CENTRAL – The Rev. Christopher Shinn, lead pastor of Faith Community Church in Charleston, W.Va. and a graduate of Southern Wesleyan, was the guest speaker Southern Wesleyan’s spring graduation ceremonies.
“As you walk across the stage, it’s not the finish line, it’s just the start,” Shinn said.
He recalled a note that his grandfather wrote to himself and tacked to a cork board in his workshop: “A man shows who he is by what he does with what he has.”
Shinn said,
“What is it that God has called you individually to try?” he asked the graduates. “Will you take up the challenge to carrying out the task He’s called you to do?”
To graduates of the adult evening and online programs, Shinn told of his return to college to earn a graduate-level degree, commending the graduates and their families for the sacrifices made to earn a degree.
“I already know what it means, as parents, as grown people with responsibilities and jobs to seek out that additional training,” Shinn said.
Highlights of the ceremony included University President Todd Voss presenting Shinn with a presidential citation. Also, during the traditional ceremony, the university presented a certificate recognizing Krystal Pearce as an honorary member of the Class of 2017.
Pearce, who would have graduated with the class of 2017, died in a tragic accident during her freshman year at Southern Wesleyan. Accepting the certificates were Heather Pearce, Krystal’s mother; Doug Pearce, Krystal’s father; his wife Audrey; and Krystal’s uncle, Edward Pearce.
Prior to each ceremony, the university recognized its veteran and military graduates. Recognized before the traditional ceremony were Jason Dyer, an Applied Computer Science graduate; and Drew Carson, a Criminal Justice graduate. Recognized from the adult evening and online program were James Alfred, a Human Services graduate; Tim Hughes, a Human Services graduate; Lavelle Lankford, a business graduate; Michael Quayle, a Business graduate; London Taylor, a Business graduate; Paul Whitley, a Business graduate; and Stephanie Wright, a Business graduate.
The spring 2017 graduates included:
Central: Rico Cabrera, BS in Business Administration; Drew Carson, BS in Criminal Justice; Jordan Finster, BS in Recreation and Sport Management; Hamilton Hartsell, BS in Recreation and Leisure Services; Matthew Hayes, BS in Applied Computer Science; Amanda Holliday, BS in Business Administration; Brian Mulligan, BS in Recreation and Leisure Services; Drew Phillip, AA in General Studies; Molly Preisch, BS in Special Education; Jemiah Wimphrie, BS in Recreation and Leisure Services; Jerome Wimphrie BS in Human Services
Clemson: Alex Oliver, BS in Exercise Science
Easley: Brandi Aiken, BS in Special Education; Michael Arblaster, BS in Chemistry / BS in Forensic Science; Lyndy Barnes, BS in Human Services; Ashley Bowen, BS in Business Administration; Britney Fernandez, BA in Music ; Zack Gross, BS in Environmental Science; Eddie Hanson, BS in Business Administration; Stacy Jackson, BS in Business Administration; John LaBrash, BS in Business Administration; Jonathan Langston, BS in Business Administration; Shelby Lowary, BS in Exercise Science; Jackie Martin, Master of Education in Classroom Leadership; Cody Price, BS in Business Administration; Teletha Rider, AS in General Business; Chris Robinson, BS in Computer Information Systems; Caroline Shelton, BS in Special Education; Phoebe Siha, BS in Business Administration; Matt Tollison, BS in Recreation and Sport Management
Liberty: Wesley Couch, BS in Applied Computer Science; Robert Gwinn, BS in Business Administration; Jessica Keever, BS in Human Services
Norris: Corey Hamilton, BS in Business Administration
Pickens: Robbie Bryant, BS in Criminal Justice; Jaimee Chapman, BS in Psychology; Amanda Cooper, BS in Business Administration; Ryan Corbin BA in History; Caitlin Cummings Master of Education in Classroom Leadership; Jessica Hall, BS in Business Administration; Nathan Stegenga, BS in Recreation and Leisure Services
Six Mile: Aaron Jarrett, BS in Applied Computer Science; Addie Littlejohn, BS in Mathematics; Samantha Richey, AA in General Studies; Nelson Rosenberger, BS in Applied Computer Science
