May 9, 2026
Nick Storhaug, 1974 Mayville State graduate, will deliver the annual commencement address at Mayville State University Friday, May 15. The commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the Mayville State University Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. The ceremony is open to the public.
Current graduates Cara Hansen-Thompson, Starkweather, N.D., and Bethany Holter, McCanna, N.D., will speak on behalf of the graduating class. Board member Michelle Kommer will bring greetings on behalf of the State Board of Higher Education.
Larry McGillis, Portland, N.D., will be awarded an honorary Master of Science in Leadership in recognition of his exemplary leadership and unwavering support for Mayville State University and the Mayville-Portland community. First as a public school music teacher and later as a businessman, Larry McGillis has been an important leader in the local community and beyond. He understands the vital role Mayville State University and other organizations play in the community’s success, and he demonstrates a deep commitment and inspires others to follow his example. His leadership has made a lasting, positive impact on the university, the Mayville-Portland community, and the state.
Mayville State’s graduation day festivities will begin with the traditional graduation brunch hosted by the MSU Alumni Association. The event will begin at 10 a.m. in the Campus Center Luckasen Room. Graduates Anthony Johnson from Mandan, N.D., and Micaela Kocher from Crosby, N.D. will speak on behalf of the class. The members of the graduating class will be the guests of honor, and thanks to the generosity of Bell Bank, graduates and their families will attend the brunch free of charge.
Weather permitting, a time of socializing and photo ops will take place in Mayville State’s Legacy Plaza immediately following the commencement ceremony.
Mayville State University Graduation Brunch Student Speaker Biographies
Anthony Johnson has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with specializations in banking, marketing, and management. He played on the Comets football team for four years, serving as the team’s captain for two seasons. Anthony was also an active member of Student Senate and Student Athletic Advisory Council. He received multiple awards recognizing his dedication and impact. He is now applying his Mayville State education as a personal banker in Wahpeton, N.D., and he credits his parents, Shanna and Jeremy Johnson, for their support and for instilling values that helped to shape his success.
Micaela Kocher is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in chemistry and a specialization in physical science. A scholarship recipient and Dean’s List student, Micaela has been a Mayville State Student of the Year nominee multiple times, and she has been recognized with numerous academic awards. Micaela has been an active member and officer of the Science and Math Club, who has served as a researcher in one of Mayville State’s undergraduate laboratories. Her parents are Kurt and Anjelika Kocher from Crosby, N.D.
Mayville State University Commencement Speaker Biographies
Keynote Speaker
Nick Storhaug has been a practicing Certified Public Accountant, serving North Dakota for 40-plus years. He has played a long-standing role as a developer and promotor of not only his hometown of Lisbon, N.D., but other rural communities as well. In particular, Nick was front and center in preserving the Lisbon Opera House and several other developments in the Lisbon community.
Prior to becoming a CPA in 1986, Storhaug spent 23 years as a teacher and coach at Lisbon High School. During that time, he led numerous successful athletic programs, most notably the Lisbon Bronco wrestling teams. His excellence and impact have been recognized through many coaching honors, including induction into the North Dakota Coaches Hall of Fame and the North Dakota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, as well as the Mayville State University Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame and Lisbon High School Hall of Fame. Nick and his family remain proud supporters of the Storhaug Invitational Wrestling Tournament, which has earned a reputation throughout the tri-state area for its outstanding sportsmanship and high level of competition.
Nick and his wife, LaVonne, also a Mayville State alum, demonstrate a deep and enduring commitment to their alma mater by paying forward their gratitude for their Mayville State experiences through their financial support for the university.
Nick and LaVonne are the parents of two adult sons, Brady (wife Jan) and Tyler (wife Angela), and they have five grandchildren.
Student Commencement Speakers
Cara Hansen-Thompson has earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a major in business administration. She has worked with the North Dakota Department of Transportation for 25 years. She made the decision to return to college later in life, with the goal of advancing her career and investing in her personal and professional growth. Throughout her life, Cara has pursued leadership and employee engagement roles, and she believes strongly in the value of continual self-investment. Having served in a first response unit, as well as her township board and school board, she has been actively involved in her Starkweather, N.D., community. Family members who have supported Cara on her educational journey include her dad, Allan Hansen, and her husband, Kevin Thompson, and their four children.
Bethany Holter has earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She has pursued a major in physical education and a minor in sport coaching. Consistently named to the Dean’s List, Bethany is graduating with academic honors. On campus, she has been a member of the women’s basketball and women’s golf teams, as well as the university band and choir. She has been a youth camp volunteer and resident advisor. Bethany’s parents are Harvey and Nikki Holter from McCanna, N.D.
