One hundred twenty-two Bluefield College seniors accepted diplomas during the school’s 88th Annual Spring Commencement, Saturday, May 7, outside in the campus quad against the backdrop of the majestic East River Mountain.
President David Olive welcomed family and friends to the celebratory event. He also congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to continue their pursuit of goals, while always keeping their eyes fixed on the ultimate goal, Jesus.
“Our hope is that you have been prepared for more than just success in a career,” Dr. Olive told the seniors, “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. I pray that you leave here with a sense of calling to vocation that will direct your life with a purpose and that is faithful to your Christian commitments.”
Chair of the Board Julie Hull Johnson offered similar greetings. She spoke of the investments made by faculty, staff, trustees and others to ensure students reach their educational goals.
“When you depart here today, take Bluefield College with you,” she told the graduates, “but also take with you a desire to give back to your alma mater so that students after you might have the same opportunity you had in enjoying a Bluefield College education.”
In addition to the presentation of 122 baccalaureate degrees, the graduation ceremony also featured a Commencement address from Dr. Dale Henry, founder and president of Your Best Unlimited, and the presentation of three Wampler-Caudill Student Leadership Awards and one Wampler-Caudill Distinguished Faculty Award.
Made possible by former BC professor Dr. Don Caudill in honor of his parents, Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill, the Leadership Awards recognize graduating seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, Christian character, and leadership, and a BC professor who exemplifies classroom excellence, Christian character, and professional, community and church involvement.
Earning the student awards this spring were Michael Messier of Haymarket, Virginia, Michael Lastfogel of Richmond, Virginia, and Brittany Garton of Gordonsville, Virginia. Messier, a graduate of BC’s inSPIRE adult degree completion program, was acknowledged for his faith in God, compassion, and 32-year career in law enforcement. Lastfogel, another inSPIRE students, was lauded for his commitment to foreign missions, including service in South East Asia and South America. Garton, a business administration major who plans to move to Romania to work with inner-city children through Project Ruth, was recognized for reviving the school’s Phi Beta Lambda business organization.
Dr. Cindy Bascom, a professor of communication, earned the Wampler Caudill Distinguished Faculty Award for her “outgoing personality,” “enthusiasm for life-long learning,” and “sincere intent to walk with personal integrity.” Dr. Bascom also was recognized for her energetic passion to help students reach their fullest potential.
Dr. Henry, an educator, administrator, author, speaker, trainer, consultant and entrepreneur, who speaks to and trains more than 100,000 professionals and executives each year, provided the Commencement address. An engaging storyteller with great wit, Dr. Henry shared stories about his daughter’s birth, her first drive in a car, funeral processions, and the passing of traditions, all for the purpose of stressing one point to the graduates.
“We set traditions by the actions we take, not by the words we share,” Dr. Henry said. “Graduates, it is my sincere desire that as you leave here today, you go on to live a life in which your actions have great influence and the things you do, not say, are passed on to others.”
The 88th Annual Spring Commencement program also included the reading of The Lord’s Prayer, in both English and Spanish, by Dr. Gerardo Cummings, director of global education; a dramatic scripture reading by theatre students Jennifer Bohannan, Marland Funk, Patti Goebel, Sally Goebel, Danielle Workman and James Young; a music solo by student Beth Tinsley; induction for the graduates into BC’s Alumni Association, led by Association vice president Sharon Knick; and the singing of the school’s alma mater, led by music professor Bryant Moxley.
Candidates for graduation for spring 2011 included:
Jennifer Anne Bliss, Gainesville, Virginia
Jennifer Marie Bohannan, Merrimack, New Hampshire
Marland Katherine Funk, Ivanhoe, Virginia
Patricia A. Goebel, Ellerslie, Maryland
Sally Ann Goebel, Ellerslie, Maryland
Stephanie N. Helbert, Wytheville, Virginia
Kyle Douglas Neal, Princeton, West Virginia
Scott David Polhamus, Roanoke, Virginia
Keenan Rainer, Warrensville, Ohio
Samantha Jo Sturgill, Chilhowie, Virginia
Danielle Olivia Workman, Princeton, West Virginia
James M. Young, Newport News, Virginia
Vida A. Adusei-Poku, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Faye Lauren Frances Anderson, Stafford, Virginia
Lyndsey Jane Barton, Vinton, Virginia
Amanuel Bekele, Addis Abala, Ethiopia
Wes Blair, Draper, Virginia
Bethany Issiaca Blankenship, Huntington, West Virginia
Kelsey Nicole Blevins, Marion, Virginia
Rachel Christine Blosser, Halifax, Virginia
Shericka Javette Blount, Portsmouth, Virginia
John Michael Bohon, Roanoke, Virginia
Lisa Chinell Branch-Clements, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Shamika LeaTeashia Brown, Brodnax, Virginia
Alexandria Danielle Carter, Alderson, West Virginia
Jessie Capitolia Cash, Natural Bridge, Virginia
Jamie Isabelle Cassell, Clarksburg, West Virginia
Amy Stiltner-Childress, Tazewell, Virginia
Ashley Brook Clampitt, Chilhowie Virginia
Erica Paige Coleman, Vansant, Virginia
Judith Lynn Cornish, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Tina Diane Sparks-Kwun, North Tazewell, Virginia
Angela M. Cox, Hillsville, Virginia
Carla Jayne-Graube Cox, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Kendra Heimerich, Hopewell, Virginia
Joni Lee Dadras, Christiansburg, Virginia
Angela Denise Davenport, Emporia, Virginia
Mary Ann Davis, Christiansburg, Virginia
Michelle Leigh Diomedi, Salem, Virginia
Angela Lee Eller, King George, Virginia
Frank Allen Erdt, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Heather Ann Ferrell, Narrows, Virginia
Jeffrey A. Field, Fort Collins, Colorado
Takashi Monique Franklin, Alken, South Carolina
William S. Funk, III, Richmond, Virginia
Brittany Lynn Garton, Gordonsville, Virginia
Raymond Scott Goins, Stafford, Virginia
TrudyAnn Marie Grace, Williamsburg, Virginia
Michelle Griffin, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Justin Todd Haga, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
Michael Layne Hall, Richmond, Virginia
Travis Hayton, Bluefield, Virginia
Nicholas Bryan Heimerich, Warsaw, Virginia
Jennifer I Hohman, Mt. Morris, Illionis
Paul E Hollan, Mountain City, Tennessee
Janet McClanahan Horn, Bluefield, West Virginia
Kelly Marie Hudson, Stafford, Virginia
Michael Charles Hutton, Vinton, Virginia
Demetria Y. Jackson, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Jacob A. Johnson, Tazewell, Virginia
Joseph P. Johnson, Tazewell, Virginia
Paula Lorraine Johnson, Richmond, Virginia
Christopher Russell Keller, Midland, Virginia
Rongerlar L. Kelly, Chesapeake, Virginia
Joshua Robert Kennon, Halifax, Virginia
Wendi Kay Tudor, Midlothian, Virginia
Alisha Joy Krukowski, Richmond, Virginia
Stefanie Leigh LaForce, Baltimore, Maryland
Ryan William Lambert, Salisbury, Maryland
Michael Stephen Lastfogel, Richmond, Virginia
Sherise Diane Lee, Chesterfield, Virginia
Thomas Meade Lewis, Tazewell, Virginia
Heather Marie Looney, Bastian, Virginia
LaKeisha Sherelle Massenburg, Petersburg, Virginia
Max M. Matko, Richmond, Virginia
Michele Yolanda McNair, Chesapeake, Virginia
Michael Wayne Messier, Haymarket, Virginia
Theresa Dawn Moretto, Princeton, West Virginia
Allan Wayne Morris, Pulaski, Virginia
Sandy Ellen Motyleski, Woodbridge, Virginia
Carl A. Mueller, Richmond, Virginia
Salvatore Robert Mule’, Glen Allen, Virginia
Kristin Shupe Neal, Pocahontas, Virginia
Sheena Courtney Neal, Panther, West Virginia
Zachary Covelia Nester, Newbern, Virginia
Aaron Parkin, Newtown, Wales
Ashley Erin Poe, Richmond, Virginia
Richard Michael Poindexter, Jr., Roanoke, Virginia
Adrian Martell Powell, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Rachel Leigh Price, Bluefield, Virginia
Sabrina Michelle Reynolds, Colonial Heights, Virginia
Emily Nicole Romani, Fredericksburg, Virginia
James Eric Rowland, Lynchburg, Virginia
John Thomas Russell, Roanoke, Virginia
LeAndra Nicole Sabatino, Parksley, Virginia
Evan Grant Sherman, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
Yvonne L. Sigman, Bastian, Virginia
Shendale Leigh Simpson, Dublin, Virginia
Karen Elaine Spangler, Pearisburg, Virginia
Stephanie D. Spencer, Ballard, West Virginia
Diana L. St. Clair, Bluefield, Virginia
Karlee Alissa Steffey, Ridgeway, Virginia
Stephanie N. Stegich, Stafford, Virginia
Kathy T. Stoner, Christiansburg, Virginia
Michael B. Taylor, Lynchburg, Virginia
Justin T. Thomas, Max Meadows, Virginia
Kelly Nicole Thompson, Roanoke, Virginia
Marcheta L. Turner, Roanoke, Virginia
Charles Clifford Walton, Chilhowie, Virginia
Katie Elizabeth Warren, Princeton, Virginia
Nicholas K. Waymire, Manassas, Virginia
Andrew W. Weaver, Weyers Cave, Virginia
Travis Weaver Weyers Cave, Virginia
Tonya Gail White, Pageton, West Virginia
Veronica Gillespie White, Richlands, Virginia
Laura Meagan Whittington, Richlands, Virginia
Brian S. Wikle, Princeton, West Virginia
Kiara Edone Williams, Springfield, Virginia
Emily Witt Wingfield, Gloucester, Virginia
Tiana Shanelle Wood, Richmond, Virginia
Jacob D. Woodrum, Bluefield, West Virginia
Jennifer Lynne Wynes, Pence Springs, West Virginia.