Three students from Decorah were recognized for academic achievement among Luther College’s spring 2026 graduates, with one earning the college’s highest Latin-honors distinction reported for the group. Andrew Bradley Chamberlain and Elizabeth Clement graduated cum laude, while Dylan Joseph Muhlbauer graduated magna cum laude.

Luther included the three Decorah graduates in its announcement of the spring 2026 graduating class. The announcement listed each graduate’s hometown, field of study and academic honors after the college’s May commencement.

Decorah graduates and their fields of study

  • 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.

Latin honors recognize academic achievement among graduating college students. Muhlbauer’s magna cum laude recognition placed him above Chamberlain and Clement in the honors categories reported for the three Decorah graduates.

Honors across Luther’s spring class

The three Decorah students were part of a larger group of 110 graduates who earned Latin honors. Luther reported that the honorees represented a range of academic programs and backgrounds.

Within the broader group, 22% of graduates completed double majors, approximately 20% were first-generation college students, 17% were international students and 6% were transfer students. The announcement included graduates from Decorah and nearby Iowa communities such as Cresco, Spillville, New Albin and Iowa City, as well as students from communities elsewhere in the United States and other countries.

Recognition followed May commencement

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

During commencement, Gideon Armah-Amissah received the Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal. Luther described the annual honor as recognizing 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 related coverage of the spring Dean’s List.