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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

OBU to Hold 101st Spring Commencement, to Honor More Than 300 Graduates

May 14, 2015

OBU will confer degrees upon 301 graduates during OBU's 101st Spring Commencement Friday, May 15. The ceremony will take place in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium on the OBU campus in Shawnee. Barbara Green, co-founder of Hobby Lobby, will deliver the commencement address. Tickets are required for admission.

The graduating students will take their symbolic final walk across the campus as OBU students when they file into Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium for the 3 p.m. ceremony. The students, in academic regalia, will proceed from the Geiger Center to the chapel, passing through rows of OBU faculty members before they reach the chapel's east steps.

An overflow audience of more than 1,800 will witness the commencement activities in Raley Chapel. OBU President Dr. David W. Whitlock will preside over the ceremonies and deliver the charge to the graduates. The program will include a presentation of the graduating class by Khalil Benalioulhaj, president of the Class of 2015, and Dr. Stan Norman, provost and executive vice president of campus life.

Junior Class Marshals will escort the graduating class to their seats in Raley Chapel. The top-ranking junior men and women, based on overall grade-point average, serve as marshals. This group includes Dylan Bales, Emily Banks, Bridget Burton, Nolan Cannon, Grace Eckstrom, Lindsey Entz, Jordan Henderson, Kathleen Houston, Crystal Johnson, Elise Jones, Kelsey Linsenmeyer, Lauren Long, Taylor Melton, Morgan Minx, Emily Montgomery, Kerianne Petersen, Karly Rhodes, Jordyn Roe, Victoria Smith, Anna Smoot, Jordan Spencer, Kenna Stanton, Robert Walker and Katherine Ward.

In addition to the address from Green, the program includes greetings by Dr. Anthony Jordan, executive director/treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and induction of the graduates into the OBU Alumni Association by Lori Hagans, executive director of the alumni association.

OBU's top three honors for faculty and staff members will be presented by Whitlock during the graduation exercises. They include the Distinguished Teaching Award, the Promising Teacher Award and the Meritorious Service Award. The University will also present the J.M. Carroll Award, named for the first president of OBU and recognizing outstanding service to OBU and other Southern Baptist institutions in the state of Oklahoma.

Candidates for bachelor's degrees from OBU's Paul Dickinson College of Business, with academic majors and hometowns, include Anthony Barbar, finance, Boca Raton, Florida;

Khalil Benalioulhaj, international business, Norman, Oklahoma; Jacob Buffington, finance, Frisco, Texas; John Burton, finance, Shawnee; Molly Burton, management, Shawnee; Corbin Campbell, marketing, Edmond, Oklahoma; Emilee Cook, professional accountancy, Bixby, Oklahoma; Mary Criner, marketing, Haskell, Oklahoma; Corey Day, marketing, Charlotte, North Carolina; Gonzalo Garzon, international business, Santiago, Las Condes, Chile; Jeffrey Gunter, management, Coweta, Oklahoma; Allissa Harshberger, professional accountancy, Meade, Kansas; Alyson Heath, social entrepreneurship, Shawnee; Michelle Hinton, management, Yukon, Oklahoma; Matthew Hunter, professional accountancy, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Marques Jackson, marketing and management, Fresno, Texas; Airick Johnson, computer information systems, Oklahoma City; Chance Johnson, marketing, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Yongping Liu, professional accountancy, Shawnee; Robert Marquardt, management, Shawnee; Blake McDowell, management, El Reno, Oklahoma; Hope Meade, finance, Choctaw, Oklahoma; Tara Power, management, Katy, Texas; Nicolas Scarinzi, finance, Sao Jose Dos Ca, Brazil; Dillon Stallings, marketing, Edmond, Oklahoma; Andrew West, professional accountancy, Sand Springs, Oklahoma; and Qi Zhang, marketing, Tianjin, China.

From the Warren M. Angell College of Fine arts, candidates for bachelor's degrees include Lindsey Allen, news and information, Ponder, Texas; Samuel Andrews, voice, Checotah, Oklahoma; Hannah Ashley, communication studies, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Katie Batt, instrumental cert, K-12, Shawnee; Amy Benton, communication studies, Marlow, Oklahoma; Bethany Buchanan, interdisciplinary: TESOL / cross-cultural ministry / art, Shawnee; Elliott Clay, digital media arts, Shawnee; Abigayle Click, news and information, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kyra Cochran, communication studies, Oklahoma City; Sadie Elliott, piano, Oklahoma City; Emily Eubanks, musical arts-instrumental, Harrah, Oklahoma; Kalyn Fullbright, communication studies, Shawnee; Natalie Gates, interdisciplinary: graphic design / family and community service / church recreation, Shawnee; Sarah Gore, music education - instrumental, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Ashley Guthrie, art, Newalla, Oklahoma; Joshua Hale, digital media arts, Sperry, Oklahoma; Benjamin Hopkins, voice performance, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Andrea Johnson, interdisciplinary: digital media arts / theatre / creative writing, Shawnee; Paige Kannady, graphic design, Kingfisher, Oklahoma; Stephen Kerr, theatre, Shawnee; Tabitha Mead, digital media arts, Choctaw, Oklahoma; Megan Miller, communication studies, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Taylor Miller, communication studies, Fort Worth, Texas; Timothy Nye, digital media arts, Shawnee; Karissa Peercy, musical arts - instrumental, Duncan, Oklahoma; Jonathan Polasek, digital media arts, Pampa, Texas; Raven Posteal, digital media arts, Cedar Hill, Texas; Loren Ringwald, communication studies, Shawnee; Bailee Rogers, voice performance, Bixby, Oklahoma; Jessica Rose, communication studies, Norman, Oklahoma; Emily Russell, strategic communication, Oklahoma City; Nathan Sanders, church music, Nicoma Park, Oklahoma; Logan Schantz, digital media arts, Yukon, Oklahoma; Karleigh Schrick, communication studies, Montrose, Colorado; Bryan Shuler, worship arts, Red Oak, Texas; John Simmons, worship arts, Henderson, Nevada; Chandler Smith, digital media arts, Willow Park, Texas; Madeline Smith, art, Oklahoma City; Sophia Stanley, news and information, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Valerie Stetzer, communication studies, Arlington, Texas; Julie Studstill, theatre, Arlington, Texas; Evan Tansey, theatre, Okmulgee, Oklahoma; Seth Wright, music composition, Oklahoma City; and Kolby Yarbrough, communication studies, Blanchard, Oklahoma.

Candidates for bachelor's degrees from OBU's College of Humanities and Social Sciences include Chelsea Abinah, psychology pre-counseling, Edmond, Oklahoma; Ashton Adams, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Yukon, Oklahoma; Jacob Allbritton, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Morgan Allen, psychology pre-counseling, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Tyrone Allen, interdisciplinary: kinesiology and leisure studies / sports management / communication studies, Matteson, Illinois; Jordon Anderson, anthropology, Tonkawa, Oklahoma; Andrea Antonissen, interdisciplinary: kinesiology and leisure studies / sociology / communication studies, Riverside, California; Zbeyda Aremi, interdisciplinary: kinesiology and leisure studies / education, Tunis, Tunisia; James Bacon, secondary English education, Oklahoma City; Malcolm Baker, personal training / strength and conditioning, Edmond, Oklahoma; Meagan Barth, elementary education, Bakersfield, California; Amanda Beagle, special education / elementary education, Wellston, Oklahoma; Kayla Belle, psychology pre-counseling, Chickasha, Oklahoma; Jeromy Benson, elementary education, Earlsboro, Oklahoma; Jacob Black, anthropology, Redmond, Oregon; Meghann Boehm, psychology pre-counseling, McLoud, Oklahoma; Taylor Boomer, political science international relations emphasis, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; William Bowling, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Keller, Texas; Esha Brandt, psychology pre-counseling, Lexington, Oklahoma; Hannah Burnett, family and community service: community service track, Richardson, Texas; Mackenzie Case, English, Edmond, Oklahoma; Caleb Clary, psychology pre-counseling, Ada, Oklahoma; Turner Coon, personal training / strength and conditioning, Shawnee; Alisha Courtney, Spanish, Yukon, Oklahoma; Andrewblake Cullen-Madison, creative writing, Cherokee, Oklahoma; Sarah Cullison, anthropology, Shawnee; Alicia Daniel, global studies, Ada, Oklahoma; Elisabeth Daniels, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Harrah, Oklahoma; Matthew Davids, anthropology, Boley, Oklahoma; Blane Davis, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Inola, Oklahoma; Mikayla Diers, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Las Vegas, Nevada; Mackenzie Dills, special education / early childhood education, Durant, Oklahoma; Lauren Divine, elementary education / early childhood education, Owasso, Oklahoma; Abigail Dunn, early childhood education, Shawnee; Rikki Earnest, political science, Pampa, Texas; Emily Elkins, elementary education, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mary Foote, secondary social science education, Oklahoma City; Emma Forbes-Milne, sports and recreation management, Pietermaritzburg; KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Charity Fowler, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Asher, Oklahoma; Heather Fraaken, interdisciplinary: family and community service / education, Fort Collins, Colorado; Ashley Gillett, secondary English education, Yukon, Oklahoma; Kaitlyn Giza, family and community service: family life track, Yukon, Oklahoma; Rachael Gregory, family and community service: family life track, Oklahoma City; Alexandria Grivna, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Samantha Haff, early childhood education, Pryor, Oklahoma; Hunter Hancock, sports and recreation management, Washington, Oklahoma; Witney Harshaw, special education / elementary education / early childhood education, Oklahoma City; Elizabeth Hartman, elementary education, Sand Springs, Oklahoma; Sarita Hayes, interdisciplinary: anthropology / natural science / cross-cultural ministry, Shawnee; Jarod Haynes, personal training / strength and conditioning, Allen, Texas; Jessica Hernandez, camp administration, Shawnee; Cody Humes, personal training / strength and conditioning, Plano, Texas; Parker Hunt, English, Cypress, Texas; Lilia Inoubli, interdisciplinary: kinesiology and leisure studies / education, Tunis, Tunisia; Austin Inskeep, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Ponca City, Oklahoma; Heather Johnson, elementary education, Duncan, Oklahoma; Mykia Jones, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Lawton, Oklahoma; Hannah Karr, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Larkspur, Colorado; Johanna Kleinsasser, secondary English education, Lees Summit, Missouri; Dakota Koster, leisure service management: sports ministry, Oologah, Oklahoma; Haley Lambert, special education / elementary education, Nevada, Iowa; Madisson Landreth, elementary education / early childhood education, Shawnee; Brayden Lans, psychology, Fort Collins, Colorado; Lauren Lartigue, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Spring, Texas; Lauren Leeper, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Oklahoma City; Marida Lewis, sociology, Kansas City, Missouri; Whitney Manley, sports and recreation management, Ponca City, Oklahoma; Aspen Marical, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Tuttle, Oklahoma; Morgan Marshall, elementary education, Fort Collins, Colorado; Tyler Martin, interdisciplinary: anthropology / French / biblical languages, Sand Springs, Oklahoma; Alexis Masters, psychology, Carbondale, Kansas; Rebecca McBride, early childhood education, Midwest City, Oklahoma; Kacee McKinney, English, Norman, Oklahoma; Bethany McWilliams, psychology pre-counseling, Shawnee; Molly Moore, family and community service: family life track, Shawnee; Traci Moore, interdisciplinary: family relations / applied communication / education, Shawnee; Rachel Morris, early childhood education, Stilwell, Oklahoma; Allison Murphree, interdisciplinary: professional writing / sports management / marketing, Bixby, Oklahoma; Cheyenne Myers, psychology pre-counseling, Shawnee; Paisley Myers, elementary education, Stroud, Oklahoma; Caleb Neal, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Mill Creek, Oklahoma; Christin Neville, family and community service: family life track, Beaver, Oklahoma; Shakeel Newton, sports and recreation management, Christiansted, Virgin Islands; Anna Nicanor, elementary education, McAllen, Texas; Ashley Nichols, creative writing, Hurst, Texas; Abigail Pearson, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Harrah, Oklahoma; Auburn Powell, anthropology, Moore, Oklahoma; Kristen Pulliam, family and community service: family life track, Roanoke, Texas; Magdelon Rader, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Elk City, Oklahoma; Tyler Ramsey, family and community service: family life track, Garfield, Arkansas; Hunter Rials, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Newalla, Oklahoma; Robert Robbins, interdisciplinary: English / business administration / kinesiology and leisure studies, Altus, Oklahoma; Cherish Roberts, elementary education, Shawnee; Garrett Roberts, sports and recreation management, Shawnee; Erica Robinson-Bass, English, Shawnee; Catherine Rogers, secondary English education, Claremore, Oklahoma; Kelsey Rothaus, sociology, Bethany, Oklahoma; Alyxandrah Ruhde, family and community service: family life track, Arlington, Texas; Jenna Sahli, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Emilie Samp, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Anaheim, California; Katie Sanders, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Sheridan Lake, Colorado; Allison Scott, history, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; Tyler Shores, sports ministry, Wilson, Oklahoma; Kristen Sidler, secondary English education, Argyle, Texas; Natasha Slocum, secondary English education, Enid, Oklahoma; Alexandra Smith, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Tioga, Texas; Brittni Smith, elementary education / early childhood education, Oklahoma City; Javier Sossa Molina, personal training / strength and conditioning, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia; Cy Stallard, personal training / strength and conditioning, Cleveland, Oklahoma; Madelyn Starr, sports and recreation management, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Megan Stein, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Karrington Spann-Swadley, elementary education, Shawnee; Cullen Swearingen, anthropology, Topeka, Kansas; Caysi Sykes, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Wichita, Kansas; Brennan Taylor, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Leawood, Kansas; Marta Venegas, elementary education / early childhood education, Frisco, Texas; Brittany Wadley, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Vinita, Oklahoma; Whitney Warfield, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Enid, Oklahoma; Clarissa Watkins, exercise physiology and wellness, Billings, Missouri; Tane Webb, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Hollis, Oklahoma; Alexis Webber, interdisciplinary: psychology / children's ministry / natural science, Plano, Texas; Caitlin Wells, family and community service: family life track, Paoli, Oklahoma; Brandon Willard, personal training / strength and conditioning, San Jose, California; Marilee Wilson, early childhood education / elementary education, Oklahoma City; Caleb Wolters, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Arlington, Texas; Ashley Youngblood, anthropology, Mustang, Oklahoma; Sarah Zeckser, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Midwest City, Oklahoma; and Blake Zinck, sports and recreation management, Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

From the College of Nursing, candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing include Joyce Aiyeojenku, Shawnee; Natalee Cook, Bixby, Oklahoma; Brianna Crawford, Norman, Oklahoma; Hannah Doss, Enid, Oklahoma; Leah Encinas, Perkins, Oklahoma; Tyler Faulk, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Molly Foreman, Shawnee; Kaelie Fredrick, Branson, Missouri; Kelsey Gressett, Newalla, Oklahoma; Paige Groves, New Castle, Colorado; Kristin Hamman, Edmond, Oklahoma; Jenna Huckabee, Rockwall, Texas; Maci Huffman, Ada, Oklahoma; Hannah Johnson, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Ryan Kruse, Perkasie, Pennsylvania; Shelby Layn, Kingfisher, Oklahoma; Adam Mann, Rifle, Colorado; Peter McHaney, Mansfield, Texas; Katlin Medlin, Olathe, Kansas; Melissa Mehtala, Shawnee; Kelsey, Melton, Stroud, Oklahoma; Eukyung Min, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Christopher Moore, Flower Mound, Texas; Kamau Mosley, Norman, Oklahoma; Brittany Rodriguez, Norman, Oklahoma; Casie Smith, Fort Worth, Texas; Zaira Sturdivant, Lawton, Oklahoma; Kathryn Taylor, Lenexa, Kansas; Laura Tessendorf, Topeka, Kansas; Abby Tillman, Hennessey, Oklahoma; Kourtney Trent, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Benjamin Whitmore, Shawnee.

Students receiving bachelor's degrees from the James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics include Jaclyn Beaty, mathematics, Hill AFB, Utah; Corbin Croom, biochemistry, Fort Worth, Texas; Rebekah DeCosier, biology, Shawnee; Cama Dooley, biology, Yukon, Oklahoma; Taler Easter-Campbell, biology, Newcastle, Oklahoma; Colton Eckert, physics, Enid, Oklahoma; Elizabeth Ellis, secondary math education, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Hannah Estes, biochemistry, Claremore, Oklahoma; Hannah Fields, mathematics, Edmond, Oklahoma; Charlotte Gish, biology, Arlington, Texas; Ryan Guthrie, biology, Trophy Club, Texas; Halie Herbert, secondary math education, Perryton, Texas; Nicholas Hoffsommer, biology, Shawnee; Austin Knight, biochemistry, Edmond, Oklahoma; Jennifer Kosa, biology, Cypress, Texas; Christine Loughlin, interdisciplinary: natural science / business administration, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Rebekah McClain, biochemistry, Ada, Oklahoma; Natsumi Nemoto, biology, Nerima, Tokyo, Japan; Kendra Perry, forensic chemistry, McAlester, Oklahoma; Allie Preston, biology, Abilene, Texas; Kailey Shuler, biology, Edmond, Oklahoma; Mikayla Sims, natural science, Midwest City, Oklahoma; Matthew Smith, mathematics, Shawnee; Ashley Sparkes, forensic biology, Oklahoma City; Emily Stengel, biology, Edmond, Oklahoma; Christopher Thrutchley, Jr., biochemistry, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Lauren Wood, secondary math education, Paoli, Oklahoma.

Candidates for bachelor's degrees from the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry include Rachel Adams, Christian ministry: children's ministry, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Kody Bartley, philosophy and religion: Bible, Claremore, Oklahoma; Evan Blackburn, religion: Bible, Choctaw, Oklahoma; Zachary Cramer, religion: Bible, Topeka, Kansas; Alec Daugherty, philosophy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Jordan Davis, philosophy and religion: Bible, Oklahoma City; Jeffrey Dockall, religion: Bible, Duncan, Oklahoma; Justin Doherty, Christian ministry: pastoral, Sallisaw, Oklahoma; Connor Donavan, religion: Bible, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Caleb Dunn, Christian ministry: pastoral, Shawnee; Chandler Fayard, religion: Bible, Skiatook, Oklahoma; Orrin Feddes, Christian studies, Billings, Montana; Emilee Flurry, cross-cultural ministry, Carrollton, Texas; Naomi Gerrick, Christian studies, Billings, Montana; Kaitlyn Giza, Christian ministry: children's ministry, Yukon, Oklahoma; Alvin Goodman, Christian studies, Chester, Oklahoma; Megan Grant, religion: biblical languages, Prague, Oklahoma; Joseph Hefner, Christian ministry: student ministry, Denison, Texas; Nicholas Hoffsommer, philosophy, Shawnee; Casey Howsden, religion: Bible, Collinsville, Oklahoma; Jesse Ingram, religion: Bible, Depew, Oklahoma; Micah Keeney, religion: Bible, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Janette King, Christian ministry: children's ministry, Guymon, Oklahoma; Danielle Lambert, Christian ministry: student ministry, Plano, Texas; Matthew Lister, religion: Bible, Collinsville, Oklahoma; Duncan Lyle, religion: Bible, Brookshire, Texas; Reidus Marsh, Christian studies, Billings, Montana; Sarah Simonson, cross-cultural ministry children's ministry, Duncan, Oklahoma; Cody Moser, Christian ministry: student ministry and religion: biblical languages, Noble, Oklahoma; Andrew Nelson, cross-cultural ministry, Kearney, Nebraska; Michael Netz, religion: Bible, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Callie Neumeier, religion: Bible and anthropology, Fort Smith, Arkansas; Auburn Powell, religion: biblical languages, Moore, Oklahoma; Tanner Roberts, religion: Bible, Shawnee; Britanee Russell, Christian ministry: children's ministry, Cave Springs, Arkansas; Caleb Scott, religion: Bible, Blanchard, Oklahoma; Matthew Stephens, Christian ministry: pastoral, Haskell, Oklahoma; Cullen Swearingen, religion: Bible, Topeka, Kansas; Nykolas Symonds, Christian ministry: pastoral, Oklahoma City; Dustin Terry, religion, Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Hillary Williams, cross-cultural ministry, Coweta, Oklahoma; Christopher Williamson, religion: Bible, Shawnee; Ethan Workman, philosophy, Holdenville, Oklahoma; and Bettsy Yarbrough, interdisciplinary: cross-cultural ministry / anthropology / marketing, Skiatook, Oklahoma.