University of Kansas School of Health Professions
Class of 2025
Recognition and Hooding Ceremony,
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Order of Ceremony
Processional
Welcome
Abiodun Akinwuntan, Ph.D., MPH, MBA
Dean and Professor, University of Kansas School of Health Professions
Charge to Graduates
Abiodun Akinwuntan, Ph.D., MPH, MBA
Dean and Professor, University of Kansas School of Health Professions
Awards
Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
Assistant Dean for Students Affairs, University of Kansas School of Health Professions
Akinwuntan Leadership Award
Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
Assistant Dean for Students Affairs, University of Kansas School of Health Professions
James P. Cooney Leadership Award
Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
Assistant Dean for Students Affairs, University of Kansas School of Health Professions
Stata Norton Distinguished Teaching Award
Robert M. Klein, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, University of Kansas Medical Center
Introduction of Students
Dave Burnett, Ph.D., RRT, AE-C
Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Workforce Initiatives, University of Kansas Medical Center
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Health Information Management
Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science
Dietetics and Nutrition
Hearing and Speech
Nurse Anesthesia Education
Occupational Therapy Education
Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
Recessional
Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
Assistant Dean for Students Affairs, University of Kansas School of Health Professions
Awards and Honors
School of Health Professions Awards
Akinwuntan Leadership Award
James P. Cooney Leadership Award
Stata Norton Distinguished Teaching Award
KU School of Health Professions Student Senate Executive Board
Nitisha Bagchi, Chairperson
Maryam Sadeghi, Vice-Chairperson
Kris Thompson, Communications Director
Jesse Garcia, Finance Director
Academic honors
Association of School of Allied Health Professions Legacy Scholarship
Hannah Engelken
Eric Hancock
Dean’s Scholarships
Kristen Anthamatten
Nitisha Bagchi
Melanie Crapisi
Ghina Fares
Reagan Moege
Luisa Morales Uribe
Tripti Shakya
Jenna Wike
Dan Conyers Leadership Award
Michaela Lovejoy
Dean’s Community Engagement Scholarship
Herman Cheah
Xin Chen
Cecilio Gonzalez-Morques
Esmeralda Rico Martinez
Sammy Sierra-Diaz
Jade Valdez-Gomez
Kovac Student Support Fund
Samuel Durairaj
Samuel Porritt Rehabilitation Excellence Scholarship
Claire Keeten
Georgia Lou Loescher-Junge Scholarship
Josiah Bartlett
Jordan Bell
Bethel Hailemariam
Alicia Housley
Elizabeth Huskey
Shane Sumner
Lauren Woody
Allison Zielke
2025 Departmental Awards
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Outstanding Student Award
Jenna Renae Wike
Academic Excellence Award
Alexandria Nicole Fiscus
Professionalism Award
Catherine Maria Greub
American Society For Clinical Laboratory Science — Kansas Outstanding Student Award
Marcela Medrano Mitchell
Health Information Management
Faculty Award to the Outstanding Health Information Management Student
Peyton Still
Academic Achievement Award
Ariana Joy Lacher
Respiratory Care and Diagnostic Science
Online Outstanding Student of the Year
Nicholas Shane Eulberg
On Campus Outstanding Student of the Year Award
Grant Alan White
Catalyst for Change Award
Luisa Morales Uribe
Dietetics and Nutrition
Dietary and Integrative Medicine Award
Audrey Ewert
Madison Kurth
Ruth Gordon Award
Bailey Foster
Rowena Sherrill Award
Fernanda Cantú Corona
Luke and Marilyn Lucas Dietetic Excellence Award
Molly Maurine Fain
Marian Weber Boelte and Arthur H. Boelte Scholarship
Grace Elizabeth Gerlach
Madeline Maholland
Rebekah Mani Clinical Scholar
Leah Malavite
Sevie Johnson Nelson Scholarship
Kristen Anthamatten
Hearing and Speech
Debra L. Park Award for Outstanding Student in Hearing Science
Christine Marie Caudle
CP Goetzinger Award for Outstanding Student in Audiology
Ali Mohammed Jamos
William M. Diedrich Award for Outstanding Student in Speech-Language Pathology
Rebecca Lorraine Smuck
Jacob Rockwell Osman Award
Annie Stein
Nurse Anesthesia
Carol Elliott Endowed Scholarship Award
Josie Nicole Wolters
Elijah McIntyre Penny
George DeVane Excellence Award
Nicole Dolores Harder
Caitlyn Leigh Leonard
Nurse Anesthesia Alumni Scholarship
Holly Rae Avey
Occupational Therapy Education
Elizabeth Collins Award for Leadership and Professionalism
Nida’ Al Worikat
Abriel Noelle Jarrett
Mikayla A. Quinn
Jane M. H. Underwood Award for Outstanding Potential as an Artful Practitioner
Abriel Noelle Jarrett
Daisy Jo Valeo
Jessica Jo Williams
Frank Gurtler Memorial Award for the Most Inspirational Student
Mikayla A. Quinn
Andy Thompson Student Award Established in Memorial of an OT Graduate
Alexis Josephine Chambers
Barbara Reber Umlauf Scholarship
Katherine Lacy
Grace Caroline O’Grady
Haley Kate Ulowetz
Kathryn “Kitty” Reed Scholarship
Alexis Josephine Chambers
Alyssa Elena Guillen
Abriel Noelle Jarrett
Shalee D. Mog
Paige Molstad
Haley Kate Ulowetz
Winne Dunn Outstanding Researcher Award
Jarrod Dusin
LEND Trainee Recognition
Grace Caroline O’Grady
Bonnie Danley Fieldwork Educator of the Year
Kayla Hamner
The Jennifer Tanquary Award
Nida’ Al Worikat
Mikayla A. Quinn
Daisy Jo Valeo
Joyce Jones Faculty Award
Denise Sangoi
Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science and Athletic Training
Joan Mills Clinical Excellence Award
Jena Eve Berkland
Abby Leigh Puckett
Bill Dunn Clinical Excellence Award
Elleann Teresa Kohl
Ruth G. Monteith Outstanding Achievement Award
Elleann Teresa Kohl
Camilla Wilson Students’ Choice Award
Mackenzie Nicole Bohn
Marsha E. Melnick Research Award
Kade Thomas Brennaman
Courtney L. Goetz
Madison McKenzie Lysaught
Lydia Pemberton
Precious S. Starlin
Athletic Training Leadership Award
Tanner Donnovan Ramirez
Brian W. Luinstra Athletic Training Award
Evan Michelle Zars
Clinical Excellence Award
Faith Hammontree Baxter
Leap of Faith Award
Faith Hammontree Baxter
Tanner Donnovan Ramirez
Evan Michelle Zars
Graduates
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE CLINICAL CONCENTRATION
Hunter Louis Belisle
Madeline Chieu
Caynen Bradley Ellis
Alexandria Nicole Fiscus
Morayo Susanah Folarin
Aina Angelica Gonzales
Eric Benjamin Hancock
Marcela Medrano Mitchell
Holly A. Roeder
Jenna Renae Wike
Mackenzie Renee Zeitlin
Allison June Zielke
MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY AND CLINICAL CONCENTRATION
Catherine Maria Greub
Zuleyma Loma
Meagan Navarro
Haley Morgan Watling
DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Aya Mohamed Aly
Karmen Clarice Chenoweth
Johnette Rebecca Harris
Ghadah Authman Kazem
Heather Marie Scott
Nikelia Judenary Taylor
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Nitisha Bagchi
Tarkiss Beg
Thruassy Shoomy Dubique
Abhinay Dumpa
Hua Fang
Jesse Axel Garcia
Kealeigh R. Goreham
Bethel D. Hailemariam
Ariana Joy Lacher
Cassidy Ann Landers
Sydni Magill
Triana Montoya
Benjamin Pardo
Anneliese Paulsen
Peyton Still
Daniel York
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RESPIRATORY CARE
Tennile Michelle Allen
Ayat Almahdi
Jasmyn Alexis Bell
Hunter M. Bishop
Belanna Catherine Bryant
Alicia Kamlyn Housley
Meghan Renae Kintner
Luisa Morales Uribe
Grant Alan White
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RESPIRATORY CARE DEGREE ADVANCEMENT
Laurin Brown
Kalen S. Carey
Ashley Edgar
Nicholas Shane Eulberg
Argelia Cristina Fagre-Rivas
Levi Gueydan
Melanie Nicole Howell
Melissa Grace Knight
Brianna Luebbers
Rodrigo Perez
Rochelle Roland
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DIAGNOSTIC SCIENCE
Grace Anderla
Ashley Lynn Banks
Erin Lee Courington
Maya Day
Amber Getz
Bethany Hartnell
Megan Grace Hobson
Keli Howard
Cheyann Lake
Kimber Anne Lynott
Heidi Miller
Faris Nussairat
Sage Voyles
Stephanie Marie Wilson
CARDIOVASCULAR SONOGRAPHY CERTIFICATE
Siham Bouzegour
Lainey Deacon
Anna Gifford
Samantha Howard
Faris Nussairat
Savannah Robinson
Emma Van Pelt
Taylor Vincent
DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND AND VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
Grace Anderla
Maya Day
Bethany Hartnell
Courtney Kinzel
Cheyann Lake
Diana Aguilar Ochoa
NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
Madison Bush
Christen Houston
Tanner Larson
Davina Situmeang
Secarya Webb
DIETETIC AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Audrey Ewert
Jessica Heitkamp
Marlee Hirsch
Madison Kurth
DIETETIC INTERNSHIP GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Hanan Ali Al Shaqsi
Kristen Anthamatten
Sydney Burton
Audrey Marie Ewert
Molly Maurine Fain
Bailey Foster
Grace Elizabeth Gerlach
Bryanna Hall
Nada Mohamed Hanafieh
Molly Cathleen Holdren
Madison Kurth
Haven G. Lackey
Madeline Eleanor Maholland
Siri Ahnna Pederson
Jessi Machele Rush
Camryn Renee Strickler
Lauren Violet Woody
Katrina Carey Vazquez
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DIETETICS AND NUTRITION
Hanan Ali Al Shaqsi
Kristen Anthamatten
Fernanda Cantú Corona
Katherine Crawford
Audrey Marie Ewert
Molly Maurine Fain
Hosanna Fortmeyer
Bailey Foster
Grace Elizabeth Gerlach
Kaitlin Gibbons
Cecilio Gonzales-Morques
Nada Mohamed Hanafieh
Molly Cathleen Holdren
Madison Kurth
Haven G. Lackey
Madeline Eleanor Maholland
Kaylee Marmion
Jessi Machele Rush
Camryn Renee Strickler
Lauren Violet Woody
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN MEDICAL NUTRITION SCIENCE
Jessica Ellen Keller
Dissertation: Feasibility and Impact of a Well-Formulated Ketogenic
Diet on Metabolic Risk Factors and Gut Microbiota
Mentor: Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., RD
Jessica Ann Provost
Dissertation: Dietary Nitrate: Habitual Intake in Collegiate Athletes and Supplementation Effects on Female Rowing Performance
Mentor: Aaron Carbuhn, Ph.D., RD, CSSD
Austin Sullivan
Dissertation: Advancing Malnutrition Screening and Assessment in Older Adult Outpatients
Mentor: Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
DOCTOR OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
Andrew Akhaphong
Jennifer Lee Atwood Clampitt
Dilhari Gunathilaka
Amy Jeffers
Nikki Jupe
Holly Leigh Kyzer
Vincent Pair
Naureen Sajwani
Frances Yvonne White
MASTER OF ARTS IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Ana Astoquilca
Grace Micaela Atkins
Danica Bass
Gracelynn E. Bradbury
Mackenzie Grace Bravence
Brenna Nicole Brown
Keela Grace Bryant
Olivia Grace Buschbacher
Jaydin Leigh Chase
Firdaus Daud
Mikayla E. Eberly
Olivia Fiedler
Natalie Hanrahan
Katherine H. Liskey
Erin E. Liston
Holly Koren Maddalena
Megan Martinez
Sophia Emile Mehnert
Emireth Monarrez Carreon
Prathiba Chandra Prakash
Haylee N. Roberts
Karlee Ann Seevers
Jacqueline E. Serati
Paige Simons
Rebecca Lorraine Smuck
Emilia Anna Sordyl
Mary Margaret Sullivan
Annie C. Taggart
Ava K. Taylor
Ashley Vandenberk
Lillie M. Weise
Claire Elizabeth Westfall
Jenna Wilson
Dorcas Yi Le Yeoh
DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY
Sarah Abdulaziz Aldaej
Emily Elizabeth Baumann
Shelby Ann Brown
Christine Marie Caudle
Sarah Ellen Eddings
Katherine Jo Gartner
Ali Mohammed Jamos
Maria Jaros
Reid Kelly
Jessie Lynn Kingrey
Michelle Yin Yin Low
Lydia Rebecca McMullen
Kelly Marie Shea
Karlie Ann Snyder
Molly Ann Whiteley
Courtney Elise Youngers
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Olivia Boorom
Dissertation: Exploring how caregivers shape reciprocal interactions with non-speaking autistic children
Mentor: Nancy C. Brady, Ph.D, CCC-SLP
CLINICAL DOCTOR IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Allison Marie Caplinger
Stacy Lynne Cates
Ann Margaret Marshall
Alissa Ann Potocnik
Hannah Michelle Robinson
Lauren Emily Vaughan
DOCTOR OF NURSE ANESTHESIA PRACTICE
Taylor Akagi Hoegler
Masarah A. Alfraih
Holly Rae Avey
Cara Marie Butterfield
Zoila Crocker
Regan Emily Dowling
Alexis McKenzie Dyer
Sarah Primrose Fish
Ashley Brooke Fitch
Travis W. Groff
Brooke Elizabeth Handley
Nicole Dolores Harder
Hayden Miles Hinton
Christopher Wyatt Hooper
Erin Brook Howat
Madeline Jo Jones
Natalie L. Krizek
Caitlyn Leigh Leonard
Mari Madison McKeone
Stephen Obonyo
Ji Eun Oh
Raj K. Patel
Elijah McIntyre Penny
Courtney Ann Phillips
Leslie Susan Price
Logan James Roach
Alicia Michelle Rogers
Tripti Shakya
David Michael Spruell
Shane E. Sumner
Meesh Walsh
Cameron Alexander Weishaar
Kathryn Jane Wetzel
Josie Nicole Wolters
Margaret Kathleen Wrenholt
Eric G. Yoxall
DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Rachel Linn Beach
Jamie Rose Bortz
Alexis M. Bowman
Alexis Josephine Chambers
Bethany Mei Juan Danner
Hannah Olivia Dort
Alaina Kay Dunlavy
Hollie Gregg
Alyssa Elena Guillen
Byron Jay Harvey
Justine Lee Hayes
Alexandra Sinclair Huffman
Abriel Noelle Jarrett
Kassidy A. Kaufman
Addie Caroline Kershner
Kyle Kropf
Katherine Lacy
Jakin Isaac Lefto
Alyssa Constance Lenhardt
Emme Makenna Leupold-Bottom
Lindsey Ann Lippert
Delaney Grace List
Michaela Elizabeth Lovejoy
Audrey Mae McDonald
Shalee D. Mog
Paige Molstad
Brooklyn Sarah Mulroy
Adrienne Elizabeth Necker
Hayden T. Nevills
Alyssa Jo Oberholzer
Grace Caroline O’Grady
Mailee Kiane Payne
Mikayla A. Quinn
Annie Rosenberg
Taylor Renee Sanders
Caroline Beilman Shearer
Shara Renee Shepard
Gwyneth M. Smith
Allyson Lynn Solis
Kamryn Elyse Sparks
Haley Kate Ulowetz
Daisy Jo Valeo
Jessica Jo Williams
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THERAPEUTIC SCIENCE
Nida’ Al Worikat
Dissertation: Mental Health in People with Multiple Sclerosis Living with Frailty
Mentor: Tobia Zanotto, Ph.D.
Jarrod Dusin
Dissertation: Patient and Family Engagement in Pediatric Clinical Pathways: A Mixed-Methods Study
Mentors: Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., CTRS, FDRT and Jill Peltzer, Ph.D., RN
Kara Hansen
Dissertation: Scale Development to Identify Mental Health Symptoms During Pregnancy with Fetal Anomaly: A Mixed Method Study
Mentor: Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., CTRS, FDRT
POST-PROFESSIONAL DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Jordan Virginia Bell
Melanie Southworth Crapisi
Emily Ann Summerfield
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ATHLETIC TRAINING
Faith Hammontree Baxter
Tanner Donnovan Ramirez
Evan Michelle Zars
DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Josiah Robert Bartlett
Jena Eve Berkland
Mackenzie Nicole Bohn
Kyndal Michele Bredehoeft
Kade Thomas Brennaman
Bridget Ann Brown
Clay Chisam
Evan Matthew Collner
Devin Lynn Conley
Jackson William Cooper
William John Crabtree
Brittany Jo Dolezal
Bridget Anne Donovan
Baylie Grace Doyal
Bryce Conner Erickson
Baleigh Marie Fry
Braden P. Gilbertson
Courtney L. Goetz
Mary Cooper Gollier
Natalie Kate Graber-Regehr
Emily Alexis Hale
Bobby Harshaw
Kaitlin Michelle Hawkins
Xavier Armon Henderson
Reagan Victoria Kaechele
Elleann Teresa Kohl
Keegan C. Kramer
Kendra Savannah Kynaston
Aidan Konrad Stammler Lewis
Maxwell Jay Lindgren
Alexander Philip Long
Natalie Rose Love
Madison McKenzie Lysaught
Allison McDonough
Claudia L. McIntire
Denzel Daniel Mena
Morgan Elizabeth Meyer
Moheen A. Mian
Blake Miles
Isabella Madison Pappert
Lydia Pemberton
Abby Leigh Puckett
Mary Robertson
Kynsee Marie Roby
Enrique Rodriguez Garcia
Brandt Micheal Rose
Faith Marie Rottinghaus
Alexander Ethan Schnelle
Maisie Sue Schroeder
Jacqueline Shane
Precious S. Starlin
Elizabeth Grace Steger
Tory Grace Thomson
Kaitlyn Marissa Townsend
Macey Walsh
Austin Wike
Derrick Chun Hei Yang
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN REHABILITATION SCIENCE
Saniya Somnath Waghmare
Dissertation: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability During
High Intensity Interval Exercise in Chronic Stroke
Mentor: Sandra Billinger, Ph.D., PT, FAHA
Derong Yang
Dissertation: Development of an AI-Based Robot-Assisted Gait Training System for Non-Ambulatory Chronic Stroke Survivors
Mentor: Wen Liu, Ph.D.
Awards and Honors
School of Health Professions Awards
Akinwuntan Leadership Award
…To recognize excellent leadership by students in the school of health professions and their contributions to the profession and community.
Dan Conyers Leadership Award
… to recognize a School of Health professions student’s outstanding leadership and contributions to the profession, community and program, allowing them to continue their educational efforts on a broader level.
James P. Cooney Leadership Award
…to recognize a graduating student’s outstanding leadership and contributions to the profession, community, program and the University of Kansas School of Health Professions.
Kovac Student Support Fund
… This award aims to support interdisciplinary education, research and clinical practice that are enriched by international experiences.
Stata Norton Distinguished Teaching Award
… This award recognizes one faculty member in the school each year who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.
School of Health Professions Academic Honors
Midwest Association of Allied Health Deans of Academic Health Centers Legacy Scholarship Nominee
… to students who possess professional and interpersonal qualities that indicate that they are likely to establish their own legacies of excellence in service, teaching, and/or research in the allied health professions.
SHP Student Senate Executive Board
… establish an organization representative of all SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS students. The SHP Senate facilitates student involvement by fostering interprofessional relationships and by providing a unified voice that promotes a positive relationship and mutual respect among students, faculty, and administration.
Alpha Eta Honor Society
… was formed to recognize outstanding students pursuing careers in the allied health professions and is the official honor society of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP).
School of Health Professions Scholarships
Dean’s Scholarships
…to a student who demonstrates excellence in scholastic accomplishments, professional leadership and commitment to community service as evidenced by achievements while in their program of study.
Dean’s Community Engagement Scholarship
…to a student who’s personal background and life experience reflects multilingual ability; success in overcoming financial, social, family, physical or educational hardships; proven experience as a successful leader or role-model within culturally diverse groups; demonstratable commitment to underrepresented/underserved/historically excluded populations; evidence of a significant contribution to an established diversity initiative, including program development, training, or advocacy.
Samuel Porritt Rehabilitation Excellence Scholarship
…to recognize a student(s) studying in the fields of clinical rehabilitation or clinical therapy who practice a commitment to best practices with a future professional plan on how this evidence will impact the field of rehabilitation.
Health Professions Alumni Scholarship
….awarded to a student in the health professions.
Georgia Lou Loescher-Junge Scholarship
… This fund shall be used to provide scholarships for students, both undergraduate and graduate degree seeking students, with academic merit in the School of Health Professions at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Faculty
Department Chairpersons
Eric Elsinghorst, Ph.D., MPH, MLS(ASCP)MB
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Tiffany Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-A
Hearing and Speech
Patricia Kluding, Ph.D., PT
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Rosann McLean, DHSc, MS, RHIA, CDIP
Health Information Management
Karri Arndt, DNP, CRNA
Nurse Anesthesia Education
Dory Sabata, OTD, OTR/L, SCEM, FAOTA
Occupational Therapy Education
Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., RD
Dietetics and Nutrition
Lisa Trujillo, DHSc, RRT, FAARC
Respiratory Care Education
Leadership and Dean’s Office Staff
Abiodun Akinwuntan, Ph.D., MPH, MBA, MIH, FASAHP, FACRM, FAMedS
Dean and Professor
Jacob Sosnoff, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research
David Burnett, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Workforce Initiatives
LesLee Taylor, Ph.D., LAT, ATC
Assistant Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs
Heather Gibbs, Ph.D., RD, LD
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Kayla Bortka
Senior Administrative Clerk
Faith Eissler
Grant Administrator
Terry Erisman
Web and Graphic Designer
Christal Freeman
Business Operations Specialist
Tim Hunt
IT Analyst
Christina Lau
Grant Administrator
Alex Lopez
Outreach and Recruitment Specialist
Bonny Murrell
Budget Analyst
Tiffany Pollard
Executive Officer
Rachel Sherley, MBA
Director of Operations
Brenton Siverly
Director of Finance
Mallory Snyder
Grant Administrator
ACADEMIC REGALIA
The academic dress worn by participants signifies the wearer’s academic discipline and degree-granting institution. The American Council on Education’s Academic Costume Code specifies the details of academic regalia for member institutions, including the colors and styles of caps and tassels, gowns and hoods.
The colors of tassels worn by the graduates on their caps identify their academic disciplines. Mortarboards are worn by recipients of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while the wide variety of cap styles worn by doctoral degree recipients are in keeping with traditions of the graduating institution.
Gown styles also symbolize the level of academic achievement.
The bachelor’s degree gown has pointed sleeves and is worn closed. The master’s gown has longer, square-cut sleeves, and the doctoral gown has bell-shaped sleeves trimmed with velvet chevrons. Master’s and doctoral gowns may be worn open or closed. The style, trimming and color of doctoral gowns vary according to institutional traditions.
Recipients of doctoral and master’s degrees may also wear hoods that signify their high academic attainment. The lining of each hood carries the university colors — crimson and blue for the University of Kansas. The velvet edging on each hood (and on the sleeves of the gown) signifies by its color the degree earned. Dark blue signifies doctor of philosophy; doctor of nursing practice, apricot.
HONORING OUR MILITARY VETERANS
The University of Kansas and KU Medical Center recognize those who serve or have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The veteran honorees are wearing red, white and blue Military and Veteran Honor Cords.
KU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Congratulations, Class of 2025!
Welcome to the KU alumni family — we’re proud to have you. The KU Alumni Association is here for you with resources, networking opportunities and lifelong support. Stay connected and informed by following ‘KU Alumni Association’ on social media.
Rock Chalk!
MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME
To view and purchase professional photos taken at the University of Kansas School of Health Professions ceremony, please scan the QR code to register. You will be asked to provide a clear photo of your student’s face to be used for matching with ceremony photos.
To receive photos visit the gradphotonetwork.com site.