Conferral of degrees to Class of 2026 caps spring term

More than 200 bachelor’s degrees were conferred to members of Hanover College’s Class of 2026 during the 193rd undergraduate commencement. Spring term’s culminating event was held Saturday, May 23, at Collier Arena, marking the first indoor ceremony on campus since 2016.

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Cicero, Ind.-native Jennavee Houser ’26 represented the class during the ceremony, delivering the senior address.

“Remember that Hanover used to be the next big thing. Be thankful for where you’ve been. Be thankful for where you are going. But, most importantly, be thankful for where you are in the moment,” said Houser. “There will be plenty of times, just like in our time at Hanover, where we hit hang-ups and aren’t sure where to go next, but you won’t give up because you’ve got mountains to move. Life is a balancing act, one that often moves too fast. Learn, have fun, be adventurous and go after what you want.”

Houser, a double major in biochemistry and Spanish, earned the Alpha Lambda Delta Award, which is given annually to the senior member of the national honor society with the highest grade-point average. She was one of 92 members of the class to graduate with honors, including 26 with high honors (magna cum laude) and 29 with highest honors (summa cum laude).

An honorary Doctor of Science was conferred to Dr. Kathy J. Schilling Colletta ’75, M.D., FACR, by Hanover President Lake Lambert. Colletta, a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, serves as medical director at the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute in Boca Raton, Fla. She has been at the forefront of using artificial intelligence and learning models to advance breast cancer research and early detection.

“Hanover College, founded nearly 200 years ago, has a long-standing mission to encourage lifelong intellectual curiosity, ethical leadership and meaningful service to others,” noted Colletta. “This commitment to students prepared me well to enter the field of medicine. Today, as I receive this honor, I am reminded that no such achievement is ever ours alone. Every milestone in my life has been accomplished with the support and encouragement of mentors, colleagues, friends and family. Many people believed in me when, at times, I had doubts about the realistic nature of my dreams and goals. I accept this honor on behalf of all those who have been with me during this lifelong journey.”

The commencement ceremony also featured special recognition of top student award recipients in the Class of 2026 and three retiring faculty members.

Houser, who earned the Henry C. Long Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence, was recognized during the ceremony along with classmates Creek Arthur ’26, Kylee Morgan ’26 and Elisabeth Walton ’26. Arthur received the College’s John Finley Crowe Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence. Morgan and Walton each earned the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for character and community service.

Retiring faculty members Melissa Eden (English), Steven Jobe (English) and Kate Johnson (philosophy) each received medals to signify their career accomplishments and contributions to Hanover. The trio combined for more than 100 years of service to the campus community.

Eden started at Hanover in September 1991 as a part-time instructor and was promoted to professor in 2010. Jobe came to the College in September 1990 as an assistant professor and served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty from 2009-20. Johnson, who joined the College faculty in September 1993, is the first woman in school history to earn the Arthur and Ilene Baynham Award for Outstanding Teaching three times (1999, 2015 and 2026).

Mark Hays ‘77, president of the Alumni Leadership Council, offered words of advice and welcomed the Class of 2026 into the Hanover College Alumni Association.

“Through the years, I have lived a happy, successful life adhering to [axioms of life from several successful leaders],” stated Hays. “Think about them.” He listed numerous sayings, among them: “Chance favors the prepared mind”; “The conquest of fear lies in the moment of its acceptance”; “Pain is temporary, quitting is forever”; “Mistakes are portals to discovery”; and “A wise person knows their limitations.”

During the ceremony, Lambert welcomed graduates, families and guests, and Elaine Kops-Bedel ’74, chair, offered greetings from the Hanover Board of Trustees. Carey Adams, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented each candidate during the conferral of degrees and recognized the retiring faculty members.

The Rev. Catherine Y.E. Knott, Ball Family Chaplain, performed the invocation and benediction. She also delivered the sermon at the traditional pre-graduation baccalaureate service, held May 22 in Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts.

The commencement activities also included live choral performances by the Hanover College Concert Choir and instrumentals by the Hanover College Instrumental Ensemble.

The choir, directed by Madlen Batchvarova, professor of music, featured members of the campus and local communities. In addition to the processional and recessional, the instrumental ensemble, directed by Jonathan Stanley, assistant professor of music, accompanied the choir, graduates and guests during the traditional singing of Hanover’s “Alma Mater.”

Marshals for commencement activities included faculty members Ann Kirkland, professor of French, Dan Murphy ‘77, professor of history, and Mi Yung Yoon, professor of international studies and the James T. McManaman Chair in Political Science.