We are so excited to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020. Finlandia’s baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies have gone virtual!
Graduates have worked extremely hard to reach this point. To celebrate, this year’s Virtual Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies will be streamed from this page. Baccalaureate will premiere on Sunday, May 3 at 10 a.m., while Commencement will air on Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m. Access points are included on this page.
Finlandia’s faculty, staff, and administration invites graduates, families, and friends to gather online and make this the largest Finlandia graduation celebration ever!
Graduation from college is just one milestone you will remember for the rest of your lives. To celebrate your tremendous accomplishments, the 2020 Virtual Commencement ceremony will stream from the Finnish American Heritage Center on Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m.
The 2020 Student Representative, Nicholas Tobey, is an accounting major from St. Louis, Missouri. Tobey has earned a 4.0-grade point average and will be graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Tobey has made a difference in the Finlandia community by being a successful student and great leader. Tobey has been the Student Senate president for two years, a peer tutor, as well as a student ambassador.
Along with his achievements in and out of the classroom, Tobey was a member of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Team, where he received the academic excellence award three times and was recognized on the NCHA All-Academic Team multiple times.
After graduation Tobey will be attending the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in June.
The 2020 Commencement Speaker, Darlene King, ’90 Graduate of Suomi College, is the Executive Director of the Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC).
Having been through adversity in her life King will act as a voice of encouragement during the unprecedented times that graduates are being faced with during COVID-19. Her upbeat and determined demeanor will act as a support and congratulations to Finlandia University’s class of 2020.
Caleb Randall Scroggs#
Annika Bea Bekkala+**
Greta Pauline Berg+**^
Jared Joseph Bradford+
Carli Christine Daavettila+
Bethany Lynn Fehr+
Allie Lynne Greenlund+
Tyler Austin Hosking+***
Lisa Justina Keskimaki+
Kirsten Lynn L’Esperance+***
Curtis John Mick+*
Molly Marie Niemi+*
Kenley Elise Oosterhouse+**
Emma Sue Pietila+
Paige Brown*
Thomas Joel Randell#
Chelsea Marie LaPalme***^
Biology – Bachelor of Arts
Sarah Elizabeth Gundry
Paige Nicole Leier#
Charles Jackson Macdonald
Bryce Steven Beauchaine*
Karri Dale Johnson
Emily Caitlin Lan Nguyen
Giordan Dominique Randazzo**^
Brandon William Teichman
Annie Jo Catherine Wills*(H)
Terry Hainstock
Addison Lewis Martin
Wilson Henry Spreier+
Allison Marie Cooper**
Seth Randall Dahl***(H)^
Jayson Walter Dahlquist+**
Avery Wyatt Huibregtse
Harold Allan Noble*
Kassandra Elizabeth Avila
Mamoonah Aisha Khokhar
Chengbin Xuan
Albert Alexander Hammond
Samantha Jo Richards#***^
Nicholas Thomas Tobey***^
Molly Kristiin Berg**
Taylor Jean Nettell^
Taylor Lynn Pertile*
Kaitlyn Aili Ryynanen**-
Austin Paul Carlson
Dewan Latra Keeling
Kendra Rae Schmitt#**
Zuleiki Wilful Corsette Wight
Dare Mayomi Jr.
Brendan Callow
Patrick Alexander Coles#
Nikolaus William Geiser+
Makenna M. Gorham
Lindsey Michelle Johnson**
Shawn Donovan Knutson
Javier Alberto Martinez
Elle Lake Rowe
Brian Elisha Doyle
Mia Tatiana Glenn
Joey Krug#
Adrian Jess-Howard Saterstad#
Denia Nikkia Bent**^
Shannon Marie Chouinard
Annah Elizabeth Smiddy
Mindy Nicole Aho*
Isabella Jean Abear
Amy L. Basolo**
Megan Marie Bruci**
Todd Anthony Essendrup**
Katherine Rae Helppi
Sarah Lynn Hockings
Benjamin Christian Johnson***(H)^
Brianne Marie Maggio
Timothy James Massoglia**
Mallorie Ann Norman
Christie Kathlene Plourde
Patrick J. Prouty Jr.*
Ashley Jeanne St. Germain
Brooke Nicole Turin
Jenni Marie Wolter
Andrea Marie Woolcox#
***summa cum laude (3.9-4.0 gpa)
**magna cum laude (3.7-3.89 gpa)
*cum laude (3.5-3.69 gpa)
(H) Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
^Sampo Society
#Fall 2019 Graduate
+Summer 2020 Graduate
Ryan Bessolo, M.S.N., R.N.
Cindy Blake, M.S.N., R.N.
Pam Brown, M.S., P.T.
Fredi de Yampert, Ph.D., R.N.
Mark Miron, M.S.N. Ed., R.N.
Marnie Polkky, M.S.N., R.N.
Nicole Polakowski, B.S.P.T., P.T.
Theresa Rajala-Halsey, M.S.N., R.N.
Irina Sergeyeva, M.S.N. Ed., R.N.
Lori Sullivan, D.N.P., R.N.
Johnna Therrian, M.S.N., R.N.
Tom Adolphs, Ph.D.
Phyllis Fredendall, M.F.A.
Denise Vandeville, M.F.A.
Dylan Weiler, M.F.A.
Mary Jane Hatton, M.P.A.
Kevin Manninen, M.B.A.
Steven Nordstrom, M.A.
Laura Sieders, B.S.
Paul Werner, M.B.A.
Judith Budd, Ph.D.
Rebecca Daly, M.L.I.S.
Carolyn Dekker, Ph.D.
Richard Gee, Ph.D.
Patricia Gross, Ph.D.
Philip Johnson, Ph.D.
René Johnson, Ph.D.
Ashok Khanal, Ph.D.
William Knoblauch, Ph.D.
Matt Laird, M.S.
Mark Lounibos, Ph.D.
Juan Marin, Ph.D.
Jason Oyadomari, Ph.D.
Jeff Pettibone, Ph.D.
Michael Reay, Ph.D.
Hilary Virtanen, Ph.D.
Finlandia University’s annual baccalaureate service offers graduates and families the opportunity to gather for a time of worship centered on prayers, blessings, and homily. From Finlandia’s Chapel of St. Matthew, our Campus Pastor, Pastor Sarah Semmler Smith, presides over this special virtual edition. Graduates and families, faculty and staff, alumni, and friends are invited for a live stream on Sunday, May 3 at 10 a.m.
A learning community dedicated to academic
excellence, spiritual growth, and service
The graduating class of 2020 and those who supported them
The 2020 Commencement Speakers
The Finlandia University Board of Trustees
Finlandia University Faculty, Staff and Administration