News Release
Bainbridge State College honored more than 200 graduates who participated in the College’s 40th commencement on Saturday, May 10, as well as honored those who helped paved their way more than 40 years ago.
Founding President Edward Mobley, and charter faculty and staff members Drs. David Hay, Ray Chambers and Jim Young, and the late Drs. Bob Lane and Fred Henderson were recognized during the commencement. Also recognized was one of the first two graduates of the institution, Tuffy Nussbaum, who along with Terry Prince graduated in a simple ceremony held in Dr. Mobley’s office in 1974.
Dr. David Hay was the founding Student Services director, Dr. Chambers was the founding professor of political science and Dr. Young was the founding professor of history. Also recognized was founding professor of biology, the late Dr. Lane, and founding professor of English and Humanities, the late Dr. Fred Henderson.
“To all of these difference-makers, we join together as one BSC family to say, ‘Thank You!’,” Bainbridge State President Richard Carvajal said. “Thank you for everything you did to build this institution that today has an annual economic impact on our region of more than $81 million, and which has changed the lives of thousands of its citizens – including, of course, our great group of graduates with us today.”
The parade marshal and mace-bearer, Executive Assistant to the President Barbara Snipes lead the processional of graduates and other VIPs into the Student Wellness Center’s gymnasium to begin the commencement. Snipes, who said she will retire in December, has been with Bainbridge State for 3 years and has worked for every president in the institution’s history.
Julie Darley of Bainbridge was named Bainbridge State’s 2014 Outstanding Graduate. She graduated Saturday with an Associate of Arts with a concentration in psychology. Darley served as president of the Honors Program as well as president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Sigma Kappa Delta, the English Honor Society. In nominating Darley, Associate Professor of History Michael Kirkland said: “Coming to the College as a graduate of the GED program, no other student that I know of has worked as hard and accomplished as much as this one.”
Four other graduates were recognized on stage Saturday as nominees for Outstanding Graduate. There were Tayler Adams of Pelham, Heather Ireland of Meigs, Cerisee Snow of Barney, Ga., and Kristan Whatley of Blakely.
In total, there were 408 degrees awarded and 84 honor graduates.
Mother’s Day treat
Held the Saturday before Mother’s Day, the day was special to Debra Stubbs of Bainbridge. She graduated the same day as her middle daughter, Andrea.
Mrs. Stubbs, who was laid off in 2009 from a job she had for more than 25 years, earned her third degree from Bainbridge State on Saturday, an Associate of Arts with a concentration in business administration. She plans to continue at Bainbridge State to pursue her bachelor’s degree in business management. Andrea earned an Associate of Arts with a concentration in early childhood education and is currently working on her bachelor’s degree from Albany State University.
“Mother’s Day for many mothers is special, but the fact that we are walking together is a blessing,” Mrs. Stubbs said, who took a full load of courses during the fall and spring semesters to try to walk across the stage with her daughter. She said she just wanted to graduate with her daughter, not thinking it was the same weekend as Mother’s Day. In fact, Sunday was the 100th anniversary of when U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the presidential proclamation creating Mother’s Day as a national holiday.
“It’s a real gift to see my daughter graduate,” said Mrs. Stubbs, who said her daughter served as an inspiration to her because she never gave up.
Mrs. Stubbs has been married to Larry Stubbs for more than 27 years, and they have two other daughters besides Andrea; Veronica Timpson, who graduated from Albany Tech, and 15-year-old Selena, who attends Bainbridge High School. The Stubbs also have three grandchildren.
Sen. Burke: It is all about margin
Commencement speaker State Sen. Dean Burke told the graduates the difference between winning and losing and the difference between success and failure are margins.
Using a baseball glove and ball as a prop, Sen. Burke said a ball player becoming a goat or a hero might be the margin of less than an inch if the ball falls in the outfielder’s glove or goes into the stands for a home run.
The state senator also illustrated how margins can play into the future of the graduates by painting how two factious graduates lived their lives – one who spent and lived more conservatively and the other graduate who was not as wise with his resources nor time.
“Anytime in the future when you are overwhelmed or over stressed in life, I hope you will take a moment to remember old Dr. Burke’s speech on your graduation day, and remember to review your life and make sure it has margin built in,” said Sen. Burke, who has been a practicing physician for 28 years. “Think about your finances and your time and your spirituality and make sure you’ve built in a little extra margin of safety. I can promise you will be much happier and successful in all you do.”
The 2014 BSC graduates
The following are the list of the approximately 400 Bainbridge State College graduates listed by town with the degree they earned with their degrees’ concentrations:
Attapulgus — Sheila Faye Baker, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Chiquita Altovise Horne, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Jessica E’chell Knight, Associate of Arts, Sociology; Virginia Moye, Technical Diploma, Medical Assisting; Amanda Michelle Snow, Technical Diploma, Licensed Practical Nursing.
Bainbridge — Ursula Katrina Anthony, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Patricia Ann Austin, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Derrick Ashley Baker, Technical Diploma, Industrial Maintenance Technology; Ruby H. Barlow, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Shmyracy Deena Beard, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Ronald Wayne Black, Associate of Applied Science, Industrial Maintenance Technology; Lashonda Yvette Bolden, Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice Technology; Kayla Jade Brewer, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Shavon Tam Brown, Associate of Arts, General Studies; Hali Jeanean Bryant, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Sarah Elizabeth Burch, Associate of Science in Nursing; Crystal A. Burr, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Mozell Butler, Technical Diploma, Electronics Maintenance Technology; Monica Renay Calloway, Technical Diploma, Business Administrative Technology; Shatavia Sherrell Campbell, Associate of Applied Science, Accounting; Dantavious M. Campbell, Technical Diploma, Industrial Maintenance Technology; Carla Denise Carr, Technical Diploma, Licensed Practical Nursing; Elizabeth Carter, Associate of Arts , Education-Early Childhood; Danny Lee Casteel, Associate of Arts, Sociology; Laura Jeanne Cerone, Associate of Arts, Education-Early Childhood; Jessica Leigh Chambless, Associate of Science in Nursing; Stephanie Lynn Chapman, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Amanda Paige Christie, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Earnestine Clary, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Margaret Angela Comerford, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Lawahanna Avis Cooper, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Ashley Nicole Crump, Associate of Science in Nursing; Randall Scott Daniel, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Julie LeAnne Darley, Associate of Arts, Psychology; Phyllis R. Dew, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Administrative Technology; Kevin Lamar Dew, Associate of Science in Nursing; Walter R. Eldred, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Tywann Philander Elijah, Associate of Science in Nursing; Deanna Ellis, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Dianne Fagg, Technical Diploma, Business Administrative Technology; Eugene Ferguson, Technical Diploma, Electronics Maintenance Technology; Shirley Ann Florence, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Brenda Womack Floyd, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Angela Nicole Foster, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Kimberlei Renee Freeman, Associate of Science in Nursing; Shaun Wesley Gaskins, Associate of Arts, Sciences; Aaron G. Gonzalez, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Derek M. Good, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Ericka M. Gordon, Associate of Science in Nursing; Latoria Lavette Green, Associate of Arts, Sciences; Kenneth David Greenway, Associate of Applied Science, Industrial Maintenance Technology; Samuel Devon Groomes, Associate of Applied Science, Electronics Maintenance Technology; Carla Halliburton, Associate of Applied Science, Business Administrative Technology; Brittany A. Harrell, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Delores Heard, Technical Diploma, Licensed Practical Nursing; Alfred Joe Henry, Technical Diploma, Industrial Maintenance Technology; Tammy Leigh Hill, Technical Diploma, Licensed Practical Nursing; Natalie Michele Holleman, Associate of Science in Nursing; Joey Eugene Howard, Technical Diploma, Drafting; Erin Bullock Huggins, Associate of Applied Science, Computer Information Systems; Amanda Mae Hurley, Associate of Applied Science, Marketing and Management; Jacqueline Lana James, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Amelia Christine Jensen, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Assisting; Annie Doris Jones, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Bethany Aleise Josey, Associate of Arts, General Studies; Lauren E. Justice, Technical Diploma, Paralegal Studies; Crissa Webster Key, Associate of Arts, Sciences; Nathan William Key, Associate of Arts, Sciences; Dorothy Elaine Kindle, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Brittany Michelle Landrum, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Eboni Shanai Lang, Associate of Science in Nursing; Katharine Pearson Lindley, Associate of Arts, Sociology; Irene Hamilton Lively, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Administrative Technology; Cosandra Love, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Joshua Dellon Lynn, Associate of Arts, Education-Early Childhood; Tesha Lashay McCants, Technical Diploma, Computer Information Systems; Martilda Sunshine McCullough, Associate of Science in Nursing; Kaisey LaDawn McDaniel, Associate of Arts, Education-Early Childhood; Jacqualyn Renee Mills, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Ashley Renee Moore, Associate of Applied Science, Computer Information Systems; Eufrosina Carolina Moreno, Associate of Arts, Mathematics; Quintina Lashea Morris, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Shalom Stanford Morrison, Associate of Science in Nursing; Raven Carnesha Moten, Technical Diploma, Licensed Practical Nursing; Joyce Annette Moye, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Cheryl Olivia Murphy, Associate of Applied Science, Early Childhood Care & Education; London Jeremy Osborn, Technical Diploma, Electronics Maintenance Technology; Harikishan Ghanshyam Patel, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; William Andrew Payne, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Sierra Pearson, Technical Diploma, Business Administrative Technology; Tomaski LeQuinte Perkins, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Kristin Thomas Phillips, Associate of Science in Nursing; Ashley Sheldon Posey, Associate of Science in Nursing; Michael Elton Raley, Associate of Applied Science, Electronics Maintenance Technology; Michael A. Redding, Associate of Applied Science, Marketing and Management; Jonathan Reyes Reid, Associate of Arts, General Studies; Gerard Ryan Roach, Associate of Applied Science, Accounting; James Manuel Robinson, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Sheneakia L. Robinson, Technical Diploma, Early Childhood Care & Education; Julia Annette Rogers, Associate of Science in Nursing; Vinca Sarritta Rollins, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Amber U. Salter-Baulkman, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Jesus Andres Sanchez, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Maria Concepcion Santiago, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Erica Peaches Simmons, Technical Diploma, Early Childhood Care & Education; Hannah D. Singletary, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Elaine Hayes Smith, Associate of Applied Science, Marketing and Management; Jessica D. Smith, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Lashondra Talise Smith, Technical Diploma, Business Administrative Technology; Jason Eric Strickland, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Andrea Nicole Stubbs, Associate of Arts, Education-Early Childhood; Debra Annette Stubbs, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; William Davis Sykes, Technical Diploma, Drafting; Angela Lefreon Thomas, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Administrative Technology; Tequeila McIntyre Veniszee, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Jennifer M. Wade, Associate of Science in Nursing; Patricia Gail Walter, Associate of Applied Science, Business Administrative Technology; Anna Joy Warren, Technical Diploma, Business Administrative Technology; Ansley Caroline Watts, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice; Shawn Avery Webb, Technical Diploma, Electronics Maintenance Technology; Ali Nicole White, Associate of Arts, Business Administration; Courtney Chanett Williams, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Preston Skyler Willis, Associate of Arts, History; Zane G. Wise, Associate of Applied Science, Industrial Maintenance Technology.
Brinson — Jenira Castillo, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Jennifer Lynn Cutchin, Associate of Arts, History; Benjamin Flint King, Associate of Arts, Sciences; Julia Bell Smith, Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice Technology.
Climax — Preston Hall Bowen, Associate of Applied Science, Computer Information Systems; Thelma Delois Brown, Associate of Applied Science, Early Childhood Care & Education; Stevenson Ray Crowell, Associate of Arts, Sciences; Emilda Fabay Gargar-Jones, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Timia LaShe’a Grant, Associate of Science in Nursing; Tom Jeffrey Jones, Technical Diploma, Criminal Justice Technology; Malori Rose Maxwell, Associate of Arts, transfer to BSN;
Rebecca Lynn McNair, Associate of Science in Nursing; Sandra E. O’Niel, Associate of Applied Science, Medical Administrative Technology; Ashley LaFaye Patterson, Technical Diploma, Medical Administrative Technology; Melissa Diane Phillips, Technical Diploma, Cosmetology; Monty L. Rackley, Associate of Science in Nursing.
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