Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC) celebrated this year’s graduates at a commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Approximately 90 of this year’s graduates walked during the ceremony that took place in the Lester Jack Briggs Cultural Center at FDLTCC. In total, 161 students received certificates, diplomas, associates degrees, or bachelor’s degrees from FDLTCC this year. FDLTCC Dean of Indigenous and Academic Affairs, Roxanne DeLille, provided the commencement address and student speakers were this year’s co-students of the year, Katie Gould and Kyri Benton.

During her welcoming remarks, FDLTCC President, Anita Hanson, exclaimed, “Graduates, tonight is your celebration!”

Roxanne DeLille provided the moving commencement address. “It’s you who are inspiring, and you who we are honored to be among,” shared DeLille, “your collective story is a powerful reminder that [with] determination, perseverance, resilience, and support, it’s possible…it’s possible to overcome even the most daunting of challenges.”

During her speech, DeLille discussed purpose and how everything we do is for a reason. “Everything that you have come through has brought you to this place for this purpose,” shared DeLille, “…and a purpose larger than you may have recognized.”

2025 Co-Student of the Year, Kyri Benton, reflected on her past experiences that led her to FDLTCC. “I can proudly tell you today that I made the right decision coming here and every step of the way was so worth it,” shared Benton.

Motivating her fellow graduates, 2025 Co-Student of the Year, Katie Gould, shared, “We have the knowledge, the skill, and every bit of passion to make such a huge impact in this world.”

During the ceremony, the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Drum, Debwewidam, provided the grand entry, honor, and recessional songs, the FDL and Cloquet Combined Honor Guard presented the flags, and pianist, Liz Sinisalo, provided the national anthem. The opening pipe ceremony was conducted by FDLTCC Dean of Indigenous and Academic Affairs, Roxanne DeLille, and musical numbers were performed by the FDLTCC Student Choir and the Oshkii Gizhik Singers. Many thanks to FDLTCC Registrar, Erica Gelo, and the FDLTCC Commencement Committee for their hard work coordinating the wonderful event for our students and community.

The full list of this year’s graduates ceremony are below. The recording of the 2025 FDLTCC Commencement is available at: https://www.youtube.com/live/4j2ekN2T_Zc?si=tb6VNWjjuRNRDO5M.

Watch the 2025 FDLTCC Commencement Recording

2025 FDLTCC Graduates

Albert Lea

Catelyn Larson

 

Barnum

Selah Casper

Wesley Grimm

Madison Kavanaugh

Gabrielle Ostby

 

Bowling Green, KY

Carson Merkel

 

Brainerd

Tricia Thomas

 

Britt

Elexus Today

 

Booklyn Center

Sarita Bendickson

Alexis Rogers

 

Brookston

Marylin Hannan

 

Carlton

Joseph Kitto

Kayla Radtke

 

Clinton

Angel Manning

 

Cloquet

Daisha Bosto

Ann Carlson

Kali Carlson

Libby Colt

Kiana DeFoe

Rachel Dickenson

Cj Dillon

Miles Fischer

Kristina Fjeld

Jean Hurd

Taylor Janisch

Lizzy Johnson

Miranda Johnson

Meagen Laine

Laken Lambert

Jasper Milberger

Matthew Mintz

Taylor Netland

April Petite

Heather Polley

Isabella Roy

Stephanie Sanchez-Eno

Spencer Strand

LeAnn Ulvi

Matthew Weske

Cole Wick

Remy Iverson

Lillian Blacketter

Tiffany Bones

Michael Borovac

Ashley Clark

Natalia Hernandez

Scott Holmes

Dana Houle-McFatridge

Brittney Kemi

Michael Kesner

Jayce Koskela

Laurel Ladd Jr.

Warren Lees

Mary  Lind

Kelsey Line

Nicholas Munoz

Abby Niemi

Hayley Pilcher

Riley Pilcher

Indalecio Romero III

Shyron Sawyer

David Tiessen Jr.

William Wise III

 

Cook

Jessieanne Drift

 

Cromwell

Kima Molitor

 

Deerwood

Linda Stevens

 

Duluth

Cody Anderson

Natalie Barber

Melanie Berntson

Emma Bobbitt

Kellen Brunfelt

Henry Curtis

John Degelau

Alexandra Doll

Logan Emerson

Laiken Ettestad

Merit Floerke

Scott Gaber

Arlanda Hancock

Olivia Hintsala

Rachel Kot

Mariah McAndrew

Lana Mitchell

Nicholas Moen

Benjamin Peters

Anthony Sam

Jesse Scanlon

Shaelyn Smolke

Jake Swader

Elizabeth Tool

Meghan Vos

Andrew Wacker

Jakob Wendinger

Isaac Wierman

Misty Wrazidlo

Rhoda Zarbok

Katherine Didrickson

Ariana Wisniewski

Riley Howes

 

Esko

Arraya Goodwin

KelliMarie Perrault

Dan Scheer

Embry Sundquist

Arianah Whiting

 

Eveleth

Carly Niemi

 

Foreston

Sian Marquardt

 

Grand Marais

Sadie Wilson

 

Gulf Shores, AL

Samuel Sherman

 

Hayfield

Sienna Zelinske

 

Hermantown

Rebecca Armstrong

Adonis Engel

Katrina Engel

Katrina Engel

Alex King

Trevin Malvick

Skyler Vernon

 

Hinckley

Nakota Benjamin Sr.

Elijah Currie

 

Isle

Michele Wanless

 

Kettle River

Steven LaPrairie

Logan Tomczak

 

Mahtowa

Aurora Salzer

 

McGregor

Katie Gould

Heather Thompson

 

Minneapolis

Karissa Kier-Ficken

Aleah Wallette

 

Moose Lake

Aaron Lamb

Alisha Martin

Lucy Salzer

Sandra Nygren

 

Mounds View

Vanice Mogusu

 

Nett Lake

Abbi Zapata

 

Norwood Young America

Jenna Flaata

 

Onamia

Vanessa Weyaus

 

Proctor

Natasha Garner

 

Redwood Falls

Kyri Benton

Kristina Graves

 

Rochester

Owen Schroeder

 

Roseville

Dakota Goudy

 

Saginaw

Torianna Guthrie

 

Sandstone

Carlos Arreola

Henry Randa

 

Sawyer

Allydia Diver

 

South Range, WI

Rosemary Huber

Samantha Udeen

 

St. Charles

Tyrone Eastern

 

St. Paul

Selena Garza

Shannon Jerome

 

Sturgeon Lake

Nicole Neumeyer

 

Superior, WI

Amelia Davis

Eric Omdahl

Roberta Reed

Carrie Roe

Darlene Sandman

 

Taylors Falls

Jayla Turner

 

Two Harbors

Alivia Abrahamson

Victoria Alexander

 

Wrenshall

Patrick Ankrum

Alex Murray

 

Wright

Elissa Wilson

 

Zimmerman

Lance Hallquist

 

Testimonials

My favorite thing about FDLTCC is the people. I’ve met fantastic students, faculty and staff who go above and beyond what I expected.

I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.

It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.