THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIRST COMMENCEMENT CONVOCATION
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THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIRST
COMMENCEMENT CONVOCATION
THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Saturday, the Eighth of May
Two Thousand Twenty One
Seven O’Clock in the Evening
The Charlie W. Johnson Stadium
Benedict College
Columbia, South Carolina
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
President and CEOTHE ORDER OF THE EXERCISES
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
President and CEO
Presiding
THE PRELUDE : I’m Gonna Be Ready.............................................................................................. Yolanda Adams
THE ACADEMIC PROCESSION: War March of the Priests ...................................................... Felix Mendelssohn
The assembly will please remain seated during the academic processional.
Please rise for the presentation of the colors and remain standing
through the singing of Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS ........................................................... Benedict College Army Reserve
Officer Training Corps - Color Guard
THE ANTHEMS .........................................................................................Performed by Simone Bryant (Recorded)
Performed by Kirk Franklin (Recorded)
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER LIFT EV’RY VOICE AND SING
O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light Lift ev’ry voice and sing, ‘til earth and heaven ring,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Sing a song, full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; Sing a song, full of the hope that the present has brought us;
O! say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave, Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Let us march on ‘til victory is won.
THE GREETING .................................................................................................................... Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
THE COMMENCEMENT PRAYER .................................................................................. Reverend Lillie Burgess
Campus Minister
THE OCCASION............................................................................................................................... Ms. Jacasia Rowe
President, Senior Class
Class of 2021
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SPEAKER ....................................................................Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS ...................................................................................... Ms. Tiffany D. Cross
Host, The Cross Connection
MSNBC Television
New York, New York
THE CONFERRING OF THE HONORARY DEGREE ............................................................. Ms. Cedelle Gates
President, Benedict College National Alumni Association
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
THE RECOGNITION OF THE RESERVED OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS (ROTC)
COMMISSIONED OFFICER .............................................................................................Dr. Roslyn Clark ArtisTHE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ACADEMIC HONORS .................................................................. Dr. Janeen P. Witty
Vice President for Academic Affairs
THE PRESENTATION OF THE OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD .................................Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
THE SPECIAL REMARKS (Video Presentation) ...................................................The Honorable Miguel Cardona
Secretary of Education
Washington, DC
MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE CLASS OF 2021..........Count On Me ..............Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
THE PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES...................Dr. Janeen P. Witty
School of Arts and Sciences
Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship
School of Education, Health, and Human Services
Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Master of Business Administratoin Graduate Program
THE CONFERRING OF DEGREES ....................................................................................Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
THE AWARDING OF THE POSTHUMOUS DEGREE ............................................................Mr. Scott E. Blanks
Senior Class Advisor
Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis
THE READING OF NAMES OF GRADUATES .................................................................. Mr. Scott E. Blanks
Senior Class Advisor
Professor, Communication and Arts Department
THE INDUCTION OF GRADUATES INTO THE
BENEDICT COLLEGE NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ............................. Ms. Cedelle Gates
ALUMNI PLEDGE
I hereby solemnly pledge unbroken allegiance to my Alma Mater,
in appreciation of the opportunities for development afforded
me at Benedict College.
I pledge my active membership in the Benedict College
National Alumni Association, wherever I may be. Through
association with my fellow alumni, I shall forever do my best to
uphold the ideals and traditions of my Alma Mater.
I pledge, as a person, to exemplify high ideals by rendering positive
and dignified service to the community, the state, the nation, and
the world—thus, living to bring honor and respect to Benedict College,
representing “TheBESTofBC” and being “a power for good in society.”THE ALMA MATER ..........................................................................................................Lyrics by Anna I. Douglas
I III
Where the golden sunshine falls, We’ll remember in the years,
Rustling leaves about her, Coming swiftly toward us,
Breezes whispering round her walls, All the smiles, but not the tears,
Stands our Alma Mater. Alma Mater brought us.
II IV
Students all, a sturdy band, If the path of life be dim,
Loud our voices ringing, And the way be dreary,
Of her kindly helping hand, Alma Mater points to Him,
Of our love, we’re singing. Who will guide the weary.
Chorus
Alma Mater, strong and true,
Alma Mater, ever,
Benedict, we sing to you,
Faithful we forever.
***The assembly will please stand for the benediction and retiring of the colors. ***
THE BENEDICTION ............................................................................................................. Reverend Lillie Burgess
THE RETIRING OF THE COLORS ................................................................... Benedict College Army Reserve
Officer Training Corps - Color Guard
THE ACADEMIC RECESSION: Pomp and Circumstance, Theme from March No. 1
(Land of Hope and Glory) .....................................................Edward Elgar
***The assembly will please be seated and remain seated until the recession has ended.***
THE POSTLUDE: I’m Getting Ready ...................................................................................Tasha Cobb and Nicki MinajHONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT
TIFFANY D. CROSS
DOCTOR OF HUMANE LETTERS (L.H.D.) DEGREE
Your journey from Cleveland, Ohio, to the Benedict College campus in Columbia, South Carolina,
has been one of climbing higher mountains to reach ever increasing goals and accomplishments.
Along the way, you made pivotal stops in Atlanta, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and many other
cities too numerous to list here. At each stop, you accentuated your career path, expanded your
horizons, and exposed your innate abilities and skills as you ascended from former District of
Columbia Bureau Chief, BET News, to Liaison to the Obama Administration for the BET Network,
to Resident Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy Institute of Politics, to Bestselling Author,
Say It Louder: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy, to the current host
of the weekly, national broadcast, of The Cross Connection on MSNBC.
Your career illustrates the importance of hard work and being prepared to meet the moment.
There is no doubt that these values were reinforced in your life during your time at Clark Atlanta
University, a sister institution, that not only educates the mind, but also nurtures the spirit of
students with unwavering belief in their present abilities and steadfast faith in their futures.
You flawlessly explain the intricacies of the government to a nationwide audience by revealing
their power and voice as you said: “I really believe when people understand government better, it
gives them a better sense of their own agency and their role in the American body politics.” Your
passion for involving citizens in democracy, is demonstrated throughout your bestselling book,
Say It Louder: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy, which examines
the perspectives of Black voters, their role in shaping democracy, and the media’s role in shaping
these narratives.
Your informed presence in the media at CNN and MSNBC is matched by your intellectualism in
the academy as Resident Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy Institute of Politics where you
mentor and inspire students with discussions about representation in media, diplomacy, election
infrastructure and security, leadership on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail, and bridging the
partisan divide. Your broad experience across media, politics, and policy includes more than
two decades of navigating newsrooms and campaigns while engaging different constituencies on
the ground. Your work includes service as a senior advisor to one of the country’s largest labor
organizations to assist communities of color on both a local and national level to help shape the
narrative around issues, individuals, and ideologies.
For your distinguished service in the humanities, public through the media, and a powerful voice
that speaks through your books, commentaries, documentaries, and life experiences; Benedict
College is pleased to welcome you into its family of distinguished honorary degree recipients who
represent in precept and by example, #TheBESTofBC!”
The Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) Degree is conferred upon persons who have distinguished themselves
in the humanities.HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT
RONALD L. RHAMES
DOCTOR OF BUSINESS (D.B.) DEGREE
You progressed through the ranks of the academy from Vice President of Business at Claflin
University, to Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Midlands Technical College,
to President and Chief Executive Officer of Midlands Technical College in 2015. Along the way,
you told Midland Technical College students that they “can get anywhere from here.” Indeed,
as an outstanding graduate of Benedict College, you have proven that statement to be true for
you, and the more than 18,000 of your fellow alumni.
Your academic resume is a sterling example of touch points in higher education that prepared you for
your current position, having earned an associate’s degree in Management from Midlands Technical
College, a bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from Benedict College, a master’s degree
in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Doctorate of Business Administration
degree from Nova Southeastern University. You are a published author in several academic journals
and professional publications.
Your notable accomplishments as President of Midlands Technical College include the imple-
mentation of a major comprehensive strategic planning process that focuses on institutional-wide
engagement and execution, service excellence training for all employees, multiple measures for
student placement, centralized academic and career advising, and the location of a major industrial
tenant on the college’s Enterprise Campus.
You bring to your current position many broad experiences that help to shape you as a person and
a leader. For you have served as board chair, National Association of College and University Business
Officers; president, Southern Association of College and University Business Officers; president,
Community College Business Officers of the United States and Canada; and president and state
representative, Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina.
In January 2017, you were inducted into the Richland County School District One Hall of Fame in
Columbia, South Carolina, and named one of the Fifty Most Influential People in the Midlands of
South Carolina by the Columbia Business Monthly magazine in 2016, 2017 and 2018. You were
selected as the 1998 International Outstanding Chief Business Officer for Community Colleges by
the Community College Business Officers of the United States and Canada. Your other affiliations
record your service to the community to include a member of the Columbia Rotary Club, Boards
of Directors of Midlands Middle College High School, Midlands Education and Business Alliance,
EngenuitySC, Central CarolinaSC Alliance, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill Upstate/
Midlands South Carolina, Midlands Technical College Foundation, ex officio, and the American
Association of Community Colleges.
For your distinguished service as a servant-leader and distinguished graduate of Benedict College
who represents “The BESTof BC” through lived experiences that highlight and give honor to the
nation’s HBCUs, you have gone far from here and have returned home to accept your rightful place
as a distinguished member of Honorary Degree recipients of Benedict College.
The Doctor of Business (D.B.) degree is conferred upon persons who have distinguished themselves in business,
management, and the community.THE ACADEMIC REGALIA
The caps, gowns, and hoods worn at college and university functions date back to the Middle Ages. Monks
and students used them to keep warm in medieval castles and halls of learning. From these practical origins,
they have developed into the accepted garb which symbolizes scholarly achievement.
The master’s degree gown is worn open, and the sleeve is cut so that the forearm comes through a slit just
above the elbow.
Gowns for the doctor’s degree are also worn open. They carry broad, velvet panels down the front, and three
velvet bars on the full round sleeves. This velvet triming may be either black or the color distinctive of the
degree.
Mortar boards or caps worn with baccalaureate and master’s gowns generally have black tassels. The tassel
of the doctoral cap is usually made of gold bullion.
The hood gives color and real meaning to the academic costume. Its silk lining bears the color of the institu-
tion conferring the degree. The hood is bordered with velvet of a prescribed width and color to indicate the
field of learning to which the degree pertains as follows: medicine, green; music, pink; nursing, apricot;
pharmacy, olive green; public administration, peacock blue; science, golden yellow; social work, citron;
theology, scarlet; architecture, brown; arts, letters, and humanities, white; business, drab; dentistry, lilac;
education, light blue; engineering, orange; fine arts, brown; law, purple; philosophy, dark blue.
Faculty members and guests in today’s procession are wearing gowns and hoods which represent their dis-
ciplines, their degrees and the institutions from which they received degrees.
THE MEDALLION OF HONORS
To demonstrate their high academic achievement through the School of Honors, these graduates receive the
Medallion of Honors. The gold medallion contains a torch inside a V for Victory and is hung on a purple
and white ribbon. The medallion is worn by Honors Seniors at formal convocation activities, graduation,
and serves as a reminder of their commitment to world service.
THE COLLEGE MACE
The ceremonial academic mace is an historical amalgam of the regal scepter of rulers with the weapon-like
instrument known as a mace. Academic maces are historically regarded as manifestations of the ‘immortal
dignity’ of colleges and universities and thus represent the past, present and future. The College Mace
is carried in procession on occasions of outstanding importance, such as commencements, convocations,
and formal dedications. The placement of the Mace on its stand signals that the proceedings are about to
come to order; its retirement indicates the conclusion of the exercises.
The College Mace was commissioned as a gift to the College by the Class of 2002. It was designed and
fashioned by sculptor and Assistant Professor of Art, Michael Hale of Benedict College. It is fifty-two
inches in length, constructed of bronze, velvet, and oak. Surmounting the Mace is the Great Seal of
the College cast in solid bronze. A sphere made of four bronze stanchions represents the Office of the
President, Administration, Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs. The sphere sits upon a bronze greave
representative of the College’s Board of Trustees. The staff of the Mace is constructed of solid oak with
sixteen cabochon amethysts set in 24-carat gold bezels. The oak staff represents the strength of our
academic programs and the amethysts are representative of the College’s eleven academic departments,
five schools, faculty, staff, and students. The solid bronze greave at the base of the staff is representative
of our founder, Mrs. Bathsheba Benedict. The Mace is completed with a final bronze sphere. The four
stanchions of the final sphere represent the original vocations offered by the College: Teaching, Preaching,
Painting, and Carpentry.
Ms. Jacasia Rowe, President of the Senior Class, is carrying the College Mace at today’s convocation.THE PRESIDENT’S MEDALLION The 3 1/2” cast bronze President’s Medallion encompasses the Benedict College Seal inscribed with the words, “Office of the President,” on the outer border. The Medallion is suspended from the neck chain containing fourteen small bronze panels and two decorative laurel wreaths on the connecting links. Thirteen bronze panels are engraved with the names of the former Benedict College presidents. The fourteenth bronze panel is engraved with the name of the current president. The President’s Medallion was carried aboard the space shuttle Columbia in its 2.5 million mile voyage around the earth in 1986.
Outstanding Senior
Spring 2021
School of Arts and Sciences
(Arts)
Ms. Tashayla Makell Fields
This year’s Outstanding Senior Award exemplifies a committed, gifted, scholar, leader, and am-
bassador for Benedict College. This student’s academic successes and services to the college and
community have given her recognition to be our Outstanding Senior for the School of Arts and
Sciences.
The Outstanding Senior is a Benedict College Honors Capstone Graduate. Throughout her time
at Benedict College, she has consistently been on the Dean’s List and is a Founder’s Scholarship
recipient, JCPenney Scholarship Recipient, and a Newman Civic Fellowship recipient.
Since her arrival at Benedict, this student has been an active leader in service. She has served as
the President of the Student Government Association Student Programming, Honors Executive
Council Engagement Leader, Student Leader for the Sister Act Mentoring Program, and a Teacher’s
Assistant with the First Calvary Baptist Church SAFARIS After-school Program.
This senior distinguishes herself as a member of the National Society of Leadership and Service
and Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society
This senior has landed employment in the field of Communications, and she plans to continue her
education in graduate school. The Outstanding Senior is graduating with a major in English and
with a cumulative 3.60 GPA.
The Outstanding Senior Award Recipient from the School of Arts and Sciences (Arts) for Spring
2021 is Ms. Tashayla Makell Fields.Outstanding Senior
Spring 2021
School of Arts and Sciences
(Sciences)
Ms. Hermela Gebremedhin
The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Senior Award embodies the qualities of a true scholar,
student leader, and ambassador for the College. This individual’s academic accomplishments and
service to the college and community have truly earned this student the distinguished honor of
Outstanding Senior for the Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences.
This student is a member of the Benedict College Honors Program and has exceeded completion of
all Honors graduation requirements. Her exemplary academic performance record of a 4.0 GPA has
placed her name on the President’s Trophy for three consecutive years. Additionally, this student
holds membership in the Benedict’s Chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
and Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
This student has dedicated service to the Benedict College community in a range of ways and has
given back to the community in numerous organizations. She has volunteered with organizations
such as the Benedict College Summer Bridge Program, tutoring new students with course work;
Sister Act, inspiring and providing educational activities for young ladies; Tigers-on-ALERT,
facilitating peer sessions; the Columbia Urban League Ready Program, mentoring and tutoring
middle and high school youth; Harambee Festival, serving as a volunteer festival ambassador;
Service-Learning PLUS day and Unity in the Community event, engaging in days of service; and
Cyber Security Saturday Academy, leading in Robotics Competitions.
This student has achieved several co-curricular accomplishments while matriculating at the college.
She has held leadership positions in the Sophomore Class, the Honors Student Association, the Stu-
dent Government Association, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has served as
a student orientation leader to mentor and guide incoming freshman students during welcome week
and throughout the academic year. Her teamwork abilities shine through in planning Homecoming
Activities and Tiger Fest Activities.
This student has networked with Fortune 500 companies and has attended several conferences to
include the Grace Hopper Student Conference and the Deloitte Envision Leadership Conference.
To learn more about her field, this student participated in the JPMorgan Chase Sophomore Edge
program. This student has acquired internship experiences with AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, the
Cybersecurity, and the Undergraduate Research programs at Benedict College.
Two Fortune 500 companies—Microsoft Corporation and Deloitte & Touche LLP—have each
confirmed an employment offer to this student. The student’s post-graduation plans are to join the
Microsoft Corporation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Outstanding Senior Award Recipient from the Sciences in the School
of Arts and Sciences for Spring 2021 is Ms. Hermela Gebremedhin.Outstanding Senior
Spring 2021
Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Mr. Henry Peterson, III
Benedict College is very proud of each of its graduates, but it is a longstanding tradition at each
Commencement Convocation to recognize one individual who truly exemplifies the ideal Benedict
College graduate. The Outstanding Senior Award is given to the graduate who has demonstrated
the highest standards in academic excellence, service to the college, and service to the community.
The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Senior Award embodies the qualities of a true scholar, student
leader, and ambassador for the College. This individual’s academic accomplishments and service
to the college and community have truly earned this student the distinguished honor of Outstanding
Senior for the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
This student is a member of the Benedict College Honors Program and holds membership on the
Burroughs Student Advisory Board. Throughout his matriculation at Benedict, he has held consistent
placement on the Dean’s List and is a Trustee Club Scholarship recipient. He has been selected two
years in a row to represent Benedict College in the National Black MBA Association’s Undergraduate
Case Study Competition, and this past year he was named a White House Initiative 2020 HBCU
Competitiveness Scholar because of his academic achievement and civic and campus engagement.
Additionally, this student has been an active contributor to the fabric of Benedict College community
as the vice-president of Student Government and the vice-president of the Student Ambassadors.
He also served as the student representative to the College Curriculum Committee. He currently
holds the title of Mister Benedict College.
He has demonstrated concern for the larger community as a volunteer for the Summer Enrichment
Program and a member of the Benedict College NAACP. He considers his work with the Boeing
Dream Learners Program to be especially impactful. Through this program, he taught elementary
school students about Boeing and the STEM field including aerospace. He was also able to share
career readiness and internship opportunities with other HBCU students.
Our outstanding senior is graduating with a cumulative 3.77 GPA and has been accepted into the
law program at the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Outstanding Senior Award Recipient from the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business
and Entrepreneurship for Spring 2021 is Mr. Henry Peterson, III.Outstanding Senior
Spring 2021
School of Education, Health and Human Services
Mr. Localzo Hook, Jr.
Benedict College and the School of Education, Health and Human Services are very proud of its 2021 grad-
uates. Our custom and tradition is to recognize one individual who represents the ideal Benedict College
graduate at our Commencement Convocation Ceremony. In the School of Education, Health and Human
Services, the Outstanding Senior Award is given to the graduate who has demonstrated the greatest achieve-
ments in academics, service to the college, and the community.
This year’s Outstanding Senior Award exemplifies the qualities of a true educator, researcher, scholar, leader,
and ambassador for Benedict College. This student’s academic successes and services to the college and
community have given him recognition to be our Outstanding Senior for the School of Education, Health,
and Human Services.
Throughout his time at Benedict, this student-athlete has consistently been on the Dean’s List, a National
Honor Society of Leadership and Success Member, a part of the School of Honors, and a 3X SIAC Academic
All- American from 2018-2020. The SIAC Academic All-American Award is the most important academic
achievement that recognizes outstanding student-athletes as honorific “Academic All-Americans.
Bridge Sports Group (BSG), in partnership with Legends (a global leader in sports and entertainment),
nominated and accepted this student into the Legends Professional Sports Academic Training Camp and he
competed against more than 250 undergraduate and graduate students worldwide, but only 50 were selected.
These 7 week-long training programs are led by sports industry professionals who provide instructions in the
areas of sport marketing, ticket sales, sponsorship, and collegiate fundraising. This camp prepares students
for careers in the NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, and the Olympics. After this student completes
this camp, he will receive a certificate recognized by all professional sporting teams. He will have the first
opportunity to be recruited to work for a professional team or agency. In addition, he has volunteered for
the Charlotte Hornets and he attended a Collegiate Football training at NCCU!
The nominee is the President of the Health and Physical Education Club (HPER-Departmental Club), where
he assists with all sporting and special events on the campus. He is the Vice President of the Benedict Es-
ports Club, and he helped launch the first Benedict College’s Esports Competition, which was held in the fall
semester of 2020. With Blaze Fire Games, he has attended and received 3 certifications for Esports, and he
attended and participated in the Super Bowl LV 2021 ASCEND HBCU Esports Conference and Career Expo.
He also served as a: Benedict College Football Team Student Assistant Coach/Intern, Student Ambassador
for Benedict College, Student Representative of the Athletic Committee, and Student Representative for the
Compliance Committee. The student also serves as an HPER Student Research Assistant (assisting students
with Research Method and Statistics in Sports - Program Evaluation). His research entitled “The Awareness
of the Lack of African American Baseball Players” was accepted in the University of South Carolina Col-
lege Sport Research Institute Sport Management Conference (CSRI) scholarly poster presentation session.
In the community, he coaches 7 to 10-year-olds, teaching them the fundamental skills of baseball and flag
football. He coaches at Blythewood Recreation Center (Palmetto Pros Coaches Pitch) and Flag Football
(YMCA Jeep Rogers & Sharks-Blythewood). During the summers, he coaches football, basketball, and
baseball at his high school (Hunter Kinard Tyler) in Neeses, SC.
Continuing his education, this student was accepted into two master programs: Georgia State University and
Florida A&M State University. He has decided to attend Georgia State University. The Outstanding Senior
Award Recipient from the School of Education, Health and Human Services for Spring 2021 is a sports
management major with a 3.5 GPA, Mr. Localzo Hook, Jr.CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR
OF ARTS DEGREE OF ARTS DEGREE
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Studio Art Psychology (continued)
Khristopher D. Thomas............................... Bowie, MD Briona Lewis**..................................Moreno Valley, CA
English Michaela MurphyD.....................................Columbia, SC
Mikal M. Conner* ....................................... Conway, SC Alexya Sawyer**..................................Nassau, Bahamas
Tashayla M. Fields**D......................................North, SC Janeane Taylor**PS.......................................Edison, NJ
Bertha Glover..........................................Orangeburg, SC Jeremiah E. WilsonD...............................Simpsonville, SC
Jordan D. Rice-Woodruff*......................Spartanburg, SC Sociology
History Sarah G. Grant* ..................................... Varnville, SC
PS
Chante Parker.....................................New London, CT
Christian Moore*.............................. Los Angeles, CA Sean-Lauren Pennington..............................Marietta, GA
Interdisciplinary Studies
CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR
Bobby N. Adams .................................... Columbia, SC OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Tamika D. Grant............................................Rembert, SC
Kevin Holmes.......................................Walterboro, SC SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Angel J. JeffcoatD........................................Columbia, SC
Regina Rouse**..........................................Columbia, SC Criminal Justice
Kimberly G. Stephens*............................Columbia, SC Raymond Dixon .................................Darlington, SC
PS
Larenze B. Ware........................................Rock Hill, SC Alexander McKinnon*D........................Orangeburg, SC
Dexter Washington***..............................Columbia, SC Akilah N. McNeil**...............................Dorchester, SC
Demetrius G. Winters*D................................Hopkins, SC Ebony RandolphD.....................................Columbia, SC
Kastellomon Witherspoon***D..................Columbia, SC Timia Scott*................................................Augusta, GA
Nakeith Selby*............................................Camden, NJ
Mass Communication
India Stevens*.........................................Richmond, CA
Alexis J. Adams ....................................... Columbia, SC Queshaun D. Thompkins*........................Riverdale, GA
Montazia ClyburnD...................................Charlotte, NC Bashara Walters......................................Summerton, SC
Carlton C. DurhamD................................College Park, FL Kamiah T. Washington..............................Columbia, SC
Elijah C. Glover*......................................Columbia, SC Malcolm R. Webb ..................................... Hillside, NJ
Curtis E. Hopkins**...................................Columbia, SC
Dextin MontgomeryD...............................Ellenwood, GA Biology
Alyssa M. Adams ................................. Graniteville, SC
Naijuia D. Moyd*........................................Beaufort, SC
Pauline D. Cobb*....................................Ellenwood, GA
Desaahn T. RussellD..........................Upper Marlboro, MD Mariah D. Cobbin*...............................Birmingham, AL
Catina Gamo Kamdem**............Bafoussam, Cameroon
Music
Jamyah R. Henderson*...................................Inman, SC
Tyrone T. McClam*.................................. Lake City, SC Dontavis M. Hunt.....................................Louisville, GA
Olivia N. Hyland*......................................Denmark, SC
Political Science Leslie L. Jackson**...................................Columbia, SC
Britney S. LittlejohnPS .............................. Gaffney, SC Daishauna A. Leacock*..............................Palmetto, FL
Joseph Polk, IV ................................ College Park, GA Stacy Mays............................................Spartanburg, SC
Alexis L. McKinnonD............................Orangeburg, SC
Psychology Jameel A. Moore**...................................Charlotte, NC
Tamia Y. Butts............................................. Columbia, SC Kiana A. Morgan*...........................................Aiken, SC
Kiarra P. Palmer....................................Atlantic City, NJ
Reigan L. Carr*D........................................Las Vegas, NV
Kamari Rivers*.............................North Charleston, SC
Romante T. Chattine................................Hemingway, SC Jerrika B. Scott**.....................................Las Vegas, NV
Dawnel J. Collymore**D......................Trinidad & Tobago Marques K. SolomonPS.............................Norcross, GA
Jasmane S. Davis**...................................Winnsboro, SC Brieshaunda M. Thomas**.......................Columbia, SC
Isis Graham***..................................................Latta, SC Rashida S. TownsendD ........................Philadelphia, PA
Claytonasia J. HareD...................................Columbia, SC Diamond C. Williams*.............................. Wallace, SC
Jonathan E. Hodge-Tucker*...........................Chapin, SC Nhasia A. Williams .............................Orangeburg, SC
KaTia E. Wright ..................................Orangeburg, SCChemistry Business Administration (Management)
Shamiya L. James ........................Stone Mountain, GA Myesha T. Blakely .................................... Sumter, SC
Jaynee Blount*D ....................................Brooklyn, NY
Computer Science Jonquanet L. Brown** ..........................Charleton, SC
Meriem M. Abdi*** ....................Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Raven Darden..........................................Pittsburg, CA
Judah O. Brown*..............................................Huger, SC Jose A. Flores Rivas* ............. Santa Tecla, El Salvador
Kason M.J. Sellers**.................................Springfield, VA Tarshel P. Foster* ...................................... Gaffney, SC
Abel B. Shefnie**........................Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Terrill J. Gatewood.................................... Ypsilant, MI
Betelhem B. Shefnie***.................Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ayana T. Hughes** .................................Charlotte, NC
Kelrianna A. SistrunkD................................Hepzibah, GA
Darryl M. Williams.........................................Jackson, SC Henry F. Peterson** ................................Wagener, SC
Jasmine R. Sharpe* .......................... Douglasville, GA
Computer Engineering Keyara L. Simmons*PS .................... Goose Creek, SC
Briyana L. Smith .................................Washington, DC
Hermela Gebremedhin*** ....... Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Delshawn J. Stevens............................Georgetown, SC
Julius Grooms.............................................Columbia, SC Phillip O. Torres** ..............................Santa Isabel, PR
Ephrem A. Kidane*.......................Aleta Wondo, Ethiopia Jordan S. Watkins ..................................Columbia, SC
Joe F. Moore.................................................Soperton, GA
Bradon C. OConnor*...................................Thornton, CO Business Administration (Marketing)
Rajae Ouzir**..........................................Rabat, Morocco
Joshua Brimmer* ...............................Jacksonville, FL
Kevin ReeseD...........................................Columbia, SC
Environmental Health Science
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, HEALTH,
Zackary K. RhodesPS ................................... Cayce, SC
AND HUMAN SERVICES
Electrical Engineering Child/Family Development
Brian D. Nevils ......................................... Chicago, IL Ceira Baker-NewtonD ..........................Willingboro, NJ
Ricky M. PetersonD ...............................Charleston, SC Jaukeia S. EppsD....................................Lynchburg, SC
Marlon SamuelD ....................................Darlington, SC Brandon D. Halley ..................................Rembert, SC
Joseph R. SimmonsPSM ........................Washington, DC Amber M. Howard ................................Brooklyn, NY
Quadiedra R. Jackson..............................Columbia, SC
Taylor B. Maynard ..............................Georgetown, SC
TYRONE ADAM BURROUGHS Breniya S. Murray .................................Blackville, SC
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND Jacasia J. Rowe** ....................................... North, SC
ENTREPRENEURSHIP Keyyonna T. Sims* .................................Florence, SC
Tierra D. SmithD ............................... Georgetown, SC
Accounting Kiana K. Williams* .................................Manning, SC
Amaru I. Wilson** ..................................Columbia, SC
Jenay Austin**D ....................................Columbia, SC
Taj M. Ballantyne**.....Kingstown, St. Vincent & Grenadines
Deshawn N. GrahamPS.......... .......Kings Mountain, NC Early Childhood Education
Julius T. Mutetwa* ......................... Harare, Zimbabwe
Thayna Santos**D ............................ Sao Paulo, Brazil Imani N. Davis***PS .............................Winnsboro, SC
Shamika R. Washington ............................ Sumter, SC
Business Administration (General)
Dontrell Benjamin ..................................... Augusta, SC
Tanaya S. Owens .....................................Hampton, GA
Yasir I. Price ..........................................St. George, SC
Sterling A. Smith....................................... Dacula, GA
Taylor K. Stephens .......................Upper Marlboro, MDPublic Health CANDIDATES FOR THE BACHELOR
OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE
Imani E. Bayne........................................Newnan, GA
Kiana I. Brown ............................................ Union, SC Social Work
Evans K. Korir* ............................... Marakwet, Kenya
Tyana M. Thornton*D ..........................Blythewood, SC Desiree F. Blanding* ................................... Elgin, SC
Claudeon M. Underwood* ............... Bennettsville, SC Alexandra P. Hernandez Roman* .. Bogota, Colombia
Megan A. Wallace** ...............................Columbia, SC Khadijah Mack ....................................Washington, DC
Sharee V. MartinD ..................................Columbia, SC
Recreation Nakita M. McBeth* ................................Emporia, VA
Gregory T. Dowtin ..................................Stamford, CT Desmonies K. White** .........................Greenville, SC
Sport Management TYRONE ADAM BURROUGHS
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND
Tamia T. Brooks* ........................................ North, SC ENTREPRENEURSHIP
George R. Byrd* .....................................Waldorf, MD
Savionna R. Glover** ..................St. Helena Island, SC MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Jayla Heard*..................................... Fountain Inn, SC
Localzo J. Hook** ..................................Wagener, SC Business Administration
Brian T. McNeilD ....................................... Chicago, IL
Alishana Montgomery* ..........................Florence, SC Wilson H. AppletonPS ...............................Auburn, AL
Zakiyah A. Morris*D ................................. Atlanta, GA Mahogany D. BurrisPS ..............................Rock Hill, SC
Tiara D. Pugh ........................................Columbia, SC Leslie C. KinardPS ...................................Greenville, SC
Elannah S. Sutton-Addison*** ...........Bishopville, SC Jacob B. LagosPS .......................................Chandler, AZ
Marquise T. Thornton**..........................Lithonia, GA Myquerris McGrierPS ................................Columbia, SC
Dayne WashingtonD ..............................Hephizbah, GA
Shanaissa C. White .................................Cameron, SC
Summa Cum Laude***Gold and White Cord --- Magna Cum Laude**Gold Cord --- Cum Laude*White Cord --- Honors Program - Gold Stole
and Medallion of Honors --- December Graduates D --- Projected Summer PS --- Posthumous Degree PSM
NOTE: The inclusion of a name on any list in this program must not be considered as conclusive evidence of graduation. Persons who are
listed on the program and who have fulfilled all requirements of the College will receive the degree indicated.You can also read
