May 2023 Commencement Program

Commencement May 2023

Commencement

May 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Unity Baptist Church – Newnan, Georgia *Processional........................................................................................................................................... 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.

Candidates for Graduation As s oci ate of S ci ence

Medical Assisting Sherry Ratliff

Medical Coding and Billing Stacey Karausky Karen Rowland

Medical Office Management Katie B. Fowler

A s soci ate of Arts Accounting

Jacquelyn J. Jones

Criminal Justice

Shianna Unique Winston

Psychology

Jevalia Faith Jordan

Organizational Leadership Lamekia S. Feggins-Moore†

Bac hel or of S ci ence Accounting — Forensics and Fraud

Marta Casas Gimenez† Alexus Griffin

Entrepreneurship

Biology

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*

Child Development

Exercise Science

Hattie Ni

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

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†

Nadine Allen*

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

Bac he l o r o f B usi n ess Ad m i n i strati on 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

Marketing

Winfred Arthur Dixson Trevor Brant Poole Mae Snyder†

Bac he lor of S oci a l Work Alexia Devine

Bachel or of Arts Biblical Studies and Preaching Ministry Dylan Michael Glenn†

Ma ste r o f Busi n ess Ad m i n i strati on 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.