Three students from Decorah were recognized for academic achievement among Luther College’s spring 2026 graduating class, with each earning Latin honors. Andrew Bradley Chamberlain, Elizabeth Clement and Dylan Joseph Muhlbauer were included in the college’s spring graduate announcement.

Muhlbauer received magna cum laude, the highest Latin-honors distinction reported among the three Decorah graduates. Chamberlain and Clement each graduated cum laude.

Decorah graduates and their fields of study

Chamberlain completed majors in Law and Values and Nordic Studies. Clement earned a degree in Social Work. Muhlbauer completed majors in Accounting and Management.

  • Andrew Bradley Chamberlain: majors in Law and Values and Nordic Studies; cum laude.
  • Elizabeth Clement: degree in Social Work; cum laude.
  • Dylan Joseph Muhlbauer: majors in Accounting and Management; magna cum laude.

The three Decorah graduates were part of a larger group recognized by Luther. The college reported that 110 graduates earned Latin honors across a range of academic programs.

A graduating class with varied backgrounds

Luther’s spring graduate announcement also described the broader makeup of the class. Twenty-two percent of graduates completed double majors, while approximately 20% were first-generation college students. International students represented 17% of the class, and transfer students accounted for 6%.

The announcement included students’ hometowns, majors and academic honors. Along with Decorah, the list included nearby Iowa communities such as Cresco, Spillville, New Albin and Iowa City, as well as communities elsewhere in the United States and other countries.

Recognition followed May commencement

Luther announced the graduate list Aug. 7, following the spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 24. The ceremony marked the graduates’ transition to the next stage of their lives.

Gideon Armah-Amissah received the Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal during commencement. Luther described the annual award as an honor for an outstanding senior selected by the graduating class who best demonstrates the college’s ideals through service to students and the college community.

David Hecht, a 2011 Luther graduate, received the Young Alumni Award and delivered the commencement address. Hecht was identified as a conservation social scientist and environmental anthropologist. The award recognizes outstanding achievement by alumni who graduated within the previous 15 years.

Luther also directed readers to a video featuring highlights from the 2026 commencement and to related coverage of the spring Dean’s List.