Bluefield, VA – One hundred and one students accepted diplomas, Saturday, May 14, 2022, during Bluefield University’s Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences Commencement. Bluefield University President, Dr. David W. Olive, welcomed family and friends to the celebratory event which featured two speeches from distinguished graduates and a keynote address from Dr. Emily Lambert, Bluefield University professor of biology.
The Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences’ faculty selected two students to represent the graduates, Ms. Widad Salah and Mr. Grant Hagglund.
Widad studied at George Mason University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2016. Widad worked as a medical assistant in an OB/GYN clinic for two years prior to attending the MABS program. She will matriculate as a first-year osteopathic medical student at VCOM-Virginia.
“The phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” is often used to acknowledge the work of others who attributed to your own success,” said Widad. “In this program, each student was a giant, and we took turns standing on one another’s shoulders.”
Hagglund earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors from The Ohio State University in 2019. Prior to joining the MABS program, he worked as a urology medical assistant both in private practice and in the hospital. He will matriculate as a first-year osteopathic medical student at VCOM-Carolinas in Spartanburg, S.C.
“As you move on from this program, don’t forget the 3 R’s: relevance, rigor, and relationships,” shared Hagglund. “I know the success you found here will carry you forward, and I wish you the best wherever your path guides you.”
Dr. Emily Lambert, the keynote speaker and Bluefield University’s professor of biology, encouraged the graduates in her address.
“Graduates, remember this: little is all you need with a multiplying God,” shared Dr. Lambert. “I might just be a simple country girl, but like my mother and father, like the twelve disciples, like Moses, like David, I responded to a call with the gifts I was given. My call did not pull me out of rural Appalachia but drew me in. By allowing my talents to be multiplied, I am able to meaningfully touch students every day.”
Four graduates have been offered commissions and military scholarships for medical school. One student accepted at the VCOM-Carolinas campus was chosen to receive a $180,000 scholarship offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield toward her medical school tuition. The scholarship requires a commitment to serve 4-years post-residency as a primary care physician in a medically underserved area of South Carolina.
The 2022 MABS Commencement also included special music by alumna Alandra Blume; scripture reading by Dr. Meghan Wilson, assistant professor of biology; the singing of hymns and alma mater, led by David Pedde, director for the Center for Worship Arts; formal induction for the class of 2022 into the BU Alumni Association, led by Joshua Cline, vice president for institutional advancement and marketing; and the conferring of degrees, led by President Olive, Dr. Marshall Flowers, provost, and Dr. Brian Hill, Director of the Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences.
Candidates for Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences
Darian Ahmad, Reston, Virginia
Ahmad Najem Alakashi, Jacksonville, Florida
Priyanka Arunkumar, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Sana Baig, Thonotosassa, Florida
Sarah Joy Balance, Manteo, North Carolina
Elina M. Baltins, Gambrills, Maryland
Abina Baral, Christiansburg, Virginia
Jacob D. Barnett, Salem, Virginia
Michael Benavidez, Linden, New Jersey
Kushal Bera, Fulshear, Texas
Caitlyn Nicole Bernard, Woodbridge, Virginia
Audrey Bourdages, Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Da’Shira Andrenic Brown, Opelousas, Louisiana
Mannat Chawla, Ashburn, Virginia
Dohyun Choi, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Chinaemerem Jeffrey Chukwudoro, Houston, Texas
Wesley Cox, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Paige Daly, Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Katie Thanh Dang, New Orleans, Louisiana
Peter T. Demos Jr., West Springfield, Massachusetts
Laura Dinh, Haines City, Florida
Schenatsar Dorvilier, Levittown, Pennsylvania
Kanika Aisha Dunn, Brandon, Florida
Phillip Aaron Dunn, Londonderry, New Hampshire
Youmna Khaled Elkamhawy, Cary, North Carolina
Dessiry Valencia Eugenio, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Oumy Rokhaya Faye, Blacksburg, Virginia
Brianna Noelle Fernandez, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Yameke A. Fletcher, Miramar, Florida
Diego Flores Salazar, Woodbridge, Virginia
Priyanka Gandhi, Nottingham, Maryland
Jessica Dolores Grisez, Jefferson, Maryland
Susanna Emily Grow, Lexington, Virginia
Grant Harris Hagglund, Westerville, Ohio
Benjamin Harron, Roanoke, Virginia
Sabryna LaVerne Haynes, Orangeburg, South Carolina
Monika Moheb Henin, Yorktown, Virginia
Katherine Ann Hennion, Apex, North Carolina
John Edward Higgins, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Kael T. Holloway, Ridgeway, Virginia
Najima A. Ibrahim, Federal Way, Washington
Parker Wade Jackson, Charlotte, North Carolina
Meghana Jacob, Houston, Texas
Julia Taylor Jones, Lexington, South Carolina
Niharika Kandala, Cupertino, California
Ryan Matthew Espejo Karabell, Yardley, Pennsylvania
Peter Karner-Brown, Palm City, Florida
Mitchell Katkic, Brighton, Michigan
Archit Satish Kumar, Tampa, Florida
Khoi Minh Tuan Le, Sachse, Texas
Creson Ju-Ann Lee, Burke, Virginia
Ji Su Lee, Woodstock, Georgia
Austin Ching-Hong Leung, Springfield, Virginia
Ellis Genevieve Linder-Elkins, Johnson City, Tennessee
Benita Luke, Chantilly, Virginia
Dan Luu, Elk Grove, California
McKenzie Lorraine Lydon, Stuart, Florida
Matthew Todd Magers, Port Charlotte, Florida
Aysha Mahmud, Scottsdale, Arizona
Fadi S. Mamari, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Anna Marie Marchek, Greer, South Carolina
Jared Michael McAda, Dallas, Texas
Victoria McKinnon, Midland, North Carolina
Gabrielle Tiana Melick, Newport News, Virginia
De’Mari Monique Menefee, Bassett, Virginia
Donna Sophia Artemis Meryanos, Conway, South Carolina
Dylan James Miller, Rockwood, Pennsylvania
Ngwamitang Mitti, Celina, Texas
Hannah Moran, Salem, Virginia
An Nguyen, Greensboro, North Carolina
Christie Nguyen, Pinellas Park, Florida
Tony Ngo Nguyen, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Merrick Elijah Nicksic, Hebron, Indiana
Tasha Nkemdilim Ogoh, Macon, Georgia
Georgia Hudson O’Leary, Charleston, South Carolina
Fenil Patel, Charlottesville, Virginia
Shivani Ranjan Patel, Orangeburg, South Carolina
Jessica Le Phan, Richmond, Virginia
Danielle Pierson, Wytheville, Virginia
Colby Scott Purvis, Charleston, South Carolina
Sarah Katharine Radziewicz, Greenville, South Carolina
Naa’Jah Richardson, Evergreen, Alabama
Brooklynn Runyan, Dayton, Tennessee
Widad Salah, Herndon, Virginia
John Clayton Scarborough, Eastman, Georgia
Vincent Michael Senneca, El Cerrito, California
Moozen Shalabi, Bowie, Maryland
Joshua Sison, Roanoke, Virginia
Kristen Swanson, Boca Raton, Florida
Anupa J. Thirmiya, Oviedo, Florida
Rachel Ann Thomas, Ashburn, Virginia
Rachel E. Thomas, Bel Air, Maryland
Samantha Jean Thurman, Sikeston, Missouri
Matthew William Tindall, Columbia, South Carolina
Kishan Unija, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Jhanvi Ajaykumar Vansia, Chase City, Virginia
Nicholas Villar, Alexandria, Virginia
Gbutue T. Vorkpor, Lexington, Kentucky
Natalie Mae Weaver, Guntersville, Alabama
Zaynab Yunis, La Plata, Maryland
View the Spring 2022 Commencement recorded live stream here
View the Spring 2022 Commencement digital program here