OBU Recognizes 269 Students

May 24, 2003

Two hundred sixty-nine students participated in graduation exercises during Oklahoma Baptist University's 2003 Spring Commencement Saturday morning in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. 

Dr. Ronald Duncan, professor of anthropology, and recipient of OBU's 2002 Distinguished Teaching Award delivered the commencement address. The program also included greetings by officials from the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and the OBU Alumni Association.

Twenty-four students graduated with the scholastic predicate summa cum laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average on all work offered for their degrees.

In addition to the summa cum laude designation, 94 other students graduated with scholastic predicates. Students who maintained at least a 3.70 GPA on work toward their degrees were designated magna cum laude. Students who maintained at least a 3.40 GPA on work toward their degrees were designated cum laude.

Students who completed requirements for OBU's honors program graduated with the distinction, "with honors."

From the Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service, those recognized included: Pamela Joyce Barnes, magna cum laude with honors, biblical languages, San Antonio, Texas; Misty Rose Bryant, cross cultural ministry, Coweta; Michael Paul Burns, biblical languages, Oklahoma City; Michael Joseph Cooper, Bible, Oklahoma City; Chad Russell Coulter, youth ministry, Choctaw; Marsha Lynnell Crenshaw, Christian studies, Tulsa; Caleb Crutchfield, youth ministry, Choctaw; Shauna M. Daggs, Bible, Harrah; Steven Benjamin Dilla, pastoral ministry, Flower Mound, Texas; Matthew Thomas Donaldson, Bible, Carmel, Ind.; Justin Dale Dunn, Bible, Park Hills, Mo.; Ronald Carl Duvall, cum laude, Christian studies, Tulsa; Steven James Elliott, youth ministry, Cushing; Aaron C. Fenlason, magna cum laude, religion, Tishomingo; Meredith Elaine Files, summa cum laude with honors, philosophy, Ada; Matthew Derrick Formby, cum laude, Bible, Pawhuska; Randall Newman Forsythe, cum laude, Christian studies (second degree), Highland, Ind.; Alan G. Fortenberry, youth ministry; Nathan Dwayne Funk, Bible, Clinton; Matthew Gabriel Gilliam, cum laude, Bible, Ft. Worth, Texas; Christopher Michael Gore, magna cum laude with honors, biblical languages, Choctaw; Roberto C. Guillermo, Christian studies (second degree), Oklahoma City; Michael Joseph Hale, pastoral ministry, Oklahoma City; Seyan Nieke Harms, summa cum laude with honors, youth ministry and communication studies, Yukon; Rebecca LaRae Harris, cum laude, children's ministry, Aurora, Colo.; L. Mitchell Henager, philosophy, Moore; Joshua Crawford Jenkins, Christian Studies, Billings, Mont.; Emily Jeanette Keen, magna cum laude, cross cultural ministry and family psychology, Meeker; Kara Leigh Lambert, religion, Broken Arrow; Kathleen Marie Lerch, magna cum laude with honors, interdisciplinary, Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Neal Benjamin Livingston in absentia, cross cultural ministry, Edmond; Mark Allen Mackey, youth ministry, Stroud; Jonathan Russell McMullen, youth ministry, Greenville, Texas; Benjamin Paul McSpadden, magna cum laude, interdisciplinary, San Angelo, Texas; Nan Cherie McSpadden, magna cum. laude, interdisciplinary, Shawnee; Jennifer Paige Montgomery, cum laude, interdisciplinary, Corpus Christi, Texas; Brent Newsom, summa cum laude with honors, interdisciplinary, DeRidder, La.; Stuart Loyd Pendell, cum laude, Bible, Elkhorn, Neb.; Matthew Dell Porter, summa cum laude, biblical languages, Cushing; Dustin Michael Ragland, magna cum laude, biblical languages, Edmond; Christopher Ryan Roberson, cum laude, youth ministry, Wellington, Texas; Kristen David Shiplet, cum laude, youth ministry and journalism, Bixby; Mark Alan Sims, pastoral ministry, Stroud; Jason Robert Sprague, pastoral ministry, Oklahoma City; Emily Canaan Thigpen, Bible, Franklin, Tenn.; Chrisina Lynn Thomas, magna cum laude, biblical languages, Newalla; Todd James Viellenave, youth ministry, Evergreen, Colo.; Jason Wade Warner, youth ministry, Yukon; Ashley Dee Wendland, religion and family psychology, Casper, Wyo.; Cameron Thomas Whaley, Bible, Edmond; William John White, magna cum laude with honors, biblical languages, Paoli; Noah John Wickham, children's ministry, Claremore; Denise Ranae Wilkens, summa cum laude, biblical languages, Hutchinson, Kan.; Andrew Jordan Wilkins, cum laude, Bible; Mustang; Cameron Lee Williams, biblical languages, Oklahoma City; Amanda Kay Wilson, cross cultural ministry, Springtown, Texas; Benjamin Lee Wilson, pastoral ministry, Kelso, Wash.; Michael Lynn Wood, youth ministry, Wichita Falls, Texas; Rebekah Anne Woodring, children's ministry, Yukon; and John Bristow Wornall V, cross cultural ministry, Overland Park, Kan.

Candidates for associate of arts degrees from the Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service included John Dennis Higgins, Christian studies, Mulberry, Fla.; Don Lowry, Christian studies, Oklahoma City; and Chelsea Ann Polak, Christian studies, Billings, Mont.

From the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts, candidates for bachelor's degrees included Lee Newton Berryman, communication studies, Marlow; Jeremiah Michael Brewer, magna cum laude, church music, Altus; Jerod Wayne Chambers, cum laude, telecommunication, Elgin; Adam Keith Copus, telecommunication, Carnegie; Stephen Brett Davison, summa cum laude with honors, communication studies, Albuquerque, N.M.; Kinsey Ruth Dickey, theatre and history, Springdale, Ark.; Erin Kylene Earle, music education, instrumental, K-12, Wichita, Kan.; Cody Dale Evans, church music: voice, Moore; Staci Jenee Foresee, magna cum laude, telecommunication, Shawnee; Ashley Jane Fuller, cum laude, telecommunication, Ada; Kristin Marie Grimes, magna cum laude, music education, vocal, K-12, Donnellson, Iowa; J. Kyle Isenhower, telecommunication, Rogers, Ark.; Patricia Ann Kipper, summa cum laude, musical arts: vocal, Olathe, Kan.; Misty Dawn Lamb, magna cum laude, musical arts: piano, Tulsa; Cheryl Elizabeth Sartain Lowber, magna cum laude with honors, theatre, Tyler, Texas; Amy Beth Milner, communication studies, Yukon; Stephanie Elizabeth Norton, summa cum laude, piano performance: pedagogy emphasis, Winters, Texas; Angela Kaye Martin Payne, magna cum laude, music education, piano: vocal K-12, Eugene, Ore.; Drew Alan Payton, telecommunication, Tulsa; Jennifer Raelene Peck, magna cum laude with honors, instrumental music education, PK-12, Oklahoma City; Kimberly Ann Pringle, cum laude, music education, vocal K-12, Ardmore; Phillip Brent Reynolds, communication studies, Rockport, Texas; David Aaron Robertson, summa cum laude, church music: instrumental, Three Rivers, Calif.; Joy Suzanne Russell, telecommunication and Spanish, Cedar Park, Texas; Martha Ann Short, music education, vocal K-12, Mulvane, Kan.; Alison Gayle Smith, cum laude, telecommunication, Boulder, Colo.; Elizabeth Anne Timmons, cum laude, music education, vocal K-12, Ft. Worth, Texas; Reiner Lynn Van Gordon, communication studies, Chagrin Falls, Ore.; Jill Renee Hively Wells, art, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Elizabeth Renee Wetherbee, in absentia, summa cum laude, music education, instrumental K-12, Minco; Lauren Allison Wood, magna cum laude, telecommunication, Spring, Texas; and Kenan Alyse Younger, communication studies, Corinth, Texas.

From the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates for bachelor's degrees included: Lindsey Meredith Adams, summa cum laude, multilingual communication: Spanish and French, Fredericksburg, Va.; Heather Marie Anderson, early childhood education, Pryor; Ashley Laine Bass, cum laude, special education: mild/moderate disabilities, PK-12, Broken Arrow; Bethany Ann Bauman, summa cum laude, exercise and sports science: pre-physical therapy, Russellville, Ark.; Casi Jo Cox Bays, interdisciplinary, Newcastle; Joshua Michael Behlmann, cum laude with honors, chemistry area of concentration, Wentzville, Mo.; Sheree Elizabeth Belknap, magna cum laude, elementary and early childhood education, Hutchinson, Kan.; Keri Snider Bilke, magna cum laude, anthropology and museum management; Jason Dale Boarts, history, Findlay, Ohio; Natalie Diane Bowen, summa cum laude with honors, family psychology, Oklahoma City; Mark Stephen Bowlan, magna cum laude, mathematics education, secondary, Shawnee; Michelle Lee Bowles, elementary and early childhood education, Lewisville, Texas; Tyler Brooke Bryan, cum laude, elementary education, Edmond; Meaghan Elisabeth Burklow, history, Canon City; Amber LeAnn Burrows, cum laude, elementary education, Poteau; Steven Glen Charles, family psychology, Mustang; Stacy D. Clippard, family psychology, Yukon; Patsy Michelle Coats, natural science, Claremore; Ann Louise Coffman, summa cum laude, Spanish, Fort Smith, Ark.; Tiffany Marie Combs, magna cum laude, family psychology, Chandler; Melody Adele Comer, English, Gallup, N.M.; Rebecca Jane Costanzo, family development, Tulsa; Allison Nicole Dean, magna cum laude, history, Ft. Worth, Texas; Patricia Jean Doan, cum laude, elementary education, Chandler; Timothy Dale Doty, cum laude with honors, psychology and sociology, Tulsa; Amy Elizabeth Edmonds, magna cum laude with honors, English, Placerville, Calif.; Katy Lee Edmonson, magna cum laude, English, Sheridan, Wyo.; John Douglas Elliott, recreation administration, Cushing; Lindsey Renee Elston, summa cum laude, English, Irving, Texas; Casey Lauren Fergeson, cum laude, interdisciplinary, Altus; Shaun Bradford Ferguson, history, Broken Arrow; Erica Liana Ferrill, cum laude, social work and Spanish, Tulsa; Jessica Marie Fields, cum laude, history, Lafayette, Ind.; Joseph Kirk Finke, cum laude, English, Independence, Mo.; James F. Frank, psychology and sociology, Saint Charles, Mo.; Kena Lynn Freeman, leisure services management: sports ministry, Tuttle; Leslie Alison Garrison, exercise and sports science: sports medicine, Anderson, Mo.; Adrian Gascon, leisure services management: recreation, Oxnard, Calif.; Kevin Andrew Germann, health, physical education and recreation, K-12; Gillette, Wyo.; Anita Kay Gibson, psychology, Shawnee; Sandra Diane Goen, magna cum laude, chemistry, Shawnee; Kimberly Adonna Guyton, cum laude, exercise and sports science: sports medicine, Spring, Texas; Leslie Leanne Hamilton, magna cum laude with honors, biology area of concentration, Berthoud, Colo.; Rosa Carlina Sierra Aguilar Hart, family psychology, Pryor; Kaliah Marie Hays, cum laude, political science, Hopkinton, Maine; Sarah Ann Highfill, magna cum laude, family development, Springdale, Ark.; Lindsey Ailene Hill, exercise and sports science: athletic training, Slaton, Texas; Lisa Renee Honeywell, cum laude, psychology, Joplin, Mo.; Mary Elizabeth Hooker, summa cum laude, psychology, Evans, Ga.; Brad Lee Hurst, recreation administration, Chandler; Jennifer Christie Hurst, elementary and early childhood education, Tomball, Texas; Jessica Marie Impson, exercise and sports science: sports medicine, Broken Arrow; Jessi LaRae James, health, physical education and recreation, K-12, Boise City; Rebekah Grace James, magna cum laude, mathematics, secondary education, Kansas City, Mo.; Elissa LeAnn Jones, summa cum laude, English, secondary education, Shawnee; Jennifer Lynn Lane, magna cum laude, family psychology, Tulsa; Amanda Diane Lau, magna cum laude, biochemistry area of concentration, Chickasha; Amber Dawn Lewis, exercise and sports science: sports medicine, Shawnee; Astra Deshawn Lewis, exercise and sports science: sports medicine, Shawnee; Adam Perry Lowber, cum laude with honors, English, McAlester; Brandon Scott Mahan, magna cum laude, English and family psychology, Edmond; Michelle Ann Markert, summa cum laude, elementary education, summa cum laude, Spanish, Littleton, Colo.; Rebecca Dawn Mason, cum laude, public relations, McLoud; Melinda June Mayberry, summa cum laude, exercise and sports science: pre-physical therapy, Joplin, Mo.; George Clinton Mayes, English, Tulsa; Bobbie June Mayfield, family psychology, Wellston; Rachel Renee McClure, cum laude, anthropology and museum management, LaRue, Texas; Melissa Diane McConnell, magna cum laude, psychology, Oklahoma City; Justin Ryan McMackin, family psychology, Sulphur Springs, Texas; Leah Elaine McVay, cum laude, biochemistry area of concentration, Siloam Springs, Ark.; Angela Kristen McWilliams, cum laude with honors, history, Shawnee; Angela Kay Avery Means, magna cum laude, public relations, Dallas, Texas; Lindsey Kristin Miller, recreation administration, San Antonio, Texas; Kathryn Lynn Minatra, family development, San Antonio, Texas; Collin William Nasalroad, public relations, Yale; Laura Elizabeth Nations, magna cum laude with honors, sociology, Marlow; Megan Elizabeth Needham, cum laude, family psychology, Anderson, Mo.; Ryan Michael Nordell, exercise and sports science: pre-physical therapy, Ft. Worth, Texas; Bradley Michael Nunneley, cum laude, health, physical education and recreation, K-12, Granite; Heather Leigh Olson, cum laude, elementary and early childhood education, Overland Park, Kan.; Christina Faith Parker, summa cum laude, elementary education, San Antonio, Texas; Amanda Suzanne Parsons, mathematics, secondary education, Oklahoma City; Kimberly Lynn Pennington, family psychology, Yakima, Wash.; Sarah Denise Phillips, summa cum laude with honors, English, Broken Arrow; Allison Marie Potter, public relations, Indianapolis, Ind.; Scott Douglass Prater, magna cum laude, biology area of concentration, Edmond; April Heather Purser, cum laude, family psychology, Bartlesville; Amy Joann Remington, family psychology, Casper, Wyo.; Nathan Joe Ricketts, public relations, Cleveland; Stephen Todd Robertson, natural science area of concentration, San Antonio, Texas; Jeremy Joseph Rollins, mathematics, Moore; Mary Dale Ryser, public relations, Owasso; Aimee Belle Sammons, family development and Spanish, Dallas, Texas; Kelly Dawn Seay, elementary education, Hobbs, N.M.; Christopher Allen Sehorn, chemistry area of concentration, Shawnee; Marla Elizabeth Smith, magna cum laude, elementary education, Tulsa; Mica LeeAnn Smith, family psychology, Springfield, Mo.; Heather Michelle Stiger, psychology, Claremore; Amanda Marie Tate, social work, McAlester; Shara Lynn Thompson, summa cum laude, elementary and early childhood education, Oklahoma City; Alyssa Denise Tinley, magna cum laude with honors, interdisciplinary, Oklahoma City; Julie Guylene Tollett, health, physical education and recreation, K-12, DeQueen, Ark.; Zachary Beniah Trent, political science, Shawnee; Jonathan Andrew Trow, magna cum laude, biology area of concentration, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Stephanie Denise Tucker, exercise and sports science: sports medicine, Olathe, Kan.; Bryan Lee Van Zandt, magna cum laude, biology area of concentration, Broken Arrow; Anne Elizabeth Wade, magna cum laude, elementary and early childhood education, Manitou Springs, Colo.; Leah Beth Wade, magna cum laude, elementary and early childhood education, Manitou Springs, Colo.; Ashley Brooke Wells, summa cum laude with honors, English, Denton, Texas; Joshua Daniel Wells, English, Shawnee; Tamara Sue Willeford, exercise science: physical therapy, Oklahoma City; Devon Moss Wilson, cum laude, mathematics, secondary education, Cushing; Julia Rolen Winters, family development, Niwot, Colo.; Sara D'Ann Woods, summa cum laude, French, Waco, Texas; Kelly Jo Zabka, cum laude, early childhood education, Oklahoma City; and Gail Annette Zuege, sociology, Tulsa.

From the Paul Dicknson School of Business, candidates for bachelor's degrees included: Joshua Dale Bailey, management, Ponca City; Brandon Lee Bloom, cum laude, accounting, Oklahoma City; Angela Faye Burton, cum laude, marketing, Tulsa; Eric Thomas Childers, management, Oklahoma City; David William Chitwood, marketing, Richardson, Texas; Mark Andrew Clippard, management and marketing, Oklahoma City; Ryan Edward Cox, finance and management, Choctaw; Michael P. Foster, computer information systems, Owasso; Kristin Jolene Gibson, accounting, Meeker; Christopher John Goff, magna cum laude, marketing and finance, Joplin, Mo.; Christopher L. Gossen, finance and management, Cordell; Matthew Thomas Edward Green, magna cum laude with honors, computer science: data management, Seminole; Parker Wayne Hamilton, marketing, Tulsa; Matthew Stephen Hartman, summa cum laude, finance, summa cum laude, accounting, Oklahoma City; Megan Rae Hershberger, cum laude, computer science, interdisciplinary; Owensboro, Ken.; Terry Allen Hill, jr., marketing, Anchorage, Alaska; Whitney Lynn Hodges, international business, Beaverton, Ore.; Ryean Kathryn Kelsey, marketing, Tulsa; Regan Marie Maness, finance, Wichita, Kan.; Christopher Lane Morrow, management, Borger, Texas; Joseph Anthony Paquette, finance and marketing, Oklahoma City; Meredith Lee Ruhmann, marketing and management, Catoosa; Stephen Joe Kilani Sims, management, Tulsa; Jean-Francois Olivier Sirop, cum laude, international business, Midwest City; Kari Dawn Snider, magna cum laude, marketing and management, Corn; Jennie Lee Stanley, finance, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Nathan E. Sweaney, computer science, interdisciplinary, Sedan, Kan.; Aaron Ashley Talton, management, Broken Arrow; Amanda Margaret Thompson, cum laude, computer information systems and international business, Fredericksburg, Texas; Jonathan William Wohlgemuth, finance, Claremore; Danielle Ward Wulf, marketing and management, Edmond; and Jordan D. Yeats, finance and management, Oklahoma City.

From the School of Nursing, candidates for a bachelor's degree included: Christina Leanna Amato, nursing, Shawnee; Adreanna May Bowie, cum laude, nursing, Meeker; Melanie Dawn Bynum, nursing, Midwest City; MelissaJoy Cox, nursing, Enid; Janna Lyn Dobbins, nursing, San Antonio, Texas; Christine Renee Espina, magna cum laude, nursing, Corpus Christi, Texas; Stacy Ann Huitsing, nursing, Joplin, Mo.; Angela Renee Jackson, cum laude, nursing, Wichita, Kan.; Elesha Kay Jordan, cum laude, nursing, Tecumseh; Liberty Michelle Kauley, nursing, Meeker; Keren Elizabeth Kinglow, nursing, Las Cruces, N.M.; Michelle Colleen Mangan, cum laude, nursing, Choctaw; Terri Reola Morris, nursing, Shawnee; Shawna Marie Person, magna cum laude, nursing, Spokane, Wash.; and Dara Lynn White, magna cum laude, nursing, Oklahoma City.

From the graduate program in marriage and family therapy, candidates for a master's degree included: Crystal Beth Byrd, marriage and family therapy, Ft. Gibson; Cindy M. DeRoussel, marriage and family therapy, Claremore; Rebel Courtney Hoskins, marriage and family therapy, Yukon; Camille Tulia LaFleur, marriage and family therapy, Topeka, Kan.; Debbie Miller, marriage and family therapy; James Robert Raffety, marriage and family therapy; Larry Leon Roberts, marriage and family therapy, Shawnee; Rilda Joy Smith, marriage and family therapy, Shawnee; and Christa Loyce Wright, marriage and family therapy, Broken Arrow.