PLAINVIEW – 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University in Plainview held its winter commencement ceremony on Saturday with 65 students participating.
Jolie Donaldson, a molecular biology major from Whitewright, and Levi Kasner, a mathematics and computer science major from Lockney, were recognized as the highest ranking graduates, both graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Allison Kirk, a Bachelor of Christian Ministry graduate from Odessa, gave the student address, telling her fellow graduates to “be present.”
“Take in the little moments you have with your friends and family and be thankful for them,” she said. “It’s okay to anticipate growing up and moving off, but don’t forget to be present.”
Kirk encouraged her classmates to cling to the hope that Paul the Apostle spoke of in Romans 5:3-5.
“Hope is what keeps someone going against all odds,” Kirk said. “Paul says it’s suffering that produces perseverance and that produces character, and out of that tested and refined character comes hope.”
In his charge to the graduates, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ President Dr. Bobby Hall challenged students to take advantage of their new beginning.
“I know you have the ability and I hope you will have the courage and persistence and faith to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in a world that seems to sometimes have truly gone astray,” he said, pointing to the spiritual gifts given to Christ followers to be used for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
“Your generation has already faced a pandemic and will continue to face remarkable challenges and we can’t wait to see how those gifts, all of those gifts and the opportunities that come with them, combine with those of fellow believers to meet and overcome the many challenges of humankind,” he said.
Those students graduating were:
Doctor of Management: Benjamin Alexander, Lubbock; Tawnya Garcia, San Antonio.
Master of Arts in Counseling: Robin Berry, Hale Center; Amy Comer, Lubbock; Sheridan Dancer, Lubbock; Magdalena Galaviz, Plainview; Tanner Gausin, Plainview; Sarah Lopez, Big Spring; Tabetha Napier, Bayfield, Colorado; Lillie Shipp, Lubbock; Gabriela Valencia, Petersburg.
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry: Lori Brown, Plainview.
Master of Education: Paige Baynes, Houston; Jasen Herrera, Farwell; Marcos Hinojos, Jr., Plainview; Lathaniel Jeanlouis, New Iberia, Louisiana; Heather Kirk, Odessa.
Bachelor of Applied Science: Melinda Maldonado, Plainview; Lindsey McCoy, Wichita Falls; Matthew Morris, Plainview; Desiree Zavala, Grandview, Washington.
Bachelor of Arts: Ryiann Araujo, Lockney; Cheyenne Chambers, Amarillo; Ann Epp, Balko, Oklahoma; Katye Hambright, Plainview; Shiloh Hamilton, Olton; Earnest Marshall, Plainview; Hector Romero, Manteca, California; Kyle Sumner, Lubbock; Demetruis Turner, Killeen; Eliana Vaughn, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Analisa Villa, Plainivew.
Bachelor of Business Administration: Tiffany Alvarez, Plainview; Jaren Baltazar, Houston; Coshan Campbell, Freeport, Grand Bahamas; Jovanny Cortes-Ochoa, Houston; Gabriel Gray, Amarillo; Chaz Matthews, Dallas; Alex Pike, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; Chase Ragsdale, Denton; Oveionce Ray, Las Vegas, Nevada; Luis Rodriguez, Plainview; Natalie Terry, Odessa; Kaleb Thornton, Lubbock; Justin Wheeler, Jr., Arlington.
Bachelor of Christian Ministry: Allison Kirk, Odessa
Bachelor of Music: Claire Daily, Plainview; Matthew Flores, Olton.
Bachelor of Science: Mayra Aguilar, San Salvador, El Salvador; Nikki Argueta, Plainview; Praise Ayeni, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Whitney Beal, Lubbock; Lucy Chávez, Mesquite; Jenna Cooper, Claude; Jolie Donaldson, Whitewright; Teresha Jacobs, Porus, Jamaica; Levi Kasner, Lockney; Hannah Kidd, Lockney; Luis Mendez, Dominican Republic; Cameron O’Donnell, Lubbock; Gerardo Perdomo, Dallas; Nina Pham, San Jose, California; Bianca Roman, Fort Worth.
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies: Matthew Booth, New Braunfels; Kaylee Edgemon, Littlefield; Dulce Perez, Plainview; Sidney Stalsby, Perryton; Trevor Townsend, Plainview; Stormy Ward, Plainview.
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Above: Allison Kirk a graduating senior from Odessa, gave the student address at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University’s December commencement ceremony on Saturday. Approximately 65 students participated in the ceremony.
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