TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama awarded some 2,467 degrees at spring commencement ceremonies held Friday, May 16, in Coleman Coliseum on the Tuscaloosa campus.
Internationally renowned flutist and conductor Ransom Wilson gave the commencement address at UA’s two University-wide commencement ceremonies held at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Wilson, an Artist Member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, is professor of flute at Yale University. He has recorded 30 albums as both flutist and conductor and was nominated three times for the “Grammy” award.
Wilson received an honorary doctorate of human letters from UA. Two notable Alabamians also received awards at the 9 a.m. ceremony. Wayne Flynt, Distinguished University Professor at Auburn University and an expert on Southern history, politics and religion, received the Hugo Black Award, UA’s top award, in recognition of his distinguished service to the people of Alabama and the nation. H. Pettus Randall III, who served as chair of Randall Publishing before his death in 2002, was the posthumous recipient of the Julia and Henry Tutwiler Distinguished Service Award.
David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, was the speaker for the UA Law School graduation ceremony held Friday at 5 p.m. Bronner holds both a law degree and a doctorate degree from the University and served as assistant dean of the UA Law School from 1972-73.
With this graduating class, UA has awarded more than 185,000 degrees since its founding in 1831 as the state’s first public university. UA holds commencement ceremonies three times a year.
The following students from the Birmingham area were listed as candidates to receive degrees:
JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE
BESSEMER — Ronald Keith Stokes
BIRMINGHAM — 35205 — Alfred Mark Bahakel, 35209 — James Alan Potts, 35210 — Amanda Craft Hines, Jeffrey Neil Windham, 35213 — Heather Kelly Jackson, John W. Johnson II, Alexander White Jones, Larry Benjamin Morris, Thomas Claiborne Williams, 35214 — Derin Bronson Dickerson, 35216 — Elizabeth Ashley Cranford, 35222 — Susan Gale Donahue, 35223 — Vincent John Graffeo, Kenneth McShan Turnipseed, 35226 — Jeffrey Donald Graveline, Kip Allen Nesmith, Edwin Bryan Nichols, 35242 — Hobart Hundon Arnold, 35243 — Brandon Todd Bishop, Mark David Erdberg
GARDENDALE — Micah Chad Williams
HOMEWOOD — Daniel Ray Alexander, Matthew Todd Lowther
HOOVER — Thomas Lee Casey, George Wayne Merchant, William Franklin Touchstone, Brian Ray Walding
HUEYTOWN — David Randall Burkholder
MONTEVALLO — Nicole Smith Fox
PINSON — Micah Marvin Miller
TRUSSVILLE — Karen Renae Berhow
VESTAVIA HILLS — David Michael Fleming, Rachelle Dawn Mainard, Brian Allen Warwick
DOCTORAL DEGREE
ALABASTER — John Darrell Gurley
BIRMINGHAM — 35213 — Catharine Reese Bomhold, Elizabeth Bugg Holloway, 35242 — Tammi Stewart Dahle
PELHAM — Deborah Lybrand Marcus
MASTER’S DEGREE
ALABASTER — Thomas Richard Leinheiser, Crystal Ren’Ce Scroggins
BESSEMER — Ziva Denise Hatcher, Linda Marie Pennington, Matthew Steven Weatherly
BIRMINGHAM — 35205 — Christina McGuire Segars, Jonghee Yim Shadix, 35208 — Yaminah Le Dew, Amethyst Tiyann Maxwell, 35209 — Jake Joseph Antonio III, Allan McDonald Jr., Ann Marie Mezzell, William Edward Taylor Jr., Jason Paul Zajac, 35211 — Ross Forrest Patterson, 35212 — Ryan Thomas Ramage, 35213 — Margaret Wood Balch, Robert Sanford Finch, Don R. Gilliland, Joseph Elliott Schilleci, 35214 — Sharon Middleton McGinnis, Richard Denton McLane, Raven Yvonne Seay, 35215 — Randy D. Posey, 35216 — Bethany Joyce Powell, 35217 — Curtis Arlester Reynolds, 35223 — Herbert W. Hicks, Jennifer Kathleen Jones, Erin Elizabeth Kattus, Christopher Ryan Phillips, Anna L. Schmidt, 35226 — Philip Andrew Benefield, Anna Elizabeth Parks, John Anthony Trobaugh, Holly Anne Wade, 35235 — Sherita Yvette Bitten, Lisa Ann Clifton, Sarah Elizabeth O’Kelley, 35238 — Jacqueline Godby Gardner, 35242 — Mona Leigh Barlow, Paul Gordon Brashier, Clinton Carter Coopersmith, Rachel Lynn Graffeo, Stephen Leon Kelley, Brian Reid Rushing, William Lewitt Shivers III, Carla Amanda Turner, 35243 — Christopher Brett Alley, Kathryn Lee Farris, Christy Leigh Ray, Lindsey Katherine Taylor, Susanne Marie Willoughby, 35244 — Staci Michelle Davis, Vallery Brooke Nash, 35255 — Sonya L. McGowan
CALERA — Dorann Wilburn Tanner, Rodney Steve Dickey Jr.
COLUMBIANA — Jessica Linn Harris, Rodney Barnett Wooten
GARDENDALE — Terry Michael Henderson, Amy Faith Holmes, Katrina Yvette Rice
HELENA — Louis Edwin Barnes III, Shannon Alisha Howell
HOMEWOOD — Dana Lynn Hettich, Barry Nathan Reamey, Ashley Renee Thompson
HOOVER — Linda Lauren Davis, Tarae Brunette Hampton, Irene Bush Jones, Rachel Lee Scogin, Joy Tennille Thompson, Thomas James Zito Jr.
HUEYTOWN — Vanessa Colburn Dailey, Charles Miller Hagler Jr., Edgar L. Hill Jr.
IRONDALE — Ryan Brandon Hardin
LEEDS — Jason Kevin Courson, Jami Elizabeth Eckle, Stephen Craig Rush
MONTEVALLO — Merrie Charlotte Holcombe, Elizabeth Anne McSorley, Angela M. Potts
MOODY — Jerald Maurice Freeman Jr.
MOUNT OLIVE — Jeffrey Stephen Caufield
MOUNTAIN BROOK — Vance Patrick Ballard
PELHAM — Audrey Christine Brooks, Hilarie Elizabeth Maynard, Christie Mallory Watson
PINSON — Amanda Vought Kosmus, Kellie Ann Picone
STERRETT — Bonnie Gail King, Rebecca Ann Lieland
TRUSSVILLE — Lorrie Bess Crumley, Deana Renae Hodge
VESTAVIA HILLS — Debra Joyce Hall
WILTON — Daphne Marie Bolden
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
ADAMSVILLE — John Zachary Fairweather, Shelley Dianne Hall, Angela Michelle Ingle, Jennifer Nicole Jones, Stephanie Marie Muro
ALABASTER — James Thomas Seales, Kristy Nicole Thomas, James F. West
BESSEMER — Mary Heather Beck, Le’Corlyss Rashi Bolden, Shona Latrice Boykin, Ashley Dale Gamble, Patrick Wayne Gregory, Kyle Jason Hammonds, Brett Robert Kelly, Keya Amoz Little, Leila Lynn Mashayekh, Earlisha Shante’ Steele, Rachel Maria Weatherly
BIRMINGHAM — 35124 — Erin Whitney Garmany, 35204 — Danielle Cunningham, Christopher Shaun Fullerton, 35205 — Stephen Ryan Hudson, Victoria Lee Laviolette, Naomi Eu-Jin Shadix, 35206 — Michael Raymond Arledge, Joseph Thomas Cooper, Veleria Shiniese Price, Anna Rebecca Scroggins, 35207 — Ronisha Denise Barnett, 35208 — April Monique’ Jones, Justin Vaughn Norris, Karla Lecher Ross, Angela Jeanese Winston, John Christopher Zannis, 35209 — James Owen Burgess, Catherine Stuart Lee, Timothy Drew McAbee, Travis R. Tedrow, Richard Wayne Thomas, Leigh Ellen Threadgill, Ginny Britton Trott, 35210 — Charles Daniel Dillard, Luke Anthony Henderson, Shelley Rebecca Wirt, 35211 — Kristina Michelle Hopkins, 35212 — Jennifer Marie Balcomb, Galvin Karnell Billups, Catherine Joishumil Brown, Kyler Jordan Davis, 35213 — Katherine Paterson Booth, Caroline Leslie Caldwell, James Bringhurst Eubank, Glenn Allen Garrett III, Virginia Anne McKewen, Ann Bailey Pritchard, William Acker Ratliff, Sharman Elizabeth Ringland, Lucy Lamar Thompson, 35214 — Roslynne Vickerstaff Bedell, Shelly Melissa Carson, Rachelle Lynese Clark, Joseph Patrick Cordi, Joy Tramel Gardner, Tracee Marie Johnson, Matthew Anthony Muro, Javan Joielle Patton, Jonathan Bradley Penick, Jacoby Antonio Richardson, Bianca Dione Shepherd, Kimberly Lashaun Wright, Miriam Alexis Wright, 35215 — Leah Caroline Atkins, Elizabeth Ann Durham, Gordie Rashad Flowers, Shaunetra Nicole Jackson, Keith Jerrell Manley, Fran Robinson-Carson, Jennifer Renee’ Walker, 35216 — Oliver Benton Adams, Bobby Jack Eyer Jr., Rebecca Lauren Johnson, Richard Andrew Lott, Lindsay Michelle Nichols, David Gregory Patton, David Clay Pruitt, Joseph Kirk Spence, Rachel Elaine Sullivan, Jasmine Rene Wallace, 35217 — Rachel Elaine Folds, Sylvia Lashay Hall, April Armondia Holloway, Rufus Lewis III, Tyrance Jarreau Story, 35218 — Melissa Darlene Parker, Shaniqua Lashai Seawright, 35220 — Wendell Louis Jackson, 35222 — Ann Blair Holloway, Laura Beth Holt, Theresa Grace Rumore, Michael Lee Vann, 35223 — Andrea Leigh Braden, Leila Asma Deep, Augusta Cobbs Hassinger, Megan Virginia Humphries, Steven Hughston Nichols, Frank Fagg Osborn, Jeremy Lee Parker, Amy Jeanette Stewart, Vivian Lokey Tucker, Megan Anne Twitty, Courtney Lynn Whitmire, Sara Elizabeth Williams, 35224 — Jennifer Nicole Kennedy, 35226 — Mary Michelle Erwin, Paige Marie Grammer, Daniel Lee McKinney, Lindsay Rae Moore, Amanda Kathryn Riddle, Matthew Duane Santilli, Jennifer Lynn Woodruff, 35235 — Elizabeth Ann Batemon, Alishia Essie Davis, Latoya Kizziah Gulley, Tawanda Shivett Morgan, Janice Nichole Watts, 35242 — Hunter Bradley Arden, Eric Nathan Bernstein, Arrah Jean Canant, Kevin Eugene Cash, Christopher Drew Cromer, Rachel Diane Daniel, Elizabeth Marie Enders, Whitney Leigh Falkner, Jennifer Michelle Freeman, Shelly Nicole Freeman, Jennifer Leigh Gann, Eric Wayne Hoffman, Joshua Kurt Hood, Laura Michelle Hurd, Lauren Elizabeth Kallus, Carmen Jean Salter, Amy Lee Sipe, Kristen Kay Smith, Nathan Michael Vaughn, 35242 — Jennifer Susan Cornelius, Kyle Barton Duffy, Patricia Lake Franklin, Christopher E. Honeycutt, Lindsay Reece Klyce, Patrick Lee Lowther, Mary Louise Mason, Mark Duran Nichols, Christopher R. Patriarca Jr., Jonathan Michael Zaremba, 35244 — Andrew Michael Austin, Lawrence E. Bradford, Emily Ferris Devore, Kristin Leigh Falls
CALERA — Kevin Deane Bridges, Heather Reeves Carlton, Whitney April Lewis, Jamie Shea Marquess, Gretchen E. Shaw
COLUMBIANA — Haley Shea Whitlock
DOLOMITE — Tamuriel Lasha Dillard, Debra Lashawn Marshall
FAIRFIELD — Theodis Sanders III, Janell Lashawn Thomas, Felecia Monique Underwood, Alicia Anne Walker
FULTONDALE — Rebekah Dale Olmstead
GARDENDALE — Clinton Eric Briscoe, Bryant Lee Laney, Jennifer Leigh Rhoades
GRAYSVILLE — Shanon Tamika Brown, Adam Eugene Nicholson
HELENA — Christopher Lane Bearden, Lauren Anne Brooks, Laura Brady Galyean, Jeffrey Keith Harper, Brittany Collette Keener, Michael Christopher King, Kimberly Lynn Kornman, Hollie Marie Lester, Jayme Lynn Mashayekh
HOMEWOOD — Kevin Michael Corley, Logan Brent Griffis, Margaret Elizabeth Risser, Peter F. Von Herrmann
HOOVER — Laura Ellen Anderson, Bonnie Kathryn Bracey, Jeremy David Elkourie, Aron Noelle Griffis, Heather Diana Jamison, Chavondria King, Amy Elizabeth Kitchens, David Jackson Knight, Katie Louise Langston, Holli Leigh Lawson, Amanda Michelle Lewis, Abby Elizabeth Morris, Sharon Nell Packa, Catherine Holly Polk, Jeremy Higgins Powell, Mark Brannon Roberts, Laura Lee Shill, Daniel Hal Shumate, Emily Ruth Smith, Shannon Lee Sparks, David James Stewart Jr., Stephen Allen Tangerman, Kerri Nicole Yarbrough, Lynn Marie Yoder
HUEYTOWN — Meshea Danielle Bonner, Brandon Stephen Hill, Jennifer Brooke Inman, Monica Detrice Kennedy, Mary Logan Porter
INDIAN SPRINGS — Keir O’Carolan Cooper
KIMBERLY — Betsy Leigh Carden
LEEDS — Allison Deanna Carlisle, Amanda Marie Ligon
LIPSCOMB — Theodus Sanders Jr.
McCALLA — Christopher Dalton Crumpton, Melissa Sue Levins, Bryan Eugene Marchant, Rodney Demille Moore, Adam Miller Rogers, Jennifer Leigh Thom, Angela Christine Trapolino
MIDFIELD — Bonnie Jeanette Hindman, Jessalyn Virgilia Johnson
MONTEVALLO — Jason Monroe Goggins, Heather Elizabeth Quiggle, Robin Michelle Zernhelt
MORRIS — Karenina Lynne Coley, Kerry Christopher Whatley
MOUNT OLIVE — Samantha Lee McWhorter, Kevin Russ Parker, Shannon Marie Taylor
MOUNTAIN BROOK — Andrew Hoffman Underwood
MULGA — Briana Kaye Cook
PELHAM — Megan Lynette Bibb, Mary Grace Douglas, Jennifer Lauren Kimbrough, Valerie Leigh O’Neal, Thomas Cole Phelps, John Christopher Thomas
PINSON — Ellen Beth Walden, Shannon Leigh Yarbrough
PLEASANT GROVE — Devin Michelle Bevel, Despina Stavrinos
SHELBY — Jill N. Kelley
TARRANT — Jonathan M. Williams
TRAFFORD — Amanda Rhea Holcomb
TRUSSVILLE — Thomas Matthew Battles, Cheryl Lynn Berhow, Branden Christopher Carr, Candace Jane Carr, Kevin Marshall Clark, Kristin Elizabeth Coupland, Kristi Marie Hardin, Justin Lebon Howard, Amanda Leigh Kennemur, Matthew Todd Lee, Michael Brandon Looney, April Roxanne Nesmith, Briget Anne Roberts, Haley Bowden Smith, Alison Marie Stalnaker, Kathryn Anne Thomas, Justin Andrew Wright
VESTAVIA HILLS — William Bruce Akin Jr., Erica Jean Couchman, Matthew Paul Cybulsky, Joseph Jenkins Gribbin Jr., Paul David Laborde, Emily Ann Payton, Kelli Renae Stringer
VINCENT — Sarah Elizabeth Elliott, Lisa Kay McAllister
WARRIOR — Dwayne Benton
WILSONVILLE — Amy Sheree Muse
Contact
Linda Hill, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu