadith Shivers	Director
Dr. Cynthia Jenkins	Assistant Director
Leslie Wagner	English as a Second Language Director
Jenny Margarida	Literacy Coordinator
Edward White	Construction Training Coordinator
Torrin Suedmeyer	Adult Transition Services Coordinator & ABE Site Manager, Granite City
Lachelle Dowell	Youth Services Coordinator, St. Clair County
Lynn Niermann	Youth Services Coordinator, Monroe/Randolph County
Karen Schneider	Associate Professor, Full-Time Faculty, Granite City
Jennifer Wiegers	High School Equivalency Coordinator, East St. Louis
Valorie Toberman	High School Equivalency Coordinator, Granite City
Jill Belcher	Student Data Specialist
Tanja Anglin	Administrative Assistant, Belleville
Stephani Pittman	Education to Careers Coordinator
Stacie Carpenter	Instructional Services Secretary
Charlean Paige	Literacy and English as a Second Language Secretary
Janet Rinehart	Office Assistant, Granite City
Elizabeth Farar	Grants Manager
Cara Kriz	Marketing and Intake Coordinator
Denise Brady	Transition Coordinator, Belleville

SUPERINTENDENTS OF REGIONAL OFFICES OF EDUCATION

Messages from your legislators

“Congratulations Graduates! Although I cannot be with you today due to legislative session, I would like to take this opportunity to send my congratulations.

Your graduation is a spectacular achievement and you should be very proud of the hard work and dedication you have put forward.

You have my best wishes for your continued success and happiness. If my office can ever be of assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.”

– Representative Jay Hoffman
113th district

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“Graduates, first let me say: “Congratulations!” What you have achieved is admirable and worth celebrating.

America takes pride in being a place where anything is possible for those who are willing to work for it.

Today is about feeling pride in the hard work you’ve done and steps you’ve taken on the road toward your goals. You’ve earned that pride.

On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly, I honor your accomplishment today and I look forward to serving as your Representative as you go forward to even greater things. Well Done!”

– Representative Katie Stuart
112th district

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“To commemorate your hard-earned accomplishments, I write to congratulate you on obtaining your High School Equivalency Certificate.

This is no small feat and a well-deserved honor.

Your HSD can serve as a foundation for the rest of your life. By continuing your education, you’ve opened the door for new opportunities.

Whether you’re considering attending college, learning a trade, enlisting in the military or entering the workforce, your HSD puts you at an advantage.

I truly appreciate your commitment. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.”

– Representative Rachel Crowe
56th District

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“Congratulations, Graduates! You have made your family, friends, and our entire community proud! We look forward to seeing all your future accomplishments and wish you all the best.”

– Representative Amy Elik
111th district

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“Congratulations on this momentous occasion and best wishes for all your future endeavors.”

– Representative LaToya Greenwood
114th district 108th district

Foundation

The Southwestern Illinois College Foundation exists to maintain and enhance the quality of life by developing friends and funds for support of the educational, cultural and service goals of Southwestern Illinois College.

The Foundation promotes excellence by securing gifts for special educational and cultural activities that are not part of the college budget.

Foundation Board

Board Chair Mary Buettner
Board Vice Chair Sue Hoffmann
Finance Chair Matthew Gomric
Finance Vice Chair Samuel Hanger
Barbara Cempura
Jeanne Dalman
Stan Hatfield
Bob Novack
Christopher C. Schroeder

Ex-Officio Members

SWIC Board of Trustees Chair Nick Raftopoulos
SWIC President Nick J. Mance
SWIC Chief Administrative Services Officer Bernie Ysursa
Foundation Board Treasurer Margot Middleton-Holt
Foundation Executive Director Rena Thoele

The Star-Spangled Banner

O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Words: Francis Scott Key
Music: John Stafford Smit