Attending My Final Graduation Commencement

I have been in college longer than I had imagined, and last weekend marked the conclusion of a long journey of taking college classes using my Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

I attended Western Governors University (WGU) starting on October 1, 2021, through its online course of study program. After completing four terms, I withdrew from the university in 2024 to run for public office. Then, on February 1, 2025, I was readmitted to the university to complete my Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education.

After completing my degree on January 20, 2026, with a total of 49 credits, I finally attended my WGU alumni celebration and graduation commencement ceremony at Target Field and Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 21–22, 2026.

This summer, I also completed the mandatory three-credit South Dakota Indian Studies course at Black Hills State University. Now, all I need to do is prepare for the required Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam to become certified as an elementary teacher for the State of South Dakota.

Check out my video highlighting my graduation weekend.

https://youtu.be/B5SX3fBWoTg