Lander University conferred degrees upon 247 graduates at the university's spring commencement ceremonies in April. United States Congressman Jeff Duncan (R-South Carolina) delivered the keynote address to a full house at Lander's Horne Arena.
Ninety-six 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: Julie Irene Amerson, of Riverside, Calif., Golden L; Jeremy F. Babb, of North Augusta, Golden L; Paula Birch Billingsley, of Fairfax, Golden L; Kendra R. Gallman, of Spartanburg, Golden L; Jeffrey C. Maxwell, of Greenville; Anthony J. Nunziato, of South Setauket, NY, Golden L; Amber Nicole Scates, of Greenwood, Golden L; Joseph Tebaldi, of Seaford, NY; Logan Christopher Woodall, of Honea Path, Golden L; Lucas Timothy Woodall, of Honea Path, Golden L; and Sarah Kathryn Woodall, of Honea Path, 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: Kevin Carrigan Blackmon, of Chapin, Golden L; Catherine C. Blackwell, of Greer, Golden L; Catherine Alice Corley, of Clinton, Golden L; Rachel Rebecca Datz, of Tega Cay, Golden L; James Daryl Guffey, of Anderson, Golden L; Kelly M. Hammond, of Greenwood, Golden L; Naomi Marie Lollis, of Honea Path, Golden L; Juan Pablo Manrique, of Bogota, Colombia, Golden L; Wesley A. Owings, of Mountville, Golden L; Patrick Jonathan Price, of Belton, Golden L; Dillon Breer Robertson, of Abbeville, Golden L; Kelley McCravy Robertson, of Greenwood, Golden L; Jesenia Iris Rodriguez, of Greenville, Golden L; Haley Wynn Scott, of Easley, Golden L; Dylan Timothy Snyder, of Newberry, Golden L; and Andrew Durham Willis, of Williston, Golden L.
Graduating with cum laude honors, which requires a grade point average of 3.50-3.74, were: Kevin M. Babson, of Gray Court, Golden L; Christine C. Bedenbaugh, of Prosperity, Golden L; Emily Ann Berry, of Inman; Thomas David Bidwell, of Belton, Golden L; Erica Denise Blackmon, of Greenville; Briana J. Boyd, of Sumter; Emily Grace Burch, of Greenwood, Golden L; Jennifer Nicole Burdette, of Iva, Golden L; Brittany Rachel Cox, of Columbia, Golden L; Cressia Marie Ellison, of McColl, Golden L; Jessica Lauren Garrett, of Honea Path, Golden L; Samantha C. Greer, of Belton, Golden L; Nora L. Hooks, of North Augusta, Golden L; Amanda Lynn Jefferson, of Anderson, Golden L; Ashley L. Kaney, of Langley, Golden L; Courtney A. Kesler, of Ninety Six, Golden L; Candace Ashley LaRocca, of St. Louis, Mo., Golden L; Kristen Lauren Louden, of Greenwood, Golden L; Brittany Nicole Lusk, of Salem, Golden L; Georgianna Marie Mahon, of Lakeland, Fla., Golden L; Carlos Teixeira Marques, of Uba, Brazil, Golden L; Rebecca Brooke McKay, of Graniteville, Golden L; Lindsay Suzanne Miller, of Lexington, Golden L; Tiffany R. Moore, of Greenwood, Golden L; Melissa Anne Reynolds, of Pomaria Golden L; Jared W. Simmons, of Belton, Golden L; Jobeth R. White, of Abbeville; Brandi Lynn Williams, of Greer, Golden L; and Katelyn Paisley Williams, of Abbeville, Golden L.
Other recipients of the Golden L were: Jennifer Sims Bagwell, of Greenville; Brandi O. Bagwell, of Laurens; Jessica Simone Belcher, of Abbeville; Evan M. Boney, of Greenwood; Abby M. Bryant, of Hodges; Erin Alyssa Castle, of Columbia; Alexander J. Cooper, of Okinawa, Japan; Taylor Culbertson, of Greenwood; Laura Catherine Davis, of Greenwood; Mistie Dawn Hart, of Laurens; Ongela Nicole Hill, of Plum Branch; Vanessa Noel Hill, of Calhoun Falls; Olivia Shanta Jackson, of North Augusta; Kendall L. Jenkins, of Pageland; Meghan Norma Jiunnies, of Florence; Danessa Alison Kilpatrick, of Anderson; Martha Elizabeth King, of Laurens; Kristin Elizabeth Kneece, of Saluda; Paris La'Delle Knotts, of Columbia; Shannon Lominick, of Greenwood; Bethany Marie Long, of Prosperity; Emily Kathryn McLeod, of Columbia; Laura W. New, of Abbeville; Katelen M.Osborne, of Greenwood; Rachel Annette Perry, of Saluda; Aerin Marie Phillips, of York; Leroy Shepherd Platt, of Bennettsville; Austin Brooks Powell, of Ellijay, Ga.; Rebecca Caroline Pruitt, of Spartanburg; Brittany Lynn Reed, of Greenwood; Sarah Reese, of Greenwood; Carole Angela Ricciuti-Kimball, of Greenwood; Tiara S. Riser, of Greenwood; Kristi Lynn Rushton, of Ninety Six; Jessica Lynn Skowron, of Magnolia, Texas; Kennedy Robin Spangler, of Bryan, Ohio; Latesha Safeya Stone, of Clinton; Kelli Stroud, of West Columbia; Anna Marie Taylor, of Saluda; and Morgan E. Wright, of Lexington.
The Following document contains a listing of spring 2011 Lander graduates, along with their hometowns, degrees and majors.