Several Williamsburg, Corbin residents graduate from UC

University of the Cumberlands held commencement ceremonies recently to celebrate its newest graduates. Participants in this year’s commencement ceremonies included graduates from 49 states and territories and the countries of Canada, India, Brazil, Spain, Africa, New Zealand, and Italy, among others. A total of 2,068 graduates received their degrees from Cumberlands during the weekend.

Cumberlands President Larry Cockrum opened the ceremonies offering heartfelt congratulations to the graduates as well as some advice and encouragement.

“Don’t stress out over things you can’t control. Even when things feel unsettled, we are all capable of a new and positive beginning,” he said. “Sometimes, the worst things in life that happen to you can be the best things that happen to you – if you don’t let the worst get the best of you. Have character. You will be remembered more for your kindness than for your accomplishments. And believe in yourself, no matter what happens.”

A total of 236 students graduated this year while earning esteemed academic honors. Undergraduates named Cum Laude are those who have earned a cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 3.70 – 3.84; those named Magna Cum Laude earned a cumulative GPA of 3.85 – 3.94; and those named Summa Cum Laude earned a cumulative GPA of 3:95 – 4.0.

The following area students graduated this spring:

• Kelly Miller of Corbin – Master of Business Administration
• Isaac Young of Corbin – Master of Science in Strategic Management
• Dillon Walls of Corbin – Master of Arts in Christian Studies
• Kyleigh West of Williamsburg – Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Jacob Jeffers of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Information Systems Security
• Shirley Stephens of Williamsburg – Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Garrett Faulkner of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
• Rachel Logan of Corbin – Master of Arts Education in School Counseling
• Joshua Wilson of Williamsburg – Master of Arts Education in Literacy Specialist
• Hunter Riley of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Digital Forensics
• Adriana Roaden of Corbin – Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Hannah Horn of Williamsburg – Master of Arts Education in Literacy Specialist
• Miranda Giles of Corbin – Master of Arts Education in School Counseling
• Maylan Branham of Williamsburg – Master of Arts Education in School Counseling
• Laurence Swann of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Coaching
• Bryce Pierce of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Health and Human Performance
• Alicia Vanover of Williamsburg – Master of Arts Education in Literacy Specialist
• Samantha Rayburn of Williamsburg – Master of Business Administration in
• Shelby Mills of Corbin – Education Specialist in School Counselor
• Anastasia Carson of Corbin – Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
• Douglas Knuckles of Corbin – Master of Science in Information Systems Security
• Michael Quiroz of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Coaching
• Toraleah Shelley of Corbin – Master of Arts Education in Teacher Leader
• Samantha Wells of Corbin – Education Specialist in Director of Special Education
• Ginger Snell of Williamsburg – Master of Arts Education in Teacher Leader
• Rhonda Jones of Corbin – Master of Arts Education in Literacy Specialist
• Miguel Angelo Moraes de Carvalho Machado Reis of Williamsburg – Master of Science in Project Management
• Tarah Thomas of Corbin – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Natalie Morris of Corbin – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Marta Brown of Williamsburg – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Benjamin Steely of Corbin – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Cory Fleenor of Corbin – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Monica Manning of Williamsburg – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Amber Meadors of Williamsburg – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Zeke Eier of Corbin – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Jordan Yaden of Corbin – Master of Arts in Teaching
• Brittany Nantz of Corbin – Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership
• Chelsey Brock of Corbin – Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration
• Kayla Lee of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Public Health
• Whitley Spencer of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Kaylee Akins of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in General Studies
• Hannah Schweizer of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Danielle Jackson of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Kaitlin Bowlin of Williamsburg – Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health
• Mariah Cook of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
• Hannah Brown of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Human Services
• Maik Maurer of Williamsburg – Associate of Science in Information Technology
• Dawson Powers of Williamsburg – Associate of Science in General Studies
• Benjamin Williamson of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Business Administration
• Lillie Abbott of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Alaza Lowe of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Human Services
• Erica Flannery of Williamsburg – Associate of Science in Business Administration
• Kaitlyn Edmisten of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Jessica White of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
• Kristy McCullah of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Human Services
• Megan Nelson of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
• Rebecca Tracey of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Wadonna Farmer of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Human Services
• Heather Swain of Corbin – Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
• Kayla Puckett of Corbin – Associate of Science in Human Services
• Keith Payne of Rockholds – Associate of Science in Business Administration
• Kenlee Smith of Corbin – Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting
• Amanda Sexton of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Derrick Dopel of Corbin – Master of Arts in Christian Studies
• Michael Dow of Williamsburg – Education Specialist in Principal
• Leah Elliott of Corbin – Master of Business Administration
• Oluwatobi Adewale of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Exercise & Sport Science and Fitness & Sport Management
• Briana Smith of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Savannah Partin of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• John Whitaker of Corbin – Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology & Human Services
• Lindsey Jones of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Mackenzie Strickland of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Sheryl Strickland of Williamsburg – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Daniel Novack of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Brittany Baker of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Jamison Harmon of Williamsburg – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Bethany Davenport of Williamsburg – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Kaitlin Garland of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Abigale Estes of Williamsburg – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Savannah Hill-Crawford of Rockholds – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Chloe Gibbs of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Madison Hopper of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Emilee Prewitt of Williamsburg – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Lauren Hubbs of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Garret Brown of Corbin – Associate Degree in Nursing
• Jackson Leskiw of Williamsburg – Associate of Science in Information Technology
• Samuel Hudson of Williamsburg – Associate of Science in Information Technology
• Kyla Canada of Williamsburg – Associate of Science in Psychology
• Jerry Winchester of Corbin – Bachelor of Arts in Biology
• Marco Muca of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Exercise & Sport Science
• Zachery Strickland of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
• Abigail Bennett of Corbin – Bachelor of Arts in Biology and English (Literary Studies)
• Kaelynn Dougherty of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Spanish
• Jose Andres Cortes Hurtado of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business Administration
• Hailey Martin of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Art
• Charley Crockett of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Kyle Edmisten of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Cora Stevens of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Hannah Parker of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business Administration
• Issac Carmicle of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Jezni Huddleston of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• John Keck of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Tristan Gibbs of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Andrew Griffith of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Joshua Bearns of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting
• Joshua Hash of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting
• Katelynn Johnson of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Information Technology
• Sabian Mitchell of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies, Christian Ministries, Missions, and Youth & Family Ministries
• Aaron Wharton of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies and Youth & Family Ministries
• Jaine Stephens of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Coaching and Psychology
• Joel Drewery of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Coaching and Exercise & Sport Science
• DeVaughn Sapien of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Coaching
• Ethan Cima of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts
• Lexis Nickal of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts and Business Administration
• Anna Vickers of Somerset (42503), who completed their Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts and Youth & Family Ministries
• Jenna Rose of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies & Communication Arts
• Jamie Karr of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Mikayla Brooks of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Emily Mattingly of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in English (Creative Writing)
• Alejandro Gonzalez Salinas of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Exercise & Sport Science and Business Administration
• Eric Banoub of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Fitness & Sport Management
• Morgan Owens-Lewis of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in General Studies
• Sarah Quinlan of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Human Services
• Ryan Anders of Keavy – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Hannah Tan of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Krystin Wilson of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Political Science
• Martin Barbier of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biology
• Jonathan Brooks of Stanton – Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Jacey Cooper of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Biology
• Megan Freeman of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Exercise & Sport Science
• Sydney Stargel of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Exercise & Sport Science
• John McVey of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies and Youth & Family Ministries
• Iva Bunch of Corbin – Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Middle School Education
• Hailey Richardson of Williamsburg – Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education
• Christian Tupamahu of Manado – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting

During commencement, Cumberlands administration commended its graduates who earned campus-wide awards based on their service to the community, impact on Cumberlands’ campus, academic achievement, and upstanding values.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan and Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards honor a male and female student from the senior class who have made significant contributions to university life while demonstrating outstanding spiritual values.

The 2022 recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was Joshua Hash of Corbin. Hash majored in accounting and business administration with a minor in missions and ministry. He was an active member of the Campus Ministries leadership team, a residence hall director, and a campus ambassador in the Office of Admissions. He is planning on marrying his fiancée, Tristan Gibbs, and continuing work on staff with Residence Life at Cumberlands while he earns his Master of Business Administration.

The 2022 recipient of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award was Tristan Gibbs of Corbin. Gibbs was a biology major with a minor in communication arts. She was a National Merit Scholar, led a Bible study, volunteered with Appalachian Ministries, and served as a campus ambassador in the Office of Admissions. She is planning her wedding to her fiancé, Joshua Hash, and she is applying to dental school with the hope of becoming a general dentist.

The Gorman Jones and T.J. Roberts Campus Leadership Awards are given to a graduating senior who has exemplified the roles and qualities of leadership on campus while maintaining high academic standing.

The 2022 Gorman Jones Campus Leadership Award recipient was Katelynn Johnson of Williamsburg. Johnson majored in accounting and business administration with a minor in information technology. She participated in several local community service projects and ministries, received the A.T. Siler Memorial Service Award in 2021, and was a member of a number of honor societies and clubs on campus. She plans to become a licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and earn an MBA with a concentration in accounting.

In addition to academics, the university also places a high value on community service amongst the student body. As announced during commencement ceremonies, undergraduate students in the Class of 2022 performed 46,674 hours of community service. That equals 5,834 eight-hour work days and 1,166 forty-hour work weeks. With volunteer work valued at $25.43 per hour by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the total contribution from Cumberlands undergraduates in the Class of 2022 is $1,186,919.82. Students who contributed 200 or more hours of community service during their undergraduate careers are designated as Hutton Scholars by the university. Of the students whose degrees were conferred in spring 2022, there were 69 Hutton Scholars.