CENTRAL – Southern Wesleyan University awarded more than 300 graduates with degrees during two commencement ceremonies on its campus in Central.

The commencement speaker was Belle S. Wheelan, Ph.D., who is the first African American and the first woman to serve as president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Her career spans 40 years and includes the roles of faculty member, chief student services officer, campus provost, college president and secretary of education.

Wheelan shared with graduates some of the lessons she said contributed to her success, saying “take time to say ‘thank you’ to the people around you,” and “it’s more important to be respected for the things you believe than to be liked.”

“People will always remember how you treat them, but you’ll best be remembered for the things you did,” Wheelan said. Wheelan urged graduates of the adult and online programs Dec. 12 to thank their family members, spouses, coworkers or professors for “getting them where they are today,” adding “for those of you who were there for them, job well done.”

“You are living proof that anything worth having is worth working for,” Wheelan added.

During the ceremony, University President Todd Voss presented Wheelan with a presidential citation honoring her dedication and recognizing her four decades of service as an educator.

Prior to both ceremonies, Donna Pittman, admissions specialist and VA coordinator, presented more than 20 student veterans and current military personnel with patriotic graduation tassels, honoring his or her service to our country.

The Southern Wesleyan University Alumni Association presented all graduates with a SWU commemorative Bible as they crossed the stage, new degrees in hand.

Other highlights included the university’s choral ensemble performing Dec. 11 under the direction of Dr. Don Campbell, professor of music; the university’s brass ensemble under the direction of Greg Day, professor of music; and the University Singers performing Dec. 12 under the direction of Rev. Gail Kerstetter.

Earlier on Friday, the university held its Baccalaureate, featuring a “ceremony of the servants” in which graduates of the traditional programs received towels – a symbol of Christian service – embroidered with the Southern Wesleyan University seal. James S. Bross, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Southern Wesleyan and an alumnus, delivered the Baccalaureate sermon. Bross later witnessed his granddaughter, Anna Bross, graduating Summa Cum Laude with her English degree.

The ceremonies were held in the auditorium of Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center. The December 2015 graduates included:

Anderson: Ronnie M. Adger, B.S. in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; April Erbe Cowan, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Lowry Lefebvre Cowan, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Kathryn Kelly Sinclair Dunlap, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; John Taylor Fredrickson, B.S. in Applied Computer Science; April Lee Hays, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Angela Leigh Morris, B.S. in Business Administration; Matthew Lee Mulkey, B.S. in Business Management, Cum Laude; Helen Janean Stepp, B.S. in Human Services, Magna Cum Laude; George F. Taylor IX, B.S. in Business Administration, Cum Laude; Anthony C. Wagoner, B.S. in Business Administration; Roselind Yvette Wideman, M.S. in Management.

Central: Wallace Deandre Cobbs., M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision; Nicholas Alexander Hawthorne, B.S. in Psychology; Jordan Thomas Maurice Painter, B.S. in Recreation and Sport Management; Khristy Kelley Parham, B.S. in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude; Taylor Garrett Smith, B.S. in Recreation and Leisure; Allison Harbin Stewart, B.S. in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude; Lindsey Turner, B.S. in Early Childhood Education – Elementary Education, Summa Cum Laude.

Easley: Sherri Dorsey Berendsen, B.S. Business Administration; James McKenzie Duke Blandin, B.S. in Early Childhood Education – Elementary Education; Monty Carlos Broome Jr., A.A. in General Studies; Paige Victoria Buldo, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Jason Brandon Cain, B.S. in Business Management; Eudera Shelee’ Cannon, B.S. in Human Services; Amy J. Carter, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; David Brent Carter, B.S. in Biology; Cassidy Brooke Evatt, B.S. in Business Administration; Steven Timothy Fincher, B.S. in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude; Kristen Gilstrap, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Timothy J Gordon, B.S. in Social Science; Janesha Christian Hallums, B.S. in Business Management; Bianca Devon Hanson, B.S. in Business Administration, University Honors; Breanna Kowaleski, B.S. in Physical Education; Anthony Michael Love, B.S. in Business Management; Paul Enyioma Ohanuka, B.S. in Social Science; Russell Lee Perkins, B.S. in Business Administration, Cum Laude; Candace Lee Ramey Rivera, B.S. in Business Administration; Samantha Jo VanDorn, A.A. in General Studies; Nicholas L. Willis, Master of Business Administration, Mallory Robyn Wade M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision.

Liberty: Sharon Lynn Hughes, B.S. in Business Administration, Cum Laude; Dana Evans Lester, B.S. in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; Rita Revels Rahn, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision; Christie Lee Vaughn, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Donna Finley Wood, A.A. in General Studies.

Pickens: Mary Ann Bell, B.S. in Business Administration, Cum Laude; Heather Crisp, B.S. in Human Services; Tammy Davis, M.Ed. in Classroom Leadership; Brentley Chad Ellenburg, A.A. in General Studies; Sandra Lusk, B.S. in Business Administration; William Travis Mitchell, B.S. in Business Management, Magna Cum Laude; Tamela Powell Ross, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision.

Six Mile: Anita B. Averette, M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision; Taylor Mackenzie Mann, B.S. in Computer Information Systems.

Champ Squires of Alcolu, Mary Annette Wilbourne of West Columbia and John Frederickson of Anderson receive applause from Southern Wesleyan University faculty members as they approach Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center on the Central campus.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_swudec2015grads01.jpgChamp Squires of Alcolu, Mary Annette Wilbourne of West Columbia and John Frederickson of Anderson receive applause from Southern Wesleyan University faculty members as they approach Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center on the Central campus. Photos courtesy of Southern Wesleyan University

Graduates of the adult evening and online programs march towards Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center during a Dec. 12 ceremony at Southern Wesleyan University in Central. The university presented 271 degrees to its adult program graduates.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_swudec2015grads02.jpgGraduates of the adult evening and online programs march towards Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center during a Dec. 12 ceremony at Southern Wesleyan University in Central. The university presented 271 degrees to its adult program graduates. Photos courtesy of Southern Wesleyan University

The City of Greenville Pipes and Drums march ahead of December graduates in a processional up Wesleyan Drive toward Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center at Southern Wesleyan University at the start of the Dec. 11 commencement ceremony.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_swudec2015grads03.jpgThe City of Greenville Pipes and Drums march ahead of December graduates in a processional up Wesleyan Drive toward Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center at Southern Wesleyan University at the start of the Dec. 11 commencement ceremony. Photos courtesy of Southern Wesleyan University

This story courtesy of Southern Wesleyan University.