Graduates Celebrated at December Commencement Ceremony

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*