Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) celebrated its 192nd Commencement with two ceremonies on Saturday, May 9, with the Class of 2026 joining the ranks of more than 9,000 distinguished alumni.
The morning ceremony honored campus graduates, while the afternoon ceremony celebrated Woods Online graduates and those earning graduate degrees. The College conferred 350 degrees and certificates.
A total of 122 students earned Latin honors. This includes 46 students graduating cum laude, 36 earning magna cum laude distinction and 40 achieving summa cum laude. In addition, 27 degree recipients were recognized at the associate and graduate levels, including two associate degree graduates and 25 graduate students who earned honors.
President Brennan J. Randolph welcomed graduates, their families and loved ones gathered in Hamilton Arena at the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center.
“Today we are celebrating the accomplishments of our students, whether in attendance or watching at home through livestream,” Randolph said. “Regardless of where you and your loved ones are, we are excited to recognize your graduation and completion of this journey at The Woods.”
Commencement speakers for each ceremony were graduating students. Students, faculty and staff submitted nominations. To qualify, students had to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater. The selection committee reviewed the nominations and speakers were chosen after interviews with the students.
Elizabeth Wetzel, of Avon, Ind., a triple-major in pre-art therapy, psychology and art, delivered the address at the morning ceremony.
“Commencement celebrates our efforts that came before this moment and who we are now, but also our departure from this place in pursuit of what lies ahead. In order for our hands to receive what is meant for us, we must loosen our grip on what we’re holding. This moment is the end of everything that has happened in the story so far, and the beginning of everything that is coming. The Woods has been our place. The time is now. We now belong to the collective of those who know these Woods. But we have promises, and miles to go. And there is nowhere to go but everywhere.”
Keegan Stein, a triple major in Graphic Design, Media Art and Art from Fishers, Ind., plans to earn a secondary teaching license and coach youth football in Indianapolis.
“Today, graduation day, means a lot to me, especially getting to share it with some close friends from my time at SMWC and with my family in the audience who have supported me through my academic career,” he said.
Madelyn Helmkamp, who majored in K-6 Elementary Education/Special Education, was all smiles as she prepared for commencement and talked about her plans to teach fifth grade in her hometown of Fort Wayne this August.
“But first, today my peers and I will celebrate the hard work and dedication it took to get a degree and prepare to transition into a career,” Helmkamp said. “I plan to spend the day reminiscing about the great memories I’ve made throughout my four years at SMWC.”
Paige Chickadaunce, of Sullivan, Ind., who majored in Psychology and was also a recipient of the Maud Helm Rockwell Medal for Academic Excellence award, planned to revel in commencement before embarking on this new chapter, which includes a job as a care plan coordinator for the Southwest School Corporation.
“I just can’t wait to celebrate today with my peers and my family who’ve been with me through everything leading up to this day,” said Chickadaunce, who will also continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work.
In the afternoon ceremony, Emilee Roberts ’17MLD, who received her Ph.D. in Global Leadership, addressed the Woods Online and graduate degree recipients.
“As we look forward, I want to remind us that ‘commencement’ means beginning, not ending. As we celebrate today, this amazing milestone, and I hope you are all proud of yourselves and your fellow classmates, I urge you to remember that this is also a beginning. As the mission of the Sisters of Providence echoes – “carry the spirit of The Woods into the world – be agents of hope, and work for a just and hope-filled world.”
John Roshel, a Woods Online student who earned a certificate, plans to teach middle school in the area.
“This is a day to celebrate,” said Roshel, of Terre Haute. “It’s a celebration of all the hard work I put in over the last four years.”
Jennifer Sykes, a Master of Art Therapy major, and her father drove from their hometown in Pennsylvania to celebrate her graduation on campus with her peers.
“For those who like art, the journey lies within,” Sykes said about the motto she carries into her work.
Friends and Paramedic Science to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program graduates Kylin Warbelow, of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Angela Niemi, of Kenai, Alaska, were thrilled to take the time off work as flight paramedics to come to campus for the ceremony.
“We’ve been telling each other we were going to go to nursing school for as long as we’ve known each other,” Warbelow said. “We found this program, and it allowed us to continue to be moms and be flight paramedics. We had to come here a few times, but being on campus today brings a lot of closure to the program. It’s so worthwhile to be here, to pause and to celebrate all that we accomplished.”
The Alumni Leadership and Service Award, recognizing graduates who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service during their time at SMWC, was presented to Wetzel for the undergraduate award and Roberts for the graduate award.
The prestigious Maud Helm Rockwell Medal for Academic Excellence was awarded to the top graduates of the campus-based and Woods Online programs with the highest cumulative GPA.
Campus recipients:
Megan N. Chesser
Paige Elizabeth Chickadaunce
Megan Stagg
Elizabeth Nicole Wetzel
Woods Online recipients:
Chelsea Renae Putnam
Mina Reihani-Masouleh
Emmy Jo Sorrels
Courtney Adel Szubinski
Kylin MacKenzie Warbelow
Between the two ceremonies, the baccalaureate liturgy was held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.