Class of 2015 receives their degrees
President Todd Voss congratulates Miguel Resendiz of Walhalla as he receives his degree during commencement ceremonies May 8 at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.
Jonathan Stegenga of Pickens takes a selfie with Devri Burdick of Charlotte following commencement ceremonies May 8 at Southern Wesleyan University in Central. Stegenga received a BS in intercultural studies and Burdick received a BS in Special Education.
Graduates of the adult evening and online programs march toward Newton Hobson auditorium during the Saturday commencement at the Central campus.
Southern Wesleyan University awarded 262 graduates with degrees during two commencement ceremonies on its campus in Central.
The commencement speaker was be John H. Dickey, a SWU human resources graduate who has served as an advisor to the CEO of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and as a senior vice president.
Dickey offered two challenges to the 2015 graduating class: To define their gifts, and to establish a “Top 5” list of long-term goals.
“Align your gifts with your work. Seize opportunities that will put you on a pathway that drives learning and growth. I am confident you can become anything you wish to be. You must work hard, you must be very disciplined. You must put others before yourself,” Dickey said. ”Helping others gives you great attitude and great purpose. Studying in a Christ-centered community establishes habits that facilitate personal growth and service to others.”
Dickey urged graduates who will live and work as professionals in a secular culture to “Always bear witness to Christ through your actions.”
During the ceremony, University President Todd Voss presented Dickey with an honorary doctor of humane letters.
Highlights of the ceremony included a presentation to Dr. Keith Connor, professor of physical education and long-time athletic director, naming him Faculty Emeritus. Earlier on Friday, the university held its Baccalaureate, featuring a “ceremony of the servants” in which graduates of the traditional programs received towels – a symbol of Christian service – embroidered with the Southern Wesleyan University seal. Cmdr. Dennis K. Andrews, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy, and a minister in The Wesleyan Church, delivered the baccalaureate sermon. Later in the service, Andrews’ gave a congratulatory hug to his son, Corbin Andrews, who received his history degree at commencement.
Students graduating from the university’s traditional program participated in a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, May 8. Students graduating from the university’s adult evening and online programs from all locations traveled to Central for a Saturday afternoon ceremony May 9. Both graduation ceremonies were held in the auditorium of Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center.
The spring 2015 graduates included:
In South Carolina
Abbeville
Ashley Nicole Bonds, BS in Business Administration.
Aiken
Adriene Deshon Bollig, Master of Business Administration; Christopher T. Bryant, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude; Phyllis Suzette Carbajal-Benitez, BS in Business Management; Howard Davis II, Master of Business Administration; Danielle Lee Elliott, AA in General Studies; Andrea Cummings Jenkins, MED in Administration and Supervision; Gregg Foster Law, Master of Business Administration; Jason Kyle Shealy, BS in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude.
Anderson
Carolyn Amelia Fesperman, MED in Classroom Leadership; Michael Lieberman, BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies.
Barnwell
DeLinda Denise Reed, BS in Human Services, Cum Laude.
Belton
Mark Fullbright, BS in Business Administration, University Honors; Zachary Dodd Wilson, BS in Business Administration.
Bluffton
Jaya Wilkin, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Blythewood
Eric B. Morris, Master of Business Administration.
Boiling Springs
Michelle Call, MED in Administration and Supervision; Tennille Seay, Master of Business Administration; Ali Tomey Strickland, MED in Administration and Supervision; Derek James Wrenn, MED in Classroom Leadership.
Bradley
Pamela Stallard Sullivan, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Central
Stefannie Agudelo, BS in Business Administration; Emily Caroline Bloxdorf, Master of Business Administration; James Matthew Burrell, BS in Physical Education; Shyla Sharae Coleman, BS in Biology; Brittany Lynn Conaway, BS in Special Education; Darren William Gessner, BS in Business Administration; Gregory L. Kelley, Master of Business Administration; Gavin Potter, BA in Religion, Magna Cum Laude; Tanner Fulton Lambert, BA in Music, Cum Laude; Bruno Toma Liozzi, BS in Business Administration; Julio Alejandro Lara Milanes, BS in Business Administration; Joao Paulo de Oliveira e Silva, BS in Computer Information Systems; Valentino Zaglia, BS in Business Administration, Cum Laude.
Charleston
Jason Edward Allen, MED in Administration and Supervision; Marcia LaShawn Fields, MED in Administration and Supervision; Claudia Patricia Newbern, MED in Administration and Supervision; Susan Clinkscales Rawlings, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Chesnee
Kellyn M. Cantrell, BS in Human Services.
Clemson
Larrisa Lanise McDowell, Master of Business Administration; Eric B. Newton, Master of Business Administration; Jessica Beeco Newton, Master of Business Administration Kimberly Nicole Shivar, BS in Biology, Cum Laude; James Lyall Wilson, AA in General Studies.
Columbia
Melody Wise Butler, Master of Science in Management; Kimberly Sims Epstein, Master of Science in Management; Sherry Evangelyn Renea Futch, AA in General Studies; Mryriha Ashley Graham, AA in General Studies; Stacey L. Hunter, AA in General Studies; Cale W. Peake, AA in General Studies; Jonathan Lewis Leysath, Master of Science in Management; Tyra N. Marshall, BS in Business Management; Ebony Janette Mouzon, Master of Business Administration; Courtney Chevelle Williams, BS in Biology, Cum Laude; Naserian Antwelle Windom, Master of Science in Management.
Easley
Zackary D. Adams, BA in Media Communication; T. Scott Banks, Master of Business Administration; Shekela R. Bradley, Master of Business Administration; Colby Alyse Dickard, BS in Intercultural Studies, Cum Laude; Brenda L. Dotson, BS in Human Services; Edward William Hanson, AA in General Studies; Nikole Thrasher Hanson, Master of Business Administration; Joshua Lee Kernells, BS in Human Services; Jennifer Lauren Kuder, BS in Biology; Melody Rose Loder, BS in Social Science; Jacqueline McDaniels Martin, BS in Special Education, University Honors; Nathaniel Nauss, Master of Business Administration Jeremy D. Price, BS in Human Services; John Scott Shead, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude; Heather Mullinax Stelling, MED in Classroom Leadership; James Arthur Trotter, BS in Applied Computer Science.
Effingham
Kim Moore, BA in Media Communication, Summa Cum Laude.
Elgin
Montell L. Backmon, BS in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; Katrina R. McCaskill, BS in Business Management.
Fair Play
Kaitlyn Francine Aldrich, BS in Biology, Cum Laude; Sarah Rose De Vita, BS in Elementary Education, Cum Laude.
Fountain Inn
Monica Bardsdale Jenkins, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude.
Gadsden
Janie G. Young, BS in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude.
Gaffney
Kim Baur-Guthrie, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Gaston
Nedra Mack Tillmon, Master of Business Administration.
Goose Creek
Gerri S. Drain, AA in General Studies, Goose Creek; Michael Schwendinger, AA in General Studies; Torie Wilson, BS in Business Management.
Graniteville
Elizabeth Caddell McClearen, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Greeleyville
Safiyah Al-Nisa Anderson, BS in Biology.
Greenville
John Ballenger II, MED in Administration and Supervision; Hilda B. Barton, BS in Human Services, Magna Cum Laude; Cheryl D. Baxley, BS in Human Services; Amber Kiara Coleman, BS in Biology; Jessica Louise Earley, MED in Classroom Leadership; Lillian Alicea Torres-Garcia, BS in Human Services; Ben Innerst, BS in Business Administration; Dondrea C. Rhea, AA in General Studies; Anthony Michael Rossi, BS in Business Management; Betty Jo Roskos - Russell, MED in Classroom Leadership; Christopher B. Taber, MED in Classroom Leadership.
Greenwood
Melissa G. Latham, MED in Administration and Supervision; Kevin G. Sponenberg, BS in Business Management, University Honors.
Greer
Dwayne Arthur Besser, BS in Business Managemen, Magna Cum Laude; Jill Reneé Waldrop, MED in Classroom Leadership.
Hanahan
Cassandra B. Paden, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude.
Hartsville
Jordan Frances Olson, BS in Early Childhood Education, Magna Cum Laude.
Hopkins
Shayla Letrel Gilliam, BS in Human Services.
Inman
Joshua L. Kingsmore, BS in Business Administration;; Jagadeesh Gajula, Master of Science in Management; Niki Michael Mullis, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Iva
Randall Glenn Hedrick, BS in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude.
Johnston
Jessica Jackson Williams, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Ladson
Stacey Sharmann Hymes – Mack, BS in Business Management; Tiffani Evett Venning, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude.
Laurens
Christin Curry Coates, MED in Administration and Supervision; Charaka C. Cook, Master of Business Administration.
Lexington
David Anthony Hurt, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude; Cari A. Moyer, AA in General Studies; Jerry O'Reilly, BS in Business Administration; Thomas Adam Summerford, Master of Business Administration; Misty Hawkins Tennent, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude; Charles Michael Wallace, Jr., BS in Business Management; Victoria Lee Wanner, BA in English Education, Cum Laude; DeEtte Wright, AA in General Studies.
Liberty
Brian Derrick Craft, Master of Business Administration; Melissa Halbert, AA in General Studies; Kimberly Michelle Hawkins, BS in Elementary Education, Cum Laude; Rosemary Mackey, BS in Mathematics Education, Cum Laude; Rebecca Lauren Ramey, BS in Mathematics Education, Magna Cum Laude;.
Lugoff
Suzan Marshall Carmichael, BS in Business Administration, Cum Laude.
McCormick
Maegan Dacus Brown, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Moncks Corner
Kevin C. Lakin, MED in Administration and Supervision; Latasgia Denise Middleton, MED in Administration and Supervision; D'Andrea Dianne Mitchell, Master of Science in Management.
Montmorenci
Erica Nicole Gordon, Master of Business Administration.
Moore
Wade Ellis Metcalf, BS in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude.
Mount Pleasant
Mark Jon Hladek, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Newberry
Tamiko S. Lewis, BS in Business Management.
Newry
Kayla Nichole Jorgensen, BS in Human Services, Summa Cum Laude.
North Augusta
Russell Fernandes, Master of Business Administration; Elaine Michele Key, Master of Business Administration; Tonyese Thomas, Master of Business Administration.
North Charleston
Nadia Josephine Hernandez, AA in General Studies; GeorJanna Jay, MED in Administration and Supervision; Steffanie M. Miller, MED in Administration and Supervision; Sheena Myochia McKnight-Simmons, BS in Business Management; Kenneth Stanley Timari, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Pelzer
Kaitlin Georgette Messick, BS in Psychology.
Pendleton
Brandon James Loftus, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Pickens
Caitlin Marie Cummings, BS in Early Childhood Education; Jesse D. Eller, BA in Chemistry; John Tanner Gibson, BA in Media Communication; Caroline Grace Hudson, BS in Elementary Education, Summa Cum Laude; Cassaundra Faith James, BS in Special Education, Magna Cum Laude; Zachery Wayne Loftis, BS in Applied Computer Science; Jennifer Leslie Mulkey, BS in Mathematics Education, Magna Cum Laude; Breanna Jordan Owens, BS in Psychology; Laura Elizabeth Porter, AA in General Studies (presented posthumously); Teresa Hayes Sales, AA in General Studies; Jonathan Mark Stegenga, BS in Intercultural Studies; Matthew Allen Trotter, BA in Religion; Michael Fred Welborn, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude.
Piedmont
Matthew Eric Buss, BS in Business Administration; Valerie Ann Griffiths, BS in Social Science Shelby E. Straight, BS in Human Services; Tonyor Brooks Taylor, BS in Business Management.
Prosperity
Shanika Necole Goggans, Master of Business Administration.
Ridge Spring
Kimberly R. Livingston, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Rock Hill
Christopher Jarrett Garrison, Master of Business Administration.
Roebuck
Melissa L. Allen, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Salem
Tracy Lynn Teuton, AS in Business.
Scranton
Michael Sha'Rod Hyman, BS in Criminal Justice.
Seneca
Heather Elizabeth Arrant, BS in Human Services; Hughton Bailey, Master of Business Administration; Alexander Cole Campbell, BS in Applied Computer Science; Timothy Alexander Dietrich, BS in Applied Computer Science; David Matthew Fields, Master of Business Administration; Samantha Nicole Galbreath, BS in Special Education; Jeffrey Frank Hodges, BS in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; Stephen Lee Spearman Jr., AA in General Studies; Lisa E. White, AA in General Studies; Lauren Yuda, BS in Business Administration.
Simpsonville
Robert Baker, BS in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude; David Mark Bellanco, BS in Business Management; Sheila G. Campbell, BS in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; Alysia Tamela Cruell, BS in Business Administration; Tiffany Lanier, MED in Administration and Supervision; Jonathan Andrew LeVeille, BS in Social Science; Belita V. Mack, BS in Business Management; Magy Refaat Mekhael, Master of Business Administration; James Scott Odom III, BS in Human Services; LaTronica Wharton-Harris, BS in Business Management; Tammie Latreis Williams, BS in Business Management, University Honors.
Spartanburg
Donna B. Farmer, MED in Administration and Supervision; Robert Benjamin Johnson, AA in General Studies; Amanda Kathleen Justice, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Starr
Michael C. Anderson, BS in Human Services.
Summerville
Sharon Moree-Bennett, BS in Business Management; LaShawnda M. Brown, BS in Business Management; Courtney R. Coker, BS in Business Management; Pamela Denise Rich-Talley; MED in Administration and Supervision.
Sumter
Leah Alexandra Johnson, BS in Biology, Magna Cum Laude.
Swansea
Algeron Wright, AA in General Studies.
Taylors
Angelo Kendrick, BS in Human Services; Turner Lee Plumley, BS in Mathematics Education, Summa Cum Laude; Christin Elizabeth Rogers, MED in Administration and Supervision, Joy Michelle Rogers, MED in Classroom Leadership.
Travelers Rest
Andrew Charles Hilgeman, BS in Criminal Justice; Brian L. Noblitt, BS in Business Administration; Mary Cathy Lynn Strong, BS in Biology.
Wagener
Cristine Breerwood Raines, MED in Administration and Supervision.
Walhalla
Miguel Angel Resendiz, BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies, Magna Cum Laude.
Walterboro
Michelle Colson, AA in General Studies.
Warrenville
Courtney Rachelle Hannah, Master of Business Administration.
West Columbia
Maria Bull, BS in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; Robin Hall Richardson, BS in Business Management; Cedric D. Williams, Master of Science in Management.
Westminster
Corey Austin Johns-Paradise, BS in Intercultural Studies; Josie Lea Tippett, BS in Elementary Education; Patricia Baker Watts, AA in General Studies; Zachary Ty Wilson, BS in Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude.
Whitmire
Chelsi Esther Evangeline Stevenson, BS in Pre Medicine/Dentistry, Summa Cum Laude.
Williston
George C. Barrett IV, AS in Business; Thelma Jean Murray, AA in General Studies.
In North Carolina
Arden
Tomas Suska, BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies.
Asheboro
Rebecca Leigh Furr, BS in Specialized Major: Management of Leisure.
Charlotte
Devri Hope Burdick, BS in Special Education, Summa Cum Laude; Stephanie Yvette Martin, AA in General Studies.
Davidson
Victoria Lynn Hunter, BA in English.
Fayetteville
Emily Chandler McClendon, BA in Religion.
Harrisburg
Hannah Ellen Covington, BA in Religion, Summa Cum Laude.
High Point
Sydney Blake Fletcher, BS in Exercise Science, Summa Cum Laude.
Indian Trail
Timothy Dean Enoch, BS in Business Administration, University Honors.
Jacksonville
Jahkara Na'Ondra Mecole Washington, BS in Biology.
Kernersville
Kaitlyn Michelle Dunagan, BS in Biology, Cum Laude; Madalyn Riley Mills, BA in Religion.
Kings Mountain
Sarah Marie Gray, BA in Music Education, Summa Cum Laude.
Lexington
Mary Elizabeth Snider, BS in Psychology.
Moyock
Jessica Nicole Kerns, BS in Business Administration.
In Georgia
Augusta
Kelsey Taron Henderson, AA in General Studies; Remelda Denita Hughes, BS in Management.
Evans
Lauren Holt Gibson, MED in Classroom Leadership; Leslie Yvonne Hatch, Master of Business Administration; Pamela Jenell Holmes-Yancy, Master of Business Administration.
Grovetown
Nicholas Kevin Seigler, BS in Business Administration; Ashley C. Dent, Master of Business Administration.
Hephzibah
Sheila Marie Thomas, BS in Business Management.
Marietta
Keith V. Belfanti, BS in Business Management, Cum Laude.
Stapleton
Lisa Yawn Williams, AA in General Studies.
In Colorado
Trinidad
Jacinta Kim Hoffpauir, BS in Exercise Science, Summa Cum Laude
In Florida
Atlantic Beach
Christiana Michelle Perkins, BS in Exercise Science.
Cantonment
Cherilyn Christine Ramsey, BS in Biology, Magna Cum Laude.
Jacksonville
Corbin Andrews, BA in History.
Orlando
Zachary Edward Moore, BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies.
Tallahassee
Anthony R. Long, Master of Business Administration.
In Indiana
Fishers
Katherine Leigh Bray, BA in Music Education, Magna Cum Laude.
Sheridan
Emily Julianne Martin, BS in Human Services.
In Michigan
Temperance
Mark Daniel Cromer, BS in Biology, Summa Cum Laude.
In Nevada
Las Vegas
Emily Elizabeth Rash, BA in Media Communication, Summa Cum Laude.
In New York
Corning
Grace Ann Bixby, BS in Social Science.
Rochester
Briana L. Seda, BS in Criminal Justice.
In Tennessee
Lenoir City
Taylor Jordan Massey, Master of Business Administration.
Maynardville
Micah James Sparrow, BA in Religion, Cum Laude.
In Texas
Montgomery
Luis C. Ramirez, Master of Business Administration.
San Antonio
Dana Sanders McConnell, Master of Business Administration.
With regional education centers conveniently located across South Carolina, as well as fully online programs for select degrees, Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For more information, go to www.swu.edu.