Spring Commencement 2020 Saturday, May 16 Hattiesburg, Mississippi MISSION STATEMENT As a Christian university which embraces its Baptist heritage and namesake, William Carey University provides quality educational programs, within a caring Christian academic community, which challenge the individual student to excel in scholarship, leadership, and service in a diverse global society. VISION William Carey University is a community of learners which seeks to blend faith and learning with living. Within this unique nurturing and challenging environment, students prepare to fulfill their diverse callings in the larger global community. THE CAREY CREED “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” Commencement Ceremonies ~ May 16, 2020 Ceremony 1 ~ 10:00 a.m. .................................................................... Page 6 Ralph and Naomi Noonkester School of Arts & Letters ~ Graduate and Undergraduate School of Business ~ Graduate and Undergraduate Donald and Frances Winters School of Music ~ Graduate and Undergraduate Cooper School of Missions and Ministry Studies ~ Undergraduate Ceremony 2 ~ 11:00 a.m. .................................................................. Page 10 School of Education ~ Doctoral and Education Specialist Master of Biomedical Science Ceremony 3 ~ 1:00 p.m. .................................................................... Page 18 School of Education ~ Graduate and Undergraduate Ceremony 4 ~ 2:00 p.m. .................................................................... Page 22 College of Health Sciences ~ Graduate and Undergraduate Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing ~ Doctoral, Graduate, and Undergraduate School of Natural & Behavioral Sciences ~ Graduate and Undergraduate Ceremony 5 ~ 3:00 p.m. .................................................................... Page 26 Tradition Campus Students ~ All Graduate and Undergraduate The above ceremonies are presented on the WCU website due to inability to assemble during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. 3 Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement May 16, 2020 INVOCATION ..............................................................................................Dr. Daniel Caldwell Vice President of Christian Development and Church Relations WELCOME .........................................................................................................Dr. Tommy King President In the 10:00 a.m. ceremony, the following will take place at this point. AWARDING OF HONORARY DEGREE .................................................................... Dr. King Doctor of Divinity—Slater Murphy THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES ............................................................................. Dr. King RECOMMENDATION FOR DEGREES AND PRESENTATION OF THE CANDIDATES .................................................Dr. Garry Breland Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost WELCOME TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ....................................... Mrs. Pam Shearer Director of Alumni Relations CLOSING REMARKS ..................................................................................................... Dr. King BENEDICTION .................The Lord Bless You and Keep You .............William Carey Chorale (at home) All five ceremonies follow the program listed above, with the noted exception of Ceremony 1, which includes the awarding of an honorary degree. 4 Rev. Slater Murphy Rev. Slater Murphy began serving as director of the church music department for the Mississippi Baptist Convention in August 2011. Prior to that, he served as associate pastor in music at Fairview Baptist Church in Columbus for 26 years. He also currently serves as the interim worship pastor at First Baptist Church, Oxford. Slater has been married to Marsha Fondren Murphy, a University of Southern Mississippi graduate, for 40 years. They have two children, both married, and one grandson. His son, Dr. Brian Murphy, serves as an assistant professor of music at William Carey University. In addition to his equipping and counseling responsibilities, Slater conducts the Mississippi Baptist All-State Youth Choir and Orchestra, Mississippi Baptist Singing Churchwomen, and accompanies the Mississippi Singing Churchmen. Slater recently completed a five-year appointment serving with the Mississippi ACDA board as the repertoire and standards chair for Music in Worship. He is a 1979 graduate of William Carey College, Bachelor of Music, and a 1982 graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Church Music, with emphases in organ performance and vocal pedagogy. 5 Ceremony 1 – 10:00 a.m. Graduating Class of May 2020 Ralph and Naomi Noonkester School of Arts and Letters Master of Arts Bachelor of Science Daniel Carroll William Neese BA, University of Rio Grande, 2018 Bridgett O'Bryant Cassidy Mashell Sager Erin Abigail Little Madison Sellers BA, William Carey University, 2015 Jayde R. Tribett Katherine Marie Woods Landon Woods Bachelor of Arts Stephanie Laine Arnold Wesley Moore Bowers Bachelor of General Mitchell Sims Cook Studies Ashton Haleigh Dodd Tessa Mae Flesher Jennifer Denise Allen Jacob Reedy Garrison Kimberly Rose DeLorenze Lauren Elizabeth Grantham Kaitlyn Cheyenne Evans Alana Reshea Jolly Adrana Lashel Graves Brooke Danielle Lane Takiyana Herrera Rachel A. Lott Jalicia Shakela McNair Jason Edward Malone Jestine Keirra Milsap Preston Patterson Parks John-Paul Edward Pierce Sharen Leigh Prine Ethan Alexander Williams Mayra Yamila Ramshur Laura Liberty Elaine Sites Kristin T. Smith Tristan Alexander Smith Michaela Jean Ware Faith Elisabeth Webster Bachelor of Fine Arts Ciara Danielle Fountain Jessie Colleen Parker Jonathan Sims 6 School of Business Master of Business Administration Adrian Ferreira Cabado Seth Murphy Lawrence BSB, William Carey University, 2019 BSB, William Carey University, 2019 Zonda Gooden Enzo Herve Rene Simon BS, William Carey University, 2018 BSE, University of Caen-Basse-Normandie University, 2017 Alexander Stephen Gullett BSB, William Carey University, 2019 Bachelor of Arts Jia Chen Xiaolin Cui Bachelor of Science in Business Toluwani Adebakin Teighlor Nichole Fox Daniel Alkhoury Lucas Lesoeur Jonathan M. Atencio Rodney Charles Mallett Younis Finau Karavaki Bese Isaac Hill Marshall Shalae T. Bester Wilson Tabor McCoy Simon Dexter-Oleg Bowman Wesley McCurdy Paul Bracken Javontae Benard McDavid Shana Faith Brassfield Mark M. Molaison Wyatt Evan Brumfield Juan Pablo Pinilla Joseph Kross Carmichael Clayton Alexander Robbins Sarah Elizabeth Clark Hugo Alexandre Henri Robuchon Dalen Demond Dotson Brick Elton Sager Amber Inez Downs Ryan Wyatt Taylor Lisa Lesina Faolotoi Jose Angel Domingo Xam-mar Bachelor of General Studies Zaria Antoinette Husband Atikan Juprang Landon Allan Keller Jonathan David Turner Shelby Layne Walley 7 Donald and Frances Winters School of Music Master of Music Ramona S. Davidson Nicholas Kevin Papania BM, William Carey College, 1984 BM, William Carey University, 2019 Jeremy Dwayne Donald Joe B. Raymond III BME, Mississippi College, 2012 BME, Delta State University, 2010 Lydia Renae Losito Chandler Smith BAM, Belhaven University, 2014 BM, William Carey University, 2019 Joe Walter Namie, Jr. BME, Delta State University, 2004 Bachelor of Arts Heather Boyd Benjamin Edison Brockway Clare Catherine Kelly Bachelor of Music Bailey Anderson Noah Jones Lauren A. Beller Jacob Louis Landry Merritt Blackwell Jacob Malone Felicia Bond Torian Miller Destenee Elliott Melanie K. Soldinie Rosa Gaines Travis A. Stennett Austin L. Hannah Jennifer Walker Leigh Anne Howe Emily Westfaul Katherine Jacobs Bachelor of General Studies Alyissa Boscosky Gracelyn Elizabeth Cockrell Chellsa Re'Jean Moody Robert A. Myrick Colton Lane Powell 8 Cooper School of Missions and Ministry Studies Bachelor of Arts Mackenzie Britt Terry Fregoe Nicole Maye Stephen Alexander Moore Laura Marie Parks Wesley Parker Peden Joshua Sands Rachel Darby Saulsbury John Mark Vincent Bachelor of Science Kristen Rose Bond Makaeya Daniele Brock Katelyn Emmalee Nichols Bachelor of General Studies William Noah Clark William Cooper Nawasa Jean Montgomery 9 Ceremony 2 – 11:00 a.m. Graduating Class of May 2020 School of Education Doctor of Education Michael Max Brewer BSBA, Mississippi College, 2008 MEd, Mississippi College, 2011 EdS, William Carey University, 2018 "The Effectiveness of Incentives to Motivate Students to Improve Performance Assessments" Lenora Fayette Ward Brown BA, Spellman College, 1992 MS, Alcorn State University, 2000 EdS, Jackson State University, 2003 "Educator Perceptions of School Leadership, Decision Making and School Culture in Comprehensive Support and Improvement Schools" Clifton Kyle Clark BS, Delta State University, 2005 MEd, University of Mississippi, 2007 EdS, University of Mississippi, 2010 "Mississippi School Leaders' Knowledge of Students' Constitutional Rights" April Downs Engle BS, University of Southern Mississippi, 2002 MEd, William Carey University, 2010 EdS, William Carey University, 2016 "Teaching Conflict Resolution Within the General Curriculum of K-5 Students: A Study of Teachers' Beliefs" Kenneth Joel Floyd BS, Valdosta State University, 2011 MS, Valdosta State University, 2012 EdS, Valdosta State University, 2015 "Effects of Scheduled Intervention Times on Student Achievement In a Rural K-12 Setting" Tyler C. Hansford BS, Mississippi State University, 2010 MS, Arkansas State University, 2014 EdS, William Carey University, 2018 "Maintaining Academic Success in Small Rural Mississippi High Schools" 10 Natalie Deaton