More Than 750 Students Set to Receive Degrees at Spring Commencement

On Saturday, June 1, 760 Bellevue University students are expected to cross the stage at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and receive their diplomas at the University’s spring commencement ceremony. Among the graduates will be a 14-year-old Canadian prodigy who has earned a Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems with a focus on cybersecurity.

Kelton Kostis, who hails from Sarnia, in Ontario, Canada, isn’t old enough to drive yet, but has already earned two post-secondary degrees; his master’s degree and also a Bachelor of Science degree in Web Technology from Bellevue University in 2017 when he was 13 years old. University records indicate that Kostis, who took all of his courses online, is the youngest graduate since 2010, and is likely one of the youngest Bellevue University graduates ever.

“The individual aspirations that our students have and that Bellevue University enables are truly remarkable,” said University President Mary Hawkins, “and Kelton Kostis exemplifies that. The students we serve best are those who, like Kelton, have invested in themselves and are motivated to get to the next level.” Kostis’ Bellevue University instructors credit him for his stellar academic performance, as well as the strong interpersonal relationships he formed throughout his degree program. The teen is now looking for career opportunities in fields related to IT and cybersecurity.

The commencement ceremony, which begins at 9:10 a.m., will also feature Rodrigo López, Chairman of Amerisphere Companies, as the spring commencement speaker. López, who came to Nebraska from Columbia in 1971 as a 17-year-old exchange student, is today an entrepreneur, philanthropist and one of the leaders of downtown Omaha development projects such as the mixed-use Capitol Place building. Kim Moore will serve as the ceremony’s student speaker. Moore earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management while also playing for the Bellevue University women’s golf team. Moore, whose address will focus on overcoming adversity, won the individual title at the 2019 North Star Athletic Association Championship (NSAA), while leading the Bruins to the team title, as well.

According to University Registrar Colette Lewis, the University conferred 807 degrees from Jan. 1, 2019 through March 31, 2019. This includes 587 undergraduate degrees and 220 master’s degrees. This year, the 57,000th Bellevue University student will graduate since the University’s founding in 1966.

The University streams the commencement ceremony live so those who cannot attend have an opportunity to see students receive their diplomas. The live streaming link is available on the Bellevue University website starting at 8 a.m., Central Standard Time.