CENTRAL — On Friday, May 5, 2023, Southern Wesleyan University celebrated its on-campus and online graduates at Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center Auditorium on the main campus.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Robert McFarland, gave the commencement address. He spoke to graduates and their families about commencement as an exercise in beginnings and how to answer the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Dr. McFarland said, “It’s the wrong question. You see, we are defined not by what we do; we define what we do by who we are. The right question for you today is, ‘Who do you want to be?’ When we turn to that question, we see that the other question is a bit easier to answer. Once you understand who you are, and whose you are, you know that the Lord prepares a way for you.”
Both the University Brass Ensemble and University Singers provided music for the ceremony. Reverend Mike Hilson led the invocation, and Reverend Ken Dill led the Litany of Servanthood. Dr. Sandra McLendon, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented the graduates, and Dr. William Barker, University President, conferred the degrees.
School of Education
Doctor of Education: Curriculum and Assessment
Candice Yarbray Brucke
Loriann Hudson
Bradley Dewitt Martin
Leslie Kouvolo Martin
Rebecca Ellen McCall
Bailey O’Brien McCarley
Erica D. Tate
Benson School of Business and Social Sciences
Master of Business Administration
Charles Bennett
Tate Lee Savoie
William Shaw
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
David Matthew Fields
Samantha Dale Mason
Master of Science in Management and Leadership
Joshua Sims Asbill
Christopher Lycett
Haley Elizabeth McLaughlin
Konner Palacios
Josh Richard Quarandillo
Kelsie Smith
Keyanna Janay Williams
School of Education and Music Studies
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Administration and Supervision
Misty Abercrombie
Emily Michelle Gravley
Sabrina Koutsos
Beth Anne Spence
Mallory Margaret Turner
Classroom Leadership
Kelsey Lynn Ramey Brezeale
Cierra Cartee
Erin Donoghue
Ashley Jones
e-Learning and Instructional Design
Julie Renee Greene
Tyler James McEvilly
Benson School of Business and Social Sciences
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Business Administration
Jennifer Diane Alexander Magna Cum Laude
Noah Baker Allen
Natasha L. Blount
Devyn Michael Bond Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Christian Luke Boulton Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Claudia Janneth Cadavid-Zapata Summa Cum Laude, Αχ, ΑΣΛ
Adrenna Cain
hannon M. Cobb Summa Cum Laude, ΑΣΛ
Caleb Alan Dover Magna Cum Laude
Cole Farren
Dawson Winchester Gilstrap Magna Cum Laude
Tracy Michelle Gimmi University Honors
Leah Faith Hopper
Lisa Murphy Ingram
Reed Mitchell Jordan Cum Laude
Garrett Kuczinski Cum Laude
Bailee M. Locke
Khristena McClure
Nicolata J. McKenzie
Ian Robert McLeod Cum Laude
Ryan Scott Moore Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Sherry Mullinax
Andrew Bryson Patterson Cum Laude
Brittney Paxton Cum Laude
Sarah Michelle Prater
Austin Snow
Rebecca Jean Tankersley Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Lauren Ashley West
Anya Yegorov
Blake Haldane Yoder
Criminal Justice
Natalie Brooke Kristiansen
Mikayla G. Littlefield
Brittany Janay Mack
Jaiden Marcengill Cum Laude
Isabelle Starbird
Audrey Elizabeth Wilson
Human Services
Rebekah Anna Arnold Cum Laude
Victoria Lynn Arnold Summa Cum Laude
Jennifer Wilson Bagwell
Yolanda Monique Blassingame
Turner Sue Corbett
Bailey Noel Dzvonik
Savannah Brooke Henricks
Charles A. Houston
Sara Krause Summa Cum Laude
Sarah Elizabeth Leiden Magna Cum Laude
MacKenzie J. McCray Summa Cum Laude
Psychology
Alexis Kaim Cummins Magna Cum Laude
Lyndsey Makayla Hilley Cum Laude
Savannah Angel Huff
Recreation and Sport Management
Amber Renee Bass Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Brooke L. Cash
Yael Echeverria Magna Cum Laude
Aidan Haskell Fincher Evans
Juan Garcia Morales
Cayla B. Hughes
Caroline Elizabeth Reese Magna Cum Laude
Grace Williams Cum Laude
School of Education and Music
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Music
Nathan Reid Blair
Christopher Scott Gilbert Summa Cum Laude
Robert Allen Gilbert Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Gabriel Allen Rollins Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Early Childhood Education
Sydney Leigh Baker Magna Cum Laude
Allison Brooke Holladay Summa Cum Laude, Αχ
Emileigh Reagan Swords
Taliyah Turner
Early Childhood and Family Studies
Ruth Brown
Eva Mechelle Cox
Margaret Kathleen Dyer
Elizabeth Miranda Hobson
Tamra Ann Thompson Ramey
Karen Louise Leddy Weber Summa Cum Laude
Helen V. Welch
Lycia Zavala
Elementary Education
Sydney Leight Baker Magna Cum Laude
Abigail Morgan Dodgens (Early Childhood Education) Summa Cum Laude
Savannah Grace Wade Summa Cum Laude
Physical Education
Giorgi Lamb Magna Cum Laude
Zion Malik Robinson
Special Education
Emily Caroline Herndon Summa Cum Laude,
Allison Brooke Holladay Summa Cum Laude,
Emily Pliauplis Summa Cum Laude
School of Religion and Humanities
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Media Communication
Kyle Mason Clardy Magna Cum Laude
August Farmer Garcia
Isabel Angela Matos Summa Cum LaudeSydney Elizabeth Owens Cum Laude
Julia Charis Reid Summa Cum Laude
James Wagher Cum Laude
Religion
Victoria Lynn Arnold Summa Cum Laude
Victoria Denise Bailey (Media Communication) Cum Laude
Christian Luke Boulton Summa Cum Laude,
Caleb Ryan Bowen (Media Communication) Summa Cum Laude
Alicia L. Brosco (Psychology) Summa Cum Laude
Zechariah James Copeland Cum Laude
Scott Davis
Allyssa Elliott Cum Laude
Carlos Manual Galarza-Garcia
William Hughes
Britton Diane Owens
Haley R. Quarandillo
Lleyton Storey Cum Laude
Barry Alan Van Steenburg III
School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Chemistry
Gabriel Scott Carnagey
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Biology
Betsy Davis Hansen
Bryanna Caroline Pickens Summa Cum Laude
Morgan Renee Price
Carry Meagan Sikes Cum Laude
Emmaline Jo Wolfe Summa Cum Laude
Chemistry
Anna Renee Pilgrim Magna Cum Laude
Computer Information Systems
Diego Cruz
Noa T. Glover
Taylor Rouse Summa Cum Laude
Environmental Studies
Alexandria Faith Newberry Magna Cum Laude, BBB
Exercise Science
Jarena Rajene Byers BBB
Cooper Russell Davidson
Ashley Silindiwe Dube Summa Cum Laude
Gary Philip Greenwood III
Clifton Morris Olmstead, Jr. BBB
Rachel Patricia Page Magna Cum Laude, BBB
Forensic Science
Shavonne Hunt (Pre-Medicine/Dentistry) Magna Cum Laude, BBB
Melanny Paola Ramirez Mora (Chemistry) Magna Cum Laude
Natalie Thomson (Chemistry)
Pre-Medicine/Dentistry
Gabriel Scott Carnagey (Biology)
Emily Ann McNair (Biology) Summa Cum Laude
Sarah Ellen Page Cum Laude
Brayden Andrew Pickens
Daniel Williams
Emmaline Jo Wolfe Summa Cum Laude
General Studies
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
General Studies
Mitchell Maurice Freeman
McKenzie Georgia LaCount
Janice Lynn Moseley
Matthew Ryan Rouch
Bobbie Jill Williams
Melissa Wynn