Skip to main content

2026 Nursing Pinning Program

Page 1


AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY NURSING PINNING CEREMONY

CLASS OF 2026

May 22, 2026

Our Savior’s Lutheran Celebrate Center

Augustana University

Name Hometown, State

Adhikari, Rojina Pokhara, Nepal

Amundson, Olivia*

Anderson, Sabrina*#

Aregay, Winta

Arnold, Leah

Behring, Megan

Berens, Brooke

Budhathoki, Samikshya

.Byron, MN

.Kasson, MN

.Sioux Falls, SD

.Rapid City, SD

.Victoria, MN

.Parker, SD

.Darbang, Nepal

Christoffels, Danielle Okoboji, IA

DeCook, Trenten

Ebert, Jenna

Emeh, Harriet

Fischer, Kelsey

Fossum, Kate#

Francis, Liam

Frederick, Tessa*

.Bryron, MN

.New Ulm, MN

.IMO, Nigeria

.Wabasso, MN

.Spearfish, SD

.Thornton, CO

.Rapid City, SD

Fuhr, Ella Redwood Falls, MN

Goyette, Sierra#

Graves, Myrissa

Grebner, Kyleigh

Gurung, Suma

Hage, Sydney

Havard, Alayna

Hemmer, Mackenzie

Hensch, Amber*#

.Royal, IA

.Des Moines, IA

.Lonsdale, MN

.Pokhara, Nepal

.Harrisburg, SD

.Sioux Falls, SD

.Colman, SD

.Tracy, MN

Hinchley, Brianne Owatonna, MN

Holiway, Brooklyn

Hoodjer, Kienzle

Kim, Yoo Mi

.Sioux Falls, SD

.Steamboat Rock, IA

.Eagan, MN

Name Hometown, State

Kolsrud, Kennedi* Sioux Falls, SD

Kusler, Lydia

Merkley, Lauren

Nguyen, Thu

Oduyebo, Pearl

Osthus, Macee*#

Parks, Kazimierz

Pennings, Taylor

.Sioux Falls, SD

.Sioux Falls, SD

.Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

.Lagos, Nigeria

.Watertown, SD

.Vancouver, WA

.Sioux City, IA

Ragland, Cadence Rochester, MN

Reiman, Jaida

Romero, Vanessa

Samuelson, Hannah

Sanchez, Caris

Schlueter, Paige*

Schmadeke, Alexandria

Schmaltz, Myles

.Kandiyohi, MN

.Rapid City, SD

.Blaine, MN

.Mesa, AZ

.Sioux Falls, SD

.Sequim, WA

.Rapid City, SD

Schoenfelder, MacKenzie* Sioux Falls, SD

Schupner, Brynn*

Sensenig, Keira*#

Seyoum, Sefanit*

Shrestha, Anushra*

Sidla, Taylor*

Snustad, Ike*

Steen, Erin*

VerSteeg, Olivia*

.Tea, SD

.Elkhorn, NE

.Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

.Pokhara, Nepal

.Sauk Rapids, MN

.Plymouth, MN

.Garretson, SD

.Sioux Falls, SD

Wurgessa, Yanet* Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Opheim, Knut Skjelvan+

Roland, Hannah Kanutte+

Member of Sigma Theta Tau, Nursing Honor Society

Augustana Nursing Student Association Board Member

International Exchange Student from Norway

.Bergen, Norway

.Lillehammer, Norway

NURSING PINNING CEREMONY – CLASS OF 2026

“To be a nurse is to be present in moments that matter most – to celebrate life, to comfort in pain, and to stand strong when others cannot. That is the responsibility I carry forward with pride.”

– Unknown

Processional

Invocation

Welcome

Student Recognition in Honor of Bryan Prairie Dr. Lynn White

Scripture Readings

Reflections

Farewell Thoughts

Sigma Theta Honors Recognition

Introduction of Senior Class

Pinning

Class Video

Closing Remarks

Benediction

Recessional

Faculty Ushers

Hebrews 6:10 and Isaiah 58: 7-11

.Ella Fuhr and Amber Hensch

.Myles Schmaltz and Ike Snustad

Augustana Nursing Faculty

. Professors Jessica Herold and Jody Serfling

Professors Shonna De Jager and Megan Kuiper

Professor Ranae Aukerman

Professor Jill Rye

.Professors Isabel Bosch and Beth Karel

A special thank you to the speakers for their participation in today’s celebration and to the planning committee for their time, effort and organization.

Olivia Amundson
Dr. Michelle Gierach

AUGUSTANA NURSING FACULTY

Lynn White, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, Program Director

Ranae Aukerman, DNP, APRN, AHN-BC

Pam Barthle, PhD, RN, APRN-CNP

Isabel Bosch, MSN, RN

Shonna De Jager, MSN, RN, SCRN

Michelle Gierach, EdD, RN, CNE

Maggie Aesoph, RN

Kendra Arnold, RN

Mikayla Axtell, RN

Amber Bachtell, RN

Maddy Carstens, RN

Aislinn Duffy, RN

Avery Emmans, RN

Destiny Ensz, RN

Tyann Folkerts, RN

Laura Gerdes, RN

Jessica Herold, MSN, RN

Beth Karel, MSN, RN, CHSE

Megan Kuipers, MSN, RN, CPN

Emily Menssen, MSN, RN

Jill Rye, DNP, RN, CRRN, CNL, FARN

Jody Serfling, MSN, RN

RN CLINICAL FACULTY ASSOCIATES

Laura Hartke, RN

Olivia Jensen, RN

Ashley Kalda, RN

Katheryn Kindvall, RN

Kalli Knudson, RN

Heather Knutson, RN

Emma Lamoreux, RN

Mackenzie Lewis, RN

Gabbi Mazurek, RN

Breck Michels, RN

Madyson Molengraaf, RN

Brenna Mullen, RN

Mary Pardo, RN

Kelsey Petersen, RN

Paige Pickering, RN

Halley Rennpferd, RN

Keeley Rexwinkel, RN

Cassidy Smith, RN

Jensen Stone, RN

Mitch Stroh, RN

Kathryn Sweeter, RN

Grace Thier, RN

Anna Tomhave, RN

Heather Totton, RN

Abbey Tschetter, RN

Morgan Van Santen, RN

Jessica Wittrock, RN

PRESENTED IN MEMORY OF BRYAN PRAIRIE ‘09, B.A. IN NURSING

Elizabeth Schwartz - 2025

Caleb Friesen – 2024

Ben Ihrke – 2023

Jenna Bardal – 2022

Abigail Magee – 2021

Grace Bender – 2020

This award is given annually to an Augustana nursing graduate who best exemplifies the caring spirit of Bryan Prairie. Bryan aspired to be a nurse, the most trusted profession in the United States. As critical, reflective thinkers, nurses promote and preserve the quality of life. They are professionals with integrity, a passion for their work and are selfless in their pursuit of caring for others. They are respected, creative and have a sense of humor, all attributes of Bryan Prairie.

Bryan’s family is pleased to honor this year’s nursing graduate who exemplifies the attributes that carries forth the spirit of Bryan as a caring, selfless and respected nurse.

PRIOR AWARDEES

MacKenzie Brandt – 2019

Summer Smith – 2018

Nicole Grinager – 2017

Kendra Gerber – 2016

Nick Ehrhardt – 2015

Alex Sproul – 2014

KayLa Gerlach – 2013

Jamie Kingma – 2012

Erin Brenden – 2011

Matthew Eitelgeorge – 2010

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
2026 Nursing Pinning Program by Augustana University - Issuu