Ian Streicker
  • Biology
  • Class of 2015
  • Maineville, OH

Ian Streicker Graduates In Wittenberg University's 170th Year Commencement Exercises

2015 Jun 16

Ian Streicker of Maineville, OH, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology during Wittenberg University's 170th year Commencement Exercises.

University President Laurie Joyner led the Commencement celebration, welcoming the more than 425 members of the Class of 2015 into the prestigious ranks of Wittenberg alumni. She also recognized three distinguished guests, including the 2015 Commencement speaker, American Hospital Association Regional Executive Kim Byas '74, and nationally recognized philanthropist and artist Ann Ziff '68. Harry Egger, a Springfield business leader and member of the Wittenberg Board of Directors from 1996-2002, received honors posthumously.

Joyner welcomed the graduates and their invited guests to the ceremony, while making special mention of the parents in attendance. They were invited to stand and were recognized by the assembled crowd with a thunderous ovation. Joyner also invited attendees to share a moment of silence in honor of students, coaches and faculty emeriti who have passed away in the last year.

A total of 121 graduates earned Latin honors in recognition of their exceptional academic pursuits. 56 of them were designated cum laude (3.5-3.69 grade point average), 20 graduated magna cum laude (3.7-3.79) and 45 graduated summa cum laude (3.8-4.0), including two students who hold perfect 4.0 grade point averages: Garrhett Via and Taylor Weisheit.

Wittenberg's commencement address was delivered by Byas, who reflected on the value of acknowledging relationships in one's own success.

"Ask yourselves how you got here today. The primary and universal response is relationships," Byas said. "It is important to acknowledge and be thankful for the transformational power of relationships. Adopt a daily method that reminds you that you are living in relationships with others, and that those relationships are sacred."

A nationally ranked university for the liberal arts and sciences affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wittenberg University has repeatedly been ranked throughout the years by the Princeton Review for the quality of its teaching and faculty, including 11th in the nation for "Best Classroom Experience" and 15th in the category "Professors Get High Marks" in the 2011 edition of Princeton's annual Best Colleges guide. In 2014 Wittenberg earned the No. 4 spot in the category of "Most Accessible Professors." Additionally, The Chronicle of Higher Education named Wittenberg one of the nation's top producers of Fulbright Scholars among bachelor degree-granting institutions in 2010. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in service and athletics.