Mount Marty College Holds Spring Commencement Ceremony

YANKTON, SD — Friends, Family, Faculty and staff gathered in Laddie E. Cimpl Arena on Saturday, May 12 to celebrate the achievements of Mount Marty College’s (MMC) graduating class of 2018. During the hour-long ceremony, the college honored 100 undergraduate and graduate students and also presented Dr. Thomas Lorang, who delivered the commencement address, with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Dr. Thomas Lorang began a 12-year career as teacher, coach, counselor and educational psychologist for the Yankton School District in 1966. During his time in Yankton, he served on the Sacred Heart School Board, several parish committees and began to connect himself to Mount Marty and the Benedictine Sisters.

He accepted the position of assistant principal at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls in 1978 and quickly became principal. He immediately placed a stronger focus on academics and instruction time, and by 1985 his school had won the Excellence in Private Education award from President Ronald Reagan.

In 1991 he became superintendent of the newly founded Sioux Falls Catholic Schools system. Twenty-seven years later the school system he helped create has grown and flourished and today is considered one of the best Catholic school systems in America.

Dr. Lorang retired after 35 years with Sioux Falls Catholic Schools in 2014 and accepted a one-year term as interim president of Mount Marty College. For the past three years, he has served as Mount Marty’s strategic initiatives consultant. His knowledge of organizational behavior and his connections throughout the region have been valuable resources in generating momentum and support for Mount Marty.

The commencement ceremony honored the 81 May graduates as well as 19 students who are slated to graduate in August. The 81 conferred degrees included 14 Master of Science in Nursing degrees, 44 Bachelor of Arts degrees, one Bachelor of Science degree, 20 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and two associate degrees. The degrees to be granted in August include six Bachelor of Arts degrees, eight Bachelor of science degrees, and five associates degrees.

For more information about MMC’s degree programs visit www.mtmc.edu.