By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
Bethel College held its first-ever summer commencement
Sunday in the Bouldin Auditorium. Because of the expanded
curriculum offerings and the degree-completion program
Success, the college found a need for three commencement
exercises annually.
With the growing number of Bethel graduates, it was decided
last year to hold a summer graduation, which allows students
that were not quite finished with classes for the May
graduation to complete all course requirements during the
summer sessions and celebrate their graduation in August
instead of waiting until December to receive their diplomas.
The welcome address by Bethel College President, Robert
Prosser included words of encouragement for the Class of
2005, and reminded students of the long Bethel College
tradition, "Bethel College is a welcoming community where
tradition is honored - excellent training, communications,
values, and energy are all part of the long Bethel
heritage."
Reverend Linda Glenn speaks to the
gathering in Bouldin Auditorium. |
Commencement speaker Reverend Linda Glenn, the newly
elected moderator of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
denomination, presented the address.
The speaker commended the students for their accomplishment
through sacrifice. But she added that life is more than
education.
"As citizens of the world, we have a responsibility to help
make this world a better place. We have a responsibility to
ensure that our schools and our students never forget that
there is more to education than beef liver. And, if we are a
people of faith, we believe that God has placed us in this
world for nothing less."
Reverend Glenn said that love, faith and education along
with a responsibility to the community in which we live are
all important. Reflecting on the fact that the atrocities of
Nazi Germany were carried out by learned men, she said,
"Without love, we are nothing, as Paul wrote to the
Corinthians. Even if we do religious things such as read
books of theology, attend church and Sunday school every
week, and help with charitable causes, we must be aimed at
love. In fact, when Christians presumed to be something
other than love or something in addition to love, and love
becomes one of the sidelines of dogma, we end up with
another Nazi Germany, Salem witch hunts, the Crusades, and
so on. The church actually becomes outwardly aggressive and
inwardly self-destructive."
"We each, if we are alert, have a lifetime of opportunities
to practice being human, being loving. Consider it
continuing education," said Glenn.
Bethel President Robert Prosser presented the diplomas as
Jim Blasick, interim academic dean, announced each
candidate.
Bachelor Degree Graduates
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: Mark David Aldridge,
Bryan Todd Alexander, Angela Beth Ammons (Summa Cum Laude),
Debra Robinson Anthony (Cum Laude), LaTanya H. Bachus,
Christie Lee Bradshaw, Gretchen Delores Brown, Michael Adam
Burke, Kimberly Eddlemon Burkett, David L. Cochran,
Cassandra Ann Cowan, Raymond Davis, Sr., Tonya T. Davis,
Jennifer Love Everson, D. Clay Gabhart, Mary J. Green (Summa
Cum Laude), Michelle Martell Green, Ronald Wayne Hale, Don
W. Horner II (Cum Laude), Eric M. Houck, Irene Farrington
Hudson, Mark Anthony Isaac (Cum Laude), Alicia Michelle
Jefferson, Susan Jones, Danny R. Knox, Crystal Newsom
Kuykendall, Michele Renee Lainhart, Lynzey Renee Lambert,
Tracy Lee Light (Summa Cum Laude), Ida Costanzo Liska, Rick
E. McClure, Deborah Helms Martin, Krystal LeAnne Maynard,
Emily Brooke Newsom, Monica Thompson Permenter (Summa Cum
Laude), Marcella K. Pipitone (Summa Cum Laude), Johnnie
Pittman Rasch (Cum Laude), Sherry Delois Reece, Shawna Raye
Roney, Terrie M. Rucker, Jonathan Bennie Russom, Bonita
Alicia Saffold, Kevin Lane Scott (Cum Laude), David A.
Sheron (Magna Cum Laude)- Member of Gamma Beta Phi Honor
Society
, Susan Marie Simmons, Niki Smith, Robby Smith (Cum Laude),
Natalie Lynn Soule, Angela Lisa Taylor, Ginger Lea Teague,
Bonita Kim Thompson, Deborah Tutor (Magna Cum Laude), Neal
Weatherly, Stephanie Wilkerson (Cum Laude), Carol Ashley
Woodard (Cum Laude), Pamela R. Young (Cum Laude).
BACHELOR OF ARTS: Christopher Aaron Schlegel.
Master of Arts in Education
recipients were: (front left to right) Clara Weatherford,
Li-Chuan Du, Tiffany Smith, Courtney Kee, Sally Shymkiw,
Sherrie Austin, Huai-Min Fang, (second row) Jennifer Nolen,
Ronald Mackin, Bridget McClarin, Elizabeth Beloate, (third
row) Annie Welch, Kimberly Smith, and Christopher Elliott.
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION: Sherrie Derenda
Austin, Elizabeth Caviness Beloate, Kerry Antonio Brimmo,
Christopher David Elliott, Huai-Min Fang, Jessica Kathleen
Hardy, Courtney C. Kee, Li-Chuan Du (Nancy), Bridget Elaine
McClarin, Ronald Wayne Mackin, Jennifer Eva Earley Nolen,
Robert Guy Shanklin, Sally Ramsay Shymkiw, Kimberley Jolyn
Smith, Tiffany Rene Hurley Smith, Clara Holland Weatherford,
Annie Wauneice Welch
MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING: Myra Cavness Krenis
Adam Burke of McKenzie
receives his Bachelor of Science degree.
Krystal Maynard of McKenzie
receives her undergraduate degree from Reverend Bob Prosser
during Sunday's commencement.
Kelly and 1-year-old Juleanne
help celebrate Clara Weatherford's graduation at Bethel.
Mother and daughter receive
their Master of Arts in Education degree from Bethel on
Saturday. Sally Shymkiw is a seventh grade math teacher at
McKenzie Middle School and Courtney teachers third grade at
McKenzie Elementary School.
Five more McKenzie teachers
receive their Master of Arts in Education degrees. (l to r)
Tiffany Smith, Sally Shymkiw, Courtney Kee, Kimberly Smith,
and Sherrie Austin.
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