Fifty-three to Graduate at Winter Commencement Dec. 18
December 8, 2009
Fifty-three students will receive diplomas during Oklahoma Baptist University's 2009 Winter Commencement on Friday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m., in the university's Raley Chapel.
Emerson Falls, president of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and pastor of Glorieta Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, will deliver the Commencement address.
Falls was born and raised in Oklahoma City and is a member of the Sac and Fox and Choctaw tribes. He has served as pastor of churches in California, Arizona and Colorado. He was the director of the Rocky Mountain Campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Denver, Colo., and president of Cook College and Theological School. He earned a doctor of ministry degree from Golden Gate Seminary in May 1995.
The program also will include greetings from Dr. Anthony Jordan, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and a charge to the graduates by OBU President, David W. Whitlock.
Four students will graduate with the scholastic predicate Summa Cum Laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average on all work offered for their degrees. They are Kaleen Marie Connell, an art major from Mustang, Okla.; Erica Christine Dumey, a Spanish education major from Ellisville, Mo.; Amanda Nikole Hutchens Hamilton, an elementary education major from Sapulpa, Okla.; and Gina Michelle Overstake, a religion: Bible major from Wichita, Kan.
Five graduates maintained at least a 3.70 GPA on work toward their degrees and will be designated Magna Cum Laude. These students are Suzanne Herber, a music education: vocal certificate major from Shattuck, Okla.; Derek Reed McCarver, a Christian studies major from Oklahoma City; Natalie Brooke Mowery, a finance major from Owasso, Okla.; Anthony Tyler Robertson, an exercise and sports science: pre-allied health and rehabilitation services major from Bixby, Okla.; and Amy Elaine Southerland, an English major from Oklahoma City.
Seven students are designated Cum Laude, maintaining at least a 3.40 GPA on work toward their degrees. They are Samantha Belinda Attard, a health and physical education and recreation major from Tennyson, Australia; Earl Wayne Cobb, a Christian studies major from Muskogee, Okla.; Theresa Marie Dame, a special education major from Shawnee; Cherry Lin Donnelly, a musical arts: piano major from Drexel, Mo.; Courtney Lynn Green, an elementary education major from Shawnee; Benjamin Curtis Schlegel, a psychology: pre-counseling major from Shawnee; and Matthew Charles Swint, a strategic communication major from Shawnee.
From the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates for bachelor's degrees include Stephanie Joy Balow, an exercise and sports science: pre-allied health and rehabilitation services major from Shawnee; Kara Kay Davidson, an interdisciplinary: youth ministry/Bible/family psychology major from Llano, Texas; Renata de Paula, an exercise and sports science: exercise physiology and wellness major from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Vanessa Irene Fortune, a psychology major from Indianola, Okla.; Lance Michael Goodwin, a psychology: pre-counseling major from Harrah, Okla.; Alyssa Denise Hilburn, a family and community service major from Saint Peters, Mo.; Julie Dian Horst, a family and community service major from Choctaw, Okla.; Joshua Andrew Kinman, a psychology major from Harrah; Aline Jane Knoles, a sociology major from Shawnee; Austin Daniel Lau, a chemistry major from Chickasha, Okla.; Cory Robert Loghry, a social sciences secondary education major from Glenpool, Okla.; Linsey Paige Mastin, an English major from Shawnee; Adam G. Ray, an interdisciplinary: mathematics/Spanish/business technology major from Shawnee; Jami Dawn Rico, a biochemistry major from Shawnee; Jake Hansen Schoenhals, a family psychology major from Oklahoma City; Frances Marie Talton, a psychology: pre-counseling major from Earlsboro, Okla.; and Sarah Ryan Weber, a family and community service: family life major from Shawnee.
From the Paul Dickinson School of Business, candidates include Whitney Delin Heltzel, a marketing major from Quapaw, Okla.
From the Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service, candidates include Frank Robinson Ashby, an applied ministry: youth major from Claremore, Okla.; Kedrick Q. Bacy, a Christian studies major from Oklahoma City; Anthony Daniels, a Christian studies major from Edmond, Okla.; Jeremy Daniel Fisher, a religion: Bible major from Tulsa, Okla.; Jeffrey Warren Lutes, a religion: Bible major from Heath, Texas; Jonathan Arthur O'Keefe, a religion major from Shawnee; Jason Scott Williams, a Christian studies major from Ardmore, Okla.; and Janelle Tate, a Christian studies major from Spencer, Okla.
From the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts, candidates include Kathryn Emily Burg, a strategic communication major from Shawnee; Samantha Elizabeth Emery, a theatre major from Harker Heights, Texas; Sarah Anna Fisher, an interdisciplinary: education/applied ministry/worship arts major from Asher, Okla.; Sun Young Lee, a news and information major from Icheon, South Korea; and Matthew Edward Stevenson, a news and information major from Tecumseh, Okla.
Four graduates will receive master's of business administration degrees from OBU's International Graduate School. They are Joseph Fredrick Bechtel from Oklahoma City; Vicky Fine from Meeker, Okla.; Julie McKenzie Gibson from Pawhuska, Okla.; Jana McQuain from Shawnee; and Michael Spears from Meeker. The International Graduate School campus is in Oklahoma City.
Two of the graduates have been listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. They are Kaleen Marie Connell and Erica Christine Dumey.