1999 Winter OBU Graduates

December 28, 1999

Eighty-six Oklahoma Baptist University students had degrees conferred upon them at the university's winter commencement ceremony Friday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. in Raley Chapel. Dr. Mark Brister, president of OBU, was the speaker at the graduation ceremony.

From the School of Fine Arts, graduates included Sarah Anne Abernethy from Enid with a bachelor's degree in music education, Piano K-12, and vocal certification; Kathryn Gale Alexander, bachelor's degree in communication studies, Casper, Wy.; Melissa Meacham Busby, Reno, Nev., bachelor's degree in telecommunications; Roland Benjamin Clifton, bachelor's degree in music education; Collin E. Douglas, bachelor's degree in music education, vocal K-12, Glen Rose, Texas; Susie Jimmay Heberle, bachelor's degree in instrumental music, Forsyth, Mont.; Tabitha LaRue Holman, bachelor's degree in piano, Fort Worth, Texas; Gerald Andrew Koester, bachelor's degree in interpersonal and public communication, Piedmont; Joshua D. Lemonds, bachelor's degree in telecommunications, Choctaw; and Angela L. Wilson, bachelor's degree in theatre, Billings, Mont.

Those graduating from the School of Christian Service included: Clayton Myris Adams, bachelor's degree in Christian studies, Clawsfordsville, Ind.; Matthew K. Boone, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, pastoral, Calera; C. Lynn Brinkley, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, education, Shawnee; Christopher Scott Broeker, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, youth, Oklahoma City; Michael Joseph Cavanaugh, Jr, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, youth, Shawnee; Rustin Lee Comer, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, youth, Wellington, Texas; Amberly Bissett Doss, bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary, religion/Asian studies, Sallisaw; Russell J. Feeling, diploma in Christian studies, Locust Grove; Kenneth J. Gaylon, diploma in Christian studies, Robards, Kent.; Ernest Dale Gravatt, Jr. bachelor's degree in applied ministry, youth, Shawnee; Shana Suzane Loper, bachelors's degree in applied ministry, cross-cultural, Oklahoma City; Timothy Craig Lucas, bachelor's degree in Bible, Sapulpa; Manuel Parker, bachelor's degree in Christian studies, Mannford; Michael Dennis Paul, bachelor's degree in religion departmental, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; Gary Andrew Pope, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, pastoral, Sayre; James R. Raffety, bachelor's degree in applied ministry, pastoral, Shawnee; Michael Wayne Rains, interdisciplinary major, religion/anthropology, Tulsa; Brenson D. Reed, bachelor's degree in religion, Bible, Oklahoma City; and Bryan Emerson Wilks, bachelor's degree in philosophy, Shawnee.

Those graduating from the school of Arts and Sciences included: Amy Joyce Adams, bachelor's degree in English, Fort Worth, Texas; Krystal Lyn Akers, bachelor's degree in social work, Duncan; Alisha Ashcraft, bachelor's degree in English, Meeker; Marti LeeAnn Bennett, bachelor's degree in family psychology, Glendale, Ariz.; Melissa Nicole Bradshaw, bachelor's degree in English, secondary education, Ninnekah; Natasha Wolski Caldwell, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, pre-physical therapy, Shawnee; Laura Lynn Carpenter, bachelor's degree in recreation administration, Bartlesville; Roxanna Leigh Copeland, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, sports medicine, Pawnee; Tracy R. Davis, bachelor's degree in mathematics, secondary education, Oklahoma City; Christopher Sean Donnell, bachelor's degree in English, Shawnee; Charles Joshua Doull, bachelor's degree in psychology, Norman; Lisa Janelle Gonzalez, bachelor's degree in family psychology, Burleson, Texas; Asheley Brooke Harrison, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, sports medicine, Moore; Scott Robert Helton, bachelor's degree in social studies, secondary education, Wewoka; Sandi Gail Hirrill, bachelor's degree in family psychology, Claremore; Jerry Stephen Howard, bachelor's degree in history, Los Alamos, New Mexico; Helen Eugenyevna Izmailova, bachelor's degree in political science, Bishek; Grant Phillip Janzen, bachelor's degree in biology, Enid; Amy Adelle Jennings, bachelor's degree in psychology, Oklahoma City; Dacia Nichole Jernigen, exercise and sports science, sports medecine, Shawnee; Zachary Neal Johnson, bachelor's degree in health, physical education, and recreation, K-12, Loco; Richard K. Klein, interdisciplinary, history/communication/business administration, San Antonio, Texas; Kelly A. Lee, bachelor's degree in family psychology, Shawnee; Andrea Leigh Leslie, bachelor's degree in family psychology, Ponder, Texas; Preston Curtis Love, bachelor's degree in psychology, Oklahoma City; September Lynn McIntyre, bachelor's degree in public relations, Burns Flat; Jason H. Moyer, bachelor's degree in health, physical education, and recreation, Tecumseh; Nancy Ann Phillips, bachelor's degree in elementary education, language arts emphasis, Shawnee; Holly C. Prickett, bachelor's degree in political science, Manchaca, Texas; David Edward Ricks, bachelor's degree in American studies, Shawnee; Jennifer Nicole Robinson, bachelor's degree in English, Oklahoma City; Gary Russell, II, bachelor's degree in health, physical education, and recreation, K-12, Fort Smith, Ark.; Stephanie Lea Shapley, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, pre-physical therapy, Fritch, Texas; Cassie Benae Shelton, bachelor's degree in elementary education, language arts emphasis, Shawnee; Joel Keith Shockley, bachelor's degree in sociology/anthropology and museum management, Shawnee; Amy Ellen Smith, bachelor's degree in elementary education, language arts emphasis, Yukon; Gary D. Smith, Jr., bachelor's degree in psychology, Mesa, Ariz.; Matthew Fletcher Stevenson, bachelor's degree in elementary education, language arts emphasis, New Ulm, Minn.; Jeremy L. Strong, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, sports medicine, Ada; Jeremy Jardin Tanner, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, sports medicine, Harrah; Carrie Beth Thomas, bachelor's degree in English, secondary education, Edmond; Courtney Anne Thomas, bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science, pre-physical therapy, Edmond; Kenton Eugene Tsoodle, bachelor's degree in Spanish, Oklahoma City; Janett Del Carmen Vasquez, bachelor's degree in health, physical education, and recreation, K-12, Colon, Panama; and Kendra M. Wolverton, bachelor's degree in social work, Milwaukee, Wis.

Those graduating from the School of Business included: Tara Kay Atkinson, bachelor's degree in international business and marketing, Harrah; Norma Marie Cole, bachelor's degree in management, Sparks; Randal Ray Frye, bachelor's degree in finance, Tulsa; Kam Hung Fung, finance, Hong Kong; Larry Shelton Haun, bachelor's degree in marketing, Spring, Texas; Angela Marie Hughes, bachelor's degree in marketing, Overland Park, Kan.; Stephanie Louise Oakley, bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, Maypearl, Texas; Andy Jason Overmon, bachelor's degree in international business, Mustang; Angela Marie Pennington Overmon, bachelor's degree in international business, Mustang; James F. Smith, Jr., bachelor's degree in management, Shawnee; Timothy D. Spaulding, bachelor's degree in marketing/management, Norman; Gregory Keith Sullivan, bachelor's degree in international business, Shawnee; and Kenton Eugene Tsoodle, bachelor's degree in international business, Oklahoma City.

This was Brister's second graduation address since he became president of the university in 1998. Prior to coming to OBU, he was the pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, La., since 1989. Before that he was a pastor at Memorial Baptist Church in Baytown, Texas, and a pastor at First Baptist Church in Bolivar, Missouri.

He received his bachelor's degree from Baylor University and received his masters in divinity degree and his Ph.D. degree from Southwestern Seminary.