Lander University conferred degrees upon 219 graduates at the university's fall commencement ceremonies in December. Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins delivered the keynote address to a full house at Lander's Horne Arena.
During the ceremonies, the university also conferred an honorary doctorate of laws degree on Wilkins, who is a Greenville native and a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, where he chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group.
Fifty-five graduates received honors at the ceremony. Honors included summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude. Graduates also received Lander's Golden L award, which is given to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in the last 60 hours of instruction through Lander University.
Graduating with summa cum laude honors, which requires a grade point average of 3.9-4.0 (out of a possible 4.0) were: Robin Rae Crutcher of Greenwood, Golden L; Andrew Joseph Patterson of Greenwood; Abigail Ruth Potter of Greenwood, Golden L; Ashton Lee Ready of Greenwood; Michele Lynn Richey of Liberty; and Teresa Ann Wilson of Hodges, Golden L.
Graduating with magna cum laude honors, a distinction accorded to students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75-3.89, were: Melissa N. Hjalmer of Greenwood, Golden L; Anni Elina Pajunen of Helsinki, Finland, Golden L; Kittipum Wachirapong of Thailand, Golden L; and Jessica Haynes Williams of Ninety Six, Golden L.
Graduating with cum laude honors, which requires a grade point average of 3.50-3.74, were: Ashley Nichole Allen of Lake View, Golden L; Shannon Morrow Forrest of Myrtle Beach, Golden L; Jamie Lynn Gillenwater of Greenwood, Golden L; Michael Blake Irwin of Abbeville, Golden L; Hope F. Leviner of Lexington, Golden L; Chad Perry Rude of Saluda, Golden L; Kristen Marie Smith of Greenwood, Golden L; and Ivan Yordanov Stoykov of Sofia, Bulgaria, Golden L.
Other recipients of the Golden L were: Allen Charles Amason Jr. of Watkinsville, Ga.; Christina W. Barnett of Billings, Mont.; Anne-Miller Bell of Greenwood; Cassie Christine Biron of Greenwood; Bronnita Andrada Broome of Anderson; Hannah Elizabeth Burrows of Joanna; Mary Ann Clinkscales of Belton; Wendy Coad of Greenwood; Jennings L. Coleman of Anderson; Grace Virginia Contreras of Tucson, Ariz.; Catherine Maffett Crowe of Greenwood; Porter Elizabeth Culbertson of Ware Shoals; Clinton T. Dorsey of Townville; Matthew David Falter of Columbia; Cecily R. Glasso-Smith of Fountain Inn; William Robert Goforth of Simpsonville; Sydney Alese Hale of Honea Path; Anna Elizabeth Hall of Greenwood; Emily Nicole Horne of Abbeville; Alayna Beth Joseph of Greenwood; Ashley King of Laurens; Julie Rebecca King of Greenwood; Rebecca C. Knight of Greenwood; Amber Bond Koerber of Greenwood; Haley E. Lewis of Starr; Jana H. Mewborne of Elberton, Ga.; Clarissa Alana Milligan of Pineville; Mindy W. Miyares of Laurens; Dana Holsonback Moore of Greenwood; Nylor S. Nelson of Columbia; Connor Joel Parker of Barnwell; Jacqueline Octavia Reed of Greenwood; Kayla Ann Summer of Columbia; Leslie Erin Turner of Greenwood; Vuokko Maria Vahatalo of Tampere, Finland; and Linsey Bennett Wilson of Greenwood.