The National University community came together during a commencement ceremony today to celebrate the graduates of six academic programs.

Julia Afridi, D.O., medical director for the Integrative Medicine Clinic at Elmhurst Hospital, served as commencement speaker. In her speech, she asked students to recognize how important and essential they are in the new paradigm shift in health care toward integrative medicine.

“While your degrees are not new, the ways [the industry] has been using these degrees are rapidly transforming,” she said. “I am looking forward to the ways you become a catalyst for the transformation of health care.”

Valedictorians from each academic program also gave well-received speeches thanking faculty members and congratulating their fellow classmates. Nadene Johnson, valedictorian of the Master of Science in Acupuncture class, offered tips that have helped her on her journey to becoming a health care practitioner. She encouraged students to reframe failure and to have gratitude for themselves and their accomplishments.

Nicholas Hollendonner, valedictorian for the chiropractic medicine class, discussed utilizing attitude and perspective during life’s struggles. “It is positive thought that will bring us to success,” he said.

In President Joseph Stiefel’s closing remarks, he shared a childhood memory to highlight the importance of trying new things and experiences, like starting the path to a degree in health care. “Education is about more than facts and figures,” he said. “It is learning to tackle all the challenges and obstacles before you on your own.”

Massage Therapy Program Graduates

Maria Valentina Brasseur

Anne Tucker Doar

Jennifer Hernandez

Cassandra Malinowska

Lauren Michelle Musso

Katie Pritchard

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences Graduates

Reema Asfour

Christy L. Decker

Emily Louise Doudlah

Lian Joy Fonacier

BethAnne Hoernes

Monserrat Soto Malonson

Naiomi Zoé Morales Tristani

Shawna Leah Singrin

Jennifer Storch

Master of Science in Acupuncture Graduates

Stephanie A. Catanese

Nadene Johnson

Kylee Erin Koon

Stephanie Michelle Lee

Linzi Ann Saigh-Larsen

Master of Science in Oriental Medicine Graduates

Kerilyn Heyer

Amal Khaled

Hossein Setork

Sarah Wong

Doctor of Chiropractic Graduates

Ariel Janae Israel

Joshua Ryan Burns

Katie Carol Carlin

Argiana Haralampopoulos Danos

Nicholas Hollendonner

Ryan David Hosler

Mary Elizabeth Kikilas

Courtney Gayle Knight

Lauren Elizabeth LeMasters

Jenifer Lynn Mersman

Bradford James Myers

Paul Richard Pammer

Jordan William Pontius

Aliz D. Puskas-Bruno

Allison Terese Norton Romportl

Parisa Samsami

Michael Anthony Scardina

Jennifer Lynn Scherbauer

Melanie Elenora Short

Jennifer Collene Simons

Jennifer Skrabutenas

Jacob J. Suh

Alicia Vulchev

Corey Alan Whitney

Aimee M Wrubel

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Graduates

Brett Appleby

Megan Borreson

Andrea Duvnjak

Kirstin Noel Kraft

Julia Malkowski

Nikita Patel

kristal Richardson

Dina Scannell

Jill Elizabeth Skurnowicz