Coulter Maxey, of Scottsville, received a degree from Bridgewater College on Saturday.

As the college’s 417 graduating seniors and their families celebrated commencement, G. Steven Agee, who is a justice on the U.S. Court of Appeals and a 1974 Bridgewater alumnus, focused his address on “The Gift of Critical Thinking.”

Of the graduates, 107 earned bachelor of arts degrees and 279 earned bachelor of science degrees. The college’s president, Dr. David W. Bushman, conferred the degrees at the ceremony.

Fifteen members of the class graduated summa cum laude, the top academic honor which requires at least a 3.9 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Thirty-nine graduates earned magna cum laude honors 3.7 or better average. Cum laude honors, requiring a 3.4 grade point average, were earned by 64 graduates. In addition, academic honors at each level require students to meet certain standards on a comprehensive exam; those earning summa cum laude and magna cum laude also must achieve required grade levels on an honors project.

Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Bridgewater College is home to more than 1,800 undergraduate students.