LC State awards first master’s degree at May 15 commencement in Lewiston

A first in the 133 history of Lewis-Clark State College will take place Friday when it awards its first master’s degree during the school’s graduation ceremony.

Ann Leung will receive a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership in Healthcare at the school’s May 15 commencement ceremony at the P1FCU Activity Center ― the first graduate degree LC State has ever conferred.

The milestone traces back to 2020, when President Cynthia Pemberton successfully spearheaded a change to Idaho statute allowing the college to offer graduate programs, responding to expressed community needs for niche graduate degrees, particularly in health care.

“This is an incredible moment in history for an incredible institution,” Pemberton said. “LC State has always found innovative ways to meet some of Idaho’s biggest needs, and we’re honored to continue that legacy. Their success is Idaho’s success.”

Founded in 1893, LC State is Idaho’s second-oldest public higher education institution, predating both Idaho State University, which began offering four-year degrees in 1947, and Boise State University, which followed in 1965. The college has offered bachelor’s degrees since 1943.

Including Leung, the school expects to award 966 degrees and certificates to 800 graduates across two ceremonies on Friday. A total of 434 graduates are expected to participate in person.

Idaho State Board of Education member David Turnbull, who represents Region 2, said the occasion carries significance for north Idaho.

“Lewis-Clark State College graduates represent determination, resilience and a commitment to growth,” Turnbull said. “The Idaho State Board of Education congratulates each graduate on this achievement and looks forward with confidence to the continued contributions they will make in the years ahead.”

The ceremonies will also honor retiring emeritus faculty member Mike Owen and present the President’s Medallion to Linda Clark, a longtime Idaho educator and past board of education president, who oversaw the board’s unanimous 2025 vote supporting LC State’s proposed name change to Lewis-Clark State University.

This story was written using artificial intelligence with human oversight.