CONCORD UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES 149TH SPRING COMMENCEMENT

CONTACT:  Nicole Smith, Public Relations Manager
Concord University Office of Advancement
PO Box 1000, Athens, WV 24712
(304) 384-6312
nlsmith@concord.edu
www.concord.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2024

CONCORD UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES 149TH SPRING COMMENCEMENT

ATHENS, WV – Concord University held the 149th Spring Commencement during three ceremonies over two days in the Main Gym of the Leslie R. and Ruby Webb Carter Center. Masters degree candidates were honored on Friday, May 3rd, and undergraduate candidates were recognized on Saturday, May 4th.

There are nine valedictorians in this graduating class: Julianna A. Brown, Cailyn L. Butler, Holly Marie Graham, Gabriella Marie Gray, Jared Edward Grubb, Sarah Victoria Linkous, Jami Nichole Rust, Sahar Saramani, and Andrew C. Trump.

Along with West Virginia, states represented by the candidates for graduation include Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, as well as Washington D.C.

Among the 307 candidates meeting the requirements for graduation in Spring 2024, 94 are master’s degree candidates, and 213 are undergraduate degree candidates. Six graduates are Veterans, six are Concord employees, and two are international students.

The ceremonies were recorded and commemorative jump drives of the recordings are available at a cost of $20 each. Orders may be placed online HERE.

Following opening remarks by President Kendra Boggess, the candidates were presented to President Boggess by Dr. Edward Huffstetler, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Kathryn Liptak assisted Dr. Boggess in hooding the master’s degree candidates.

Concord University President Dr. Kendra Boggess speaking during the commencement ceremony

MASTER’S CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

WEST VIRGINIA

ALDERSON: Erica Mackenzie Merrill
ALUM BRIDGE: Kylie Ann Cantrell
ATHENS: Ashley Brooke Purdy
BARBOURSVILLE: Hailey Paige Jordan
BECKLEY: Kaitlyn Paige West, Taneysha Dawn Hairston, Britney N. Coleman, Mikayla G. Covey, Julia Lynn Rahman
BUCKHANNON: Tammy Jo Hatfield
CAMP CREEK: Caleb Levi Stevens
CHAPMANVILLE: Rebecca Carol Adams
CHARLESTON: Roberto Ross
CLARKSBURG: April D. Zorick
COOL RIDGE: Caitlin Brooke Nelson
CRAB ORCHARD: Colten Tyler Sweeney
CROSS LANES: Joshua Alan Adkins, Karley Alexis Rose
DANESE: Donna Kay Downes-Moore
DANIELS: Grant Edward Davis, Emily Diane Perdue
ELKINS: Melissa Inez Jameson Rudloff, Elizabeth A. Woody
FAIRDALE: Samantha Jean Ayers
FAIRMONT: Caleb Michael James Moats
GILBERT: Kiana Nicole Hatfield
GLENVILLE: Frank Hollis Witte
HUNTINGTON: Molly Isabel Fox
HURRICANE: Taylor Kathryn Bates, Madison Nicole Coulter
IAEGER: Brandon Addair Brown
KEARNEYSVILLE: Laurel Cheri Harding
LERONA: Morgan Gage Adkins
LESTER: Jasmine Ariana Blankenship
LOGAN: Matthew Thomas Jones
MARTINSBURG: Crystalin N. Holliday, Jenna Nicole Taylor
MILLWOOD: Jessica Marie Beckham
NIMITZ: Jeremy Dale Wood
OAK HILL: Ryan C. Muse, Jr., Kyra Skye Arrington, Selena Marie Hoye, Tina Martin-Keffer
PARKERSBURG: Angela Hatfield
PARSONS: Tabatha Lynn Teets
PETERSTOWN: Dara Donnette Ladner, Kiera Danielle Conner
PRINCETON: Stella G. Dunn, Cade A. Fix, Levi Dale Ladner, Brianna Leigh Riley, Lori Ann Conner, Ronald Wayne Dowell, Jr., Rebecca B. Farmer, Emily Breanna Goforth, Kristin N. Nelson, Pamela Mae Turner-White, Kellie Ann Williams
RAINELLE: Emma Grace Osborne
RIPLEY: Malissa R. Casto
ROCK CREEK: Matthew Joseph Aliff
SHADY SPRING: Caleb A. Dangerfield
SUMMERSVILLE: Jacob M. Hamilton
THOMAS: Bradley Buck Carroll
WAR: Kaila Moranda McReynolds
WEIRTON: Brittany C. Hosey, Megan Elisabeth Maus-Smith

OUT OF STATE
BIRMINGHAM, AL: Kiaran Lee Maule
BURKE, VA: Marcus F. Wilson
CHRISTIANSBURG: Alexander James Aeneas Watty, Rebecca Lee Burton
CORNELIUS, NC: Meghan Diane O’Sullivan
DOBSON, NC: Joseph Daniel Layne
DUBLIN, VA: Alexis Cruise Phillips
ELKINS PARK, PA: Andre M. Williams, Jr.
FREDERICKSBURG, VA: Andrew Michael Huff
GROTTOES, VA: Lauren Ashley DeStefani
HAGERSSTON, MD: Monica Ugorji
HODGDON, ME: Alyssa Sue Austin
JERUSALEM, OH: Heather Dawn Hart Johnson
JOHNS CREEK, GA: Garrison Gerard Hearst
KINGSPORT, TN: Lily Griffith
MANASSAS: Emily Ann Weatherholtz
MANSFIELD, OH: Olivia Grace Bekeleski
MARTINS FERRY, OH: Tara Davette Loy
NAMPA, ID: Skylar M. Bjorklund
NORTH TAZEWELL, VA: Erin Kate Dalton
PEMBROKE, VA: Grace Alandreth Combs
RICH CREEK, VA: David Andrew Thompson
ROANOKE, VA: Peyton A. Hurd
VERO BEACH, FL: Alexa Laurel Todd
WESTON, FL: Nicholas Sanso

INTERNATIONAL

SPAIN: Adrian Cabello Espinar
UNITED KINGDOM: Leigh Wightman

Graduation candidates walking during the commencement ceremony

UNDERGRADUATE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

WEST VIRGINIA

ASBURY: Sara Rose Goff
ATHENS: Bryleigh Davis, Gonzalo Moore, Arthur Capuzzo Batista Rodovalho, Sahar Saramani, Sierra Dawn Meadows, Nicole Alice Rutherford, Ricardo Chin-ea Peg-ler
BALLARD: Jessica Steele
BEAVER: Haven Todd Chapman, Katelyn Sky Fitzwater
BECKLEY: Mia Kemien, Luke-Edwin Benjamin Scarbro, Johnathon Mark Rochester, Morgan Elizabeth Coulter, India Lavonne Law, Melissa Dawn Stiltner, Madalyn Rae Childs, Heather S. Hansford, Moira Lynette Mason, Genese L. Cox, Holden Taylor Isom, Melissa Lynn Kincaid, Chad Austin Runyon, LeAndrea Dawn Quesenberry
BEESON: Gabriella Marie Gray
BLUEFIELD: Bethany Burks, Bristol Thompson, Joshua T. Keiser, Kobe D. Nave, Matthew R. Peters, Andrea Jae Butler, Jaisah Danae Smith, Tyler Reed Watson, Brady Parker Ellison, Jared Edward Grubb, Megan Delain Higgins, Michael J. Parks, Amber Tabor
BRADLEY: Camron Lee Bowyer
BRENTON: Jordan S. Simpson, Britney Dawn Turner
BRIDGEPORT: Allison Leigh Kesling
CHAPMANVILLE: Kristin Robin Workman
CHARLESTON: Allison Brooke Dunbar, Cheyenne N. Ford
CHARMCO: Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hughart
CLARKSBURG: Erin M. Arnett
CLEAR FORK: Brian Allen Milam
COAL MOUNTAIN: Brandon M. Green
CORINNE: Kara Lynn Jennings
CRAIGSVILLE: Todd Alexander Foster
CRAWLEY: Abbigail K. Feamster
DANESE: Crystal Dawn Fox
DANIELS: Matthew Shayne Lester, Emily Anne Cole
DAVIN: Baylee Ladawn Hurley
DINGESS: Betty K. Canterbury
ELKVIEW: Megan Tanner
FAIRMONT: Lillian Paige Miller
FLAT TOP: Andrew C. Trump
FOREST HILL: Landrie N. Lane
FRANKFORD: Cassandra Marie Johnson, Jennifer L. Jones-Patton
GARY: Madison Jade Wagoner
GERRARDSTOWN: Sophia Lannette Clutter
GHENT: Hannah Marie Bone
GILBERT: Jesse Jon-Derk Hatfield
GLEN DANIEL: Tabatha Ann Nicole Conn
GREENVILLE: Dakota-Jack Spurgin
HEDGESVILLE: Hailey N. Emerick
HICO: Malerie Ann Hendrick, Taylor Dawn Perry
HINTON: Tyler R. Plumley, Alexander L. Persiani, Colton B. Lane
HUNTINGTON: Alaina Rhae Mills
IAEGER: Alexis F. Hickman, Blake G. Lockhart, Alexis Danielle Cline
IKES FORK: Michael-Paul Hare
JESSE: Julianna Addair Brown, Michaela A. Griffith
JOLO: Genesis Allen
JOSEPHINE: Emily Faith Tucker
KEGLEY: Karri Lynn Goodman Carlile, Jami Nicole Rust
LASHMEET: Ciersten S. Rose
LERONA: Jessica Rae Phillips
LESLIE: Tyrell Z. Blair
LEWISBURG: Ethan Cutlip, Makenzie Fugate, Victoria Lee Parks, Briana Ilizzabeth Lego-Clemons, Tyranda Estelle Martin, Cory Charles Taylor
LINDSIDE: Sidney N. Karnes
LOGAN: Ashley Brooke Williamson
MARTINSBURG: Sean M. Monro
MATHENY: Taylor June Brown
MOHAWK: Brayden Cline
MOUNT HOPE: Mary L. Denny, Joseph Tyler Mitchem
OAK HILL: Shannon Marie Blevins-Ward, Emma Morgan Workman
OAKVALE: Laken Ann McKinney
OCEANA: Martha Andrea Gibson
ODD: Holly Marie Graham
ONA: Ryann M. Davis
PETERSTOWN: Serrell Nadine Garee, Sydney R. Phipps
PINEVILLE: Keagen Blizzard, Keli Jean Teresa Adkins
PIPESTEM: Cailyn Leigh-Anne Butler, Gene Weatherly, Kristan Brown
PRINCETON: Bethany CarolLee Breeden, Arianna Elizabeth McKinney, Grace Eva Marie King, Ronnie William Mabe, III, Jocelyn Rochelle Woods, Paidan Nicole Ball, Sarah Victoria Linkhous, Tiffany Ann Flanery, Amanda Leann Green, Lesley Dawn Weeks, Oran Andrew Trimble, Sean David Fannin, Caleb Thomas Scott, Adrian Marcus Spaulding, Joshua Steven Bish, Audreyonna Neal, Abbey Elaine Osborne, Justin Matthew Perdue, Lisa L. Taylor
PRINCEWICK: Kayla Meadows
RAINELLE: Riley Brenae Bowyer
RANSON: John Paul Gesford, Maria T. Gesford
ROCK: Taylor Starr Bosley, Alex Craig Young
RONCEVERTE: Owen L. Vogelsong
RUPERT: Claudia Jean Blake
SAINT ALBANS: Josie Grace Crawford, Emma Nichole Simpkins
SALEM: Chance V. Howell
SANDYVILLE: Regan Alexis Carpenter
SHADY SPRING: Andrew Smith, Riley Grace Painter
SHEPHERDSTOWN: Ryan Allison Manion
SHINNSTON: Morgan Sahara Southern
SINKS GROVE: Alex N. Weikle
SPENCER: Quinton Trevor Ward
SUMMERSVILLE: Preston G. Prather, Trey Murphy Comer, Isaiah K. Jackson-Darby, Caroline Marie Smith, Stephen H. Hayslette
SYLVESTER: Kristin Cheyenne Ayers
THORNTON: Liz Janae Jennings
UNION: David A. Gu, Taylor Sizemore
WAR: Eden Aimee Mutter, Samantha Tessner
WEIRTON: Cosima R. Conklin
WELCH: Kalei Madison Adkins, Ja’Nazjah Deshanti Ivy, Dylan A. Long
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS: Colin Andrew Wiley
WILLIAMSTOWN: Jacob M. Britton

OUT OF STATE
BLACKSTONE, VA: Kayla Madison McCraw
BLUEFIELD, VA: Shayla B. Short
BROADFORD, VA: Nancy-Jo Kathleen Roberts
BROADWAY, VA: Jon Bryce Turner
CHILHOWIE, VA: Lucas Andrew Doss
CHRISTIANSBURG, VA: Ty Dunkleman
CHESAPEAKE, OH: John Akot Aguer
COLUMBIA, SC: Courtney Dawn Remalay
DUBLIN, VA: Chase Patrick Dotson
ELK CREEK, VA: Kacie F. Shaffner
FAIRFIELD, VA: Dalton Benson
FOREST CITY, NC: Savannah Marie Bates
GLENDALE, CA: Ashley Marie Ratcliffe
GREEN COVER SPRINGS, FL: Kylee Stacy
GREENEVILLE, TN: Blayne Connor Ferguson
GRUNDY, VA: Kennedi Shantell Plymal
KEY WEST, FL: Alvin Howard
LEXINGTON, NC: Jolie Marie Privett
LOWGAP, NC: Delaney Hope Fulk
LYNCHBURG, VA: Vonte R. Pannell
MANASSAS, VA: Kristen Michelle Lough
MIDDLETOWN, MD: Zachary John Clapper
MILLERSVILLE, MD: Deja Atkinson
MONETTA, VA: Edward James Blake
MURRIETA, CA: Cayden Richard Chambers
NORTH PALM BEACH, FL: Michael Price Dupont
ORLANDO, FL: Jaylen Jamar Harper
OAKLAND, MD: Allison Daniella Fitzwater
PEMBROKE, VA: Andrea Jeanette Perez
PULASKI, VA: Maddisan Ratcliff
ROANOKE, VA: Taylor Madison Abshire, Jordan Bryce Wooden
ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC: Aaron Brett Strickland, Jr.
SALEM, VA: Courtney Nicole Raines
SALISBURY, NC: Caroline Gaylin Houpe
SEVIERVILLE, TN: Bo Anderson Rowland
SMITHFIELD, NC: William Xavier Jackson
STAUNTON, VA: Csayjah Tyn’ee Barber-Whitelow
SUNRISE, FL: Zachary D. Saryeldin
WALKERSVILLE, MD: Imani Monique Campbell
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Maria Jose Chavez
WEST PALM BEACH, FL: Christopher Frederick Satcher

Graduation candidates walking during the commencement ceremony

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A photo of Concord University graduates clapping during the commencement ceremony