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Concordia University Irvine Seal

Spring Commencement 2021

Pre-recorded Online Service

Friday, May 7, 2021

Baccalaureate Worship Service: 6:00 PM

In-person Ceremony at Concordia University Irvine

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Bachelor’s Graduates: 8:00 AM
Master’s Graduates: Start Times Vary
Class of 2020 Graduates: 12:15 PM

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Doctoral Candidates: 2:00 PM

#CUIClassof2021 #CUIGrad

A Message of Congratulations

Concordia University Irvine celebrates its 2021 graduates and honorary award recipients. The ceremony includes the conferring of degrees, a welcome from Concordia's alumni association, and student response.

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

We are excited to invite our Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates, along with the Class of 2020, to a walk-through experience on Concordia’s main campus, with multiple, simultaneous, and consecutive Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8, 2021. Doctoral Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021 in the CU Center.

* Be sure to check with your graduate to find out in which venue they are walking.

Worship

Baccalaureate Service

May 7, 2021 at 6:00PM

Concordia University Irvine gathers as a community during this worship service to close the 2020-2021 academic year and to celebrate our 2021 graduates. This year’s theme verse: But, above all, continually consider God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will also be given to you. Matthew 6:33​ ESV

View Baccalaureate Service

Conferral of Degree Celebrations

Ceremony Details

The celebration will be a walk-through experience; there will be no seating at the event.

Photos

We are pleased to offer GradImages as our photo vendor. Pre-register for photography before the ceremony for 20% off of your order.

Health and Safety Guidelines

Commencement plans will be in compliance with public health guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control, the State of California, and Orange County. We want to ensure the health and well-being of our Concordia community and commencement guests are a top priority.

  • A face covering must be worn by all commencement attendees, both indoors and outdoors, and physical distance guidelines will be maintained.
  • Guests will have their temperature taken at the gatehouse before entering campus.
  • We kindly ask that guests and graduates use discretion when considering attending, and follow CDC guidelines for health screening and travel.

Decorum & Celebration Policies

  • Gown length and style may not be altered. Stoles may not be customized in any way.
  • Modest personal embellishments are allowed on the cap, but MUST lay flat, cannot extend over the edge, and must be appropriate.
  • Only CUI-approved regalia (including pins, stoles, cords, and medallions) bestowed at the Undergraduate Academic Achievement ceremony and provided by university-sponsored clubs or CUI Veterans Resource Center may be worn at graduation. Decorative items such as costume leis, beads, or sashes may only be worn after the ceremony.
  • Balloons, alcohol, glass, noisemakers, firearms, and weapons are not permitted on campus.

Guest Assistance

If your guests require assistance, such as a wheelchair or walker, please let them know they must bring their own. Our walk-through Commencement event and activities will be solely standing and walking, no sitting, so please plan accordingly. Golf cart rides will be provided for guests who need assistance.

One Vehicle Limit

Due to limited parking availability and venue capacity restrictions, graduates will be issued one parking pass prior to commencement. Only one vehicle per graduate will be permitted. Your vehicle must fit into a standard size parking stall (no RVs, limos, party-busses, etc.). The one-vehicle limit will be strictly enforced; additional vehicles and those without the parking pass will be turned away at the gatehouse. Student transponders will be shut off on the day of Commencement to accommodate the traffic flow. Exceedingly large groups may not be able to enter the venue all at once.

Livestream Options

For friends and relatives who cannot attend in person, the Commencement ceremony on May 8, 2021 will be live-streamed. A link will be made available on the day of the ceremony.

This page is frequently updated as additional information becomes available from the Commencement Committee. Please note that all Commencement events are subject to change in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19. Please contact [email protected] with your commencement questions.

Hotel and Travel Information

Concordia has partnered with the following local hotels to provide you with the best experience during your visit. Please be sure to read through their cancellation policies before you book.

Local Airports

The nearest airport to Concordia is John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA). Other nearby airports include Burbank Airport, Long Beach Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, and San Diego International Airport.

Prepare for Your Big Day

As you look ahead and anticipate walking in Concordia University Irvine’s Commencement Ceremony, preparation begins months in advance, beginning with your application for Graduation. Please see the degree pages for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral candidates to learn about deadlines and details.

Regalia

Gowns for Bachelor's and Master's Graduates are sized according to height and weight and are ordered according to information provided on the Application for Graduation. Academic regalia is free of charge and includes a cap, gown, tassel, and stole. Doctoral graduates will order their regalia through Jostens'. More information can be found on graduation pages for Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral candidates.

Graduation Announcements, Class Rings, and Accessories

You may order special Concordia University Irvine branded memorabilia from the Jostens' website or by calling 800-854-7464. CUI’s Bookstore also has some great alumni gear and diploma frames.

School of Business & Economics Departmental Awards 2021

Accounting

  • Camden Leptich

Business Data Analytics

  • Kobe Gall

Finance

  • Cienah Reed

Healthcare Management

  • Marisa Renee Stockton

Management

  • Jessica Ferrara

Marketing

  • Tyler Haase

Sport Management

  • Madison Jeanne Hergert

School of Arts & Sciences Departmental Awards 2021

Behavioral Sciences: Anthropology

  • Micah Marie Rippon

Behavioral Sciences: General

  • Hannah Marin Hanson

Behavioral Sciences: Psychology

  • Jamie Seddon

Behavioral Sciences: Sociology

  • Megan Chelling

Biology: Bachelor of Science

  • Matthew Tirapelli

Biology: Bachelor of Arts

  • Michael Abrams

Chemistry

  • Alexis Orr

Communication Studies: General Communication

  • Joanna Rivers

Communication Studies: Mass Communication

  • Melissa Kay Klemsz

English

  • Cambria Joy Stame

Graphic Design

  • Marianna Maldonado

History and Political Thought

  • Jacob Lange

Humanities and Fine Arts

  • Makenna Myers

International Studies

  • Breyanna Taylor

Liberal Arts

  • Kirstie Skogerboe

Mathematics

  • Ruth Larson
  • Sarah Louise Simpson

Music: Commercial Music

  • Nicolo Miguel Arellano Co

Music: Music Education

  • David Tyler Sussman

Physics

  • Susan Eschelbach

Psychology

  • Morgan Schepker

Studio Art

  • Samantha J. Newport

Theatre: Acting and Directing

  • Samuel Beeson

Theatre: Design and Technical Production

  • Carissa Dahlia

School of Education Departmental Awards 2021

Liberal Studies

  • Zoie Moore

Christ College Departmental Awards 2021

Biblical Languages

  • Jeffrey Prowten

Christian Education Leadership

  • Tasha Mahshi

Theology

  • Dayton Anthony Dangel

Latin Honors 2021*

Students who graduate cum laude have a cumulative grade point average between 3.70 and 3.79. Students who graduate magna cum laude have a cumulative grade point average between 3.8 and 3.89. Students who graduate summa cum laude have a cumulative grade point average above 3.899.

*Cumulative Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) is based on completion of Fall 2020 semester and may change after completion of Spring 2021 semester.

Cum Laude (3.7-3.79 GPA)

  • Jacob Paul Auringer
  • Teresa Kehaulani Barbour
  • Kya Marie Bock
  • Joshua Brundin
  • Monique Cervantes
  • Megan Chelling
  • Roseryn Empremsilapa
  • Amanda Lynn Fields
  • Kaitlyn Karen Marie Gleeson
  • Jonathan Matthew Harkless
  • Marley Shea Hickson
  • Mackenzie Hutchins
  • Robin M. Kropa
  • Nathan Philip MacGregor
  • Jillian Christine Oliver
  • Ashley Reneé
  • Adriana Ruth Rodarte-Sanchez
  • Holly L. Roehl
  • Caitlyn Rowland
  • Aurea Guadalupe Santana
  • Savannah Rose Stame
  • Taylor Steffen
  • Marisa Renee Stockton
  • Erin Thompson
  • Laura Allison Weitzman
  • Lydia Noel Woods

Magna Cum Laude (3.8-3.89 GPA)

  • Gabrielle Beckman
  • Rosey Beran
  • Carissa Dahlia
  • Caroline Chin
  • Melissa Kay Klemsz
  • Justice Jason Lee
  • Alec Leissring
  • Hannah Hope Loesch
  • Abigail C. Montplaisir
  • Tanner Douglas Prince
  • Jeffrey Prowten
  • Micah Marie Rippon
  • Chloe E. Ruiz
  • Caitlin E. Fulton
  • Madison Jeanne Hergert
  • Mikayla Nicole Jean
  • Amelia Mae Rumsey
  • Morgan Schepker
  • Nathan Paul Schult
  • Danielle Ellyse Schum
  • Courtney Rae Small
  • Sarajean Faith Kanter St. John
  • Breyanna Taylor
  • Gregory Taylor
  • Hailey Debra Thompson

Summa Cum Laude (3.9-4.0 GPA)

  • Ashley Rae Bannan
  • Kelly Campbell
  • Nicolo Miguel Arellano Co
  • Dayton Anthony Dangel
  • Susan Eschelbach
  • Mia Kyrene Gomez
  • Danise Leeann Herrington
  • Jacob Andrew Lange
  • Ruth Larson
  • Camden Leptich
  • Nicole Anna Lukinbeal
  • Zoie Moore
  • Elizabeth Muller
  • Makenna Joy Myers
  • Samantha J. Newport
  • Alexis Orr
  • Cienah Reed
  • Joanna Rivers
  • Jamie Seddon
  • Sarah Louise Simpson
  • Kirstie Skogerboe
  • Cambria Joy Stame
  • David Tyler Sussman
  • Elianna Dulcie Swan

Honors Associate & Honors Scholar 2021

Graduates designated as Honors Associates have earned twelve to seventeen Honors points in their academic career. Graduates designated as Honors Scholars have earned eighteen or more Honors points in their academic career.

Honors Associate (12-17 points)

  • Ashley Rae Bannan
  • Camden Leptich
  • Abigail C. Montplaisir
  • Elizabeth Muller
  • Lillian Louise Niccum
  • Alexis Orr
  • Lucas Christian Senkbeil
  • Erin Thompson

Honors Scholar (18+ points)

  • Carissa Dahlia
  • Jacob Andrew Lange
  • Ruth Larson
  • Zoie Moore
  • Makenna Joy Myers
  • Kirstie Skogerboe
  • Elianna Dulcie Swan
  • Breyanna Taylor

Honors Societies 2021

These select graduates have been recognized for their academic achievements by being inducted into an honor society. Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes graduates exhibiting academic excellence and extracurricular leadership activities. Sigma Beta Delta honors graduates in business, management, and administration. Beta Beta Beta honors graduates in the field of Biology. Pi Mu Epsilon recognizes graduates studying in the field of Mathematics. Psi Chi honors graduates in the field of Psychology. Theta Alpha Kappa recognizes graduates for religious studies and theology.

Omicron Delta Kappa (Honor Society)

  • Jacob Paul Auringer
  • Rachel Kathleen Bahn
  • April Bello
  • Cathelin Deang Blackett
  • Kya Marie Bock
  • Richard James Buquing
  • Anthony D. Calderon
  • Megan Chelling
  • Dion Chung
  • Carissa Dahlia
  • Susan Eschelbach
  • Tyler Edward Haase
  • Mikayla Nicole Jean
  • Christopher Nicholas Karafotias
  • Damon Mitchell Gage Lawson
  • Justice Jason Lee
  • Alec Leissring
  • Caralin D. Nunes
  • Ashley Rochelle O'Dell
  • Holly L. Roehl
  • Caitlyn Rowland
  • Amelia Mae Rumsey
  • Nathan Paul Schult
  • Danielle Ellyse Schum
  • Kirstie Skogerboe
  • Sarajean Faith Kanter St. John
  • Taylor Steffen
  • David Tyler Sussman
  • Breyanna Taylor
  • Hailey Debra Thompson
  • Matthew Tirapelli
  • Miranda Merissa Verduzco

Sigma Beta Delta (Honor Society)

  • Richard James Buquing
  • Monique Cervantes
  • Tyler Edward Haase
  • Madison Jeanne Hergert
  • Nickie Hughes
  • Alina Inozemtseva
  • Camden Leptich
  • Hutchins, Mackenzie
  • Nathan Paul Schult
  • Marisa Renee Stockton

Beta Beta Beta (Honor Society)

  • Jacob Paul Auringer
  • Dion Chung
  • Matthew Tirapelli

Pi Mu Epsilon (Honor Society)

  • Dion Chung
  • Susan Eschelbach
  • Kobe Gall
  • Marius Jakimcikas
  • Robin M. Kropa
  • Ruth Larson
  • Sarah Louise Simpson
  • Alexis Orr
  • Erin Thompson

Psi Chi (Honor Society)

  • Taylor M. Bandel
  • Alicia Beauchemin
  • Tallah Blatchford
  • Kya Marie Bock
  • Natasha Gabrielle Calilung
  • Jacqueline Castaneda
  • Megan Chelling
  • Michael Cipolla
  • Daesia Maye Condol-Tran
  • Julianna Covarrubias
  • Krishma S. Dhani
  • Johnny Luz Gallegos
  • Grace Elisabeth Grant
  • Jonathan Harkless
  • Madison Jeanne Hergert
  • Danise Leeann Herrington
  • Soo Jeng (Crystal) Kim
  • Gavin C. Lathrop
  • Tasha Mahshi
  • Ryann Nycole McDermott
  • Elizabeth Muller
  • Lindsey Pion
  • Caitlyn Rowland
  • Hailey Soper
  • Taylor Adriana Stivers
  • Hailey Debra Thompson
  • Savannah Valdivia
  • Lydia Noel Woods
  • Kiara L. Zuniga

Theta Alpha Kappa (Honors Society)

  • Dayton Anthony Dangel
  • Jeffrey Prowten
  • Courtney Rae Small
  • Lydia Noel Woods

Academic Fraternities 2021

The following graduates have been invited to join professional fraternities. Delta Sigma Pi is a national professional business fraternity. Phi Delta Epsilon is an international medical fraternity. Phi Epsilon Kappa is a national fraternity for students pursuing careers in the health professions.

Delta Sigma Pi (Fraternity)

  • Cathelin Deang Blackettr
  • Erica Christine Cogswellr
  • Christopher Nicholas Karafotiasr
  • Brian Ler
  • Ghazal Pakbatenr
  • Rachel Isabel Rogers

Phi Delta Epsilon (Academic Fraternity)

  • Safiah Ahmed M Alamoudi
  • Dion Chung
  • Kalin Ann DeLuna
  • Brice Gribble
  • Shayan Sheikholeslami

Phi Epsilon Kappa (Academic Fraternity)

  • April Bello
  • Rhean Riego De Dios
  • Roseryn Empremsilapa
  • Mia Kyrene Gomez
  • Brice Gribble
  • Nicole Anna Lukinbeal
  • Brianna Alicia Rhodes

Christ College Medallions 2021

The Christ College medallion is awarded to Graduates of Christ College Ministry programs and distinguishes them for their added preparation to serve The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as a called Pastor, Lutheran Teacher, Director of Christian Education, or Director of Parish Music, or to advance to seminary study and future ministry by completing our Pre-Seminary or Pre-Deaconess programs.

Medallions

Director of Christian Education

  • Rachel Kathleen Bahn
  • Tasha Mahshi
  • Ian Hansol Ramnarine
  • Courtney Rae Small
  • Lydia Noel Woods
  • Michael Yee

Lutheran Teacher Ministry: Elementary

  • Emma Elizabeth Gjersvold

Lutheran Teacher Ministry: Secondary

  • Katherine Darlington
  • Alec Leissring
  • George Richhart

Pre-Seminary

  • Dayton Anthony Dangel
  • Jonathan Armando Luna
  • Justin Wood

Pre-Deaconess Studies

  • Ieva Hermanas
  • Cambria Joy Stame
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