University of Mary to Award Record 1,081 Degrees at 65th Commencement Ceremonies April 25
Napa Institute co-founder Tim Busch, along with Heather and Dan Butler, named honorary doctorate recipients; Busch to deliver commencement address
BISMARCK, ND — The University of Mary will award a record 1,081 degrees during its 65th commencement ceremony on Saturday, April 25, marking the largest graduating class in the university’s history. The ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Bismarck Event Center, Seventh Street and Front Avenue, Bismarck.
Founded and sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery of Bismarck, the University of Mary will award 641 bachelor’s degrees, 300 master’s degrees and 140 doctoral degrees. These students come from 40 states representing 16 countries.
103 received the summa cum laude designation, 102 earned magna cum laude designation and 157 students received the cum laude designation.
Additionally, 36 students have earned the Certified Schafer Leader designation from the Harold Schafer Emerging Leaders Academy, and 194 students are recognized as Year-Round Campus graduates for fulfilling their degree in 2.6 years.
The 2026 Commencement is a ceremony of firsts for Mary:
- First Nursing Academy cohort
- First cohort of eight undergraduates from Nazareth Seminary (Mary College at ASU)
- First Master of Social Work (MSW) cohort
Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker — Tim Busch
Tim Busch is a businessman, lawyer, and Catholic philanthropist based in Orange County, CA. He is the chairman of the Busch Group, a family of companies that include a law firm, a hotel management and development company, a winery, and faith-based non-profit organizations.
Busch is widely recognized for his leadership at the intersection of faith, culture, and public life. His commitment to advancing Catholic thought in the public square is exemplified by his role with the Napa Institute, which he co-founded with Father Robert Spitzer, SJ, and has chaired for many years.
Dedicated to promoting and defending the principles of the Catholic faith as they relate to culture, economics, law, and public policy, the Napa Institute convenes Catholic clergy, scholars, business leaders, and public officials to engage critically with contemporary social and political challenges from a faithful, intellectually rigorous perspective grounded in the Church’s moral and social teachings. Under Busch’s leadership, the Napa Institute has become a prominent forum for serious dialogue on religious liberty, the dignity of the human person, the role of conscience in civic life, and the responsibilities of Catholic leaders in a pluralistic society.
As long-time advocates of Catholic education, Busch and his wife Steph co-founded St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Laguna Niguel, CA, and JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA. The Catholic University of America, a Pontifical University in Washington, DC, named its business school the Tim and Steph Busch School of Business and Economics in recognition of their generous support.
The Busches also co-founded the Magis Center for Reason and Faith with Father Spitzer and have been active members of Legatus, an organization for Catholic business leaders, since 1990. Tim Busch also co-founded the Napa Legal Institute, an organization dedicated to religious freedom, which provides corporate, tax, strategic, and philanthropic expertise and resources to faith-based nonprofits.
In each of these endeavors, Busch has served as a faithful, steadfast champion for the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. Born and raised in a devoutly Catholic family in Michigan, Busch and his brothers still own the supermarket chain founded by their father. Tim and Steph have been married 40 years and have two children and 11 grandchildren.
Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients — Heather and Dan Butler
We are honored to recognize Dan and Heather Butler, a couple whose faithful service and generous leadership have profoundly blessed the University of Mary. Together, and each in a distinct way, they have advanced the university’s mission through enduring commitment, philanthropy, and servant leadership.
Dan Butler, Chairman of the Board of Trustee, University of Mary
A proud alumnus and third-generation supporter of the University of Mary, Dan Butler, ’85, has carried forward a legacy of servant leadership and generosity that stretches back to the early years of Mary College. A graduate of West Fargo High School, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Mary.
While in school and college, Dan worked in a variety of roles within his family’s business, gaining a firsthand understanding of Butler Machinery and a deep appreciation for the value of hands-on learning. As an undergraduate during the transition from Mary College to the University of Mary, he witnessed the vision, grit, and faith that shaped the institution’s growth, and developed a lasting admiration for the beauty of its campus and mission.
Beginning in 1998, Dan served as president of Butler Machinery. In addition to his business leadership, he has given generously of his time and talent to the University of Mary, including serving as chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees since 2015, the first alumnus of the university to do so. Through his leadership and commitment, he has helped advance the university’s mission and strengthen its capacity to form graduates prepared to serve their professions, families, communities, and the world.
Heather Butler, Co-Chair for Vision 2030 Phase I Capital Campaign, University of Mary
A proud alumna of the University of Mary, Heather Butler, ’03, has lived a life marked by compassion, generosity, and dedicated service to others. Raised in Rothsay, Minnesota, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the University of Mary.
Heather began her professional life as a dental hygienist before embracing the vocation of motherhood as a stay-at-home mother. Her spirit of service was formed early, as she grew up assisting the elderly alongside her family. That love of caring for others continued in later years through her work as a patient care volunteer with Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Beginning in 2015, Heather co-chaired Phase I of the University of Mary’s Vision 2030 Capital Campaign with U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, raising $101 million dollars on a goal of $98 million, helping advance the university’s future and mission. More recently, she and her husband, Dan, led fundraising efforts for HIA Heather’s House, North Dakota’s first freestanding hospice house, which opened in 2025 and provides a peaceful, home-like setting, expert medical care, and respite for caregivers.
Together, Dan and Heather have raised five children, and the family’s tradition of support for the University of Mary is already continuing in the next generation. Through their example of faithful service and generous leadership, they have both helped create untold opportunities for others to flourish in this region and beyond.
In Memoriam
Cecilia Leiter, a senior nursing student from Lancaster, Ohio, will be awarded a posthumous Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Leiter, 21, died in March following a tragic car accident. A member of the University of Mary’s first Nursing Academy cohort, she was nearing completion of her studies and was known for her joyful spirit, deep faith, and commitment to serving others. She was active in the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), participated in a medical mission trip to Peru, and felt called to nursing as a vocation, with a desire to care for children with cancer. She will be honored alongside her classmates at commencement, as the university remembers the lasting impact of her life and witness.
The 2026 University of Mary graduation ceremonies can be viewed through live streaming at: www.lifeatmary.com