Carrying forward the vision of its founders and sponsors, the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, to prepare leaders in the service of truth, the university celebrated the achievements of graduates at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels, in 44 undergraduate majors and 14 post-graduate areas. It also conferred honorary doctoral degrees honoring three outstanding servant leaders.

During the ceremony, the University of Mary awarded a total of 482 undergraduate and 594 master's degrees. This year, for the first time, the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy was among the degrees granted. The university also celebrated its seventh and largest doctoral class, conferring the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree on 37 graduates. Attesting to the university's emphasis on academic excellence, 101 undergraduate degrees were awarded cum laude; 46, magna cum laude; and 34, summa cum laude. Eighty-one graduates, representing the University of Mary's School of Arts and Sciences, Gary Tharaldson School of Business, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and School of Health Sciences, earned the Certified Schafer Leader designation.

This year's graduating class included outstanding men and women from 29 states and 11 foreign countries, including Brazil, Canada, Ghana, India, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Qatar, Serbia, Sudan, and Tanzania.

One hundred thirty-six baccalaureate degrees and 530 master's degrees were awarded to graduates who completed their program through distance education, including online.

"As the outstanding men and women of this year's graduating class join our thousands of alumni around the world, we rejoice in their accomplishments and also look forward with excitement to their future successes," said Father James Shea, president. "We are confident that the knowledge, values and spiritual grounding that have shaped their educational experience and enabled them to contribute so much to the U-Mary community will strengthen and guide them as they continue to grow as servant leaders in the adventure of their lives."

Three Awards Honorary Doctorates

During the ceremony, the university also conferred honorary degrees on three outstanding servant leaders. Noted North Dakota attorney and longtime supporter of Catholic education Al Wolf was awarded the Doctor of Leadership and Philanthropy, honoris causa. Honorary doctorates also were conferred posthumously on former faculty member and author Sister Mary Elizabeth Mason, OSB, and respected businessman and entrepreneur Dewey Tietz. Sister Mary Elizabeth received the Doctor of the University, honoris causa, and Tietz, the Doctor of Leadership, honoris causa. (See accompanying bios.) An honorary doctorate is the highest honor bestowed by the University of Mary beyond the granting of earned degrees. Only 28 individuals previously have been recognized with this distinction.

Niles Hushka to Deliver Commencement Address

Niles Hushka, CEO of KLJ Solutions, the parent company of Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Inc., delivered the commencement address entitled "Leading with Enthusiasm."

The University of Mary ceremonial mace, a symbol of leadership, which debuted at Commencement 2009, again was carried by senior faculty member Father Victor Feser, OSB. It is a tangible expression of the Benedictine values of the university's founders, the Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation, which reflects the bridging of centuries of tradition and learning with the university's responsibility to the future.

U-Mary Announces Outstanding Senior

In graduation-related events, the University of Mary Alumni Association recognized Theresa Ell of Bismarck with the Outstanding Senior Award for 2012, at the annual President's Breakfast hosted by Father Shea. (Visit http://www.umary.edu/newsroom/news_release.php?storyid=1335816479 for details.)

Nominees for the 2012 Outstanding Senior Award were: Christina M. Allen, Bismarck; Ashley M. Deichert, Raleigh, ND; Theresa J. Ell, Bismarck, ND; Jenna R. Herzig, Burlington, ND; Lindsey F. Hochhalter, Regan, ND; Alycia R. Kramer, Lidgerwood, ND; Elizabeth A. Mack, Rugby, ND; Kayla E. Meyer, Wahpeton, ND; Stephanie J. Nalewaja, Miles City, MT; Stephanie A. Olson, Minot, ND; Joshua H. Schuh, Bismarck; Kristen A. Schulz, Edgeley, ND; Kristine L. Weippert, Tappen, ND; and Kayla L. Wetch, Mandan, ND.

Baccalaureate Celebration

A Baccalaureate Mass, presided by Fr. Benedict Fischer, university chaplain, was held in the Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel, in the Benedictine Center for Servant Leadership, on Friday, April 28, 2012, for graduating students, family, guests, community and faculty.

2012 Commencement Speaker

Niles Hushka is president and chief executive officer (CEO), of KLJ Solutions Co., parent company of Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, Inc. (KL&J), a regional engineering, surveying and planning firm. He has more than 33 years of leadership experience and earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University. He is a registered professional engineer in Michigan, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. His career began with KL&J as an entry-level engineer in 1978, during North Dakota's first oil boom. In 1983, Hushka created KL&J's airport division and was promoted to Bismarck office manager. During that time, he served as project manager for airport reconstruction in Baker, MT. The project led the company to new opportunities, opening venues in Montana for the first time. He was promoted again in 1986 to marketing director and airports director.

Hushka became a member of KL&J's Board in 1985 and served as both secretary and treasurer in 1990. From 1996 to 1997, he served as vice president of the Board. Hushka became CEO in 2008, shortly after he was named the company's president.

As a leader in his profession and community, Hushka is actively involved in the communities, counties and states KL&J serves. Since his appointment in 2006, he has served on the University of Mary Board of Trustees. He has been a member of the American Consulting Engineers Council for 20 years and the National Society of Professional Engineers for 25 years. Hushka formerly served as chairman of the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association (BMDA) and currently serves on the Associations Executive Committee of the Board. Additionally, he serves on the Strategic Planning Committee for Medcenter One Health Systems, as well as Medcenter One's Physicians Compensation Committee. Hushka also serves on the Steering Committee for Senator Conrad's Entrepreneurs Task Force and Former Senator Dorgan's Energy Corridor. He is on the Community Board of Wells Fargo Bank, Board of Directors for Medcenter One Health Systems, treasurer of Northern Plains Investments, a Regional Angel Investor Network Fund, and co-founder and chairman of the board for the I.D.E.A. Center in Bismarck, ND.

2012 Honorary Degree Recipients

Sister Mary Elizabeth Mason, OSB
Doctor of the University, honoris causa
Awarded posthumously

Sister Mary Elizabeth Mason, OSB, was a scholar, academic, and dedicated Christian woman, who exemplified the concept of leadership in the service of truth. Blessed with great intellect, a passion for learning, and abiding faith in and love of God, she devoted her life to bettering the lives of others. A member of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery for 64 years and of the University of Mary faculty for 20, she saw the larger issues of life and eagerly applied her many gifts to addressing them.

Born in 1917 in Richmond, VA, to Bland and Kathleen (Mount) Mason, she grew up with two younger sisters in the Carolina Smokies and completed junior college at St. Genevieve of the Pines in Asheville, NC. On Feb. 27, 1937, she began a journey as a Sister that spanned 75 years until her death on Feb. 27, 2012. Having first made vows with a French religious community in North Carolina, drawn to the Benedictine tradition, Sister Mary Elizabeth joined the Sisters of the Annunciation in 1948. In Bismarck, she put her B.A. from Immaculate College to use as a teacher and librarian at St. Mary's Central High School. She then earned an M.A. from Marquette University and became the first principal of Priory High School, while also teaching at Mary College. Awarded a Ph.D. from Loyola University, she continued teaching at Mary through spring of 1973, chairing the Humanities Division for seven years. Her penchant for service found wider expression as pastoral associate for the Church of Saint Anne in Bismarck for 17 years. At the age of 80, she further expanded her service with a two-year teaching mission at the College of the Marshall Islands.

A gifted writer and tenacious researcher, Sister Mary Elizabeth's works included a thesis on active and contemplative life, a translation/commentary on the Latin poems of George Herbert, the lyrics to U-Mary's alma mater, and Learning to Lead, the history of the University of Mary's first 50 years. She also assisted with the writing and editing of post Vatican II documents for the Federation of St. Benedict, including the 1980 English translation of the Rule of Benedict.

Sister Mary Elizabeth read extensively and her concerns were global. She viewed the world and its people with open eyes and a warm heart. In addition to her work for the Bismarck Adult Learning Tutors program and St. Alexius Hospice, she volunteered more than 3,200 hours with the ND State Library's Talking Books program - a ministry she continued into the final months of her life.

Sister Mary Elizabeth was also passionate about environmental stewardship. She was a strong voice in urging the community to help preserve the earth for future generations, and was part of the committee of sisters from various Benedictine communities who wrote the pioneering "Of All Good Gifts: A statement on the Nature of Stewardship in the Lives of American Benedictine Sisters."

Sister Mary Elizabeth devoted her life and energies to serving God's people.
Her wisdom, faith, and kindness, and her strength and determination in using them for the good of others are her legacy.

Duane "Dewey" Tietz
Doctor of Leadership, honoris causa
Awarded posthumously

Duane "Dewey" Tietz was a man of ideas and of action. A native of New Leipzig, ND, he graduated from the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, having studied architectural drafting and design. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, then working as a draftsman, in 1980, he took his idea for a long-distance delivery company and founded Cross Town Delivery Service, starting with a borrowed truck and one employee. In the 30 years that followed, he grew his dream into CrossCountry Courier, a multimillion-dollar regional business with 200 trucks, 300 employees and warehouses across five states. Along the way, he was named 1993 North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year.

But Tietz was also a man of vision, who saw helping others - particularly young people - to achieve their varied dreams as an even greater challenge with even greater rewards. A great friend to the University of Mary, its students, and many of us here today, Tietz was instrumental in the founding of the Harold Schafer Leadership Center. He was actively involved in such Emerging Leadership Academy business track initiatives as the Entrepreneurship Fair. After retiring from CrossCountry Courier in 2004, he made mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs his third career. In 2005, Tietz was honored by the university as one of five leading North Dakota Entrepreneurs, during its Year of the Entrepreneur.

Tietz once told City Magazine that he had learned "There is something out there beyond material, beyond money and all of that," and that he thought, "Being a part of the Schafer Center is where that awakening started to happen." He said, "Being around people like Sister Thomas Welder and a lot of servant-type leaders made me want to become more a part of young people's lives."

In 2007, Tietz took the vision of helping fledgling enterprises get off the ground by co-founding the IDEA Center, a non-profit business incubator in Bismarck. In recognition of his "leadership and efforts in creating local ventures to foster and enhance entrepreneurial activity in the state," in 2008, he was honored with the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.

Tietz, whose life was cut short a year ago at the age of 63, is remembered for his drive, passion, and belief in and encouragement of others. His legacy is his advice to those who would be successful in business and in life to "be the most curious person you know … {and} find your passion." He is survived by his wife, Barb, daughter Jen Polk and family, and son Chris.

Albert A. Wolf
Doctor of Leadership & Philanthropy, honoris causa

Albert A. Wolf is a North Dakota native and attorney who has lived his commitment to his church, community, state, and country. Individually, and in concert with his wife, Karen (Rausch), he has worked on many fronts to give back by expanding the educational, cultural, and religious offerings available to others.

Born in 1931 to German-Russian immigrants, Wolf credits their belief in the value of education with having helped enable him to succeed personally and professionally. The youngest of 11 children, Wolf was raised on an Emmons County farm. Strasburg High School Principal Sister Leonilla, SSND, encouraged him to attend then-St. Thomas College to prepare for law school. He then studied at the University of Minnesota Law School and graduated from William Mitchell College of Law. Wolf began his legal career as a U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant serving in the Judge Advocate General's Office. Upon returning to North Dakota, he served as Burleigh County State's Attorney from 1963 to 1966 and co-founded two successful law firms: Wolf, Glaser and Milhollan in 1963, and in 1973, Wheeler Wolf, where he is still active.

Wolf developed strong relationships within the educational community while serving as Bismarck Public Schools counsel for 14 years as part of his law practice. Chair of Assumption College's Board of Trustees from 1965 to 1971, he also has been a strong supporter of Saint Bernard, the Catholic Indian mission school in Fort Yates, ND.

After marrying in 1974, Wolf's involvement with education further expanded, as he and Karen led two parent groups at St. Mary's Central High School, which their daughters, Gretchen, Anna, and Heidi attended. Wolf also played a role in the founding of Bismarck's Shiloh Christian School. Al and Karen have established scholarships at U-Mary, the University of St. Thomas, and St. Mary's Central High School, and lent other support to U-Mary, Bismarck State College, and St. Thomas.

Wolf has been a servant leader in other arenas as well. Longtime North Dakota counsel for Benedictine Health Systems of Duluth, he currently is a member of St. Gabriel's Community Council. He also served on the board of St. Vincent's Care Center for 20 years and of Merrillac Manor for 10. A co-founder of Bismarck State Bank (now American Bank Center) in 1977, he is still a director there. Additionally, Wolf continues his longstanding involvement in the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Rotary Club, Theodore Roosevelt Foundation, Home on the Range, and the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, where his stewardship on the board has spanned 15 years. He has also been involved in the God's Child Project Foundation.

Wolf is an active member of Corpus Christi Parish. He also has been a member of the Bismarck Knights of Columbus since 1960 and was elected a grand knight in 1965. A longtime Serra Club member as well, he currently serves as state governor, promoting vocations in North Dakota. Al's service with Karen as lead donors for Saint Joseph's Hall for Men, Mary's new faith-focused residence, bears most recent witness to Al's belief that, "Education is essential to gaining knowledge so you can contribute to your community."