Font Size: A A A

One hundred twenty-nine Bluefield College seniors accepted diplomas, May 15, during the school’s 87th Annual Spring Commencement, which also featured remarks from Virginia Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson and the presentation of three distinguished awards.

Chris Shoemaker

June 7, 2010

One hundred twenty-nine Bluefield College seniors accepted diplomas, May 15, during the school’s 87th Annual Spring Commencement, which also featured remarks from Virginia Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson and the presentation of three distinguished awards.

	Professor Donna Watson (center) receives BC's Wampler Caudill Distinguished Faculty Award.
	Graduating senior George Glazner (right) of Chesapeake, Virginia, receives BC's Wampler Caudill Oustanding Student Award.
	Dr. Dan Grabeel (center) of Lynchburg, Virginia, receives an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree.
	Virginia Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson offers BC's Commencement address.
	Seniors Omar Reed (left) of Tazewell, Virginia, and Philip Frazier of Yorktown, Virginia, celebrate earning their diplomas.

Honored as BC’s exceptional professor for the 2009-2010 academic year, Dr. Donna Watson, chair of the Division of Education, received the school’s Wampler Caudill Distinguished Faculty Award for her “Christian character” and “classroom excellence.” Nominated by her colleagues for the award, Dr. Watson served as faculty president in 2009-2010 and spearheaded an accreditation process for the Teacher Education Program with the nationally recognized Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

“She is passionate about her students and the college,” said BC President David Olive, “and committed to educating the future teachers of this region.”

In like fashion, graduating senior George T. Glazner of Chesapeake, Virginia, received the school’s Wampler Caudill Outstanding Student Award, recognizing the most outstanding student from the inSpire Degree Completion Program. In addition to his classroom excellence, Glazner was acknowledged for his church leadership and his commitment to the values of truth and equality.

“He inspired his classmates,” said Dr. Robert Shippey, vice president for academic affairs, about Glazner, who is the acting deputy fire chief for the City of Norfolk, Virginia. “He motivated them to complete the program and to finish what they started.”

During the Commencement ceremony, the college also recognized Dr. Daniel E. Grabeel with an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree. Dr. Grabeel, a longtime dentist in Lynchburg, Virginia, attended Bluefield College for two years from 1953 to 1955, but never formally received a degree from the school.

However, since his classroom days at BC, Dr. Grabeel has served 28 years as a member of the school’s Board of Trustees, including six consecutive years as chairman of the Board. His service to the school also includes a tenure as president of the Alumni Association and chairman of the Lynchburg portion of BC’s 75th Anniversary Campaign.

A graduate of the University of Richmond and the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Grabeel is a member of Bluefield College’s Sports Hall of Fame, serves on a variety of state and national dental societies, and is a deacon, choir member and Sunday School teacher for his church.

“Dr. Grabeel has contributed much to Bluefield College, his profession, and society,” Dr. Olive said, “and is well deserving of this Honorary Doctorate Degree.”

As part of the 87th Annual Spring Commencement program, Secretary Robinson spoke about the value of Christian education and the importance of the graduating seniors fulfilling a Christian mission, regardless of their career path. Speaking at his first college commencement since becoming Virginia’s Secretary of Education, Robinson, who has led numerous initiatives for urban school reform, told the BC graduates that they not only have a degree, but also a decree.

“As you leave this campus today, you take with you not only a degree from Bluefield College, but a decree,” said Robinson, “to go out into the world and do great things. Make sure you take your Christ-centered education with you in whatever career you pursue.”

Graduating senior Kara Woodward of Bluefield, West Virginia, shared similar remarks as the student Commencement speaker. She, a history and social studies teacher licensure major, shared memories of athletic championships, fine arts performances, academic awards, and other student accomplishments from her BC days. She also spoke of the way in which professors prepared the students for life after college.

“Our time here as students has shaped us not only academically, but also spiritually,” said Woodward, a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society and BC’s select voice ensemble, Variations. “Graduates, as you leave here today, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the Lord God is with you always.”

Others, including BC Board Chair Julie Johnson and Alumni Association President Dan Agee, addressed the seniors. Professors Bryant Moxley and Lisa Moxley and student Jamar Bennett provided special music for the program. Ann Looney shared a scripture reading, and Dr. Olive, Dr. Shippey, Dr. Watson, and Registrar Cathy Matherly conferred the 129 degrees.

Candidates for graduation for spring 2010 included:

Jesse Adams of Annandale, VA
Carl Akers of Max Meadows, VA
Shelley Allmond of Fredericksburg, VA
Betty Ausby of Roanoke Rapids, NC
David Ausby of Roanoke Rapids, NC
Donald Bales of Marion, VA
Ricardo Bennett of Martinsville, VA
Brittany Berry of Fredericksburg, VA
Daniel Blount of Wytheville, VA
Randy Bonds of Christiansburg, VA
Denise Briggs of Richmond, VA
Janie Brock of Glen Allen, VA
Shelley Carrico of Independence, VA
Megan Carter of Princeton, WV
James Childress of Vinton, VA
Margaret Childress of Richmond, VA
Dominick Chisman of Yorktown, VA
Jeana Church of Ovapa, WV
Montese Clarke of Richmond, VA
Megan Clarkson of Princeton, WV
Katherine Cole of Christiansburg, VA
Leslie Cook of Mullens, WV
Christopher Cornwell of Sedley, VA
Nathan Cronk of Floyd, VA
Tracy Crutcher of Virginia Beach, VA
Paul Cunniff of Chesterfield, VA
Frank Darnold of Richmond, VA
Amanda Davis of Tazewell, VA
Luke Davis of Mobjack, VA
Seth Dodoo of Montpelier, VA
Edward Doyle of Virginia Beach, VA
Rebekah Dunham of Humble, TX
Jimmie Edwards of Hurley, VA
Karen Emanuelson of Roanoke, VA
Lucia Fedkenheuer of Colonial Heights, VA
Pamela Fox of Rocky Mount, VA
Phillip Frazier of Yorktown, VA
Dana Frech of Rhoadesville, VA
Jerry Frech of Rhoadesville, VA
George Glazner of Chesapeake, VA
Marlon Grant of Petersburg, VA
LaWanda Gray of Virginia Beach, VA
Rosalind Grevious of Richmond, VA
Zachary Hall of Bluefield, VA
Autumn Hawks of Galax, VA
Kayla Hayes of Narrows, VA
Charles Heldreth of Daleville, VA
Sherry Hilder of Lynchburg, VA
Mark Hobbs of Goode, VA
Jennifer Holbrook of Bluefield, VA
Vernal Holbrook of Roanoke, VA
Sara Horton of Lerona, WV
Holly Hudson of Mt. Juliet, TN
Sarah Hummel of Virginia Beach, VA
Ezechukwu Ibekwe of Richmond, VA
Alexandria Jones of Camden, NJ
Gwendolyn Jones of Spotsylvania, VA
Lawrence Kalb of Hampton, VA
Gregory Kane of Dover, DE
Hilda Kinzer of Beckley, WV
Kathryn Leonard of Kingsport, TN
Robert Leslie of Burkeville, VA
Illene Lipscom of Chesterfield, VA
Aderonke Makinwa of Richmond, VA
Jacqueline Manley of Richmond, VA
Mark McCoy of Virginia Beach, VA
Don McLain of Raphine, VA
Maria McMillan of South Hill, VA
Christopher Mercer of Rockledge, FL
Carol Met of Hiwassee, VA
LaTanga Miles of Richmond, VA
William Mitchell of Salem, VA
Paige Morrison of Mt. Gilead, OH
Kathy Mosby of Richmond, VA
Christopher Moye of Pearisburg, VA
Shane Nelson of Orange, VA
Theresa Norris of Goochland, VA
Robert Oliver of Virginia Beach, VA
Tommy Owens of Midlothian, VA
Nicole Oxendine of Richmond, VA
Lindsey Palmer of Roanoke, VA
Jo Parker of Fincastle, VA
Penny Pauley of Midlothian, VA
Evan Pelot of Cartersville, VA
Scott Polhamus of Roanoke, VA
Patricia Preston of Rustburg, VA
Omar Reed of North Tazewell, VA
Joshua Reid of Bluefield, VA
Kinji Ridley of Chesapeake, VA
William Robbins of Port Haywood, VA
Tabatha Robins of North Tazewell, VA
Lyn Robinson of Morris Stafford, VA
Julie Rogers of Princeton, WV
Paul Rouse of Martinsburg, WV
Christian Ruark of Parsonsburg, MD
Deidre Russell of Richmond, VA
Daniel Schroeder of Blacksburg, VA
Joshua Sharitz of Wytheville, VA
Lindsay Shaw of Richmond, VA
Katherine Shott of Bluefield, VA
Sarah Simms of Richmond, VA
Anthony Singleton of Powhatan, VA
Sean Slayton of Hillsville, VA
Alison Smith of Manahawkin, NJ
Darlena Smith of Salem, VA
Kelli Sparks of Bandy, VA
Valerie Stanton of Richlands, VA
Stella Stith of Richmond, VA
Michael Szalach of Manassas, VA
Jason Tackett of Powhatan, VA
Michael Taylor of Lynchburg, VA
Gwendolyn Thomas of Goochland, VA
Paola Thurlow of Midlothian, VA
Brandon Tole of Farmville, VA
John Trammell of Blackstone, VA
Stacey Turner of Bluefield, WV
Shannon Viney of Rocky Mount, VA
Jessica Welch of King George, VA
Jennifer Wendell of Chesapeake, VA
Brittney Whaley of Charleston, SC
Courtney Willard of Archdale, NC
Brittany Williams of Crockett, VA
Leanda Williams of Richmond, VA
Tamera Wilson of Church Road, VA
Jeffrey Wise of Virginia Beach, VA
Kara Woodward of Bluefield, WV
Brian Wright of Hardy, VA
Robert Young of Chesapeake, VA
Domenic Zaccaria of Mount Sidney, VA.

Comments: