In an auditorium filled with friends, family, faculty and staff, National University celebrated close to 60 graduates in the College of Professional Studies and the College of Allied Health Sciences.

The morning ceremony featured guest speaker Michael Brophy, Ph.D., president of Benedictine University, who has a diverse background in higher education, filmmaking and music. As the graduates embark on the next steps of their health care journeys, Dr. Brophy reminded them that the foundation of their human skills like empathy will always set them apart in the field and will not go unnoticed.

Valedictorians in each field also gave an address thanking fellow students, friends, family and various faculty for their support along the way.

“Let us please not forget where we started [at NUHS],” said Zachary Serven, valedictorian of the chiropractic medicine program. He added that National University helped teach students leadership and to “be the change we wish to see in health care.”

In his closing remarks, President Joseph Stiefel, MS, EdD, DC, compared graduates to superheroes. He commended graduates for their hard work and commitment, which he considered part of their “origin story.”

“The power sought is the idea of knowledge,” he said. “Knowledge is power.”

Massage Therapy Certification

Margaret Bianchi
Alyssa Bragg
Edgar Chavez
Danuta Fitol
Tursha Rochelle Hamilton
Autumn Hildreth
Barbara Jean Lerner
Carla Maas

Associate of Applied Science in Massage Therapy

Christopher Randall Huepers
Kristin Renee Wodka

Bachelor of Science program

Sean Michael Burton
Ahmad Bustami
Daniel James Conway
Jessica Eberlin
Guanxun Huang
Chardonee Mason
Victoria Annette Matovu
Connel McHugh
Ryan G. Thompson
Annabella Tidei
George Tune

Master of Science in Acupuncture

Jessica Ferguson
Rebecca A. Jacobson
Sarah El Said Romanovich
Chrisenia Maria White

Master of Science in Oriental Medicine

Mariya Duquene
Nikodim Nikolaevich Romanovich
Samantha Shore

Doctor of Chiropractic

Timothy Roscoe Ammons
Rebecca Lee Brown
Audrey Justine Cox
Anthony S. Crifase
Tina Hashtroudilar
Brett C. Jacobs
David Allan Jolson
Melissa Marie Lawrence
Victoria B. Surles Martinez
Banan Mohammad
Krishan Nadarajah
Jessica Jewel Parkman
Dean Patrick
David J. Pirtle
Jennifer Marie Pishotta
Molly Sandeep
Daniel Elliot Satinsky
Melissa D. Schiefer
Zachary Devere Serven
Jo Nell Marie Shaw
Alicia Marie Strunk
Anne T. Venderley

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Jessica Lynn Christie
Sarah Brooks Fiedler
Teegan David Fielder
Jennifer Renee Hawks
Janelle Mackowiak
Alison Rachael Maloof
JheriAnne Ashley Preston
Linzi Ann Saigh-Larsen
Caley Scott