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December Graduates Part of First Graduating Class of Virginia Wesleyan University
The 2017 December Graduates' Recognition Ceremony and Reception was held on December 10
Featured News | December 14, 2017
Watch the webcast of the December Graduates’ Recognition Ceremony on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network events page. View the photo gallery on the Virginia Wesleyan Flickr page.
The 2017 December Graduates’ Recognition Ceremony and Reception was held in the Jane P. Batten Student Center on Sunday, December 10. These December graduates are a part of the very first graduating class of Virginia Wesleyan University!
President Scott D. Miller welcomed the gathering of graduates, family, friends and distinguished guests in attendance, sharing his gratitude with the family members and friends who have supported the students in achieving this significant milestone.
“I look forward to hearing about these graduates’ many accomplishments and the great ways they will make a positive impact on the world,” noted Dr. Miller.
He also applauded the dedicated faculty whose skilled teaching, advising, and mentoring provided invaluable guidance over the last four years.
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Leslie Caughell, Assistant Professor of Political Science and the recipient of our 2017 Samuel Nelson Gray Distinguished Teaching Award. She shared inspiring advice on finding happiness in a life filled with obligations. She encouraged graduates, among other suggestions, to find value in the simple things, to treat others with kindness and generosity, to practice empathy, to show gratitude, and to find a career they love and find intellectually engaging.
Students were welcomed to their new graduate status by Alumni Council Vice Chair Troy DeLawrence ’93, who applauded the ambition and resiliency of December graduates and encouraged them to stay connected with the vast network of Marlin alumni.
Congratulations to the following candidates for December graduation:
Bachelor of Science
Christine J. Commons (biology)
Duncan J. Miller (biology)
David Dewayne Pintor, Jr. (mathematics)
Alexia L. Vassiliadis (mathematics)
Bachelor of Arts
Amberly M. Alston (comprehensive liberal studies)
San Juan M. Alston (social science)
Tiffany Amber Barndt (criminal justice)
Patrick J. Barrett (social science)
Tiffany Barrett (mathematics)
Christopher D. Battle (communication)
Montana S. Bieder (business and environmental studies)
Jordan Ashley Brenner (criminal justice)
Victor Brunious, Jr. (business)
Samantha N. Bush (psychology)
Amanda Leigh Butler (comprehensive liberal studies)
Michael Carver (business)
Avriana A. Chavez (comprehensive liberal studies)
Jamielynn Chewning (social sciences divisional)
Caleb L. Coro (English)
Clemi S. Daniels (social sciences divisional)
Rebecca Lynne Davis (business and Hispanic studies)
Kyla A. Edwards-Henderson (English)
Jennifer L. Ellington (comprehensive liberal studies)
Shelby L. Emch (music)
Hannah Eva Fisher (business)
Ashlei N. Gates (communication)
Jennifer Winnett Glazier (English)
Brenna Victoria Gonzales (criminal justice and sociology)
Taylor S. Hardy (business)
Jenine A. Harland (social science)
Allison R. Heitsman (criminal justice)
Carmen W. Hitt (business)
James R. Koonce (criminal justice)
Ja’Maiya S. Logan (political science)
Allison H. Mackley (recreation and leisure studies)
Brittany R. Miller (psychology)
Mechelle Monique Osby (social sciences divisional)
Solomon N. Ott (history)
Kristin Lee Rempas (international studies)
Kristara Besa Richards (criminal justice and psychology)
Erick A. Rivera (sociology)
Michelle Sanderson (political science)
Victoria L. Sierra (English)
Melissa S. Stroup (psychology)
Kaitlynne M. Thomas (biology)
Paige E. Trageser (criminal justice)
Tyler MacKenzie Watts (English)
Destiny A. Winters (history and social science)
Alexandra D. Wright (recreation and leisure studies)