Commencement is a time to reflect on the memories that have shaped each graduate’s journey at NDSU. From the first day they stepped onto campus to the meaningful friendships and unforgettable experiences, these moments have become the foundation of their growth and success.
NDSU is again celebrating graduates at two spring commencement ceremonies this year. The 10 a.m. ceremony will be for graduates in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Interdisciplinary Studies. The 2 p.m. ceremony will be for graduates in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources; College of Business; and College of Health and Human Sciences.
Read about what graduating students have to say about their most memorable NDSU moments.
NAME: Rylie Tritch
MAJOR: Business administration
HOMETOWN: Fargo
What will you miss most about NDSU?
The campus community is what I will miss most. Here at NDSU, there is an incredible sense of belonging. The students, faculty and staff have always been welcoming and supportive towards me. The connections I have made here will stay with me long after I graduate. That sense of community is something I will truly miss.
What was your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot on campus was the Memorial Union. The Memorial Union has everything from the Caribou Coffee that fueled my study sessions to study spots in a cozy lounge. The Union was always a place I could go to and be productive. The atmosphere was a blend of convenience, comfort and community that I always looked forward to spending my time in.
What are your plans after graduation?
I accepted a position at Alerus Financial where I will be a relationship banker. In this role, I will be working closely with clients and assisting them with a range of financial services. Some of which include managing consumer and business depository and savings accounts, providing guidance on consumer lending and helping clients navigate IRAs. This role is a fantastic fit for me, and I am excited to further develop my expertise in banking.
NAME: Hannah Schlough
MAJOR: Computer science
HOMETOWN: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
What is your best advice for incoming NDSU students?
Put yourself out there and know that it might be uncomfortable at first. Take the time and effort to find those who will uplift you and support you. Be a ‘yes’ person. Some of the most fun memories come from spontaneous ‘yes’s.’ In addition, don’t compare your experience to anyone else’s. No two college experiences are exactly the same.
What makes NDSU a special place?
NDSU is a special place because you get the best of both worlds. You get the resources and opportunities that a big school has, but the community and familiar, smiling faces of a smaller school with a “Midwest nice” feel.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am travelling to Europe, then starting work as a software engineer for Medtronic in the Neuromodulation and Pelvic Health Operating Units in Research and Development.
NAME: McKayla Carlson-Hughes
MAJOR: Agricultural education
HOMETOWN: Braham, Minnesota
How did faculty help you succeed?
Faculty were essential for my success at NDSU. The agricultural education department is more than just professors, they are people who invested in me personally and want to see me succeed. Dr. Adam Marx and Dr. Brooke Thiel have spent countless hours of their personal time helping me grow and flourish at NDSU. They have been quintessential to my success, and I would not be the person I am without them. I know my faculty care about me on an individual level and that feeling has helped me stay at NDSU and flourish.
How have resources geared toward student success at NDSU helped you throughout your college journey?
I have been fortunate to be able to use a variety of student success programs while at NDSU. One of the most important programs I have been able to take advantage of is the NDSU Counseling Center. I am a firm believer in mental health, and making sure my mental health is cared for is essential to my success. I have also been fortunate to participate in TRIO Student Success Programs. They provide additional advising, mentoring and more. I also was able to take advantage of the Career and Advising Center to help earn jobs while in school and complete applications for scholarships.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am pursuing a role as an agricultural educator in a high school setting. In this role, I will combine my love for agriculture and education through working with high school students each day. I will have the opportunity to inspire and educate students in agriculture while also leading a robust FFA chapter.
NAME: Anna Kessel
MAJOR: Business administration
HOMETOWN: Dickinson, North Dakota
How did NDSU help you grow personally and professionally?
I had the opportunity to be involved in many meaningful organizations and activities. Those organizations are what shaped my time at NDSU and led to many lasting friendships and professional relationships. The culture of NDSU is to put the students first and expose them to experiences that will prepare them for the real world. Add in family being NDSU family generation
What have you loved the most about living in Fargo?
I have come to appreciate just how much the people who live here take pride in the community that exists here and are always looking for ways to make Fargo a great place to live. Over the years, more and more places for students to enjoy have popped up. Nothing is too far away here, which makes it convenient to meet up with friends and check out new places. I also appreciate how Fargo feels safe, and I enjoy walking my dog around campus or town.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am applying, interviewing and will move to where I find a job. I am also considering furthering my education, but plan to take a break from school and begin my career before I would do that.
NAME: Halli Heimbuch
MAJOR: Exercise/nutrition science
HOMETOWN: Moorhead
What is a lesson you learned as a student that you’ll take with you?
Of the many lessons NDSU has taught me, one of my favorites is learning the value and power of teamwork. From class discussions to our student-led 800 Café, pilot research projects with Healthy Aging North Dakota, to the NDSU Food Pantry project, I was able to experience teamwork in many ways. These involvements taught me that teamwork is an opportunity to be inspired and to inspire; to encourage one another; and to achieve great things that would not be possible by one person alone.
What student organizations and extracurriculars have you been involved in and how have they shaped your experience at NDSU?
Being involved in student organizations and extracurriculars has given me opportunities to form meaningful friendships and connections and have nurtured my sense of belonging. I am grateful to have been part of the Student Association of Nutrition and Dietetics (SAND), the Cantemus and University Chamber Singers choirs, and the Asian Student Organization (ASO). Most of my involvement was with SAND, which also offered opportunities to learn from professionals in the field of nutrition and dietetics and to lead my peers in volunteer opportunities and in other nutrition-related engagements. Being part of Cantemus and University Chamber Singers was a uniquely enjoyable journey that both expanded my love for music and allowed me to create and share musical experiences with people of many backgrounds. Engaging with ASO’s events was a fun opportunity to form new connections and learn more about and appreciate different cultures.
What are your plans after graduation?
Following graduation, I plan to take the national registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian and look forward to joining the Sanford Health Fargo healthcare team as a clinical dietitian. I hope to promote the health of individuals and communities through specializing in nutrition for children and cancer. I am grateful for this chapter of life and am excited for where the Lord will lead me next.
NAME: Clara Mvuta
MAJOR: Plant breeding and genetics
HOMETOWN: Bangwe, Kigoma in Tanzania
Explain one of the best opportunities you had at NDSU?
One of the best opportunities I had at NDSU was being accepted to present my research at the 11th World Soybean Research Conference in Vienna, Austria, in 2023. This was my first time attending such a large international conference, and it was an incredible chance to engage with scientists and industry leaders from all over the world. I was honored to receive a ‘Young Scientist award’ for my presentation, which recognized not just the quality of my research but also the clarity and passion with which I shared it. That moment was a huge confidence boost and made me realize the global relevance of my work. It also reinforced my desire to keep contributing to agricultural innovation and to connect with others who are just as passionate about feeding the world sustainably.
Who has been your biggest supporter throughout your college journey and how have they influenced you?
My biggest supporters throughout my college journey have been my mom, stepdad and my graduate advisor, Dr. Carrie Miranda. My mom and dad have been my emotional anchor, always encouraging me, even from afar. Their belief in my potential and constant support through the highs and lows of academia have kept me grounded and resilient. At NDSU, my supervisor, Carrie Miranda, has played a pivotal role in my academic and professional development. They have consistently challenged me to grow while providing the guidance and space I needed to build confidence in my research and decision making. Their mentorship has not only shaped the quality of my work but also helped me discover my strengths as a future leader in the sector of agriculture. I’m truly grateful to have had someone who believed in me and pushed me to rise to my full potential.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be taking a six-month internship with Corteva Agriscience from June to December. After that, I plan to pursue a doctorate, hopefully continuing here at NDSU under the same supervisor I've worked with during my master’s program. I'm excited to continue growing as a researcher and to build on the foundation I've developed during my master’s.
NAME: Azalea Benjamin
MAJOR: Nutrition science
HOMETOWN: Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Who was your favorite professor and what impact did they have on your education?
It is difficult to pick a favorite professor as I believe that all the faculty that I have been fortunate enough to develop a relationship with have impacted me immensely. The entire health, nutrition and exercise science department is run by exceptional people who I will forever be grateful for. If I did have to pick one person, I would have to say that Mrs. Kerrie Honrath has been extremely supportive not only with educational matters but personal ones. She very clearly cares for all her students, and she exudes an admirable amount of compassion.
If you could sum up your NDSU experience in one word, what would it be and why?
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious because the price of some universities is something quite atrocious. But if you go to NDSU, you’ll save some money and still get to sound precocious. Plus, my classmates appreciated the many convenient and endless items I carried in my backpack.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to finish my master’s degree next year in exercise science and nutrition here at NDSU. Then, I plan to sit for the national registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian.
NAME: Patrick Kirkpatrick
MAJOR: Environmental engineering
HOMETOWN: West Allis, Wisconsin
Why did you choose NDSU?
I chose NDSU because I wanted a college that was far enough from my hometown so that it would be like a fresh start for me. When I finally toured the campus and downtown area, I fell in love with it. I could feel that this was a place that I wanted to explore and get to know every single person that I interacted with.
What was your most memorable NDSU experience?
My most memorable NDSU experience was when I performed in the Bison Brevities and the Homecoming shows. For Bison Brevities, I had performed “Eat It” by Weird Al Yankovic with my friend Anna, who I had convinced to do it with me when I told her that the only things she had to do was say a few lines and slap me in the face with a tortilla. For the show, I had a pole on stage that I did some pole dancing moves I learned from FM Aerial and Movement arts with. I won $100 for the audience choice. With the homecoming show, I had got my two friends Lily and Christen to sing and dance to “Cruising for a Brusing” from Teen Beach Movie. We had practiced the act about a week before doing it onstage, and we ended up winning Judges Choice for that.
What are your plans after graduation?
Once I graduate, I’m going back to Wisconsin to work as a geotechnical engineer for a bit. I have an apartment set up for my girlfriend and I in Milwaukee. So, I’m excited to rediscover the city that I grew up by and fully explore it and all it has to offer. Before that, however, my girlfriend and I are going to Germany to visit Berlin and Munich. I plan on eating every kind of food I can eat there.
NAME: Siri Froiland
MAJOR: Biochemistry, molecular biology and philosophy
HOMETOWN: Fargo
How did NDSU set you up for success after graduation?
NDSU gave me an education: through this education I learned not only what I want to pursue for my livelihood, but how I want to walk through life.
What was your favorite class at NDSU and why?
MUSC 111- Marching Band. This class gave me lifelong friends and skills. Showing up every rehearsal with my peers and putting in time and work alongside them to become a better musician created in me a strong work ethic and a better attitude. It taught me the things worth doing in life will be difficult, but the burden is lessened with friends.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be attending the University of Oklahoma this fall for a doctorate in chemistry.
