Commencement

Guest Speaker

Calvin Sisson, President & CEO, Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation and the Walter Scott Family Foundation

Commencement speaker:
Calvin Sisson

President & CEO, Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation and the Walter Scott Family Foundation

Calvin Sisson joined the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation in 2012. He serves as president and CEO of Walter Scott’s foundations – the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation and the Walter Scott Family Foundation. He is also responsible for leading five additional unique and independent Scott family foundations as well as implementing the foundations’ philosophy and mission through their annual grant-making programs.

A graduate of Hastings College, Calvin began his career in fundraising as director of alumni relations for the Hastings College Foundation. He moved to Omaha in 1998 and worked for the Fontenelle Nature Association and Heritage Services prior to joining the Omaha Zoo Foundation in 2005. With more than 30 years in executive leadership, Calvin is a results-oriented professional with proven accomplishments in relationship management, nonprofit management, grant making, fund raising, and program development.

Calvin’s relationship with Walter Scott, Jr. began in 1990 and Calvin had the great fortune of working alongside Mr. Scott on many projects while also learning about his commitment to stewardship and philanthropy and the work he did to improve communities and the lives of young people. Calvin remains active in community and philanthropic offices by serving on the boards of the Omaha Zoological Society, Omaha Zoo Foundation, Avenue Scholars, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, Horatio Alger Endowment Fund, and DS Holding Company. 

Calvin and his wife, Rhonda, have three grown children and two grandchildren and enjoy spending time with each family as well as being outdoors and traveling.

Event information

CSU Alumni App

A resource for all alumni information

Grad Fest & Regalia

Regalia distribution and alumni resources/events

Order your regalia

Visit the Commencement site for the current deadline to order your regalia.

Fall 2023 Commencement Recap

Engineering Commencement Webcast

Can't make it to the ceremony on campus? Watch the livestream during the event! The recording is also available below to send to others.

Alumni Association speaker: Evan Ronzone

2023 BS in Mechanical Engineering
Evan Ronzone (he/him), Mechanical Engineering: Aerospace

Evan is a Spring 2023 Mechanical Engineering graduate and is currently enrolled as a Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering.

While an undergraduate student, Evan was a student ambassador for the college, and heavily involved with both recruitment efforts and helping other students succeed.

Student speaker: Payton Belli

Chemical and Biological Engineering major
Payton Belli, a Chemical and Biological Engineering major

Payton transferred to CSU in January 2022 from Montana State University. She is graduating with a BS in Chemical and Biological Engineering. 

During her two years at CSU, Payton was an undergraduate research assistant for the Reardon Lab, spent time working on a solar distillation unit in Lobitos, Peru, and interned in Fort Myers, Florida at a Covanta waste-to-energy facility. Following graduation, she is pursuing research and design focusing on renewable energy.