Skila Burlingame, who has served as the college’s ambassador to the Wisconsin Technical College System, was the ceremony’s student speaker.
More than 100 students earned their degrees this month from Blackhawk Technical College, with 49 of the graduating students participating in the college’s December Commencement ceremony held on Tuesday.
The graduating class reflects the diversity and breadth of programs offered at Blackhawk Technical College, with students completing degrees in a range of fields, including Nursing, Criminal Justice Studies, Accounting, Welding, and more. Notably, three students have achieved the distinction of completing Blackhawk’s innovative Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs. Launched in 2022, these programs provide streamlined, low-cost pathways to a bachelor’s degree, marking a forward-looking approach to higher education.
Tuesday’s Commencement featured speaker Kaleb Shaffer, the recipient of Blackhawk’s Rising Star Alumni Award, which recognizes exceptional alumni who graduated from the college within the past decade.
“I vividly remember the day that I graduated from Blackhawk Technical College – much like you will remember this day. Little did I know that this institution would be the launch pad for my dreams,” said Shaffer, who received an associate degree in IT-Network Specialist in 2014 and now is the owner of his own company, Superior Technologies.
Skila Burlingame, a graduating Business Management student who has served as the college’s ambassador to the Wisconsin Technical College System, was the ceremony’s student speaker.
“To my fellow graduates, be so great that you can’t be ignored and know that we must accept the end of something to begin to build something new,” Burlingame said.
Congratulations to all of Blackhawk’s graduates!
DECEMBER 2023 GRADUATES
ACCOUNTING
Associate Degree
Lillyann R. Baertschi*
Gritly Mcnett Seriphin
Barbara J. Rutherford*
Shalu Thankan
ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
One-Year Technical Diploma
Jacqueline Colquhoun
AGRIBUSINESS SPECIALIST
One-Year Technical Diploma
Jason J. Hunt
Gavin H. Jenson
Troy Nickels
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
Kayla Mcdevitt*
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE
Allison J. Franks
Tatum Novak*
AUTOMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY
Associate Degree
Alexander D. Flesch
Eric Thompson*
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN
Two-Year Technical Diploma
Tony A. Cerros
Jonathan A. Manriquez
Juan U. Olvera*
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Associate Degree
Brandan L. Annen
Skila M. Burlingame*
Chanel J. Dietzman
Wendpagnagde S. Gamene
Amanda M. Kalas*
Lindsey A. King
Wendel Welter
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
Technical Diploma
Cynthia Rodriguez
CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES
Associate Degree
Saharra M. Cappis
Maxwell A. Greco
Logan R. Huffman*
Benjamin K. Jacobs*
Triston M. Koch+*
Isiah McGhee
Matthew Wilson*
CULINARY ARTS
Associate Degree
Jackilyn R. Bailey
Tammy K. Peters*
Devin J. Rozell*
DIESEL & HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN
Two-Year Technical Diploma
Abraham R. Alexander*
Jarod Schmidt
DIGITAL MARKETING
Associate Degree
Randi L. Gonsior*
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Associate Degree
Mackenzie J. Burns
ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION
One-Year Technical Diploma
Joseph M. Kaht
ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY
Associate Degree
Hatsady Xayasaeng
FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHER EDUCATION
Associate Degree
Madisin J. Parmer*
Nicole K. Weber
HUMAN SERVICES
Associate Degree
Heather M. Armstrong
Kathleen O. Bond-Crull
HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration)
Two-year Technical Diploma
Nijel D. Anderson
Jarred A. Bartz*
Lloyd Pelly*
Adam M. Steiner
INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE MECHANIC
Two-Year Technical Diploma
Christopher G. Campos*
Cordell L. Dixon
IT-NETWORK SPECIALIST
Associate Degree
John Bartholme
Connor F. Delaney*
Ethan Dieckhoff
Adam Fletcher
Jordan Gould
Devin R. Kuqo
Sarah Potter*
Jacob A. Rhyner
IT-WEB SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Associate Degree
Emmanuel Noriega*
Desirae D. Stiefel
MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Associate Degree
Katie L. Raskovic
NURSING
Associate Degree
Alannah M. Bennett*
Itzel G. Bernal-Flores* Jordyn E. Bickle
Jordan A. Calley*
Nicole L. Cawkins*
Lauren E. Comella
Whitney N. Connors Jeanette M. Coppernoll Carolina E. Delgado-Vazquez* Rachell S. Draper*
Lexis C. Duncan
Hanna K. Field*
Mallary Fox
Darcy L. Fredrickson* Rachael B. Goff
Destiny Hambrock*
Angel M. Hayward*
Elena C. Herrera*
Heather M. Holbrook
Jessica Keller*
Laci McKaig*
Cori Nolan*
Julianna E. Poe
Emilio J. Ramirez
Carson E. Richards*
Kristen Rinehardt*
Laurisha P. Rosario* Kirsten Rudnitzki*
Dana R. Sayles*
Melanie M. Schmidt* Cheyenne M. Stewart* Jacob C. Warthen*
Jill Winslow*
PARAMEDIC TECHNICIAN
Technical Diploma
Travis L. Downing
Nicholas Keating
RESIDENTIAL HVAC/R
Technical Diploma
Erik J. Hillstrom
Jesse Washington
SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION
Technical Diploma
Brooke I. Guenther*
Naja Yarbrough*
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELING
Technical Diploma
Jacqueline L. Lucas*
Rachel A. Olin*
Katrina M. Steiner*
Mark A. Van Dyke*
WELDING
One-Year Technical Diploma
Louis R. Chase*
Bryan Cruz
Noah Gillespie
Brody L. Metcalf*