138 Candidates for Graduation Honored at the Fifth Annual Fall Commencement at Concord College
Athens, W. Va. - Concord College hosted the fifth annual fall commencement, 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2003, in the Main Auditorium of the Alexander Fine Arts Center in Athens.
Honors were bestowed to 44 honors candidates. A student must have attained a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and above.
Mr. Jim Bartlett, adjunct instructor for the College, presented the prelude, processional and recessional.
Dr. Paul J. Kane shared opening and closing meditations.
Jerry L. Beasley, president of Concord College, welcomed the candidates for graduation and guests and thanked faculty and staff.
The Honorable Marshall Long, D.O., brought greetings from the West Virginia Legislature. He told the candidates, “Education has played a central role in my life, one for the utility and two for the culture. Be proud of what you have accomplished and thank those who have helped you. As Henry David Thoreau said, ‘Go with confidence in the direction of your dreams.’”
Margaret J. Sayre, Chair of the Concord College Board of Governors, noted that, “We are proud of you!”
President of the College’s Faculty Senate, Charles H. Brichford, thanked the students for the education he received. “A real education,” he continued, “is what we make available at Concord. The faculty is just one of the tools that you use. A ‘real’ education is what you apply. When you have a good education, you change yourself and you are offended by ignorance.”
Beryle Santon, president of the College’s Alumni Association noted that some of the graduates will go on to graduate school and some will work. “Please keep us informed,” she asked, “we are a lucky group of people. Once a Mountain Lion—always a Mountain Lion!”
Amy Elizabeth Lilly from Athens and Debra Charlene Williamson from Bluefield presented valedictory addresses to their classmates and guests of the College.
Ms. Lilly stated that: “In one definition, Webster describes success as the favorable outcome of our endeavors. According to this definition, we must recognize that we are all successes today. Years ago, we began our endeavor to earn a degree and we have taken the steps necessary to see it through. Each of us has had our own unique set of variables and hurdles to overcome in order to arrive here. However, we persevered. Already, in doing so, we are a success.
“Webster continues to define success as attaining wealth, position, or honors. There are many measures of wealth, including money or time with loved ones. An unknown author provides the best measure of wealth I have yet seen: ‘Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.’ These are the true things of value.
“Building on Webster’s views, I would like to expand his definition with some words from Ben Sweetland, who urged that, ‘Success is a journey, not a destination.’ We will never reach that point in our lives where we say: This is it; I have all I have ever wanted. However, if we can learn to enjoy the path along the way, we can find true happiness and count ourselves a success.”
Valedictorian Debra Williamson advised: “Anne Sullivan, that great teacher of the blind-deaf student, Helen Keller, wrote: ‘Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose . . . one you’ll be glad to remember.’
“You are special. You are extraordinary. And, you are prepared in your field. What is next? What choices will we have? Is it employment? Is it graduate school? Is it marriage? Life has many twists and turns, but whatever comes next in our lives our experience at Concord College has taught us valuable lessons that we can use in the future. Remember, that with the proper mind-set and motivation we can accomplish our objectives and make our dreams come true. See what you have done? You are the epitome of accomplishment.
Dr. Dean Turner, vice president and academic dean, presented the candidates for graduation to President Jerry Beasley.
Carolyn Cox, registrar for the College, presented the diplomas.
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PHOTO: Athens resident Keith Circle receives Concord diploma.
NOTE TO EDITOR--A COMPLETE ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION FOLLOWS:
HONOR CANDIDATES
December 17, 2003
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
George Adria Atanassov
Amy Michelle Ellison
Amanda Dawn Ellison
Ernest Nathan Chappell Flaim
Leah Louise Hicks
Patricia Diane Hylton
Elizabeth Ann King
Amy Elizabeth Lilly
Kara Lundie Appel-Tabor
Debra Charlene Williamson
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Petranka Ivanova Badova
Marsha DeAnn Blankenship
Shannon Lee Conley
Amia Lee Downes
Faith Ellen Dunn
Melissa Dawn Hendrick
D Cole Malcolm
Kameron Kirkup Meeteer
Angela Kay Neal
Jason Kristofer Olson
CUM LAUDE
Marla Diane Akers
Melissa Rebecca Mae Blake
Cheryle Ann Boggs
Nikki Fae Casto
Jennifer Beth Dillard
Lelia Ann Fry
Albert Buford Goins
Shawn Patrick Hatfield
Emily Blair Hartling
April Nicole Henderson
Kendra Cherie Kelly
Mary Megan Mann
Damion Maynard
Kristin Lynn Rafferty
John Wayne Ramsey II
Kevin David Shaffer
Laura Crystalena Stokes
Tara Nicole Vance
Islam M Wali
Jason Dale Ward
Amanda Dawn Wills
HONORS IN MAJOR SUBJECT
Jocelyn Rochelle Woods
Robert Samuel Moore III
Robert Keith Sexton
CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION
Marla Diane Akers
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Kara Lundie Appel-Tabor
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Michael Anthony Armstrong
Welch, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
George Adria Atanassov
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Petranka Ivanova Badova
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Raeann Patricia Baker
Tazewell, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Cara Dione Barnes
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts
Jerri D Beverly
Premier, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Tourism Management
Melissa Rebecca Mae Blake
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Adam Benjamin Blankenship
Coal City, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Marsha DeAnn Blankenship
Vansant, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Thomas William Blaylock
Hillsboro, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Dawna Louellan Boss-Burges
Blue Ridge, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Cheryle Ann Boggs
Sophia, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Brian Dwain Bradley
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Angela Whitacre Briley
Bluewell, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
Erin Kathryn Britton
Canvas, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science
Gary Shane Brown
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Gregory Wayne Brown
Cool Ridge, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Angela Denise Broyles
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Daniel H Campbell
Roanoke, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Nikki Fae Casto
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science
Elizabeth Allie Caudell
Oceana, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Gregory Keith Circle
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Angela Dawn Clay
Skelton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Derek Joshua Cohenour
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science
Kevin Neil Cole
Pipestem, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Alicia Renee Collis
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Shannon Lee Conley
Troutville, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Stacy Lee Cooper
Mount Hope, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Jordan Michael Cox
South Charleston, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Tourism Management
Rhonda Vivian Crockett
Bluefield, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Kelly Marie Crookshanks
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Elisia Paige Davis
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Ericka Dawn Davis
Scarbro, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Rebecca Marie Decker
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jeremy W Dempsey
Delbarton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Jennifer Beth Dillard
North Tazewell, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Amia Lee Downes
Morgantown, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Stephanie Allison Draper
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
Chad Everett Drennen
Normantown, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Allen James Duncan III
Blue Ridge, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Faith Ellen Dunn
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Amanda Dawn Ellison
Hinton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Amy Michelle Ellison
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
Amanda Nicole Elmore
Union, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Gregory Andrew Faulstich
Leonardtown, Maryland
Bachelor of Science
Ernest Nathan Flaim
Hillsboro, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science
Tonya Nicole Fraley
Oceana, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Tanya M Freeman
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Lelia Ann Fry
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Dalena Lynette Galyean
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jessie Lynn Gantt
Bowie, Maryland
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Nathan Seth Gladwell
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Albert Buford Goins
Laurel Fork, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Tourism Management
Angela Danita Haines
Welch, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Kathy Leigh Hall
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
April Denise Hamon
Tioga, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Tonya Beth Hardin-Carter
Spanishburg, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Daniel Adam Harnsberger
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Emily Blair Hartling
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science
Shawn Patrick Hatfield
Peterstown, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Heather Ann Heath
Princeton, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Craig Michael Hedrick
Ronceverte, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Laura Louise Helton
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
April Nicole Henderson
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science
Melissa Dawn Hendrick
Beaver, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Leah Louise Hicks
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Anga Leah Hodges-McCarus
Daniels, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Amanda Marie Hughes
Narrows, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Stephen Arthur Hughes
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Patricia Diane Hylton
Shady Spring, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Stephanie Diane Johnson
Culloden, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Bobby James Jones
Quinwood, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Christy Rene Jones
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Joseph Neil Keller
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Kendra Cherie Kelly
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Kamal Khalid
Ocean City, Maryland
Bachelor of Science
Elizabeth Ann King
Lerona, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Steven Joseph Lawhorn
Fayetteville, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Melody Renee Lester
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Linda S Lewis
Crab Orchard, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Amy Elizabeth Lilly
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Mary Kathryn Losch
Fenwick, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Tabitha Snowe Lusk
Mullens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jennifer Lauren Maddox
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Douglas Cole Malcolm
Saint Albans, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Mary Megan Mann
Hinton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Andrea Marino
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Bachelor of Science
Beverly James Maxwell
Spanishburg, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Damion Maynard
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Kameron Kirkup Meeteer
Waynesboro, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jeffrey Scott Mitchem
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Robert Samuel Moore III
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Amanda Marie Moreland
Ridgeley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Thomas Matthew Mould
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Kyra Annita Narain
Hollis, New York
Bachelor of Arts
Salim Nasiru
Ondo State, Nigeria
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
Angela K Neal
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Cynthia Darlene Norosky
Athens, West Virginia
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Erin O'Neal
Hinton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
Jarrod Dale Ogden
Mechanicsville, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Jason Kristofer Olson
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jennifer Rae Quintana
Daniels, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Kristin Lynn Rafferty
MacArthur, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
John W Ramsey II
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Kerry Alycia Richmond
Bramwell, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Robert W Sandell Jr
Pound Ridge, New York
Regents Bachelor of Arts
Sathappan Santhanam
Tamil Nadu, India
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Robert Keith Sexton
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Kevin David Shaffer
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Michael Paul Shrewsbury
Mullens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Janet Kristen Sims
Danese, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
George F Smith
Mount Hope, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Hannah Stewart Smith
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Max Nolan Sopher
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Bryant Edward Spencer
Martinsville, Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
Justin C Stephenson
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
Heather Andreana Stokes
Mabscott, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Laura Crystalena Stokes
Mabscott, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Richard Andrew Strader
Hurricane, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Delano Charles Sweeney
Athens, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
Cassandra Dawn Terry
Alderson, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jennifer Renee Thomas
Peterstown, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Susan Lynn Thorn
Welch, West Virginia
Bachelor of Social Work
Kelli Suzanne Trent
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
Jason Ray Underwood
Rock, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Tara Nicole Vance
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Kasey Dawn Voloski
Beckley, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Islam Mohammed Wali
Sokoto, Nigeria
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
Jason Dale Ward
Greenville, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Andrea Dawn Webb
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Terri Lynn Williams
Artie, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Debra Charlene Williamson
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Amanda Dawn Wills
Ghent, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science in Education
Jocelyn Rochelle Woods
Princeton, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Lori Beth Woolridge
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bachelor of Science in Education
Lesley Marie Workman
Ramsey, West Virginia
Bachelor of Arts