Ninety Bluefield College seniors accepted diplomas during the school’s 19th Annual Winter Commencement, Saturday, December 18.
More than 500 friends and family filled BC’s Harman Chapel to celebrate with the graduates in a ceremony that featured not only the presentation of diplomas, but also the presentation of a Distinguished Faculty Award and remarks from John G. Rocovich, Jr., director and chairman of the Board of the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM).
Bluefield College President David Olive welcomed the capacity crowd to the traditional winter ceremony. Dr. Olive spoke about the school’s mission to integrate faith and learning. He challenged the seniors to live out their faith. His hope, he said, is that as they leave Bluefield College, they do so with a sense of calling.
“Our hope is that through your studies at Bluefield you have not only been prepared for a career or profession,” he said, “but also for a meaningful life — one grounded in faith and in service to others.”
Julie Johnson, BC’s chair of the Board of Trustees, offered similar greetings to the seniors. She spoke of the appropriateness of a graduation ceremony during the Christmas season, “a season of anticipation and hope, much like the time of graduation.” She also encouraged the graduates to “stay involved with your alma mater.”
The Winter Commencement program also included the presentation of the school’s Wampler-Caudill Distinguished Faculty Award to the “most influential instructor in the inSPIRE degree-completion program.”
Dr. Ross Duncan, an adjunct instructor of management, won the winter 2010 award for his “classroom excellence” and “Christian character.”
“He is a student advocate,” said Dr. Olive. “He has been a longtime, energetic supporter of our inSPIRE program.”
Rocovich, who was instrumental in the development and financing of VCOM in Blacksburg, Virginia, provided the Commencement address. An attorney by trade, he challenged the graduates to continue learning.
“As a college graduate, you are among the most educated people in the world,” Rocovich said, “but if you’re learning ends today, then your minds will grow dull. Be intellectually curious. Set goals to learn something new every day.”
Rocovich also encouraged the seniors to “find something you like to do so well that you would do it for nothing.” Above all, he said, work not to leave your own footprint on life, but work for an even greater cause.
“Only one life will soon be past,” said Rocovich, “and only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Alumni President Dan Agee formally inducted the winter class of 2010 into the BC Alumni Association. In his traditional charge to the graduates, he spoke of the “common thread called Bluefield College” that now binds the new graduates with those from years past.
President Olive, Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert Shippey, Faculty President Robert Boozer, and Registrar Cathy Matherly conferred the 90 degrees. Candidates for graduation for winter 2010 included:
Preston Benjamin King, Elkview, West Virginia
Felicia D. Marmo, Manahawkin, New Jersey
Charles Matthew Snodgrass, Emory, Virginia
Hannah Elizabeth Brooks, Bristol, Virginia
Travis Dale Brown, Wirtz, Virginia
Kendra Heimerich, Hopewell, Virginia
Emma E. Mahon, Woodbridge, Virginia
BreAnna MyShoun Keesee McGhee, Atkins, Virginia
Jeremiah McMillian, Roanoke, Virginia
Michelle Lynn Neel, Tazewell, Virginia
Misty Lynn Neel, Radford, Virginia
Lauren Elizabeth Moore, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Courtney Lee Robertson, Dry Fork, Virginia
Brittany Ellen Sebring, Chesapeake, Virginia
Amanda Marie Warren, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Alyssa Erin Weddle, Laurel Fork, Virginia
Jamie Welch Akers, Dublin, Virginia
Chadwick W. Amburgey, Courtland, Virginia
Amy Beth Johnson Anders, Bland, Virginia
Jennifer Marie Baldwin, Crewe, Virginia
David M. Beckner, Midlothian, Virginia
Karla A. Benson, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Michael Berry, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Kimberly D. Bramlett, Christiansburg, Virginia
Christopher L. Branch, Tazewell, Virginia
Janie Marie Brock, Richmond, Virginia
Erin Ashworth Brown, Richlands, Virginia
Kecia LaShaun Brown, Baltimore, Maryland
Ralph Brown, Sr., Charlottesville, Virginia
Richard Wayne Burton, Fairlawn, Virginia
Carmella Thomas Carter, Radford City, Virginia
John S. Carter, Richmond, Virginia
Richard Allen Childers, Mechanicsville, Virginia
LaToya Ann Cook, Lawrenceville, Virginia
Martha Spencer Cox, Christiansburg, Virginia
Randy L. Dailey, Richmond, Virginia
Stacy Wietfeldt Dallas, Danville, Virginia
Gilbert Frazier Davis, Dublin, Virginia
Susan Chaffins Davis, Tazewell, Virginia
Sunni V. Dunford, Pulaski, Virginia
Rachel Durst Baldwin, Richmond, Virginia
Michelle T. Eubank, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Myrtle E. Evans, Prince Edward, Virginia
Bryan Pratt Frazier, Peterstown, West Virginia
James E. Frazier, Hiwassee, Virginia
Tina L. Harding, Chesterfield, Virginia
Marcy A. Hernandez, Roanoke, Virginia
Cheri L. Hess, North Tazewell, Virginia
Megan Lee Hess, Bellspring, Virginia
Melissa Renea Hodge, Salem, Virginia
Nancy Stacy Hodges, Bluefield, Virginia
Paul W. Holland, Richmond, Virginia
Pauline Frances Horton, Hillsville, Virginia
Corlette Jacinta James, Richmond, Virginia
Kevin Douglas Jones, Stephens City, Virginia
MaShonda D. Kennerson, Lawrenceville, Virginia
Jeremy Lavin, Charlottesville, Virginia
Deborah Karen Linkous, Bluefield, West Virginia
Kawanda Tamika Manning, Richmond, Virginia
Della Marsh, Fluvanna, Virginia
Tracey Denise Mason, Matoaca, Virginia
Kimberly L. Matthews, Radford, Virginia
Jolanda E. Mungo, Zuni, Virginia
Tara Dawn Havens Nelson, Woodstock, Virginia
Terresa F. Odum, Fincastle, Virginia
Jeffrey Robert Orth, Richmond, Virginia
Rosalind Parker, Portsmouth, Virginia
Susan Parker Pedigo, Dublin, Virginia
Bill Perry, Jr., Grundy, Virginia
Delia G. Porter, Galax, Virginia
Debbie Quach, Richmond, Virginia
Helene A. Quick, Chesapeake, Virginia
Lawrence H. Reinhold, Portsmouth, Virginia
Jackie I. Rivens, Wytheville, Virginia
Janet L. Robertson, Richmond, Virginia
Kathy Lanette Rodgers, Brooklyn, New York
Joyce Ann Sanders, Midlothian, Virginia
Spencer Travis Scroggins, Chesapeake, Virginia
Debora Denise Shaw, Richmond, Virginia
Edward Scott Shepperson, Henrico, Virginia
Donna Spangler, Floyd, Virginia
Amy J. Stiltner, Crab Orchard, Virginia
Rebecca L. Stout, Martinsville, Virginia
JoAnna ReNee Thomas, Lawrenceville, Virginia
Matthew Alexander Thomas, Richlands, Virginia
Bill Jake Turner, Jr., Tazewell, Virginia
Brenda Hill Watson, Christiansburg, Virginia
Debbie L. Whorley, Roanoke, Virginia
Janet Mabry Williams, Pulaski, Virginia
Marjorie Williams, Dundas, Virginia.