College Celebrates 129th Spring Commencement
Note to Editor: All hometowns are West Virginia unless noted otherwise. Candidates are presented in two lists, 1) those graduating May 15, 2004 and 2) those graduating August 6, 2004.
Athens, W.Va. – The commencement ceremony took place in the Leslie R. and Ruby Webb Carter Center on the campus of Concord College, Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m.
Dr. Andrew Necessary and the Concord College Brass Quintet played various selections as the prelude, “Pomp and Circumstance” as the processional and “Hornpipe” (from “Water Music”) as the recessional.
Dr. Paul J. Kane provided the opening and closing meditations, and Carolyn Fluharty Cox, registrar for the College presented the diplomas to the candidates for graduation.
Dr. William J. Ofsa, professor of English, served as grand marshal and Mary Edna Beckett, associated professor of mathematics served as marshal. Dr. Ofsa introduced the speakers.
Concord President, Dr. Jerry L. Beasley: “This is the College’s 133rd year, and although we are strong, the very existence of institutions like Concord can be fragile. Many of you have worked to earn your way through college. You are a leader of tomorrow only if you choose to wait. Resources are slim but spirits are large. If you apply the lessons you learned you will make yourselves proud. Congratulations to the class of 2004!”
Dr. Beasley also recognized this year's retirees: Gene Fields is retiring from his position as manager of the physical plant, Dr. Wilbur Jones is retiring from his position as professor of chemistry, Ellen Pennington is retiring from her position in the computer center and Mary Edna Beckett will be retiring in August from her position as associate professor of mathematics.
The Honorable Jessee Guills, representing the West Virginia Senate, stated that, “Throughout my professional career, I have meet many important people, but none as important as those in front of me now. You are our future. You have been given a great opportunity to learn from great educators. Take this knowledge and use it with intelligence and honesty.”
Margaret Sayre, chair of the Concord College Board of Governors, noted, “Serving on the Board of Governors is a voluntary act that involves time with academic and fiscal matters. One of the great satisfactions is seeing you attain your degree. I hope you continue your lifelong learning.”
Chairman of the Concord College Foundation, John Jessee, said that, “With your help, the Foundation will continue to provide assistance to our students. I graduated in 1976 and we talked about the positive things we could do. Life goes by so very quickly. Take advantage of the opportunities and take risks but always do what is right.”
President of the Faculty, Dr. Charles H. Brichford: “This is a milestone placed along the side of the road. Much of the education ahead will be a lot more costly than Concord’s education.
“I want to say ‘thanks’ from the faculty. We are here to be used by those who want to learn. You are indeed on the right road.”
Dr. Beryle C. Santon, president of the Alumni Association, advised the graduating class, “In a few moments you will walk across the stage and be a Concord alumnus. Some will go to graduate school and some will work. Whatever you do and wherever you go please keep us informed. Once a Mountain Lion always a Mountain Lion!”
The valedictories to the College were: Michelle Lynn Anderson, Derrick Shawn Browning, Stephen Jason Fraley, Lori Leigh Gunno, Monika Beth McMahan and Angela Dawn Young.
Mr. Browning, who was inspired by Mother Teresa, provided the following quote from ‘Mother Teresa’s Advice for Living a Good life’: “People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you succeed, you will win some false friends and true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God, it was never between you and them anyway.”
Ms. Gunno said that: “No matter where you are in life, all it takes is a decision. A decision to try what may not be popular, but what you know is right. A decision to leave your comfort zone when you are no longer making progress in a relationship, in a classroom, or in any other area of your life. Find someone you can love like crazy, and who will love you the same way back, offer the answer that you know, but are too afraid to raise your hand and give, and yes, speak when you would rather remain silent. I debated many times on whether to stand before you today and give this speech, but here I am, almost done, and I feel better for having given it.
“Fear has the power to paralyze. If at any point you allow it to take control, you will miss out on everything life has to offer. So remember Mark Twain and his example. Face the coming years with courage, and you will have no regrets. For four years this has been our safe harbor, and the time has come to sail away.”
Mr. Fraley told his fellow graduates, “In a poem, Linda Pastan wrote, ‘If death if everywhere we look, at least let's marry it to beauty.’ We do this today. We marry the beauty of idealized education and the realization of potential to the death inherent in the real world, which coerces many into sacrificing their virtues like burning effigies. Remember the beauty of this ceremony because it begins to fade tomorrow unless you make a decision to live morally and justly. While many have surely ignored my comments or have naively brushed them aside, everyone will find themselves confronted by a difficult choice where the answer isn't a regurgitated formula or petty classroom morality. What will happen when the degree doesn't help? I will persevere through God. I pray everyone else here today has as firm a foundation as I.
“I will close with a quote by Albert Camus, ‘Nothing is given to men, and the little they can conquer is paid for with unjust deaths.’ But man's greatness lies elsewhere. It lies in his decision to be stronger than his condition. And if his condition is unjust, he has only one way of overcoming it, which is to be just himself. We can consider ourselves successful if we achieve this existential credo. Whether you find me in a barrel or in a mansion, you can trust that I have followed this dictum. I have done what is necessary. Will you?”
Ms. Young said, “I am the mother of three with one on the way. I stand here today to thank family, friends, instructors and fellow students who helped me. Congratulations and may God bless you.”
The following were candidates for graduation for May 15 (August 6 candidates will follow):
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CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION, MAY 15, 2004
HONOR CANDIDATES
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
Michelle Lynn Anderson
George Adrianov Atanassov*
Iordan Todorov Atanassov
Brandy Lee Bagar
Derrick Shawn Browning
Dimitar Marinov Dimitrov
Christina Renee Duncan
Erin Beth Ellison Hunt
Melissa Lynn Farmer
Stephen Jason Fraley
Lori Leigh Gunno
Ian Travis Lovejoy
Monika Beth McMahan
Kristen Tenea Mills
Angela Dawn Young
Umaru M Zubairu
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Radostina M Angelova
Petranka Ivanova Badova*
Kendra Waddell Blake
Crystal Michele Bradley
Sheila Kay Callaway
Teresa Suzanne Clark
Ayan De
Peggy Lynn Huffman
Christopher James Kast
Jennifer DeLise Lake
Lorri Deidra Lambert
Michael Patrick McMillion
Ami Rebecca Meadows
Mary Lynn Misch
Deepak Narasimhan
Michelle Dawn Shafer
Cheryl Lynn Stovall
Miroslav Karolinov Stoyanov
Nicole Elizabeth Thomas
CUM LAUDE
Daniel J Aguire II
Heather Marie Arnott
Melinda Gail Honaker Bailey
Rebecca Kathleen Banaszak
Joellyn Bolen
Teresa Gwen Brooks-Walls
Kristen Nicole Collins
John Dylan Davis
Paula Annet Dunn
Christy Lynn Elliott
Kirsten Margaret Hatten
Jennifer R Humphreys
Andrew Clayton Hunt
Angel Rena Johnson
Christy Lynn Laxton
David Jeff Lyons
Jesse Benjamin Miller
Nancy B Miller
Stephan Vilenov Mitchev
Gina Marie Mounts
Toni Renee Muncy
Thyra Ginaiu Nelson
Victoria Elizabeth Reed Pauley
Jennifer Ellen Persinger
Sarah Beth Pettry
Stephanie Dawn Plass
Amanda Jo Preston
Shenna Danielle Russell
Holly Nichole Smith
Jason Lee Spencer
Kara L Stephens
Sarah Marie Sumrall
Susan Blaine Terry
Kara Joann Tilton
Nusrah Wali
Pamela Nicole Duba Wriston
WITH HONORS IN MAJOR SUBJECT
Liza Luann Abel
Saheed Akinkuolie
Regina Lynn Dilley
Erika Dawn Lilly
Eliot Hunter Maier
Randolph Murphy
Robert Keith Sexton
Janie Blythe Slaydon
Nancy Jo Snyder
*denotes December 2003 graduates.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
Michelle Lynn Anderson, Oak Hill
Melinda Gail Bailey, Arnett
Kendra Elizabeth Blake, Princeton
Stacey LeAnn Blake, Hilltop
Heather Angeline Blankenship, Pipestem
Benjamin Ray Bowling, Oak Hill
Sheila Kay Callaway, Beaver
Kristen Nicole Collins, Rock Creek
Regina Lynn Dilley, Princeton
Rebecca Ann Fraley, Summersville
William Tee Fraley, Summersville
Marcy Suzanne Godfrey, Beckley
Danielle Lena Hamon, Prosperity
Kirsten Margaret Hatten, Prichard
Heather Renee Hodges, Bluefield
Jamie Lynn Hoskins, Beckley
Emily Elaine Huddle, Princeton
Peggy Lynn Huffman, Kopperston
Angel Rena Johnson, West Hamlin
Crystal Lea Jude, Athens
Eric James Lester, Simon
David Jeff Lyons, Jesse
Andrea Hope Marino, Princeton
Bradley Allen Mawyer, Galax, Virginia
Monika Beth McMahan, Daniels
Ami Rebecca Meadows, Princeton
Chastity Danielle Miller, Meadow Bridge
Nancy B Miller, Sinks Grove
Mary Lynn Misch, Beckley
Gina Marie Mounts, Gilbert
Kristin Faith Ohlinger, Mason
Victoria Elizabeth Reed Pauley, Princeton
Jennifer Ellen Persinger, Princeton
Sarah Beth Pettry, Sundial
Jessica J Rodes, Pipestem
Tammy Yvonne Runion, Beaver
Shenna Danielle Russell, Marion, Virginia
Allison Weaver Schaeffer, Cool Ridge
Janie Blythe Slaydon, Ridgeway, Virginia
Holly Nichole Smith, Tazewell, Virginia
Nancy Jo Snyder, Coal City
Kristen Nicole Stafford, Kopperston
Jamie Renee Stewart, Clear Fork
Clarissa Lynne Sutton, Ghent
John Jeffrey Tabor Jr, Beckley
Teresa Gwen Walls, Beckley
Jason Ward White, Princeton
Pamela Nicole Wriston, Scarbro
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Adam Alvin Acord, Athens
Matthew David Adams, Princeton
Joshua David Aliveto, Roanoke, Virginia
Julian Ray Arbaugh, Shady Springs
Brandy Lee Bagar, Bluefield
Rebecca Kathleen Banaszak, Liberty Township, Ohio
Christina Dawn Bays, Fayetteville
Heather Denise Berry, Shady Spring
Joellynn Bolen, Beaver
Jonathan Carrington Bolt, Princeton
Jason Alan Bowlick, Bluefield
John Perry Bowyer, Beckley
Joshua Michael Bradley, Peterstown
Carla Sue Brown, Pilgrims Knob, Virginia
Teresa Suzanne Clark, Madison
Alisha Dawn Cook, Jumping Branch
Ronald Brian Crouse, Princeton
Robert Dean Cyphers, Raysal
Regina Lynn Dilley, Princeton
Christina Renee Duncan, Dallas, North Carolina
Amanda Dawn Ellison, Hinton
Melissa Lynn Farmer, Princeton
Peter M Formato Jr, Princeton
Stephen Jason Fraley, New Haven
David Robert Gaiser, Radcliff, Ohio
Kentaro Hashizume, Athens
Daniel Alan Hudgins Jr, Pineville
Leigh Ann Humphrey, Bluefield
George Thomas Humphrey Jr, Bluefield
Andrew Clayton Hunt, Burton
Kelly Lynn James, Athens
Lura Leigh Kahle, Bluefield
Christopher James Kast, Athens
Holley Michele Kimbrell, Beaver
Jennifer Delise Lake, Athens
Crista Lee Lilly, Hinton
Ian Travis Lovejoy, Charleston
Michael Patrick McMillion, Beckley
Kristen Tenea Mills, Coal City
Tomomi Murata, Tokyo, Japan
Kyra Annita Narain, Hollis, New York
Candace Marie Nelson, Herndon
Misty Dawn Odham, Bradley
Tonya Angelina Payne, Athens
Elizabeth Ann Phillips, Vienna
Brendan Earl Douglas Reed, Charleston, South Carolina
Robert Keith Sexton, Perry, Iowa
Tara Nicole Shleser, Beaver
Jason Lee Spencer, Beaver
Cheryl Lynn Stovall, Sophia
Leann Michelle Toler, Crab Orchard
Nusrah Mohammed Wali, Sokoto, Nigeria
Teresa Gwen Walls, Beckley
Angela Dawn Young, White Oak
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Katherine L Arenz, Pineville
Heather Marie Arnott, Hurricane
Carol A Bays, Fayetteville
Kendra Elizabeth Blake, Princeton
David Jonathon Blue, Princeton
Debra Sue Chase, Elkins
John Dylan Davis, Sophia
Ayan De, Calcutta, India
Matthew Daniel Dillon, Crab Orchard
Renee Diane Gagnier, Roanoke, Virginia
Jennifer Rose Humphreys, Ballard
Justin William Jeffries, Hinton
Vasil Nikolaev Lalov, Sofia, Bulgaria
Sarah Beth Land, Princeton
Andrea Hope Marino, Princeton
Stephan Vilenov Mitchev, Varna, Bulgaria
Toni Renee Muncy, Princeton
Deepak Narasimhan, Athens
Tonya Angelina Payne, Athens
Amanda Jo Preston, Fort Gay
Patricia Silva, Fortaleza-Ce, Brazil
Miroslav Karolinov Stoyanov, Athens
Sarah Marie Sumrall, Oviedo, Florida
Ashley Brooke Tredway, Beckley
Sanae Yamashita, Tokyo, Japan
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Matthew David Adams, Princeton
Saheed Akinkuolie, Abidjanoi, Nigeria
Radostina Angelova, Varna, Bulgaria
Iordan Todorov Atanassov, Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
Jacob Charles Blankenship, Athens
Crystal Michele Bradley, Peterstown
Derrick Shawn Browning, Pineville
James B Cahill, Princeton
Angela Michelle Cline, Ikes Fork
Timothy Mark Coleman, Bedford, Virginia
Ayan De, Calcutta, India
Larry Eugene DeMasi, Keyser
Dimitar Marinov Dimitrov, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Allen James Duncan III, Blue Ridge, Virginia
Paula Annet Dunn, Flat Top
Christy Lynn Elliott, Princeton
Heather Lee-Ann Elliott, Princeton
Lori Jo Elliott, Beckley
Fred Dustin Ferrell, Charleston
Anna Perez Fick, Alderson
Roger D Fraley II, Rock Creek
Stephen Jason Fraley, New Haven
Lori Leigh Gunno, St. Albans
Matthew Paul Jozik, Martinsburg
Makiko Kono, Shizuoka, Japan
Christy Lynn Laxton, Pineville
Jodi Lynn Lovelace-Patrick, Beckley
Amanda Beth Lusk, Princeton
Eliot Hunter Maier, Charleston
Christopher Nicholas Mann, Athens
Thyra Ginatu Nelson, Athens
Jarrod Dale Ogden, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Courtney Leigh Patton, Beckley
Andrew William Ray, Athens
Kelly Lyn Rohrer, California, Maryland
Sathappan Santhanam, Tamil Nadu, India
Michelle Dawn Shafer, Ronceverte
Kimberlee Renee Shutt, Princeton
Wesley Thomas Stanton, Bluefield
Kara Leigh Stephens, Charlton Heights
Susan Blaine Terry, Princeton
Nicole Elizabeth Thomas, Hamilton, Ohio
Joshua Alan Wise, Huntington
Jessica Rae Wolfe, Princeton
Umaru Mustaha Zubairu, Minna, Nigeria
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK
Rochelle Dawn Atkins, Sophia
David Michael Hess, Crab Orchard
Lorri Deidra Lambert, Rocky Gap, Virginia
Stephanie Dawn Plass, Princeton
Kara Joann Tilton, Charleston
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RECREATION AND TOURISM
Liza Luann Abel, Buchannon
Jerri D Beverly, Premier
Jordan Michael Cox, South Charleston
Erika Dawn Lilly, Nimitz
Randolph Murphy, MacArthur
Tara Nicole Shleser, Beaver
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Dawn Rena Barker, Cincinnati, Ohio
Anga Leah McCarus, Daniels
Erin Summer McKenzie, Summersville
Jesse Benjamin Miller, Jumping Branch
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Dimitar Marinov Dimitrov, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Christopher Ryan Hill, Princeton
James William Pettry, Beckley
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION ARTS
Daniel Joseph Aguire II, Northfork
Gregory Wayne Brown, Cool Ridge
Joel Isaac Richardson, Princeton
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
David Robert Land, Princeton
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ATHLETIC TRAINING
Carol Louise Bonnes, Ballyclare, Ireland
Rebecca Nikole Harvey, Princeton
Christina M Reed, Sissonsville
Heather Leigh Scott, Bluefield
Ashley Brooke Sisk, Crab Orchard
Dewayne Ardell Smith, Amersfoort, Netherlands
Sandra Bethany Smith, Athens
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCES
Cheryle Ann Boggs, Hillsboro
Erin Beth Ellison-Hunt, Delbarton
Melissa Lynn Farmer, Princeton
Aaron Michael Hill, Meadow Bridge
Troy R Huffman, Kegley
Edward L Moore Jr, Princeton
REGENTS BACHELOR OF ARTS
Sharon Sue Layfield Allen, Buchannon
Tsutomu Arai, Hyogo, Japan
Hoda Bleik Bizri, Princeton
Steven M Brinkley, Colombus, Ohio
Vincent Brown, Bluefield
Dusty Lynn Crum, Kermit
Justin Matthew Holcomb, Bickmore
Adrian Curtis Kimble, Tallmansville
Thomas Eugene Lester, Princeton
Beverly James Maxwell, Spanishburg
Teresa Lynn Morgan, McGraws
Amanda Ross Revels, Traphill, North Carolina
Keyode Omar Rogers, Martinsville, Virginia
Billie Jean Shields, Coolridge
Dorothy Marie Smith, Roanoke, Virginia
Lisa Marie Wilkins, Wytheville, Virginia
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CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION, AUGUST 6, 2004
HONOR CANDIDATES
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
Scott William George
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Harshit Agarwal
Garrick Robert Burdette
Carol Signe Jackson
Wendy Dawn Morgan
Abigail Lynne Osorio
CUM LAUDE
Richard Alan Addair Jr
David Joseph Bumgarner
Erin Dale Wimer
CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION, AUGUST 6, 2004
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Melissa Ann Buckland, Hinton
David Joseph Bumgarner, Beckley
Garrick Robert Burdette, Princeton
Brian Joseph Cooper, Hinton
Jay Holden Deal, Beckley
Neal Curtis Hamilton, Athens
Mary Ellen Lambert, Corinne
Wendy Dawn Morgan, North Spring
Allison Renee Page, Centreville, Virginia
Eryn Danielle Roles, Hagerstown, Maryland
Vanessa Nicole Snead, Stuardsville, Virginia
Jessica Nicole Taylor, Glen White
Kimberly Jill White, South Charleston
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
Darshan H Baldev, Athens
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Richard Alan Addair, Avondale
Harshit Agarwal, Calcutta, India
Dipika Ben, Bluefield, Virginia
Angela L Bever, Fenwick
Kristopher M Byus, Danville
Eric Joseph Fessler, Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Fumika Nakamura, Saitama, Japan
Abigail Lynne Osorio, Beckley
Heather Lynn Quick, Bluefield
Jake Kyle Saunders, Blue Ridge, Virginia
Richa Srivastava, Calcutta, India
BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK
Franklin Monroe Bowles Jr, Talcott
Melissa Bennett Carr, Lashmeet
Melissa Erin Clemons, Lewisburg
Kassi Jo Farris, Beckley
Maggie Lynn Harless, Madison
Carol Signe Jackson, Hinton
Cassandra Ann Morton, Beckley
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Betty Jean Wiseman, Princeton
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Joseph Anthony Lawston, Manassas, Virginia
Phillip Edward Pratt, Ringgold, Virginia
Travis Preston, Martinsville, Virginia
Andrew Bartlett White, New Brunswick, Canada
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION ARTS
Latonia Marie Turner, Marion, Virginia
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN RECREATION AND TOURISM
Scott William George, Fayetteville
Zachariah Patrick Graybill, Blue Ridge, Virginia
Erin Leigh Porreca, Beaver
Melanie Dawn Shrader, Pipestem
Jessica Lynn Walls, Bruceton Mills
Kimberly Jill White, South Charleston
Erin Dale Wimer, Hillsboro
April Lyn Wyrick, Princeton
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCES
Marcus Vincent Ervin, Bluefield
REGENTS BACHELOR OF ARTS
Jason Eugene Banks, Whitesville
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PHOTO: The valedictories to the College were (left to right): Michelle Lynn Anderson, Derrick Shawn Browning, Stephen Jason Fraley, Lori Leigh Gunno, Monika Beth McMahan and Angela Dawn Young.
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