USAO Graduates 115 Students

More than 1,500 people attended Friday night’s commencement in two ceremonies at the college – the fourth time a two-ceremony schedule has been used to alleviate overcrowding in Te Ata Memorial Auditorium.

Presiding over the ceremony was Dr. John Feaver, president of the college.

“I ask of you to emerge and you go back to the communities you decide … I ask that you lend an effort to improve,” Feaver said. “To improve the quality of the life for your neighbors and beyond your neighbors to the communities and the world.”

Eric Feuerborn, director of Alumni Development, presented the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Graduate Award to Jorden Wiggins.

Wiggins graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor of art degree in history and a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She is from Oklahoma City and a graduate of Westmoore High School.

While at USAO, she was named to both the USAO Honor Roll and Regents Honor Roll. In addition to the Distinguished Graduate Award, she was named an Outstanding Graduate for the Division of Business and Social Science. She received a Works of Distinction Award for her 75-page Honors Senior Thesis in which she used the philosophical work of Martin Heidegger to examine ethical approaches to eating and building community.

She was named to the Hypatia Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta, Pi Gamma Mu and Psi Chi Honor Societies. She served as president of Pi Gamma Mu and secretary for the Hypatia Honor Societies.

She worked as a tutor in the USAO Writing Lab. Wiggins was a member of USAO’s History Club, Sierra Club, Philosophy Club and the Zombie Survivalist Club. She also served as a justice of the Supreme Court of the USAO Student Government Association.

In 2010, she assisted with a study that Dr. Chris Walker, chairman of the Business and Social Sciences, was conducting with former chairman and faculty member Dr. Tina Winn. Wiggins collected data, entered the data into the statistical software and assisted with the presentation of the findings at the American Psychological Association Research Conference in San Diego, Calif.

Eric Feuerborn, director of Alumni Development, poses with the 2011 Distinguished Graduate, Jorden Wiggins on Friday evening in the Te Ata Memorial Auditorium on USAO’s campus. Wiggins, of Oklahoma City, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor of art degree in history and a bachelor of science degree in psychology.

“In addition to her high GPA, Jorden has a phenomenal work ethic, positive attitude and an insatiable intellectual curiosity,” Walker said.

“Jorden is among the best two or three students I have had the opportunity to teach at USAO. She is incredibly bright, hard-working, goal-oriented and of exceptionally high character,” said Dr. Zachary Simpson, assistant professor of philosophy and religious studies. “As I contemplate Jorden’s future, I find myself overjoyed at the future that lay ahead and, at the same time, with a tinge of sadness, knowing only – as teachers often do – that such a student may not come again for many years.”

Wiggins likes to read, knit, do origami and bicycle. She also loves to travel and plans to do so after graduation.

Last week, five graduating seniors were recognized as Spring 2011 Distinguished Graduates for the college’s four academic divisions.

English major Kyndra Spaulding, of Norman, received distinction from the Division of Arts and Humanities. Wiggins and Chickasha business major Adrian Talley were named the outstanding graduates for the Division of Business and Social Science. Sarah Brewer, a deaf education major from Broken Arrow, was distinguished by the Division of Education and Speech Language Pathology. Christina Wilson, a mathematics major from Mustang, was named the outstanding graduates for the Division of Science and Physical Education.

The evening ceremony began with the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” processional performed by Dr. Stephen Weber, professor of music. Graduating music majors Katie Boyd, Beki Ervin, Jalisa Lyons and Kari Westmoreland performed the song “For Good” from the musical Wicked, accompanied by USAO alumna and adjunct piano instructor Rhenada Finch.

Weber, Dr. Ken Bohannon, associate professor of music, and Dr. Jan Hanson, music professor, led graduates and guests in singing “The College Hymn.” Dr. Dan Hanson, music professor, performed the recessional, “Music of the Night,” a composition by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Copies of the ceremony will be available on DVD for $15, plus tax, in the USAO Media and Community Relations office or by phone at 405-574-1318.

Feaver issued 78 bachelor of science degrees, 29 bachelor of arts degrees and eight bachelor of fine arts degrees.

Receiving bachelor of fine arts degrees were:

Chickasha: Ashley Danielle Marie Young

Dibble: Tabitha Kae Deskin

El Reno: Jeannie Marie Boling

Marlow: Holly Ann Titus

Moore: John Christopher Fitzgerald

Norman: Eric Steven Graham, Riley Joseph Million

Tulsa: Elyse Rebecca Holmes

Receiving bachelor of science degrees were:

Ada: Kassandra Mae Holland

Amber: Kealee Nichole Romero

Anadarko: Kay R. Hokeah, Shelly Gay Williams
    
Binger: Kenneth Curtis Young

Blanchard: Allyson Elizabeth Henson

Broken Arrow: Sarah Michelle Brewer, Sahlih Rasheed Butts

Carnegie: Livier Elena Alonso Armenta

Chickasha: Milam Jacob Dobbins, Jennifer Elizabeth Everson, Jonathan Richard Flatt, Stormi Jo Foster, Danielle Elise Fusco, Jeremy Wayne Ginn, Robyn Lane Griffin, Jake Ryne Jobe, Keosha Michelle Johnson-Richie, Brittany Irwin Lippincott, Brianne Rose MacIntyre, Caleb Thaddeus Martin, Lisa Marie Martin, Ashley Dawn Morgan, Tanisha Marie Myers, Andrea Elizabeth Owens, Patrick G. Phillips, Craig William Rutledge, Lindy Nicole Summerford, Adrian Kathleen Talley

Choctaw: Grant Curtiss Ford

Claremore: Kayla Jo Butler

Del City: Quentin Anthony Pongratz

Duncan: Sarah Lynn Combest

Edmond: Alexandra Elizabeth Cernigliaro

Forgan: Tanner Lonn Carter, Dace Mychal Lemieux

Kingfisher: Kelsey Rhea Bennett

Lindsay: Darleen Rose Benedict, Amber ReNae Frizzell, Daniel Jake Pool, Stuart James Whitehead

Marlow: Mary J. Torres-Scott, Lindsi Dawn Haile

Minco: Kayla Antoinette Locke

Muskogee: Jacob Lee Seabolt

Mustang: Cindy Lou Alexander, Sarah Renee Blalock, Christina Cherise Wilson

Newcastle: Jesse Ray Eaton

Norman: Ted Ezell, Jr., Ashlee Jayde Hoffman, Lawson Tyler Petty
    
Oklahoma City: Elizabeth Chelsea-Celeste Davis, Lacey Jean Gillis, Jennifer Susan Kappel, Taylor Lynn Smithwick, Sarah P. Whitewater, Jorden Paige Wiggins

Pawhuska: Amber Marie Ibarra

Ryan: Hayley Rebecca Curtis

Shawnee: Tiffany ReNee Hile

Tulsa: Aaron Charles Daniels, Katherine Marie Johnson
    
Tuttle: Michelle Nicole Mason, Billie M. Wallis
    
Verden: Bailee Rae Ann Taylor

Wellston: Rebecca Paige Snider

Yukon: Amanda Irene Mertes, Christie Nicole Sandefur
    
Out of State

Ft. Smith, Ark.: Annitra ReNae Walls

Bowie, Texas: Brady Ryan Taylor

Grand Prairie, Texas: Thomas Bryant Peters II

Bow, Wash.: Cody James Bridgman

International:

Campinas, Brazil: Andre Von Mann Figueiredo

Surrey, British Columbia: Andrew Stephen Reyes

Nairobi, Kenya: Benjamin Erick Onyando

Dakar, Senegal: Aita Gueye

Livingston, West Lothian, UK: Jack Richard Norman

Receiving bachelor of arts degrees were:
               
Altus: Nina Joy Britten, Nicholas Brandon Sanchez-Barker        

Anadarko: Jalisa Dawn Lyons

Blanchard:  Katie Lee McCloskey, Joshua Hunt Phillips
         
Chickasha: Nicholas Dempsey Beene, Katie Danielle Marie Boyd, Denise Michelle Castillo, Nina Marie Lawrence, Eric J. Monsebais, Robert Ryan Newbrough, Danielle Elizabeth Patrick, Robert Austin Story, Jr., Whitney Paige Story

Comanche: Cindy H. Stumblingbear

Del City: Quentin Anthony Pongratz

El Reno: Rebekah Laine Ervin

Harrah: Nicole Lynn Garland

Moore: Brittany Michelle Gotcher

Mustang: Christina Cherise Wilson

Ninnekah: Rhonda Belle Taylor

Norman: Kyndra Rae Spaulding, Kari Dyan Westmoreland

Oklahoma City: Tialyn Marie White, Jorden Paige Wiggins, Jared Scott Williams

Seminole: Katie Suzanne Arnold

Out of State

Austin, Texas: John Gordon McCool

Yuma, Ariz.: Daniel Agustine Fuentes