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Bluefield University Holds Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences Commencement

by | May 19, 2022

Bluefield, VA – One hundred and one students accepted diplomas, Saturday, May 14, 2022, during Bluefield University’s Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences Commencement. Bluefield University President, Dr. David W. Olive, welcomed family and friends to the celebratory event which featured two speeches from distinguished graduates and a keynote address from Dr. Emily Lambert, Bluefield University professor of biology.

The Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences’ faculty selected two students to represent the graduates, Ms. Widad Salah and Mr. Grant Hagglund.

Widad studied at George Mason University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2016. Widad worked as a medical assistant in an OB/GYN clinic for two years prior to attending the MABS program. She will matriculate as a first-year osteopathic medical student at VCOM-Virginia.

“The phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” is often used to acknowledge the work of others who attributed to your own success,” said Widad. “In this program, each student was a giant, and we took turns standing on one another’s shoulders.”

Hagglund earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors from The Ohio State University in 2019. Prior to joining the MABS program, he worked as a urology medical assistant both in private practice and in the hospital. He will matriculate as a first-year osteopathic medical student at VCOM-Carolinas in Spartanburg, S.C.

“As you move on from this program, don’t forget the 3 R’s: relevance, rigor, and relationships,” shared Hagglund. “I know the success you found here will carry you forward, and I wish you the best wherever your path guides you.”

Dr. Emily Lambert, the keynote speaker and Bluefield University’s professor of biology, encouraged the graduates in her address.

“Graduates, remember this: little is all you need with a multiplying God,” shared Dr. Lambert. “I might just be a simple country girl, but like my mother and father, like the twelve disciples, like Moses, like David, I responded to a call with the gifts I was given. My call did not pull me out of rural Appalachia but drew me in. By allowing my talents to be multiplied, I am able to meaningfully touch students every day.”

Four graduates have been offered commissions and military scholarships for medical school. One student accepted at the VCOM-Carolinas campus was chosen to receive a $180,000 scholarship offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield toward her medical school tuition. The scholarship requires a commitment to serve 4-years post-residency as a primary care physician in a medically underserved area of South Carolina.

The 2022 MABS Commencement also included special music by alumna Alandra Blume; scripture reading by Dr. Meghan Wilson, assistant professor of biology; the singing of hymns and alma mater, led by David Pedde, director for the Center for Worship Arts; formal induction for the class of 2022 into the BU Alumni Association, led by Joshua Cline, vice president for institutional advancement and marketing; and the conferring of degrees, led by President Olive, Dr. Marshall Flowers, provost, and Dr. Brian Hill, Director of the Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences.

 

Candidates for Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences

Darian Ahmad, Reston, Virginia

Ahmad Najem Alakashi, Jacksonville, Florida

Priyanka Arunkumar, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Sana Baig, Thonotosassa, Florida

Sarah Joy Balance, Manteo, North Carolina

Elina M. Baltins, Gambrills, Maryland

Abina Baral, Christiansburg, Virginia

Jacob D. Barnett, Salem, Virginia

Michael Benavidez, Linden, New Jersey

Kushal Bera, Fulshear, Texas

Caitlyn Nicole Bernard, Woodbridge, Virginia

Audrey Bourdages, Moncks Corner, South Carolina

Da’Shira Andrenic Brown, Opelousas, Louisiana

Mannat Chawla, Ashburn, Virginia

Dohyun Choi, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Chinaemerem Jeffrey Chukwudoro, Houston, Texas

Wesley Cox, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Paige Daly, Allison Park, Pennsylvania

Katie Thanh Dang, New Orleans, Louisiana

Peter T. Demos Jr., West Springfield, Massachusetts

Laura Dinh, Haines City, Florida

Schenatsar Dorvilier, Levittown, Pennsylvania

Kanika Aisha Dunn, Brandon, Florida

Phillip Aaron Dunn, Londonderry, New Hampshire

Youmna Khaled Elkamhawy, Cary, North Carolina

Dessiry Valencia Eugenio, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Oumy Rokhaya Faye, Blacksburg, Virginia

Brianna Noelle Fernandez, Fayetteville, North Carolina

Yameke A. Fletcher, Miramar, Florida

Diego Flores Salazar, Woodbridge, Virginia

Priyanka Gandhi, Nottingham, Maryland

Jessica Dolores Grisez, Jefferson, Maryland

Susanna Emily Grow, Lexington, Virginia

Grant Harris Hagglund, Westerville, Ohio

Benjamin Harron, Roanoke, Virginia

Sabryna LaVerne Haynes, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Monika Moheb Henin, Yorktown, Virginia

Katherine Ann Hennion, Apex, North Carolina

John Edward Higgins, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Kael T. Holloway, Ridgeway, Virginia

Najima A. Ibrahim, Federal Way, Washington

Parker Wade Jackson, Charlotte, North Carolina

Meghana Jacob, Houston, Texas

Julia Taylor Jones, Lexington, South Carolina

Niharika Kandala, Cupertino, California

Ryan Matthew Espejo Karabell, Yardley, Pennsylvania

Peter Karner-Brown, Palm City, Florida

Mitchell Katkic, Brighton, Michigan

Archit Satish Kumar, Tampa, Florida

Khoi Minh Tuan Le, Sachse, Texas

Creson Ju-Ann Lee, Burke, Virginia

Ji Su Lee, Woodstock, Georgia

Austin Ching-Hong Leung, Springfield, Virginia

Ellis Genevieve Linder-Elkins, Johnson City, Tennessee

Benita Luke, Chantilly, Virginia

Dan Luu, Elk Grove, California

McKenzie Lorraine Lydon, Stuart, Florida

Matthew Todd Magers, Port Charlotte, Florida

Aysha Mahmud, Scottsdale, Arizona

Fadi S. Mamari, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Anna Marie Marchek, Greer, South Carolina

Jared Michael McAda, Dallas, Texas

Victoria McKinnon, Midland, North Carolina

Gabrielle Tiana Melick, Newport News, Virginia

De’Mari Monique Menefee, Bassett, Virginia

Donna Sophia Artemis Meryanos, Conway, South Carolina

Dylan James Miller, Rockwood, Pennsylvania

Ngwamitang Mitti, Celina, Texas

Hannah Moran, Salem, Virginia

An Nguyen, Greensboro, North Carolina

Christie Nguyen, Pinellas Park, Florida

Tony Ngo Nguyen, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Merrick Elijah Nicksic, Hebron, Indiana

Tasha Nkemdilim Ogoh, Macon, Georgia

Georgia Hudson O’Leary, Charleston, South Carolina

Fenil Patel, Charlottesville, Virginia

Shivani Ranjan Patel, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Jessica Le Phan, Richmond, Virginia

Danielle Pierson, Wytheville, Virginia

Colby Scott Purvis, Charleston, South Carolina

Sarah Katharine Radziewicz, Greenville, South Carolina

Naa’Jah Richardson, Evergreen, Alabama

Brooklynn Runyan, Dayton, Tennessee

Widad Salah, Herndon, Virginia

John Clayton Scarborough, Eastman, Georgia

Vincent Michael Senneca, El Cerrito, California

Moozen Shalabi, Bowie, Maryland

Joshua Sison, Roanoke, Virginia

Kristen Swanson, Boca Raton, Florida

Anupa J. Thirmiya, Oviedo, Florida

Rachel Ann Thomas, Ashburn, Virginia

Rachel E. Thomas, Bel Air, Maryland

Samantha Jean Thurman, Sikeston, Missouri

Matthew William Tindall, Columbia, South Carolina

Kishan Unija, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Jhanvi Ajaykumar Vansia, Chase City, Virginia

Nicholas Villar, Alexandria, Virginia

Gbutue T. Vorkpor, Lexington, Kentucky

Natalie Mae Weaver, Guntersville, Alabama

Zaynab Yunis, La Plata, Maryland

 

View the Spring 2022 Commencement recorded live stream here

View the Spring 2022 Commencement digital program here

Bluefield University

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