Spring 2026 Graduation List
July 21, 2026
South Dakota State University announces spring 2026 graduates.
BROOKINGS, S.D. — The following students graduated after the spring 2026 semester at South Dakota State University. The students listed below completed all requirements for a degree and/or certificate program, and those requirements have been verified by the appropriate college.
The names of honor graduates marked with WH designate graduation with honor; WHH, with high honor; WHHH, with highest honor; CL, Cum Laude; MCL, Magna Cum Laude; and SCL, Summa Cum Laude.
Overall, students from 32 states and 27 nations graduated in the spring 2026 semester. More than 90 students received two or more degrees or certificates from a college.
**This list is sorted in the following order: State, hometown and student name, but it can be edited as one sees fit for one’s publication.**
Spring 2026
| Name | Honors | Home City | State | Degree, College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anders Samuel Mattecheck | SCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SNS |
| Blake C. McDermott | CL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SENGR |
| Jose Ricardo Medina-Orozco | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Fine Arts, SAHSS | |
| Paige Elizabeth Mehlberg | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Master of Science, SEHS | |
| Lainee Marie Mentzer | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Doctor of Pharmacy, SPAHP | |
| Zulema Meza | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Master of Education, SEHS | |
| Samantha Lynn Miller | MCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SNS |
| Hayley Ann Muchow | CL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SNS, and Bachelor of Arts, SAHSS |
| Allex McKay Murray | MCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SAHSS |
| Carter James Nelson | CL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Fine Arts, SAHSS, and undergraduate certificate, SAHSS |
| Kale Nelson | CL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SENGR |
| Madison Genevieve Nelson | SCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science in Nursing, SNURS, and Bachelor of Arts, SAHSS |
| Natalie Patricia Nunez | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Doctor of Pharmacy, SPAHP | |
| Samantha Jo O'Neal | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science in Nursing, SNURS | |
| Whitley Brenna Olinger | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science in Nursing, SNURS | |
| Joseph Olivier | CL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SAHSS |
| Shelby Amelia Olson | MCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SPAHP |
| Julien Andrew Onisoru | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Fine Arts, SAHSS | |
| Peyton Lynn Parker | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Doctor of Pharmacy, SPAHP | |
| Evan Lee Patzwald | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Master of Science, SEHS | |
| Ella Mae Peck | SCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SEHS |
| Sara Penzenstadler | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SAFES | |
| Carter Sage Petersen | MCL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SEHS |
| Britton Mae Peterson | CL | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SEHS |
| Dylan Robert Peterson | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | Bachelor of Science, SENGR |