CONGRATS TO THE WINTER CLASS OF 2015

Bluefield College president Dr. David Olive welcomed family and friends, who filled Harman Chapel to capacity to be a part of the year-end event. Dr. Olive spoke of the occasion as not the end of the graduates’ learning, but the beginning. He also challenged the students to live out their faith in meaningful ways and to believe passionately in service above self.

“Our hope is that you have been prepared for more than just success in your career,” Dr. Olive told the graduates, “but that you also have been prepared for an enjoyable and meaningful life — one grounded in faith, adaptable to a changing global environment, and given to caring for and serving others. If there is ever a time that communities in our world need compassion, it is now. Much has been entrusted to you; much is expected. Go forth from this place and make a difference in this darkened world. Be the light of Christ in all you do.”

Trustee Becky Beckett shared similar greetings from the Board. She told the graduates that the day was “the beginning of a new stage of (their) life.” Beckett also recognized other trustees in attendance, including Dr. Michael Harris of Bluefield, Virginia, and Craig Stout of Princeton, West Virginia.

Dr. Brewster, the keynote speaker and superintendent of one of the most progressive school districts in Virginia, spoke about digital technology, mobile devices, social media and other accomplishments of modern-day time. He referred to the graduates as “Millennials” and “digital natives” with “far more opportunities than generations before (them), but yet far more complex challenges than any other generation has ever faced.”

Dr. Brewster, who was named Executive of the Year by the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, encouraged the graduates to “enjoy this moment” and to “thank those who supported (them) along the way.” A 1991 Bluefield College alumnus, he also shared memories of his BC experience and the value of a Christ-centered liberal arts education.

“I hope you have enjoyed your experience at Bluefield College as much as I enjoyed mine,” said Dr. Brewster, a longtime educator in Tazewell County and an adjunct instructor for Bluefield College, Radford University and Virginia Tech. “The opportunity to acquire a Christ-centered education right here in my own backyard was a blessing to me. I can say without a doubt that I would not be where I am today without Bluefield College.”

The 2015 Winter Commencement also included special music by alumna Elizabeth Decker; scripture reading from Dr. Jessica Sharp, dean of the School of Nursing; formal induction for the class of 2015 into the BC Alumni Association, led by alumni president Jennifer Mitchell; the singing of Christmas hymns and the BC alma mater, led by Trent Argo, vice president for enrollment; and the conferring of degrees, led by Dr. Olive, Dr. Marshall Flowers, vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Tracey Stout, faculty president, and Jennifer Lamb, college registrar.

The winter class of 2015 included 108 seniors receiving undergraduate degrees and two receiving master’s degrees, 81 females and 29 males, 30 students (28 percent) graduating with honors, two married couples, and one international student.

The winter 2015 candidates for the master of arts in education included:
James Morgan Lloyd, Gum Spring, Virginia
Joseph Michael Pennington, Bluefield, West Virginia.

Winter 2015 candidates for baccalaureate degrees included:
Alisha Lynn Adams, Galax, Virginia
Hayley N. Allison, Cedar Bluff, Virginia
Victoria Jean Allison, Pulaski, Virginia
Janeen Gabrielle Arias, Roanoke, Virginia
Jeanne Michele Atwell, Narrows, Virginia
Arianna Brynn Bailey, Iaeger, West Virginia
Chaz Melissa Balkenbush, Manassas, Virginia
Kayla Tinuviel Beagley, Blacksburg, Virginia
Jamie Renee Blair, Wytheville, Virginia
Paige Elizabeth Morrison Bohon, Mount Gilead, Ohio
Angela Elizabeth Booker, Richmond, Virginia
Lindsey Brooke Boyd, Grundy, Virginia
Stephen Wolcott Bryan, Springfield, Virginia
Barbara Moore Cameron, Christiansburg, Virginia
Mallory Faith Campbell, Tappahannock, Virginia
Matthew Carragher, Clara, Ireland
Jessica Aislyn Compton, Tazewell, Virginia
Daniel Copeland, Roleystone, Western Australia
Michael Todd Dalton, Lynchburg, Virginia
Tracey M. Dowdy, Bastian, Virginia
Terry Lynn Drumheller, Troutville, Virginia
Keith Jeffrey Dunn, Bluefield, Virginia
Barbara Virginia Elam, Pounding Mill, Virginia
Ederson J. Exume, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Larry Randall Fannon, Jr., Abingdon, Virginia
Anna Fields, Roanoke, Virginia
Ryan Clifton Foster, Palmyra, Virginia
Alexandra Shea Gallagher, Tazewell, Virginia
Vivian Maigora Gambino, Midlothian, Virginia
Jamie Matthew Gift, Fries, Virginia
Terry Lynne Gift, Fries, Virginia
Jennifer Louise Gilbert, Burlington, North Carolina
Marcella Goad, Floyd, Virginia
Ariel Dawn Goins, Bland, Virginia
Jeanefer Caseres-Pasal Grantham, Hillsville, Virginia
Carol-jo Graziano, Nellysford, Virginia
Cheryl Lynn Grimm, Galax, Virginia
Chris Gummer, King George, Virginia
Tracy D. Hanks, Wytheville, Virginia
Tamar Nicole Haskins-Alston, Roanoke, Virginia
Tiffany McKnight Hazlewood, Independence, Virginia
Oscar Rene Hernandez, Jr., Los Angeles, California
Harry E. Hollins, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee
Susan Leigh Horne, Oakwood, Virginia
Sharon E Ince, New York City, New York
Cherrie Jenkins, Culpeper, Virginia
Kelly Lynne Jennings, Princeton, West Virginia
Ada-Lynn Marie Johnson, Rocky Mount, Virginia
Lisa Lorraine Johnson, Roanoke, Virginia
Lavonia Jones, Blackstone, Virginia
Jennifer Lavinder, Ridgeway, Virginia
Esther Joanna Ledford, Galax, Virginia
Davina Lauren Lightner, Monterey, Virginia
Megan Renee Padgett Linville, Galax, Virginia
Leigh Ann Lockhart, Grundy, Virginia
Mary Kathleen Long, Sinks Grove, West Virginia
Susan Mae Lufsey, South Chesterfield, Virginia
Whitney A. Mabe, Collinsville, Virginia
Marci Ellen MacGregor, King George, Virginia
Jacob Andrew Mader, Yorktown, Virginia
Sarah Elizabeth Marshall, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Tamarah R. Mason, Dublin, Virginia
Linsey Brooke McKnight, Richlands, Virginia
Ariana Renee Stanley Milam, Abbs Valley, Virginia
Tabitha Nicole Miller, Honaker, Virginia
Deborah Samantha Mines, Henrico, Virginia
Dionna Antoinette Minor, East Orange, New Jersey
Megan Leigh Montgomery, Williamson, West Virginia
Ernest J. Moore, Atlanta, Georgia
Alison Kalina Morgan, Bastian, Virginia
Savannah Nicole Mullins, Pikeville, Kentucky
Michael Alan Murphy, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Kara O’Bren Neal, Tannersville, Virginia
Charlene Oaks, St. Charles, Virginia
Edward Thomas O’Dell, Pearisburg, Virginia
Heather King O’Neal, Pearisburg, Virginia
Robert Dale O’Neal, Jr., Pearisburg, Virginia
Joanne Ursula Ozga, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Dennis Franklin Parries, Salem, Virginia
Douglas Perry Patterson, Jr., Pulaski, Virginia
Kayla Nichole Penca, Christiansburg, Virginia
Mary Ann Perkins, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Lola Geraldine Plange, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Irene Bagan Price, King George, Virginia
Charles E. Ratcliffe, Pulaski, Virginia
Amy Marie Rhodes, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Tamara Kay Rhodes, Whitesville, Kentucky
Theo Lorenzo Rogers, Paragold, Arkansas
Melissa Erin Scott, Locust Grove, Virginia
Ryan Patrick Shaffner, Fries, Virginia
Robert Michael Sharp, Bluefield, Virginia
Thelma Genevieve Shelor, Riner, Virginia
Michael D. Shockley, Hillsville, Virginia
Hunter Ross Spahr, Christiansburg, Virginia
Angela Kristen Spraker, Marion, Virginia
Aimee Karol Stacy, Elkhorn City, Kentucky
Kristin Jo Stathers, Roanoke, Virginia
Kayla Dawn Steele, Danville, Virginia
Curtis Wayne Sumner, Jr., Hillsville, Virginia
Tina Marie Tantalo, Ruther Glen, Virginia
John R. Thompson, Jr., Wytheville, Virginia
Andrea T. Tiller, Rocky Gap, Virginia
Ashley O. Turley, Tannersville, Virginia
Shelly D. Turner-Mullins, Clintwood, Virginia
Brittany Nicole VanDyke, Grundy, Virginia
Joseph Demetrius Winfree, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Shauna Wise, Lebanon, Virginia
Toni Michelle Wright, Pulaski, Virginia.