Published: May 16, 2009 07:14 pm      

Future is now for college grads across region

ATHENS — Families and friends carrying cameras and good wishes for their loved ones gathered Saturday across Mercer County and in Tazewell County, Va. to watch the graduates of 2009 at Concord University, Bluefield State College and Bluefield College receive their diplomas and take the next big step in their lives.

At Concord University in Athens, two ceremonies were held for the first time at the campus’s Leslie R. and Ruby Webb Carter Center: a morning ceremony and an afternoon ceremony. This was done to better accommodate the graduates and their families, said Registrar Carolyn Cox.

“By hosting two ceremonies, the Carter Center will be less crowded and guests will be more comfortable as they watch their son or daughter or wife or husband walk across the stage,” Cox said. The neighboring small gym with a wide-screen television was also available.

The registrar reported that 119 candidates for graduation were scheduled to participate in the morning ceremony, and 152 were scheduled for the afternoon ceremony.

Concord’s valedictorians are Chloe Adelle Alderman from Oak Hill and Aman Leslie Morley from Saluda, NC. Both were scheduled to participate in the afternoon ceremony.

In Bluefield, 375 graduates were scheduled to receive their degrees during Bluefield State College’s 112th commencement exercises at the Brushfork Armory. Approximately 3,000 people were expected to attend.

Three students with perfect 4.0 grade point averages shared the distinction of class valedictorian. They included Miranda Linkous (Bachelor of Arts in Humanities) from Bluefield; Gregory Michaelson (Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology) from Bluefield; and Kimberly Reed (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science) from Peterstown.

Carol Cofer, Professor of Nursing and Roger Owensby, Assistant Professor & Department Head/Mining Engineering Technology, were named the Bluefield State College Foundation Outstanding Faculty Award recipients for 2009. BSC seniors Jodie Burton and Gregory Michaelson were selected to receive Brian Delp Service Leadership Awards.

Nine members of the BSC Class of 1959 were scheduled to return to their alma mater to participate in the program on the golden anniversary of their graduation.

In Virginia at nearby Bluefield College, 139 seniors were scheduled to accept diplomas during the college’s 86th Annual Spring Commencement.

Two outstanding graduating seniors, selected by their professors from both the traditional and adult degree-completion programs, were the scheduled speakers. The student chosen to represent the traditional student body was Laura Kerr, a summa cum laude graduate from North Tazewell, Va. Kerr is a history major and a member of Student Government, Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, BC Theater and Sigma Tau Delta and Alpha Chi National Honor Societies.

The student chosen to represent the adult degree-completion program was Phillip Withers, a cum laude graduate from Chesapeake, Va. Withers is a management and leadership major, a member of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and the recipient of BC’s Catherine Corte Payne Scholarship for Adult Learners.