One hundred twenty-two Bluefield University seniors accepted diplomas, Saturday, May 4, 2019, during Bluefield University’s Spring Commencement. The event was held outside on the campus quad with the majestic East River Mountain as a backdrop. 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 Kelly Chadwick Streiff.
Mr. Craig Stout brought greetings to the graduates on behalf of the Board of Trustees and provided a list of three things that he wanted graduates to know. Stout said:
“Know that the faculty and staff have supported you during your time here. They have prayed for you, encouraged you, and now celebrate with you. These fine people standing behind me and serving around you today want nothing but the best for you. Know that this is not the end of your education. Be a lifelong learner. Know that our Lord and Savior loves each and every one of you with an everlasting love.”
Allyson Danielle Carter and Daniel Eric Mason, both from the School of Education and Social Sciences, brought the student addresses for the event. Allyson Danielle Carter provided scripture from 1 Corinthians 10:31 and said, “May our every decision lead us closer to our savior and his heart…So, class of 2019, let us grab his hand right now and step boldly into the door God is opening for us. Whatever that looks like for you, I know he is cheering you on. All of us here are cheering you on.”
Daniel Eric Mason reminded students to praise God when they are on the mountaintop and when they are in the valleys in their life. Mason said, “My prayer for the Bluefield University class of 2019 is that when you are faced with trials, that you would reflect on this moment, this mountaintop, that you are now on, and that you would ‘Praise Him-he is your God, and you have seen with your own eyes the great and astounding things that he has done for you (Deuteronomy 10:21)’”
Keynote speaker, Kelly Chadwick Streiff, a native of Bluefield, West Virginia spoke to the graduates offering career advice. She began her speech by confessing that she did not have a job when she graduated from University. “This degree will afford you many opportunities and privileges, but it does not guarantee them,” Streiff said. She went on to say that “You have to decide to finish well in every opportunity you encounter.” Streiff asked students to consider what they will do with the investment they made in their education. She employed them to contemplate, “Who will you become and where will you go from here?” She also cautioned graduates on job placement saying, “What gets you the job has to keep you the job. Don’t just try to land the job; find the fit.” Streiff also told the audience about a rafting trip that she took where someone fell out of the raft. “Don’t worry so much about falling, just make sure you get back in the boat when you do,” said Streiff.
Streiff has traveled to 37 different countries and called eight states home. She now lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Peter, and they are expecting their first child in June. Streiff graduated from King University and has dedicated her career to non-profit ministry work where she has served in a variety of local churches and organizations over the last twenty years. She currently serves as the training coordinator for Oasis for Orphans, a non-profit organization providing orphan care to children in southwest Kenya.
The 97th Spring Commencement also included a scripture reading by Dr. Abigail Heiniger, associate professor of English; a selection from Bluefield University Variation Chamber Singers entitled, “Homeward Bound” led by Dr. John-Scott Moir, assistant professor of music with contralto soloist, Ms. Nicole Benedito; as well as a hymn and the singing of the BU alma mater, led by Dr. Charles Priest, associate professor of music. In addition, Mr. Zachary Smith, vice president of the alumni association board, led the graduates in reciting the alumni creed and welcomed them to the Bluefield University Alumni Association. Smith said, “As you maneuver your way through the many ups and downs of life, there will be choices, challenges, joys, and sorrows. But no matter where the road ahead leads, one constant will remain; you will always be a part of the Bluefield University family.”
Candidates for graduation were presented by Dr. Marshall Flowers, vice president for academic affairs and Rebecca McCoy-Reese, assistant professor of theatre, and Dr. David W. Olive completed the conferring of degrees. Candidates for graduation for Spring 2019 included:
CANDIDATES FOR MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
Jara Ann Armstrong of Princeton, West Virginia
Anna Rakes Bowles of Fieldale, Virginia
Laura Renae Whiteed Grubb of Max Meadows, Virginia
Daniel Eric Mason of Bluefield, Virginia
John B. Rhudy of Burke’s Garden,Virginia
Alexis Nicole Thompson of Bluefield, Virginia
Kimberly Denise Wells of Elliston, Virginia
CANDIDATES FOR MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Sarah Baker Bailey of Bluefield, Virginia
Charlie M. Carr of Roanoke, Virginia
Nina Y. Williams of West Point, Virginia
CANDIDATES FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING
Sandra L. Clay of Beckley, West Virginia
Leslie Nii Adjamah Lartey of Culpeper, Virginia
Victoria Lynn Mullins of Stuart, Virginia
Ashlee Paige Snapp of Kingsport, Tennessee
Tiffanie Reneé Snyder of Mount Hope, West Virginia
CANDIDATES FOR HONORS PROGRAM
Madeline Dawn Atkins of Pembroke, Virginia
Rhyan Alexandra Bailey of Rock, West Virginia
Allyson Daniele Carter of Cool Ridge, West Virginia
Sven Kleinhans of Ottenhofen, Germany
CANDIDATES FOR BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE
Jeanna Ann Anderson of Tullahoma, Tennessee
Benjamin J. Ayers of Bluefield, Virginia
Andre J. Cardamone of Wasco, California
Sharon Lynn Cobbler of Bassett, Virginia
Danaé Meshaun Cox of Richmond, Virginia
Marcus J. Espinal Alvarez of Danbury, Connecticut
Kalin Hope Folden of Princeton, West Virginia
Lillian Katherine Gray of Roanoke, Virginia
Hannah Mayre Ingo of Max Meadows, Virginia
Charity O. Reynolds of Ridgeway, Virginia
Jeda Schmitt of Minneola, Florida
Jacob Alexander Webster of Ringgold, Virginia
Heather Wrench of Dunn, North Carolina
CANDIDATES FOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Mary Blake Avery of Newport News, Virginia
Jan Elizabeth Barney of Orange, Virginia
Abigail M. Beavers of Bluefield, Virginia
Kierra Trenise Bell-Linnear of Richmond, Virginia
Nicole Marchetti Benedito of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Charles Theo Black of Orlando, Florida
Michelle Bolton Blessard of Fincastle, Virginia
Adam Wayne Blevins of Galax, Virginia
Brandon Ryshad Bond of Newport News, Virginia
Chrystal Marie Boothe of Draper, Virginia
Eugene Joseph Bowden, Jr. of Roanoke, Virginia
Amber Nicole Boyd of North Tazewell, Virginia
Benjamin Mark Brown of Richlands, Virginia
Chiara Cree Brumfield of Chatham, Virginia
Jacob E. Brown of Honaker, Virginia
Katherine Leigh Calfee of Tazewell, Virginia
Adam Bryant Castro of Troutman, North Carolina
Cowanda Cobbs of Danville, Virginia
Kowante Juwan Cobbs of Danville, Virginia
Sharon Lynn Cobbler of Bassett, Virginia
Jorge Luis Concepcion, III of Chesapeake, Virginia
Robert Evan Connor of Roanoke, Virginia
Camaro Lynn Cook of Manassas, Virginia
Joshua M. Corell of North Tazewell, Virginia
Keyonna Y. Crouch of Kenner, Louisiana
Erin Marie Cunningham of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Marie Michelle Cunningham of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Carah Janelle Dalton of Bluefield, Virginia
Rebekah Dea of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Kristen Danielle Deal of Grundy, Virginia
Kelly Reneé Dietz of Bluefield, Virginia
Christopher Daniel Dixon of Newport News, Virginia
Lena Ralene Duke of Charles City, Virginia
Katelyn Lee Dunford of Montcalm, West Virginia
Olatunji Ebifemi of Ajegunle Lagos, Nigeria
Johnathan Ferguson of Wytheville, Virginia
Duarte Cruz Ferreira of Lisbon, Portugal
Bradley Evan Ferrell of Richlands, Virginia
Ryan James Franceschina of Frederick, Maryland
Candace Lee Francis of La Crosse, Virginia
Chaz Michael Franqui of Old Bridge, New Jersey
Tina Marie Freeman of Pulaski County, Virginia
Vinettea Renee Newbey Freeman of Lynchburg, Virginia
Nicholas Stephen Goad of Stuart, Virginia
Donal Gooch, Jr. of Wendell, North Carolina
Alyssa Nichol Gore of Princeton, West Virginia
Brooke Elizabeth Hall of Bluefield, Virginia
Kyle L. Harris of New York, New York
MarQuell Jovonte Hart of Suffolk, Virginia
Stephanie Marie Vest Hubbard of Roanoke, Virginia
Debra Johnson Hutchinson of Grundy, Virginia
April LeAnn Hylton of Bland, Virginia
Asma Fariha Ismael of Marion, Virginia
Devon L. Jackson of Newport News, Virginia
Dylan Jones of Rich Valley, Virginia
Lynne Tolbert Jones of Pulaski, Virginia
Ethan Ellery Keith Keene of Richlands, Virginia
Courtney Lauren Kendrick of Charleston, West Virginia
Crystal Lawton LaBrie of Roanoke, Virginia
Victoria L. Martin of Covington, Virginia
Marvin Gerard Lemons of Atlanta, Georgia
Nikki Lineberry of Galax, Virginia
Evelyn E. Love of Los Angeles, California
Sherry A. Lozano of Willis, Virginia
Ronald L. Marsh of Roanoke, Virginia
Anisha Kenzie Marshall of Hillsville, Virginia
Alex T. Martin of Dobson, North Carolina
Igenter W. L. McCoy, III of Chesapeake, Virginia
Camry Elizabeth McCroskey of Narrows, Virginia
Jessica Cox-Meadows of Bland, Virginia
Tanya Robson Melanson of Culpeper, Virginia
Gema Karina Mendoza Cervallos of Manta, Ecuador
Demetrius Michael Miller of Marion, Virginia
Quincy De’Shawn Mock of Hampton, Virginia
Brandon David Moser of Dublin, Virginia
Randall Cade Mullins of Richlands, Virginia
Shasta Renee Myers of Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Michael August Niedermeier of Chesapeake, Virginia
Anna Nicole Oliver of Ashland, Virginia
Jonathan Duane Owens of Wythe County, Virginia
Steven Wayne Pack of Ballard, West Virginia
Sarah Elizabeth Pauley of Bluefield, Virginia
Gabriel Flynn Poling of Chillicothe, Missouri
Kenton Presley of Oakwood, Virginia
Crystal Rasnake of Abingdon, Virginia
Travis Reynolds of Bassett, Virginia
Mykenzie Kayln Roach of Bluefield, Virginia
Cameron M. Roberts of Panther, West Virginia
Karissa Joy Rose of Grundy, Virginia
Joanna L. Ryan of Catawba, Virginia
Joshua Lee Salmon of Roanoke, Virginia
Paloma Sanchez Vives of Valencia, Spain
Glenn Donald Scott of Roanoke, Virginia Business Administration
Daniel Shelton of Fairfield, North Carolina
Rodrell Shaquille Smith of Arrington, Virginia
Joe Alexander Stacey of Sheffield, England
Kevin Stoffle of Vienna, Austria
Roby S. Stoots, Jr. of Woodlawn, Virginia
Aaron J. Swingle of Bluefield, West Virginia
David James Tripp, III of Norwich, Connecticut
Dina B. Turner of Yadkinville, North Carolina
Brian I. Vasquez of Westchester, New York
Alec Matthew Vetro of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Samantha Casey Waelti of Christiansburg, Virginia
Katie M’Lyn Wass of Chesterfield, Virginia
Kortney L. Wells of Riverton, Utah
Keondra Cassie Lynise Melody Whitaker of Richmond, Virginia
Francisco Williams of Queens, New York
Luzette Demoorea Williams of Tazewell, Virginia
LaVera Bellins Wilson of Richmond, Virginia
Traci Elizabeth Worrell of Barren Springs, Virginia
Zachary Wright of Abingdon, Virginia
CANDIDATES FOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DEGREE
Chase P. Asbury of Bristol, Virginia
Samantha Rhea Bishop of Pulaski, Virginia
Brandi Viers Burnham of Pound, Virginia
Amanda Leigh Casillas of Woodbridge, Virginia
Debra Lynn Creditt of Stafford, Virginia
Jessica Breann Dowdy of Dublin, Virginia
Nicole Grubb of Fries, Virginia
Rachel McKenna Hackney of Tazewell, Virginia
Melissa Rae Hoyas of Bristol, Virginia
Natasha Fay Mullins of Haysi, Virginia
Daniel Dalton Parker of Keokee, Virginia
Danielle Raven Pender of Bristol, Virginia
Shaunita Michelle Rhone of Stephens City, Virginia
Josie Kay Wilson of Meadowview, Virginia
CANDIDATES FOR ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Jovita Noelle Dabney of Richmond, Virginia
Caitlyn Marie Guthrie of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Katelyn Marie Messersmith of Abingdon, Virginia
Alexandria Sturgell of Bluefield, Virginia