One hundred thirty-eight students had spring 2021 semester grades that earned academic distinction, and 75 seniors graduated May 16 with bachelor's degrees.

Students whose semester grade point average is 3.7 or higher are named to the Dean’s List, while those with a GPA of 3.50-3.699 are listed as members of the Honor Roll.

DEAN’S LIST

Elizabeth Alderfer, Newton

*Jennifer Andres, Newton

*Jesse Balzer, Hurley, S.D.

Phillip Balzer, Hurley, S.D.

Isaiah Bartel, Andover, Kan.

Emma Beachy, Kalona, Iowa

Given the unprecedented experience of the Class of 2021, it’s not surprising that “life’s challenges and choices” occupied much of the commencement speaker’s address.

Because of rainy weather, the May 16 ceremony took place inside Memorial Hall rather than in Thresher Stadium.

President Jon C. Gering set the stage in his welcome when he reflected on some of the luminaries – from Martin Luther King Jr. to lyric soprano Adele Addison to Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball – who had spoken or performed in Memorial Hall over the decades.

The Baccalaureate service (10 a.m.) and commencement ceremony (4 p.m.) have been moved indoors to Mem Hall due to the forecast of rain and storms on Sunday, May 16.

Both events will still look different from tradition, but more like “normal” than did 2020’s, which were all-virtual.

Seventy-five seniors are scheduled to take part in the 128th commencement on Sunday, May 16, at 4 p.m. in Thresher Stadium, with Memorial Hall as a bad-weather contingent.