Briar Cliff Celebrates Academic Excellence at the 2025 Honors Convocation

(Sioux City, Iowa – May 5, 2025) Briar Cliff University faculty, staff, and leadership gathered to recognize students for their academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to Franciscan values at the 2025 Honors Convocation, held on Friday, May 2, in the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace on campus.

The ceremony included remarks from Mark Rossi, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Matthew Draud, President of Briar Cliff University. Faculty members Brian Hazlett and Jeremy Owens led the academic procession, and the Briar Cliff University Singers performed the National Anthem.

Undergraduate Program Awards: 

• Biology: Logan Hartnett 

• Environmental Science: Autumn Soter 

• Biochemistry: Nick Schefers 

• Chemistry: Hannah Hoglund 

• Accounting: Cade Pepper 

• Business Administration: Garrett Trapp 

• International Business: Helene Getz Bergmo 

• Marketing: Cali Arens 

• Sports Management: Harrison Nissen 

• Finance: Kaitlyn Sevening 

• Computer Science: Luke Davies 

• Mathematics: Isabelle Lenz 

• Criminal Justice: Jacob Rader 

• Mass Communications: Madaleine Dishaw 

• Graphic Design: Madaleine Dishaw 

• Sports Information: Gage Oetter 

• K-12 Education: Brett Tinker 

• Elementary Education: Olivia Arndorfer 

• Secondary Education: Kailyn Bandel 

• Kinesiology: Sarah Glover 

• Human Performance: Tyler Huey 

• Human Performance & Management: Anesa Davenport 

• Spanish: Logan Hartnett 

• Music: Addison Butler 

• Nursing: Lizbeth Garcia Ramirez 

• Behavior Analysis: Haley Cronin 

• Psychology: Molly Bormann 

• Sister Muriel Ford Social Justic Award: Brooklyn Grady, Andrea Gonzalez-Cardenas 

• Social Work: Alyssa Truong 

• Theology: Maliah Kleinhesselink 

• History: Audrey Evola 

• Honors Program Graduates: Kiersten Baker, Isabelle Lenz 

• Presidential Scholars: Braxton Brockhaus, Sarah Glover, Rachel Langel, Kiersten Baker 

• Bishop’s Scholars: Molly Bormann, Olivia Budden, Aden Ford, Lizbeth Garcia Ramirez, Trey Jungers 

Graduate Program Awards: 

• Distinguished Graduate Student in Health Care Administration Award: Kyler Steinborn 

• Distinguished Graduate Student in Management Award for Human Resource Management: Sarah Hovden 

• Distinguished Graduate Student in Management Award for Leadership: Luis De la Fuente Castro 

• Distinguished Graduate Student in Management Award for Sports Management: Grace Flanagan 

• Distinguished Graduate Student in Nursing Award: Ashley Konz, Heather Santos 

• Distinguished Graduate Student in Physical Therapy Award: Sophie Kramper Brockhaus 

Distinguished Senior Alumni and Graduate Student Awards: 

• Distinguished Senior Alumni Award: Logan Hartnett 

• Distinguished Graduate Student Award: Janessa Conrad 

Aden Ford was named Valedictorian along with Cade Pepper being named Salutatorian.