May 2023
Commencement
*Processional
Commencement
May 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
Unity Baptist Church – Newnan, Georgia
Mr. Andrew Harry Assistant Professor of Fine Arts
Special Welcome and Prayer............................................................................................................ Dr. Douglas McCart Pastor, Unity Baptist Church
Welcome ............................................................................................................................................... Mr. Dean C. Collins President
Invocation Mr. Samuel W. Huxford Dean, College of Biblical Studies and Ministry
Scripture Reading .......................................................................................................................... Dr. Lacey Southerland Professor of Education
Special Music............................................................ “Shine on Us” .......................................................... Concert Choir M. Smith, D. Smith/arr. Bruce Greer
Introduction of Speaker .................................................................................................................... Mr. Dean C. Collins President
Commencement Address ............................................................................................................................. Mr. Cliff Rash Care Pastor, Compassion Christian Church
Special Recognitions
Dr. Susan S. Ryan Dean, College of Education
Presentation of Candidates for Degrees .......................................................................................... Dr. Stephen Waers Chief Academic Officer
Conferral of Degrees .......................................................................................................................... Mr. Dean C. Collins President
*Prayer
Mr. Dean C. Collins President
*Alma Mater ................................................. L. Motes, D. Glenn, M. Plank ............................................. Concert Choir Hail to thee, our Alma Mater, cherished gold and blue. For teaching us to lead and serve, and to God’s Word be true. Lifting high the cross of Christ, our faithful legacy. From east to west our song shall be, “We are Point University.”
*Recessional ............................................................................................................................................ Mr. Andrew Harry Assistant Professor of Fine Arts
*Audience please stand
As a courtesy and sign of respect for this morning's events, please turn off all cell phones. Please remain in your seats during commencement.
Medical Assisting
Sherry Ratliff
Candidates for Graduation
Associate of Science
Medical Coding and Billing
Stacey Karausky
Karen Rowland
Associate of Arts
Medical Office Management
Katie B. Fowler
Accounting
Jacquelyn J. Jones
Criminal Justice
Shianna Unique Winston
Organizational Leadership
Lamekia S. Feggins-Moore†
Bachelor of Science
Psychology
Jevalia Faith Jordan
Accounting —
Forensics and Fraud
Hattie Ni
Biology
Cynia Samantha Cadett
Macey Tatum Guy*
Chad Johnathan Hilsman
Taylor Joshea Knight^
Kiri Maddox
Cameron Randolph
Biology — Preprofessional
Danielle Lynn Rustin
Business Administration
Justice Navarre Bell
Renae Bentley-Denmark^
Michael Ettienne Botha
Zachary Cole Brown
Jackson Alexander Knox
Haley McKenzie Lyner
Antonio Devonte Regish
Anastasya Reyes
Justin Robinson^
Fabian Saborio*
Linda Schiller^
Cale Palmer Whigham
Samuel Evan Williams
Child and Youth Development
Allie Garrett Davis
Jacarius Markyel Durrell
Marta Casas Gimenez†
Alexus Griffin
Child Development
Shaquera Miche Carlyle†
Alexis Rose Farmer^
Catherine Garrett*
Karen Kay Daniels
Clenese R. Jones^
Geordan Sierra Mose
Sky M. Parrish†
Lauren Nicole Ramos*
Anterrica W. Vicks*
Christian Ministries
Brittany Angéle Belding†
Counseling and Human Services
Tyrique Jamal Robinson
Theaplais Ra’shaun Williams
Criminal Justice
Devon N. Foster^
Jenna Loewen†
Quanlarrious Adriavious Neal
Gabrielle Nicole Riley
Walter Lee Tatum
Noah Austin Winstead
Criminal Justice — Pre-Law
Tamia Jones*
Elementary Education
Kayla Nicole Wyatt†
Entrepreneurship
Nadine Allen*
Exercise Science
Mckensie Barnes*
Levi Robert Burdette^
Jasmine Breana Griggs^
Samantha Belle Groover†
Kyra Sherell Hart*
Roman Jones
Kelvin Jerome Kelley
Jaxon Paul Kite
Patrick Medina
Sheyvonne Patrice Owens
Jordan Elizabeth Palmer^
Maia Altrese Roebuck
Sabrina C. Russell
Kelsey Ashlynn Turner†
Kayla Elizabeth Williams†
Exercise Science — Preprofessional
Joshua Edward Rash †
Healthcare Administration
Ashley Nicole Dozier*
Kaynee Monett Kennedy^
Marketing
Rachel O’Neal
Gabriel Julian Rodriguez†
Middle Grades Education
Andrew Reed Tarleton^
Organizational Leadership
Josiah Ray Bilsland†
Vicky Rowland Peay
Paul Arron Potter
Psychology
Chazmere Trena Anderson
Mary Michael Burnham^
Rosezetta Frances Figueroa*
Thomas Salter Greene†
Ashlynn Bailey Hamm
Ariyon Raquel Hightower†
Amethyst Ellen Hatch^
Fabian Saborio*
Rico Antonio Selman Jr.
Skylar Brooke Shoemaker^
Audrey Beth Spicer†
Jake Taff
Gentrell Taylor
Whitney Elise Ward†
Public Health
Rodriquez Jenkins
Chance Simpson^
Secondary Education
Sydnie Elisabeth Guizar^
Sociology
Sandra Checha Abraham†
Jenna Loewen†
Anamarie Roberts†
Special Education
Hannah Faith DeLee†
University Studies
Shamir Faith Brown^
Katelyn B. Miles
Bachelor of Business Administration
Accounting
Macy Danielle Babbs*
Roshanna Janai Rash†
Cameron Ruffin
Chance Wilson*
Accounting and Information Systems
Nica Pretorius*
Financial Management
Jaime Huerta Ramirez
Management
Aaron Sean Anderson
Diego Enrique Espino Olivares
Brendan Kevin Porter^
Michael Jake Smith
Lesley Torres
Bachelor of Social Work
Alexia Devine
Bachelor of Arts
Biblical Studies and Preaching Ministry
Dylan Michael Glenn†
Marketing
Winfred Arthur Dixson
Trevor Brant Poole
Mae Snyder†
Master of Business Administration
Kayla Bone
Brenton D’Angelo Gaither
Jackson Gray
De’Zhane L. Jenkins
Nathaly Villalobos Robles
Avery Brett Scott
Cindi Simmons
Alexis Victoria Tate
Blake C. Watson
* denotes cum laude graduate; ^ denotes magna cum laude graduate; † denotes summa cum laude graduate
The listing of degree candidates in this publication is not an official documentation of actual graduates or honors earned. The conferral of a degree is by receipt of a diploma or official transcript noting degree completion.
About the Commencement Speaker
Cliff Rash is a native of Kilmichael, Mississippi. After graduating high school, he joined the United States Army, where he worked in the electronic field as a land combat missile technician. His military career allowed him to serve in a variety of U.S. states, as well as in Hanau, Germany; Camp Casey, Korea, with several deployments to Kuwait after Operation Desert Storm; Bosnia, in response to the Bosnian War; and Iraq, after September 11.
Rash retired from the U.S. Army as a sergeant first class in March 2014, after more than 23 years of service. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries from Point in 2016, then a master’s degree in transformative ministry in 2021. He currently serves as care pastor at the Henderson campus of Compassion Christian Church in Savannah, Georgia. Rash and his wife, Donna, whom he met while serving in the Army, have been married almost 23 years. Donna also earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries from Point in 2016. They have three children: Tatjuana, Roshanna and Joshua. Roshanna and Joshua are both graduating from Point today.
Graduation Honors
Students who earn a grade point average of 3.500 through 3.699 are graduated cum laude, 3.700 through 3.899 are graduated magna cum laude, and 3.900 through 4.000 are graduated summa cum laude. Associate degree graduates receiving these honors are identified with silver tassels and silver honor cords. Bachelor's degree graduates receiving these honors are identified with gold tassels and gold honor cords. Blue honor cords indicate student-athletes who are graduating with honors. Red, white and blue cords indicate the student is a veteran. Red and green cords denote members of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, and silver and navy cords denote members of Omega Nu Lambda Honor Society for online students.
The Hathcock Award is the highest honor Point University awards to a student graduating with a bachelor's degree. This recognition is based on academic achievement, character, and servant leadership.
Academic Dress
The academic dress worn by the Point University faculty today originated in the Middle Ages and was standardized in 1895. The gown indicates the level of the highest degree held: for bachelors, the black gown with flowing, pointed sleeves; for masters, the black gown with sleeves slit midway for the arms and the sleeve bottom closed flat with a semicircle cut in the side; for doctors, the flowing robe with sleeves closed at the wrist. Sleeve decorates are chevrons of velvet, most often black on black, but occasionally of another color, indicating the general field of study.
Most identification is noted by the hoods. Velvet edging indicates the subject matter in which the degree was earned. The lining of the hood is a precise code identifying the university of the degree’s origin.
If the highest degree was attained in the United Kingdom or Europe, academic gown and hood styles do not fit a standard pattern and are determined, rather, by the degree-granting university. Generally, these can be identified by an open front and a colored hood which designates the degree earned.
About Point University
Founded in 1937 as Atlanta Christian College, Point University is preparing students to influence culture for Christ in all spheres of life. Point University’s purpose is to equip students to take their faith into the marketplace in new and culturally relevant ways — to erase the lines between who they are and what they do so that they see life and mission as one and the same.
With deep gratitude, the Point University community acknowledges the generosity of Unity Baptist Church for the use of these facilities.
