SWU celebrates graduates at winter ceremony

Winter graduates received applause for their achievements during three graduation exercises at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.

The ceremonies took place Dec. 13 and 14 at Newton Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center.

Students graduating from the university’s traditional program participated in the ceremony Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. There were two separate graduation ceremonies Dec. 14 for students in the adult evening program who earned associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees – a 10 a.m. ceremony for students from the Central, Greenville, Greenwood and Spartanburg locations; and a 3 p.m. ceremony for students from the Columbia, Charleston and North Augusta locations.

The speaker for the Dec. 14 and 15 graduation ceremonies was Alex Baxter, chief digital officer and chief media officer at Competitor Group, Inc. (CGI), a digital organization that includes digital media, e-services and e-commerce divisions, in addition to a media publishing group made up of six magazines and a book publishing business.

“In every human interaction and in every situation, you have the ability and skill set to change lives,” Baxter said. “Don’t ever lose sight of your vision, your dream or your calling. The most important people with the greatest ideas can be shot down by the most insignificant people with small minds. Continue to think big anyway – to achieve greatness, to serve the Lord, to be fervent in prayer, fearless in principle, firm in purpose, and faithful in promises.”

Baxter led the graduates in a round of applause for family and friends whose sacrifices made possible the completion of their degree.

Also, Baxter received an honorary doctorate in Commercial Science during the ceremony.

The university conferred 325 degrees, according to Registrar Rock McCaskill.

Graduates included:

Central
Alyssa Conner, Bachelor of Arts in Music; Drew Fricks, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of Science Environmental Studies; Collin Frost, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Mary Gibson, Master of Business Administration; Emily Nicholson, Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure Services; Khristy Parham, Associate of Science in Business; Jason Reese, Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Easley

Jessica Anderson, Bachelor of Science in Human Services; Scott Barnes, Master of Business Administration; Tasha Braswell, Bachelor of Science in Business Management; Jacob Brown, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Steve Fincher, Associate of Science in Business; Marisa Marcus, Bachelor of Science in Human Services; Sarah Owens, Master of Education in Classroom Leadership; Jim Shelton, Master of Business Administration; John Shelton, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; Allison Stewart, Associate of Science in Business; Mike Vandorn, Associate of Arts in General Studies; Ashley Waldrop, Master of Education in Classroom Leadership; Arrington Welborn, Bachelor of Science in Biology; Doug Wilkinson, Master of Business Administration; Sandy Wilkinson, Master of Business Administration.

Pickens

Gracie Clendening, Bachelor of Science in Biology; Allison Droddy, Bachelor of Science - Specialized Major: Exercise Science; Brett Garrison, Master of Business Administration; Kelly Soles, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.