Over 1,200 graduate from SVCC

Published 2:08 pm Thursday, June 2, 2016

Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) celebrated its 46th commencement on May 14 at the Christanna Campus in Alberta. There were 1,268 eligible candidates for graduation this year with about 600 attending the ceremony to receive a diploma from Dr. Al Roberts, SVCC president.

Martha Reed, assistant professor of biology, this year’s commencement speaker, and offered the graduates a list of life skills to take along on their next journey.

Among the life skills Reed emphasized were to be hardworking and humble and to be passionate.

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“Do what you love even if you don’t love it everyday,” she said. “You be the ones that are willing to stand up against the ideas of our culture and you actively listen and learn from others, and walk alongside of your neighbor, and build new relationships and work to make the world a better place through your service to others.”

During the ceremony, Dr. John J. Cavan, former SVCC president, received recognition as a President Emeritus. He was presented with a memento to honor the occasion. Nominated for the honor by the SVCC Local Board, candidates for this status must have provided 10 or more years of outstanding, distinguished and honorable service to the VCCS. The appointment of President Emeritus is for life.

Dr. John D. Hicks, counselor at the Christanna Campus, received his doctoral hood at the ceremony. He completed his Master’s of Education at Virginia State University and was hooded on stage by his family, wife, Nikki, and daughter, Nia, along with Dr. Tara Carter, vice president for academics and student affairs.

Farmville graduates included: Thomas Vincent Abston, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Jason Eric Bowen Jr., Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in science; Andrew Lee Brown, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies, Lacey Turney Bryant, Associate of Applied Science with a major in human services; John J. Butler, Associate of Applied Science with a major in administration of justice; Lucia Ann Butler, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Dalen Mark Coblentz, Associate of Applied Science with a major in administration of justice; Zachary Allen Cordle, Associate of Applied Science with a major in information systems technology; Gillian Leigh Cubbage, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Russell William Curtin Jr., Career Studies Certificate in welding ;Sherri L. Davenport, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Matthew Bryan Davis, Career Studies Certificate in diesel mechanic/technician; Danielle Alexis Dowdy, Career Studies Certificate in nurse aide basic; Jolene Renee Eicher, Associate of Applied Science with a major in emergency medical services; Cynthia Deloris Eppes, Associate of Applied Science with a major in human services; Donna M. Fox, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies-human services, Associate of Applied Science with a major in human services; Amatulmalik Bint Fulani, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Megan Nicole Garrett, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in science; Allison Pearl Gilbert, Certificate in general education; Hillary Lynn Gilbert, Certificate in practical nursing; Melissa Andre’a Gilliam, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Benjamin Asher Gordon, Career Studies Certificate in diesel mechanic/technician; Louis Carver Gould III, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in education; John Douglas Hallik, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Nicole Renee Hancock, Associate of Applied Science with a major in business management; John Pollard Henshaw, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Thomas Robert Hodgson, Career Studies Certificate in welding; Emilee Blair Holton, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in science; Ryan Keith Huddleston, Career Studies Certificate in automotive tune-up; Angela Dawn Irving, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in education; Hannah Blanton King, Career Studies Certificate in health sciences ; Noah Wade Lampkin, Career Studies Certificate in welding; Corey Austin Patterson, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Preston Alexander Paul, Associate of Applied Science with a major in administration of justice; Megan Leigh Prouty, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Alberto Rolando Roca, Certificate in general education; Zion Pishorn Salmon, Certificate in general education; Morgan Douglas Schneider, Career Studies Certificate in automotive tune-up; Makiesa Cortaz Scott, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Ellen Zanie Seal, Career Studies Certificate in nurse aide basic; Breanna Nicole Smalley, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in science; Kathryn Casey Smith, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Jennifer S. Spigler, Career Studies Certificate in phlebotomy; Jason Thomas Stimpson, Associate of Applied Science with a major in information systems Technology; Sean Miller Stimpson, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in science; Andrew Charles Stolfi, Associate of Applied Science with a major in information systems technology; Gracie Nicole Talbert, Certificate in general education; Braxton J.R. Trent, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Quadarra Natiesha Walker, Certificate in human services; Atavia Armani Watson, Career Studies Certificate in cosmetology and barbering; Khalil Quinton Watson, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; Connor J. Webber, Certificate in general education; Marie Alice White, Certificate in Practical Nursing; Monica Gail Wilson, Certificate in general education; Melissa Lynne Wright, Associate of Arts and Sciences with a major in general studies; and Taylor Olivia Wulff, Associate of Applied Science with a major in business management — accounting, Certificate in general business.