Bluefield, VA – One hundred nine Bluefield University graduates accepted diplomas during the institution’s Winter Centennial Commencement and first commencement ceremony as a university, Saturday, December 11.
Formally Bluefield College, the institution transitioned to Bluefield University in August 2021 as the 100th academic year began.
“There is a lot going on for you today,” Rev. Craig Stout, BU’s secretary of the Board of Trustees, addressed to graduates. “You are currently participating in the first ever commencement of the new Bluefield University. You are the first and you will be able to carry that with you for the rest of your lives.”
The commencement ceremony opened with an invocation from Dr. Henry Clary, BU assistant professor of Christian Studies, followed with scripture reading by Dr. Shellie Brown, faculty president and associate professor of education. President David Olive and Rev. Craig Stout offered greetings to graduates and guests.
Graduates Brooke Osborn and Sherelle Walker Morgan, from the Caudill School of Business, gave student addresses.
Brooke Elaine Osborne is a local of Tazewell County, residing in Tazewell, VA. Brooke began her studies at Bluefield University in the Fall of 2018. She graduated as a business administration major with a concentration in management. She has served in various student leadership roles, including the Student Ambassador program during her time on campus. Osborne plans to continue serving her alma mater as an Enrollment Support Specialist while pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration.
Sherelle Walker Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia and graduated from BU from the Master of Business Administration in Leadership program. Her professional background consists of 19 years of Human Resources leadership experience in Recruiting, Career Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Talent Acquisition. She also holds certifications in 360 Degree Feedback Coaching and Diversity Awareness Training. She joined the Bluefield University family in 2015 and currently serves in two capacities: Director of Online Admissions and Coordinator for Belonging (appointed last spring). Additionally, Morgan chairs the newly established Diversity & Multicultural Committee. She also served as advisor to the Black Student Alliance from 2015-2018.
Morgan is originally from Martinsville, VA. She currently resides in Bluefield, WV with her husband, Richard Morgan, Head Men’s Basketball Coach of the BU Rams. Sherelle and Richard have two sons, Nicholas (22) and Kaleb (17).
“I accepted the invitation to address you today because it’s out of my comfort zone,” Sherelle Morgan addressed to the audience. “Last spring, I delivered a message for our weekly chapel on this very stage about comfort zones. In that message, I talked about how comfort zones are where we feel safe. They’re the people, places, things, and habits we’re accustomed to. I spoke about how we have the tendency to sometimes cling to what is familiar and to avoid the unknown. The main takeaway of that message was growth, excellence, and achievement does not come from within our comfort zones. It comes from taking risks. It comes from experiencing failure. When God asks us to operate outside the scope of our natural gifts, He’s giving us the opportunity to see what happens when He empowers us for His glory.”
Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, President and Provost of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, delivered the Commencement address.
President Olive conferred the 109 degrees. Candidates for graduation for the Winter Centennial Commencement included;
Candidates for Master of Arts in Education:
Hannah Mayo Edwards, Falls Mills, Virginia
Craig Riffe, Lindside, West Virginia
Candidates for Master of Business Administration:
Charity Addington, Weber City, Virginia
Andrew Bailey, Bluefield, West Virginia
Steven Chafin, Pearisburg, Virginia
Christopher Clifton, Rowe, Virginia
Travon Copes, New Church, Virginia
Marlena Kimbleton, Radford, Virginia
Sherelle Walker Morgan, Bluefield, West Virginia
Devan Reeves, Galax, Virginia
Wesley Strock, Bland, Virginia
David Walker, Tazewell, Virginia
Kristen Whelchel, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Candidates for Master of Science in Nursing:
Kristen Cales, Talcott, West Virginia
Melissa Coleman, Bland, Virginia
Melissa Davis, Kopperston, West Virginia
Bryan Fichtner, Reidsville, North Carolina
Christina Johnson Rice, Pearisburg, Virginia
Audra Rogers, Beckley, West Virginia
Tequila Rogers, Beckley, West Virginia
Stacie Scurlock Scott, Beckley, West Virginia
Angela Stroupe, Princeton, West Virginia
Conley White, Beaver, West Virginia
Shauna White, Princeton, West Virginia
Candidates for Bachelor of Arts:
Grecia Almandoz, West Columbia, South Carolina
James Dick, Abington, Virginia
Emma Hyatt, Randleman, North Carolina
Candidates for Bachelor of Science:
Karley Akers, Wytheville, Virginia
Zachary Alford, Marion, Virginia
Dustin Barker, Pound, Virginia
Zaire Brandon, Halifax, Virginia
Lauren Brewster, Bluefield, West Virginia
Lillian Burke, Dublin, Virginia
Jonathon Burton, Bluefield, Virginia
Andrew Carter, Bluefield, Virginia
Michael Christian, Roanoke, Virginia
Halle Cook, Bluefield, Virginia
Samantha Crooks, Montpelier, Virginia
Angelashley Diaz, Rochester, New York
James Dodson, Ridgeway, Virginia
Rose Ejiba, Chantilly, Virginia
Casey Elliott, Giles, Virginia
Michael Ferreira, Abingdon, Virginia
Shade Fraierson, Richmond, Virginia
Rachel Fridley, New Castle, Virginia
Shelrita Hendrix Goode, Hampton, Virginia
Deborah Green, Henrico, Virginia
Ben Hanson, Fincastle, Virginia
Malissa Hartwell, Roanoke, Virginia
Amy Havens, Boones Mill, Virginia
Rebecca Isom, Hiwassee, Virginia
Michaela Jackson, Carroll, Virginia
Jermiah Jenkins, Norfolk, Virginia
Rachel Jenkins, Culpeper, Virginia
Katelyn Robinson Keeling, Marion, Virginia
Samuel Kirtley, Moneta, Virginia
Charlotte Lane, Blacksburg, Virginia
Scarlet Lester, Bluefield, Virginia
Creeden Lumpp, Boones Mill, Virginia
Timothy Martin, Wytheville, Virginia
Candice McDaniel, Norfolk, Virginia
Sarah McKnight, Boston, Virginia
Annalisa Merkle, Bradenton, Florida
Hunter Miller, Manassas, Virginia
William Miller, Bluefield, Virginia
Lenyn Napoleon, Oregon City, Oregon
Stacey Nicholson, Culpeper, Virginia
Brooke Osbourne, North Tazewell, Virginia
Jacob Owens, Whitewood, Virginia
Ariana Parham, Dinwiddie, Virginia
KeDarrius Phinazee, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Leah Plott, Bluefield, Virginia
Leslie Poe, Ivanhoe, Virginia
Noah Reynolds, Rock Hill, South Carolina
Skye’ Royal, Amelia, Virginia
Tessa Saiia, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Farah Schweers, Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany
Sharon Slayton, Roanoke, Virginia
Ryan Smith, Jr., Woodbridge, Virginia
Krystal Sparks, Elk Creek, Virginia
Antonio Stickland, Jr., Jefferson, Georgia
Christopher Sumrall, New Augusta, Mississippi
Sandra Kiser Tatum, Richlands, Virginia
Mya Waller, Ashland, Virginia
Sara Warren, Pikeville, Kentucky
Charnice White, Manassas, Virginia
Brooke Williams, Pocahontas, Virginia
Lavonne Williams, Tazewell, Virginia
William Darryell Williams, Tazewell, Virginia
Brandi Willis, Richlands, Virginia
Candidates for Bachelor of Science in Nursing:
Johnny Blackburn, Jr., Grundy, Virginia
Ashley Christian, Coeburn, Virginia
Danielle Clevinger, Abingdon, Virginia
Emily Harper, Martinsville, Virginia
Jason Hash, Marion, Virginia
Connie Hensley, Abingdon, Virginia
Corey Honaker, Tazewell, Virginia
Kelly Stacy, North Tazewell, Virginia
Lonnie Thomas, Jr., Vansant, Virginia
Candidates for Associate of Science:
Kassidy Bingel, Gainesville, Virginia
Mariah Carr, Palmyra, Virginia
Kourtney Dalton, Bumpass, Virginia
William Hurt, Willis, Virginia
Hannah Nather, Hutchinson, Kansas
Tracy Shelton, Bland, Virginia
Brandy Steele, Christiansburg, Virginia
Kimberly Williams, Montcalm, West Virginia
Jordyn Wilson, Honolulu, Hawaii
Commencement ceremony pictures can be viewed and downloaded from the Bluefield University media gallery.
The recorded Commencement livestream can be viewed on the Bluefield University YouTube channel.
For more information, contact Rebecca Kasey, director of public relations at [email protected]
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