OBU to Hold 102nd Spring Commencement in Honor of 249 Graduates

May 11, 2016

OBU will confer degrees upon 249 students during OBU’s 102nd Spring Commencement Friday, May 13. The ceremony will take place in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium on the OBU campus in Shawnee. Shane Hall, OBU alumnus and pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, will deliver the commencement address. Tickets are required for admission.

Graduating students will embark on a symbolic final walk across the campus as OBU students as they file into Raley Chapel for the 3 p.m. ceremony. The walk mirrors one many of the graduating students took during their Welcome Week as freshman students. 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. 

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 Joel Langford, president of the Class of 2016, and Dr. Stanton 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 Amy Barnett, Marina Berkley, Megan Bowlin, Hannah Cantrell, Abigail Chadwick, Lauren Franz, Madeleine Fuller, Kasey Goodwin, Hayley Graft, Miranda Granger, Luke Jarboe, Elyse Kusakabe, Taylor Lasseigne, McKenzie Lumry, Aimee Mantz, Rebekah McPheeters, Emma Patton, Gracelyn Perkins, Olivia Reel, Elisa Renfro, Jack Tully and Kaylan Westbrook.

In addition to the address by Hall, the program includes greetings by Dr. Anthony Jordan, executive director/ treasurer for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and the 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 exercise. They include the Distinguished Teaching Award, the Promising Teacher Award and the Meritorious Service Award. Additionally, Whitlock will present honorary doctorates from the University to Paul Milburn, J. Thomas Terry and Eric Mayes, Jr.

Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from OBU’s Paul Dickinson College of Business, with academic majors and hometowns, include Matthew Baker, computer science, Overland Park, Kansas; Zekarias Cates, management, Shawnee, Oklahoma; Amellia Coffey, management and marketing, Tucson, Arizona; Connor Crout, interdisciplinary computer science/ religion, Mustang, Oklahoma; Jacob Ellis, international business, Alva, Oklahoma; Kevin Franceschi, interdisciplinary marketing and management, Kansas City, Missouri; Laura Galarza Ramirez, marketing, Shawnee; Dillon Gardner, finance, Shawnee; Bruna Gomes, marketing, Gainesville, Texas; Alexander Hall, management, Edmond, Oklahoma; Sean Heard, finance, Shawnee; Ashton Hutcheson, professional accountancy, Shawnee; Cory Kennedy, finance, Fishers, Indiana; Blaine Kilinc, marketing, Muldrow, Oklahoma; Emily McCarthy, professional accountancy, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Hayley Rinck, professional accountancy, Oologah, Oklahoma; Christopher Sanford, professional accountancy, Wichita, Kansas; Christopher Smith, management, Holdenville, Oklahoma; Hannah Vick, computer science, Yukon, Oklahoma; Julio Villegas Apestegui, finance, Tres Rios, Costa Rica; Joshua Walters, management, Midwest City, Oklahoma; Madison Windham, management, Edmond; Nancy Winkley, international business, Shawnee; and Danielle Young, international business, Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

From the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts, candidates for bachelor’s degrees include Laramie Batey, digital media arts, Sasakwa, Oklahoma; Hannah Behrends, church music, McKinney, Texas; Chad Bennett, communication studies, Santa Clarita, California; Kari Callahan, communication studies, Tulsa; Mary Crone, musical arts – piano, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Marissa Crowson, graphic design, Marlow, Oklahoma; Taylor Dabney, interdisciplinary communication studies/ graphic design/ business administration, Claremore, Oklahoma; Mary Kathryn Daugherty, voice certification, K-12, Binger, Oklahoma; Courtney Gay, graphic design, Coweta, Oklahoma; Katherine Gilbert, digital media arts, Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Michelle Goins, communication studies, Shawnee; Emily Guleserian, graphic design, McKinney; Trent Guleserian, communication studies, Shawnee; Ariel Hawkins, music, Oklahoma City; Maile Hopkins, communication studies, Shawnee; Emily Iley, digital media arts, Parker, Colorado; Courtney King, voice certification, K-12, Oklahoma City; Evan King, music, Newcastle, Oklahoma; Breanna Love, art, McPherson, Kansas; Hannah Madison, graphic design, Harrah, Oklahoma; Marla Malone, digital media arts, Rogers, Arkansas;

Megan Mattke, piano, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Mason McCormick, church music, Midwest City; Kaylyn Medcalf, communication studies, Cypress, Texas; Hannah Morris, communication studies, Oklahoma City; Laurel Page, piano, McKinney; Scott Pfister, communication studies, Broomfield, Colorado; Brian Powell, communication studies, Shawnee; Antonio Quintana, theatre, Oklahoma City; Meg Reeder, communication studies, Shawnee; Thaddaeus Rhoades, communications studies, Franklin, Tennessee; Tallie Thompson, art, Edmond; Victoria Thrutchley, musical arts – violin, Frisco, Texas; Elin Williams, voice certification, K-12, Richardson, Texas; Erin Wilson, graphic design, Oklahoma City; Michael Wilson, music composition, Yukon; Ashley Wolstoncroft, news and information, Davenport, Oklahoma; and Alexandria Wright, communication studies, Shawnee.

Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from OBU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences include Anna Allen, English, Lahoma, Oklahoma; Sabrina Attaway, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Whitesboro, Texas; Jordan Barnes, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Van Alstyne, Texas; Natalie Bassford, family and community services, community service track, Lees Summit, Missouri; Bethany Blue, interdisciplinary English/ creative writing/ professional writing, Shawnee; Karey Bowen, family and community services, family life track, Norman, Oklahoma; McKenzie Brown, anthropology, Bullard, Texas; Mackenzie Buller, secondary English education, Cleveland, Oklahoma; Amy Bulman, family and community services, family life track, Oklahoma City; Lauren Burgan, early childhood education, Oklahoma City; German Cabrero Romeral, interdisciplinary kinesiology/ leisure studies/ sports medicine, Segovia, Spain; Chelsea Cannedy, anthropology, Tulsa; Toby Carmichael, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Mustang; Lynn Carroll, special education/ early childhood education, Shawnee; Michael Cerda, interdisciplinary sports management/ kinesiology and leisure science, Turlock, California; Jacob Cheatham, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Miami, Oklahoma; Wendy Chuning, early childhood education, Excelsior Springs, Missouri; Matthew Clear, English, Mustang; Arielle Cooper, personal training/ strength and conditioning; Edmond; Shalee Cordell, elementary education, Newcastle; Denise Coroiescu, personal training/ strength and conditioning, New Caney, Texas; Kailynn Crutchfield, secondary social science education, Sallisaw, Oklahoma; Jessica Dickinson, secondary English education, Oklahoma City; Preston Eastwood, psychology – pre-counseling, Arlington, Texas; Sabra Edwards, elementary education, Coweta; Lindsey Entz, psychology – pre-counseling, Yukon; Paige Fry, Spanish, Castle Rock, Colorado; Sierra Gilbert, psychology pre-counseling, Yukon; and Hannah Godsy, anthropology, Mountain Grove, Missouri.

Additional candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences include Gabriel Gordon, anthropology and cross-cultural ministry, international church planting emphasis, Tulsa; Vandorf Gray, sports and recreation management, Oklahoma City; Byron Gutierrez, secondary social science education, Meeker, Oklahoma; Lauren Hancock, psychology, Olathe, Kansas; Angela Harris, family and community services, family life track, Gruver, Texas; Benjamin Henley, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Cleveland, Oklahoma; Taylor Hildebrand, sports and recreation management, Oklahoma City; Jordan Hill, sports and recreation management, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; Lydia Hodges, early childhood education/ elementary education, Shawnee; Kylie Holden, English, Owasso, Oklahoma; Leah Holloway psychology – pre-counseling, Chandler, Oklahoma; Abbie Hooten, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Seminole, Oklahoma; Paige Jaye, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Hutchinson, Kansas; Hannah Jett, early childhood education/ elementary education, Shawnee; Valari Jett, sociology, Shawnee; Christian Johnson, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Ada, Oklahoma; Mandy Johnson, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Shawnee; Kylie Jones, communication studies and psychology, Irving, Texas; Katie Keener, anthropology, Wood River, Illinois; Heather Killebrew, early childhood education, Shawnee; Mark Knapp, sports and recreation management, Mustang; Joseph Krueger, anthropology, Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Kelsi Lancaster, history and religion, Ketchum, Oklahoma; Kristen Lee, elementary education, Plano, Texas; Kelsey Linsenmeyer, anthropology and psychology – pre-counseling, Stillwater; Kendall Marshall, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Plano; Eddie Martinez, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Shawnee; Jacob Mayfield, anthropology, Tulsa; Priscila Mendes, psychology, Goiania, Brazil; Emily Montgomery, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Frisco; Amber Morrisett, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Edmond; Kerryn Mullin, interdisciplinary kinesiology/ leisure service/ sports management, Mogogaing, South Africa; Molly Munger, psychology – pre-counseling, Harrah; Anthony Nickerson, political science, Fort Worth, Texas; Hunter O’Malley, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Wichita Falls, Texas; and Angela Paige, early childhood education, Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Other candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences include Lacey Parker, psychology – pre-counseling, Tulsa; Shannon Powell, early childhood education/ elementary education, Shawnee; Daniel Ramirez Carranza, sports and recreation management, Hermisillo, Mexico; Nathan Reed, health and physical education, K-12, Vinita, Oklahoma; Mary Renfrow, psychology – pre-counseling, Mesquite, Texas; Victoria Rivera, elementary education, Broken Arrow; Madison Roach, family and community services, community service track, Wichita Falls; Darren Ross, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Edmond; Catherine Roth, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Tulsa; Katelyn Sanders, interdisciplinary Spanish/ French/ anthropology, Oklahoma City; Julie Scura, camp administration, Henderson, Nevada; Shelbie Shawn, psychology, Shawnee; Hanah Sheppard, anthropology, Weatherford, Texas; Clay Shepperson, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Lawton, Oklahoma; Hannah Slater-Mire, family and community services, family life track, Burkburnett, Texas; Brandi Smith, psychology – pre-counseling, Moore, Oklahoma; Chad Smith, history, Ardmore, Oklahoma; Blain Stewart, psychology, Wichita, Kansas; Aubree Stowe, family and community services, family life track, Yukon; Carey Strong, elementary education, Sachse, Texas; Tracy Sung, anthropology, Houston, Texas; Caysi Sykes, personal training/ strength and conditioning, Wichita; Taylor Tinker, early childhood education/ elementary education, Shawnee; Marcus Titterington, health and physical education, K-12, Tonganoxie, Kansas; Susana Torres, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Oklahoma City; Tessa Troyer, elementary education, Claremore; Rebecca Tyler, elementary education/ special education, Bedford, Texas; Autumn Urton, elementary education, Oklahoma City; Cali VanAntwerp, elementary education, Shawnee; Kirstina Ward, psychology pre-counseling, Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Matthew Welborn, anthropology, Cache, Oklahoma; Tylor Whitfield, sports ministry, Ada; Nathan Whitson, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Enid, Oklahoma; Sarah Wilmoth, early childhood education, Oklahoma City; and Landen Wolever, pre-allied health and rehabilitation services, Enid.

Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from OBU’s College of Nursing include Amy Bartel, Hillsboro, Kansas; Jessica Beach, Tulsa; Robin Brinkley, Shawnee; Natalee Cook, Bixby, Oklahoma; Sheridan Crofford, Edmond, Oklahoma; Travis DeWall, Enid, Oklahoma; Cyrena Downs, Edmond; Sadie Dunaway, Choctaw, Oklahoma; Izoduwa Erhunmwunsee, Houston, Texas; Rachel Evans, Newalla, Oklahoma; Sydney Fioretti, Edmond; Wendy Fixico, Shawnee; Kristin Hamman, Edmond; Kayley Hunter, Stillwater; Emily Joslin, Delta Junction, Alaska; Jennifer Land, Denton, Texas; Juliana Leppke, Corn, Oklahoma; Rachel McCloy, Stinnett, Texas; Melissa Mehtala, Shawnee; Haley Nickerson, North Richland Hills, Texas; Amanda Owen, Moore; Callie Perdue, Yukon; Rachel Stephens, Colleyville, Texas; Zaira Sturdivant, Shawnee; Melanie Totty, Haslet, Texas; Sarah Wilkerson, Blanchard, Oklahoma; and Kylie Williams, Chickasha, Oklahoma.

Candidates for bachelor’s degrees from the James E. Hurley College of Science and Mathematics include Ashlynn Abbe, natural science, McKinney; Lucas Adams, chemistry and mathematics, Ridgefield, Washington; Erin Arroz, chemistry, Yukon; Chelsea Aube, biology, Choctaw; Amy Barrett, natural science, Fort Worth; Jeremy Bernhardt, biochemistry, Shawnee; Samuel Castles, biology, Tulsa; Katlyn Chambers, natural science, Tuttle, Oklahoma; Jeffrey Cherry, biology, Oklahoma City; Taylor Crismas, math education, secondary, Enid; Krysten Denney, biology, Skiatook, Oklahoma; Lauren Diaz, natural science, Shawnee; Katherine Dodgen, secondary math education, Dallas, Texas; Tyler Donathan, biochemistry, Broken Arrow; Kayan Dunnigan, biochemistry, Perrin, Texas; Ashton Gores, biology, Ardmore; Nedra Gunn, mathematics, Lawton; Joel Langford, forensic chemistry, Coweta; Molly Marietta, biochemistry, Watts, Oklahoma; Khoi Ngo, biochemistry, Oklahoma City; Jacy O'Dell, biochemistry, Claremore; Anna Oliveira, biology, Shawnee; Austin Price, biology, Edmond; Brandon Sturgill, physics, Harrah; Stephen Whitmore, biochemistry, Shawnee; and Daltyn Zimmerman, secondary math education, Miami. 

From the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry, candidates for bachelor’s degrees include Andrew Burroughs, philosophy, Broken Arrow; Nolan Cannon, philosophy and cross-cultural ministry, Elgin, Oklahoma; Collin Coffee, religion, Bible, Shawnee; Walker Cross, religion, Bible, Shawnee; Grant Durham, Christian ministry, student emphasis, Oklahoma City; Christian Edmonds, religion, Bible, Ardmore; Ryan Ellington, religion, Bible, Frisco; Jordan Fraser, religion, Bible, Okemah, Oklahoma; Sydnie Gabbard, cross-cultural ministry and anthropology, Redwood City, California; Andrew Halliburton, Christian ministry, pastoral emphasis, Bentonville, Arkansas; Jessica Harrison, interdisciplinary Christian ministry/ creative writing/ communication studies, Henryetta, Oklahoma; Joshua Johnson, cross-cultural ministry and philosophy, Shawnee; Anna Jones, religion, biblical languages and anthropology, Oklahoma City; Adam Kelley, religion, biblical studies, Tuttle; Jeffery Knoke, Christian ministry, student emphasis, Oologah; Jane Kramer, philosophy, Chelsea, Oklahoma; Jared Landreth, interdisciplinary Bible/ digital media arts/ worship arts, Shawnee; Joshua Lawson, Christian ministry, student emphasis, Vandalia, Illinois; Amanda Moore, anthropology and biblical languages, Mansfield, Texas; Jonathan Pearson, Christian ministry, pastoral emphasis, Omaha, Nebraska; Benjamin Pollard, religion, Bible, Shawnee; Jacob Pollard, Christian ministry, pastoral emphasis, Shawnee; Mary Roach, interdisciplinary cross-cultural ministry/ anthropology/ psychology, Wichita Falls; Nathan Roach, Christian ministry pastoral emphasis, Wichita Falls; Erinn Shaughnessy, philosophy, Shawnee; Ethan Shropshire, philosophy, Grapevine, Texas; Rio Taylor, religion, Bible, Inola, Oklahoma; Britton VanBuskirk, cross-cultural ministry, orality emphasis and history, Oklahoma City; Robert Walker, biblical languages, Ponca City, Oklahoma; James Walters, religion, Bible, Broken Arrow; Hailey Whitfield, Christian ministry, student emphasis, Shawnee; Zachary Widener, religion, Bible, Pocasset, Oklahoma.