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Lander University Graduates 257 at Spring Commencement Ceremonies

Lander University conferred degrees upon 257 graduates at the university's spring commencement ceremonies in May. United States Senator Lindsey Graham delivered the keynote address to a full house at Lander's Horne Arena.

During the ceremonies, the university also conferred an honorary doctorate of laws degree on Graham, a Seneca native who has represented South Carolina as a United States Senator since Nov. 5, 2002.

Ninety-one graduates received honors at the ceremony. Honors included summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude. Graduates also received Lander's Golden L award, which is given to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in the last 60 hours of instruction through Lander University.

Graduating with summa cum laude honors, which requires a grade point average of 3.9 - 4.0 (out of a possible 4.0), were: Jasmine Alexzandria Brooks of Greenwood, Golden L; Sharon Blaiz Buchanan of Simpsonville; Kathleen Maria Manley of Hodges, Golden L; Teresa Gale Pack of Plum Branch, Golden L; Christopher Douglas Parris of Gaffney, Golden L; Mateja Petrusevic of Belgrade, Serbia, Golden L; Tiffany Danyelle Pierce of Greenville, Golden L; Sheila Kay Roche of Whitmire, Golden L; and Robert Tucker Williams of Grifton, N.C.

Graduating with magna cum laude honors, a distinction accorded to students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75-3.89, were: Brandy N. Carroll of Elberton, Ga., Golden L; Rachel Victoria Childs of Greenwood, Golden L; Hali Renee Kitchen of Prosperity, Golden L; Joseph Eugene McDevitt of Hilton Head, Golden L; Tashinga Musonza of Harare, Zimbabwe, Golden L; Latino Alberto Rodriguez of Charleston; and Aislyn Laurel Todd of Greenwood, Golden L.

Graduating with cum laude honors, which requires a grade point average of 3.50-3.74, were: Matthew Reid Alexander of Edgefield, Golden L; Joshua B. Baughman of Abbeville; Samy Brian Beydoun of North Yorkshire, England, Golden L; Heather Renee Bridges of Simpsonville, Golden L; Stephen Tyler Brown of Abbeville, Golden L; Laura Beth Burnette of Elberton, Ga., Golden L; Brittany Leigh Cheek of Newberry, Golden L; Christopher Ansel Crouch of Saluda; Victoria Lynn Ernest of Woodruff, Golden L; Lauren Mae Ferguson of Moore, Golden L; Jessica Suber Hall of Whitmire, Golden L; Sarah Elizabeth Hartenburg of Walterboro, Golden L; Daniel Byron Haven Jr. of Prosperity, Golden L; Emily Ashe Jeffcoat of Lexington, Golden L; Nena Moriah McConnell of Greenwood, Golden L; Robert Casey Norman of Abbeville, Golden L; Nora Ann Pace of Clinton, Golden L; Wendy Polk of Hampton, Golden L; Brynna Ann Rinehart of Newberry, Golden L; Jennifer Ashley Smith of Greenwood; and Frederick Joseph Stephenson III of Mauldin, Golden L.

Other recipients of the Golden L were: Laura Ann Ashworth of Greenwood; Alicia Kay Bailey of Greenwood; Zachary Mason Bargeloh of Mt. Pleasant; Chrystal Gail Barker of Barnwell; Benjamin Baugher of Greenville; Christine Elizabeth Berg of Beaufort; Preston Denman Bethea of Latta; Ryan Hayes Blackmon of Chapin; Lauren Elizabeth Bowers of Greenwood; Kyla Marie Breland of Beaufort; Mary Frances Carden of Simpsonville; Lauren Michelle Chandler of Belton; Taylor LeAnne Cobb of Greenwood; Gabriella Serena Contreras of Tucson, Ariz.; Wendy Renee Crawford of Laurens; Kenneth Charles Dunbaker of Columbia (29212); Kendall McKenzie King Eayrs of Sacramento, Calif.; Chelsea Lauren Ford of Fountain Inn; Candace Nicole Franklin of Abbeville; Katherine Lura Garrett of Laurens; Christina Danielle Geney of Waterloo; Alexandria Holly Hammond of Saluda; Allegra Kim Herring of Conway; Aunnika Ashley-Eva Hilton of Chester; Brittaney Nicholle Hughes of Greenwood; Heather Lynn Hyder of Leesville; Rhonda Michelle Johnson of Buffalo; Allison Marie King of Abbeville; Morgan Bennett Layne of Greenwood; Sarah Emily Love of Clover; Lauren Michelle Lugo of North Charleston; Kristen Laurie Mabry of Clover; Kristin Danielle Matheny of Gaffney; Jeremy Evan McMahan of Belton; Jessica Leanne McMahan of Abbeville; Ashleigh Sarah Meggs of Bennettsville; Caitlin R. Merck of Columbia (29205); Ebony Deniece Miller of Goose Creek; Holly Anne Mintz of Sissonville, W.Va.; Daniel Charles Pirkey of Gaffney; Dylan Potts of Wallkill, N.Y.; Erin Powell of Indian Land; Heather Brooke Rawson of Bradley; Torey Wyman Riser of Greenwood; Amanda Grace Rowland of Greenwood; Margaret Elizabeth Teal of Darlington; Samuel Gregory Thomas of Abbeville; Lindsay Morgan Thompson of Gray Court; Caraline Waldrep of Brookeville, Md.; Deidre Alexandria Watt of Anderson; Erin Makenzie Weese of Columbia (29206); Elyse Caitlin White of Greenwood; Rhonda Doris Williams of Anderson; and Jamey Elizabeth Witt of Greenwood.