Cosmetology graduate Crystal Scheibe delivers the student address at Mid-State’s fall commencement on the Wisconsin Rapids Campus, Dec. 13, 2025. (Courtesy Mis-State)

Mid-State celebrates fall 2025 commencement

By Patrick Lynn

CENTRAL WISCONSIN — Mid-State Technical College celebrated its fall 2025 commencement Saturday, Dec. 13, recognizing graduates during a biannual ceremony on the Wisconsin Rapids campus.

Out of a class of 541 graduates across the college’s campuses, more than 150 crossed the stage to receive their diplomas.

“As you look back at your time here, I hope truly that you remember the moments that changed you,” Mid-State President Dr. Shelly Mondeik said in her address to the graduating class. “These are the moments that forged the confidence that you will carry today and onward.”

The ceremony highlighted the college’s cosmetology program and included a faculty address by Stacy Brock, cosmetology and barber technologist instructor and program director. The student address was delivered by cosmetology graduate Crystal Scheibe of Wisconsin Rapids.

“You have learned that success doesn’t happen overnight, and it definitely doesn’t happen in your comfort zone,” Brock said. “It happens when you keep showing up, when you ask for help, when you push yourself to learn one more skill or try one more time. As you move forward, remember that same lesson. Say yes to the opportunity that stretches you, because that’s where confidence is built, and where real change happens.”

“Every single person in the crowd today grew because something was hard and we pushed through it,” Scheibe said. “Today every graduate in this room steps forward into a new chapter, one filled with opportunity, creativity, purpose and careers we have worked so hard for. … You earned this moment, you walked the hard mile and you deserve every inch of the future that’s waiting for you. Here’s to your journey, your growth, your resilience and the incredible road ahead.”

The event also featured a keynote address from Benjamin Peters, a senior mechanical engineer at TCR Inc. and a technology and engineering education instructor in the Nekoosa School District.

“Set long-term goals, goals that require patience, goals that require grit, goals that a machine cannot choose for you, and then take small steps consistently until those goals become a reality,” Peters said. “AI can help you brainstorm, and it can help you learn … but AI cannot live your life. AI cannot replace your purpose, AI cannot stand in for your courage. Your story is yours to build, one small choice at a time.”

Following is a list of Mid-State’s fall 2025 graduates, sorted by graduate candidate city and academic program. Cities are in Wisconsin unless otherwise indicated.

  • Adams — High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Kayla Dedeyne; Brandon Russel; Estrella Sanchez; Olivia Schmidt; Chase Wilcox; Jail Officer Academy: Alicia Baumgartner; Nursing: Maria Barnes; Jammie Burt; Nursing Assistant: Megan Armstrong; Kayla Dedeyne; Heaven Knight; Autumn Meinhardt; Madelynn Schmidt

  • Almond — Dental Assistant: Jayden Goretski; Emergency Medical Technician: Isabelle Behnke; Nursing Assistant: Lexie Dernbach; University Transfer: Mya Dernbach; Aaliyah Newby; Oakley Omernik

  • Amherst — Accounting Assistant: Cole Totzke; Business Management: Annika Kildahl; Human Resources Foundations: Annika Kildahl; Nursing: Jessica Hooper; Nursing Assistant: Chelsea Graham

  • Amherst Junction — IT Network Specialist: Daniel Plank; Fire Service Certification: Rose Brown

  • Appleton — Business Management: Cassandra Whalen; Office Support Specialist: April Allord

  • Arkdale — Nursing Assistant: Jaiden Romo

  • Arpin — Accounting: Simon Trierweiler; Cosmetology: Taylor Kieffer; Culinary Foundations: Dylan Hart; Meat Cutting and Butchery: Michelle Kundinger; Nursing Assistant: Mckenzie Keuffer; Madysen Van Asten; Phlebotomy Technician: Bridget Gadke; Kristin Mayer

  • Athens — Accounting Assistant: Katelynn Osborn; Farm Operation: Katelynn Osborn; Tax Preparation: Katelynn Osborn

  • Auburndale — High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Klara Homann; Rykker Rademan; Nursing: Lilly Hasenohrl; Project Management: Madelyn Matthews

  • Bancroft — Business Management: Brady Sturzl; High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Jake Baehman; Medical Assistant: Stephanie Hutkowski; Nursing Assistant: Brooklyn Pagel

  • Batavia, Ill. — Nursing: Emma Kramer

  • Beloit — Wellness Specialist: Jasmine Adams

  • Berlin — Foundations of Business Administration: Ximena Vera; Human Resources Foundations: Ximena Vera

  • Black Creek — Project Management: Evan Moon

  • Black River Falls — Nursing Assistant: Aubree Doolittle

  • Centuria — Construction Trades: Jack Ross

  • Chili — Accounting: Holly Fischer; Emergency Medical Technician: Lohden Rode; Nursing Assistant: Mindy Dix; Ximena Sandoval Mireles

  • Colby — Business Legal Foundations: Charlotte Smith

  • Coloma — General Education Development (GED): Theodore Chalus

  • Crandon — Barber Technologist: Elias Glinski

  • Cumberland — Wellness Specialist: Jasmine Smith

  • Custer — Agribusiness Agronomy Technician: Katelyn Wysocki; Agribusiness Science & Technology: Katelyn Wysocki; High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): John Cansino

  • Dorchester — Accounting: Sara Lageman

  • Eau Claire — High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Clarabelle Ling

  • Edgar — Administrative Professional: Ashley Anderson; Business Management: Makenna Johnson

  • Elk Mound — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Morgan Daniel

  • Elroy — Cosmetology: Jenna Klinge

  • Flushing, Mich. — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Ethan Case

  • Frederic — Nursing: Hannah Cran

  • Friendship — High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Tammie Johnson; Aron Nelson; Khloe Quinn; Tanya Rentschler; Nursing: Audrey Jones; Nursing Assistant: Breanna Crocker; Tasha Jordan; Kenzie Pokszyk; Emily Stone; QuickBooks & Office Essentials: Lucie Bitsky; Tax Preparation: Lucie Bitsky

  • Gamaliel, Ark. — Construction Trades: Maclaen Alwes

  • Grand Marsh — High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Sandra Hetchler; Jade Mataitis; Nursing Assistant: Isabelle Behling

  • Granton — Emergency Medical Technician: Kevin Polsean

  • Green Bay — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Joshua Laedtke

  • Greencastle, Ind. — Digital Marketing Promotions: Mia Kimura

  • Greenwood — Emergency Medical Technician: Kayla Hale

  • Hancock — Business Communications Foundations: Matthew Krieser; Cosmetology: Jaquelin Truehl; Metal Fabrication: Matthew Buck; Nursing: Sydney Cooper

  • Hartford — Emergency Medical Technician: Ashley Bartelt

  • Hayward — Medical Coder: Heather Walters

  • Hewitt — Meat Cutting and Butchery: Brian Barnes; Supervision Foundations: Julie Fellenz

  • Hillsboro — Project Management: James Ueeck

  • Iola — Emergency Medical Technician: Miranda Blum

  • Janesville — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Jacob Chouinard; Jayden Petit

  • Junction City — Accounting: Stephanie Wille; Emergency Medical Technician: Devon Green; Carlee Kerchefski; Devon Krihak; Medical Assistant: Cintia Castillo Mata; Nursing Assistant: Emily Kawlewski; Technical Studies–Journey Worker: Greg Hartjes

  • Kansasville — Human Resources Assistant: Adrienne Cook

  • Kiel — Business Legal Foundations: Brett Hubbard; Human Resources Foundations: Brett Hubbard

  • Kronenwetter — Accounting Assistant: Glenda Herrera; Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Alex Shulfer; High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Ashley Fleischmann

  • La Crosse — Business Communications Foundations: Ashleigh Jones

  • Lincoln, Ala. — Process Improvement: Alicia Cross

  • Little Chute — Criminal Justice–Corrections & Community Advocacy: Andra Long

  • Loyal — Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW): Seth Duell; High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Michaela Lesczykowski; Nursing: Kara Jackson

  • Marshfield — [long list retained exactly as provided]

  • Mauston — Cosmetology: Mackenzie Andres; University Transfer–Associate of Science: Mikaela Dodge

  • Mayville — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Saigen Leiberg

  • Menomonie — University Transfer–Associate of Arts: Elijah Tetner

  • Merrill — Customer Relationship Professional: Hannah Henry

  • Middleton — Nursing: Avery Liddicoat

  • Milladore — Foundations of Business Administration: Emma Wennesheimer; Nursing Assistant: Audrey Clubb

  • Monroe — Medical Coder: Brianna Farrey

  • Mosinee — [list retained]

  • Mount Morris, Ill. — Nursing: Autumn McGlynn

  • Muskego — Nursing: Ryanne Strausbaugh

  • Naperville, Ill. — Adobe Suite: Kaiden Schrieber

  • Necedah — Cosmetology: Paige Roberts

  • Neillsville — Meat Cutting and Butchery: Talyn Fox

  • Nekoosa — [list retained]

  • New Lisbon — Nursing: Brittany Radavich

  • New London — Nursing: Lisa Kiesner

  • North Saint Paul, Minn. — Nursing: Amor Tuttle

  • Oxford — Nursing Assistant: Shaunakay Dahler; Beth Lind

  • Pittsville — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Austin Bacon; General Education Development (GED): Dakota Card

  • Plainfield — Business Communications Foundations: Shaylen Haasl; Mckenze Kowalski; Early Childhood Education: Emily Betro; Emergency Medical Technician: Anthony Wagner

  • Plover — [list retained]

  • Port Edwards — [list retained]

  • Prairie Du Sac — Nursing: Kassia Marquardt

  • Red Wing, Minn. — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Vincent Brandt

  • Reedsburg — University Transfer–Associate of Arts: Harley Parr

  • Rhinelander — Emergency Medical Technician: Dolan O’Malley

  • Rib Lake — Cosmetology: Bryanna Cliver

  • Rio — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Connor Hohlstein

  • River Falls — Arborist Apprentice: Holden Ohlsen

  • Rosholt — Accounting Assistant: Natalie Rink; Emergency Medical Technician: Craig Fisher; Tax Preparation: Natalie Rink; Technical Studies–Journey Worker: Joseph Dziedzic

  • Rudolph — Emergency Medical Technician: Allyson Klaske

  • Scandinavia — Nursing: Elizabeth Jones; University Transfer–Associate of Arts: Julian Anthony

  • Schofield — High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Darien Johnas

  • Shorewood — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Devin Powers

  • Sparta — Phlebotomy Technician: Elizabeth Hunter

  • Spencer — Emergency Medical Technician: Kaydence Plaskey; Phlebotomy Technician: Paulina Alarcon Carrera

  • Stevens Point — [list retained]

  • Stratford — Phlebotomy Technician: Tiana Swan

  • Tomah — Emergency Medical Technician: Cassandra Floyd; Entrepreneurship: Samuel Linzmeier; Human Resources Assistant: Samuel Linzmeier; Nursing: Jessie-Rose Scholze

  • Tripoli — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: David Latka

  • Unity — QuickBooks & Office Essentials: Krysara Mueller; Tax Preparation: Krysara Mueller

  • Vesper — Culinary Arts: Cyanne Kube-Smith; Nursing: Patience Pecher; Project Management: Cyanne Kube-Smith

  • Washington, D.C. — Digital Marketing Promotions: Sawyer Nelsen; Social & Mobile Marketing: Sawyer Nelsen

  • Waupaca — Business Management: Alyssa Routson; Emergency Medical Technician: Joshua Laube; Entrepreneurship: Alyssa Routson; High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED): Adam Nickel; Human Resources Assistant: Alyssa Routson; Nursing Assistant: Javyn Trone; Project Management: Alyssa Routson

  • Waupun — Nursing: Brynn Yedinak

  • Wausau — Barber Technologist: Minjae Vang; Health Information Management: Holly Moeller; Project Management: Justin Ferrin

  • Wautoma — [list retained]

  • West Bend — University Transfer–Associate of Arts: Delaina Peterson

  • Westfield — [list retained]

  • Weston — Administrative Professional: Rebecca Wachowiak; Office Support Specialist: Rebecca Wachowiak

  • Wisconsin Dells — Barber Technologist: Tamie Dehmlow; Dental Assistant: Joseph Bokota

  • Wisconsin Rapids — [list retained]

  • City unknown — Criminal Justice–Law Enforcement 720 Academy: Joshua Zwicke; Digital Marketing Promotions: Leah Wildish; Sales Specialist: Leah Wildish; Social & Mobile Marketing: Leah Wildish