Lander University conferred bachelor and master degrees upon nearly 200 graduates during the university's 160th commencement ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Dr. Franklin Rausch, associate professor of history and Lander's 2019 Distinguished Professor, delivered the keynote address during the formal program held inside Lander's Finis Horne Arena.
The class of 2019 includes graduates from local communities, cities and regions across South Carolina and other states across the country, as well as internationally. In addition to the list below, graduate information can be found online at www.lander.edu.
***Summa Cum Laude is a distinction awarded to graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher.
**Magna Cum Laude is a distinction awarded to graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.75-3.89.
*Cum Laude is a distinction awarded to graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.50-3.74.
+Golden L is given to graduates who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher in the last 60 hours of instruction at Lander.
Abbeville County: +Tyler Matthew Boyd, of Abbeville, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; +**Marva Pleshette Burnside, of Abbeville, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Devaughn Alexander Johnson, of Abbeville, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; and Mia Janae Peterson, of Abbeville, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Aiken County: Sharon Michelle Birchmore, of Warrenville, Master of Education in Montessori Education; Michael Gatliff, of Aiken, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Jesse M. Wheeler, of North Augusta, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; and Ki'Ohn J Williams, of North Augusta, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Anderson County: Aderemi J. S. Ademiluyi, of Anderson, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +*Ashley Nichole Hampton, of Anderson, Bachelor of Science in Music and History; *Nickolas Shon Harper, of Iva, Bachelor of Science in History; Jessica Nicole Lewis, of Honea Path, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; James Malik Mattison, of Anderson, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Allie Noel Payne, of Iva, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; +Courtney Gayle Shaw, of Anderson, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; +*Emily May Slice, of Starr, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +*Mary Catherine Thompson, of Honea Path, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts (K-12 Certification); and Matthew Wair Tollison, of Iva, Bachelor of Science in Criminology.
Beaufort County: Noe Caballero-Rodriguez, of Saint Helena Island, Bachelor of Science in Biology; Zachary Robert Haskett, of Beaufort, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Neithan Adrian Leon, of Saint Helena Island, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; and +Phillip Javon Scarbrough, of Beaufort, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Berkeley County: Kaylinn Imoni Lisbon, of Cross, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; and +*Frances Emma Weiland, of Goose Creek, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Charleston County: +*Elizabeth Gilmore Aydlette, of Charleston, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; Da'Quana Urica Brown, of Hollywood, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Anna Blalock Chamness, of Charleston, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Rhealyn Jade Dinkins, of Charleston, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Karley Rebecca McWhorter, of Mt. Pleasant, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; and +Amanda Elaine Smoak, of Charleston, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts.
Cherokee County: +**Jada Kathryn Mayes, of Blacksburg, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.
Chester County: Charles Lott Wells, of Chester, Master of Science in Emergency Management.
Chesterfield County: Julia LeAnn Melton, of Chesterfield, Bachelor of Science in Political Science.
Clarendon County: +*Janette Lynn Murdoch, of Manning, Bachelor of Science in Special Education.
Edgefield County: Brionna Tamera Holmes, of Johnston, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; and Laura Adelaide Waller-Crim, of Edgefield, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Fairfield County: Keri Mesheller Moore, of Winnsboro, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Georgetown County: Christopher Kevin Martin, of Georgetown, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems.
Greenville County: Samuel Mark Bailey, of Greenville, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Austin Lee Bell, of Greenville, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Dual Engineering); Michael Andre Cleveland, of Simpsonville, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; Megan Elizabeth Golz, of Simpsonville, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; *Ricky V Kemp, of Taylors, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (Dual Engineering); +Tia Nicole Mahaffey, of Mauldin, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; Jerykah Sky Maynor, of Simpsonville, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Grayson J Stafford, of Greenville, Bachelor of Science in Biology; and +*Jennifer Cheyenne Tapp, of Pickens, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
Greenwood County: Jan Darius Acewicz, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems; +**Christopher Tyler Addy, of Ninety Six, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; William Alexander Avery, of Ninety Six, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems; Abby Catherine Baldwin, of Ware Shoals, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; +*Kosovare Bela, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +Stefanie Bernabe, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Lacodian Demorris Carter, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Karla Rea Coffey, of Ninety Six, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science; +Alexa Michaela Cowan, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +*George Lewis Dowell III, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts; Cody T Eakin, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems; Mitchell Wayne Felton, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Sociology; +Chase Alexander Gurley, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +Anna Grace Jenkins, of Ninety Six, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Victoria Ina Jester, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts; Christopher D Johnson, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish; +***Amber Christine Lee, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; +Kathryn Brooke Meredith, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; +*Suzanne Harper Mitchell, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in History; Samuel Brooks Moore, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; Amber Breunna Murray, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; Sarah Kendall O'Quinn, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Briana Rochelle Patton, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Alyson Taylor Ray, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Abby Tucker Reese, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education; +Khamoni Alexia Dejsean Smith, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Kyle Spencer Stahl, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Kathryn Grace Thorpe, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; and +Madison Marie Tripp, of Greenwood, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.
Horry County: Nickolas Vaughn Chichester, of Conway, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
Laurens County: Reid O'Neil Allen, of Cross Hill, Bachelor of Science in Sociology; Toriano Antravious Coleman, of Laurens, Bachelor of Science in Criminology; +Summer Paige Gregory, of Laurens, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Caitlyn Elizabeth McClellan, of Ware Shoals, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education; and Jamencia Nathanna Williams, of Clinton, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Lexington County: Brianna Nicole Byers, of Lexington, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; +Danis Clayton Fertick, of West Columbia, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; +Warren Scott Coppage, of Chapin, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; James Leslie Johnson, of Lexington, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; Jessica Lynn Kinzie, of Lexington, Bachelor of Science in Criminology; +*Madison L. Marriott, of Lexington, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; +*Brady Troy Mason, of Lexington, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Haileigh Tara Niles, of Lexington, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +Chandler Gracen Slack, of Chapin, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and +*Myles Austin Wessinger, of Cayce, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Newberry County: Jamila La'shon Dewalt, of Newberry, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Savannah Leigh Green, of Newberry, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Tatyana Shamere Praylow, of Prosperity, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; +*Anna Lee White, of Newberry, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts; and +Taisha S Williams-Caldwell, of Newberry, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts.
Oconee County: +**Stephanie Deanna Arrington, of Walhalla, Bachelor of Science in Sociology; Kasia Chanel Bowens, of Seneca, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; Sydney Hope Edwards, of Westminster, Bachelor of Science in Criminology; Shania Angela Dawn Land, of Seneca, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; and +Brandon Chase Smith, of Seneca, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Pickens County: Marilyn Sommer-Knight Davis, of Easley, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Carson Rose Moore, of Easley, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and +Noah Walton King, of Liberty, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Richland County: +Alezie Breanna Cook, of Columbia, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Armir Austin Goodwin, of Columbia, Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts; Veronica Ku'ulei LeGrand, of Columbia, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; +*Abigail Meredith McCullough, of Columbia, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Carlton H Segars, of Columbia, Master of Science in Emergency Management; Danielle Ashley Surette, of Irmo, Bachelor of Science in Biology; and +*Amber Jalisa Sutton, of Columbia, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.
Saluda County: +Maliayah Lachelle Edmond, of Batesburg-Leesville, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Daisy Dee Horne, of Saluda, Bachelor of Science in Music (K-12 Certification); +Jaylon Lewis Key-Lott, of Saluda, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Adam Wayne Swann, of Saluda, Bachelor of Science in Criminology; and Taylor Delayne Tucker, of Saluda, Bachelor of Sciencein Psychology.
Spartanburg County: Joseph Tucker Lovin, of Boiling Springs, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; Daysha Meredith, of Woodruff, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; Carlie A Mills, of Duncan, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +Ashley Nicole Moorman, of Woodruff, Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies; and +***Brooke Elizabeth Trotter, of Boiling Springs, Bachelor of Science in Criminology.
Sumter County: Kayla Michaella Tindal, of Sumter, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
York County: Ivana Cameron Davis, of Rock Hill, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; and Jennifer Lynn Flora, of Clover, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Out-of-State: Chasten Bryan Beck, of Cullman, Ala., Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies; Matthew Wilhelm Brencis, of Clovis, N.M., Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems; +*Kiani Alissia Gates, of Appling, Ga., Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Alexander James Gurley, of Royston, Ga., Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Daquan Lamar Joy, of Lawrenceville, Ga., Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Richard George Kaczmarek IV, of Woodstock, Ohio, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; Timothy Edward Kranz, of Babylon, N.Y., Bachelor of Arts in History; +David Ryan Morrone, of Covington, Ga., Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Christopher Patrick Sheehan, of Port St Lucie, Fla., Master of Science in Emergency Management; and Chanel Womack, of Rahway, N.J., Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies.
International: Thibault Chrétien, of Laval, France, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Ozan Cildir, of Halmstad, Sweden, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science; Aleksa Cupic, of Belgrade, Serbia, Bachelor of Science in Political Science; +***Mattia Galanti, of Roteglia, Italy, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems; Genshen Hu, of Shenzhen, China, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; +Ting Jiang, of Qingdao, China, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications and Media Studies; +George William Knight, of Laverstoke, United Kingdom, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; *Tatenda Makuvatsine, of Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Maria Paula Martinez-Villa, of Colombia, South America, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; Isabella Lovisa Schulz, of Sundsvall, Sweden, Bachelor of Science in Psychology; +Amanda Grace Shackleton, of Kitchener, Canada, Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and Jingyi Xue, of Shanghai, China, Master of Education in Montessori Education.
About Lander University:
Founded in 1872, Lander University is a co-educational, state-assisted, four-year university serving approximately 3,000 students. Located in Uptown Greenwood, the university has a long-standing tradition of providing a challenging, enriching education that prepares graduates to lead lives of meaningful activity, of personal satisfaction and of service to others.
The institution offers more than 60 areas of study in the liberal arts and sciences, with professional programs in STEM, education, business and nursing. Graduate programs include the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, the Master of Education in Montessori Education, the Master of Science in Management, the Master of Science in Emergency Management and the Master of Science in Nursing-Clinical Nurse Leader.