OBU Confers 275 Degrees
May 18, 2002
Challenged to continue becoming leaders, 275 Oklahoma Baptist University students received degrees Saturday morning at the university's 88th Spring Commencement.
An overflow crowd of more than 2,000 people watched the 10 a.m. ceremony at OBU's John Wesley Raley Chapel.
OBU President Mark Brister delivered the commencement address, encouraging the graduates to keep gaining knowledge and developing character through action.
Brister reminded graduates that their experiences in academia over the past several years have given them answers, but situations in life, specifically events related September 11, have posed more questions.
"We grow by not knowing all the answers, and by living with the questions," Brister said, referring to a book by Max Depree, "Leadership is an Art."
"We approach the works of God, probe their mysteries and harness their potentialities with humility and with boldness as well."
Christian leaders define reality and discover where they can be effective, Brister said. They keep growing and learning when they are good stewards of their blessings.
"Whichever of the 78 majors at OBU you have chosen, understand that you are a steward of this trust that God has given you. Life is stewardship and real leadership operates out of a condition of indebtedness."
Three members of the OBU faculty were honored with annual awards.
Dr. Ron Duncan, professor of anthropology, received the Distinguished Teacher Award. The honor is given to a faculty member who has maintained his or her teaching career in an exemplary fashion, as acknowledged by colleagues and current and former students. Duncan has been a member of the OBU faculty since 1990.
Wayne Rhea, assistant professor of mathematics, and Larry Walker, director of business services, received Meritorious Service Awards. This marked the first time for two employees to receive the award, which is given to faculty or staff members who have made a substantial commitment of talent and service to OBU. Rhea has been a member of the OBU faculty since 1966. Walker joined the university staff in 1979.
Dr. Brad Jett, James E. Hurley assistant professor of biology, received the Promising Teacher Award, which is given to a junior faculty member who demonstrates outstanding potential as a teacher. Jett has been with the university since 1998.
Five retiring OBU faculty members were honored during the service. Dr. Don Clark, associate professor of music, retires after 35 years at OBU. Dr. Joe Hall, professor of English, retires after 28 years. Dr. Oscar Jeske, Ralph & Marie Barby professor of family psychology and director of graduate studies in marriage and family therapy, retires after 33 years. Mary Kay Parrish, associate professor of music, retires after 38 years. Dr. Dick Rader, vice president for religious life and dean of the School of Christian Service, retires after 23 years.
Candidates for bachelor's degrees in nursing from OBU's School of Nursing include: Elizabeth Ruth Atyia, Seminole; Jana Carol Barsaleau, Oklahoma City; Robin Rae Bebee, Tulsa; Amanda Lee Burns, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany; Lisa Marie Dadulo, Shawnee; Becky Anne Edwards, Jones; Heather Leigh Gordin, Bixby; Jill Elizabeth Hammond, Edmond; D'Auna Nicole Harrod, Abilene, Texas; Laurie Lyn Hemphill, Monett, Mo.; Whitney Corinne Howell, Fritch, Texas; Jodi Dawn Huffman, Bartlesville; Misty Gayle Hulsey, Springtown, Texas; Angela Nicole Money, Greenville, Texas; Corrie Renee Moore, Sherman, Texas; Molly Katheryn Murphy, Tulsa; Anna Nicole Quinn, Colleyville, Texas; Joseph Charles Rawdon, Shattuck; and Judy Ann Smith, Shawnee.
Candidates for bachelor's degrees from the Joe L. Ingram School of Christian Service include: Nicholas B. Atyia, Seminole, youth ministry; Anthony Nicholas Capucille, Edmond, biblical languages; Christy Jean Capucille, Edmond, Bible; Jocelyn Kay Coldiron, Del City; interdisciplinary; Samuel Lee Dallas III, Oklahoma City; Bible; Bryan Paul Davis, Amarillo, Texas, cross-cultural ministry; Russell R. Fincher, Caddo, Christian studies; Eric McKinley Gaston, Frederick, Bible; Jacob Lynn Goodson, Edmond, philosophy; David Christopher Groves, Yukon, youth ministry; Kevin Scott Hanel, Elmore City, pastoral ministry; Amanda Douglas Harrington, Choctaw, children's ministry and family psychology; Scott Samuel Hendry, Shawnee, biblical languages; Scott Stephen Hupfer, Weatherford, biblical languages and family psychology; Adrian Lynn Jordan, Oklahoma City, youth ministry; Jarrod Dane Kendall, Tulsa, youth ministry; Christopher Steven King, Del City, biblical languages and philosophy; James Patrick Lohman, Oklahoma City, Bible; Jacob William Lupfer, Kissimmee, Fla., Bible; Laura Catharine Pettit Marcellus, Midwest City, biblical languages; Joseph William Marshall, Tulsa, youth ministry; Brent A. Maynard, Evansville, Ind., Christian studies; Ted Merritt, Jr., Moore, Christian studies; Dena Lynn Payn, Midwest City, youth ministry; Amy Lauren Beverage Peeler, Oklahoma City, biblical languages; Melody Grace Ann Reynolds, Tecumseh, Kan., children's ministry; N. Sean Richey, Hobbs, N.M., Bible; Bridget Sue Robertson, Yukon, cross-cultural ministry; Steven Salmon, Bixby, Christian studies; Melissa Lynn Satterwhite, Vinita, Bible and family psychology; Casey Spencer Shutt, San Antonio, biblical languages; William Edward Smith, Bartlesville, youth ministry; Isaac Wayne Stanfield, Haysville, Kan., religion; Ronald Suarez, Broken Arrow, Christian studies; Joseph Benjamin Tenney, San Antonio, biblical languages; Robert Neal Vaughan, Owasso, Bible; Clint Allen Walker, McAlester, youth ministry; Steven Keith Williams, Miami, Christian studies; George Jay Wright, Shawnee, biblical languages; and Nathan George Zabka, Cheyenne, Wyo., youth ministry.
Candidates for bachelor's degrees from the Paul Dickinson School of Business include: Philip Daniel Acree, Claremore, finance and marketing; Melissa Brooke Adair, Blanchard, accounting; Jessica Marie Adams, Sand Springs, management; Jeff Norman Behymer, Bethany, marketing; David Douglas Beldon, Albuquerque, N.M., accounting; Deborah L. Bennett, Shawnee, management; Brian James Booker, Marlow, finance; Brandi Kama Brashear, Ada, finance; James David Brown II, Owasso, computer information systems; Faith Ryan Buss, Seminole, marketing; Brenda Leigh Carey, Shawnee, accounting; Clayton Collum, Shawnee, accounting; Ruth Lynn Dennison, Shawnee, management; Angela Nicole Denton, Bedford, Texas, international business; Jarod Adam Driskill, Broken Arrow, international business; Hung Yuk Ng Franco, Hong Kong, management; Ari Ann Gilger, Conroe, Texas, finance and management; Gregory Michael Hagedon, Tucson, Ariz., computer science interdisciplinary: youth ministry; Shane Alan Hill, Bedford, Texas, management; Brett Ryan Huckins, Colleyville, Texas, finance; Troy R. Jassey, El Paso, Texas, computer information systems and management; Christopher Lee Johnson, Guymon, finance and marketing; Julie Lynelle Johnson, Carnegie, marketing and international business; Krista Elaine Jones, Kansas City, Mo., marketing; Benjamin Ray Little, Shawnee, management; Ginger Lynn Mackey, Duncan, computer science interdisciplinary: applied ministry; Louise Marie Manning, Denison, Texas, computer science interdisciplinary: art; Clinton McGowen, Dallas, Texas, international business and management; John Gregory Merlyn, Ardmore, marketing; Michael Paul Methvin, Del City, marketing and management; Ashley Beth Miller, Oklahoma City, computer science interdisciplinary: French; Jonathan Lee Mills, Liberal, Kan., management; Shelly Jean Regnier, Beaver, marketing; Daniel Ryan Sanders, Chickasha, marketing and management; Erich Michael Schwinn, Bixby, finance and management; Stephanie Michelle Seila, Inola, marketing; Vanessa Yvonne Smith, Tulsa, management; Laura Nicole Sparks, Iola, Kan., finance; William Thomas Stewart, Duncan, finance; Christopher Dean Toomey, Wichita, Kan., finance and marketing; Mason Edward Whitehead, Albuquerque, N.M., finance and management; Philip John Williams, North Little Rock, Ark., computer science interdisciplinary: art; Janet Lynn Wilson, Oklahoma City, computer science interdisciplinary: education; and Megan Leigh Womack, Bethany, finance.
Candidates for bachelor's degrees from the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts include: Aubrey Noel Billingsley, Norman, vocal performance; James Alan Brandt, Okemah, instrumental music education; Amy Michelle Branscum, Morrison, musical arts: saxophone; Marjorie Kay Bridgwater, Houston, Texas, communication studies; Erin Marie Cain, Tucson, Ariz., musical arts: voice; Christopher Curtis Lee Campbell, Broken Arrow, musical arts: voice; June Sky Chaddick, Amarillo, Texas, musical arts: piano; Darin Marshall Chapin, Coal City, Ill., vocal music education; Neal Callen Clarke, Edmond, theory and composition; Jillian Heather Couri, Orange Park, Fla., speech and drama education; Lea Ann Fannin, Ardmore, communication studies; Suzanne Renee Gett, Lawton, vocal music education; Jesse Wayne Graver, Wagoner, vocal music education; Karridi Elizabeth Hansen, Manawa, Wis., studio art; Caleb J. Harris, Gruver, Texas, piano performance; Dustin Jack Higgins, Tecumseh, instrumental music education; Zackary Ross Hudson, Jenks, telecommunication; Jennifer Ashley Johnson, Newcastle, art; Jerry P. Joule, Asuncion, Paraguay, telecommunication; Miranda Marie Kitchen, Noble, art; Natalie Ann Lefler, Owasso, communication studies; Lance Jonathan Peeler, Harrah, theory and composition; Joshua Alan Peterson, Duncanville, Texas, theatre; Amy Lee Powell, Borger, Texas, vocal music education; Conor Lawrence Scholes, Pratt, Kan., church music; Leslie Michelle Thompson, Fort Worth, Texas, vocal performance with musical theatre emphasis; and Scott Benjamin Williams, Raytown, Mo., theory and composition.
From the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates for bachelor's degrees include: Christina Elizabeth Adams, Fort Worth, Texas, family psychology; Scott Daniel Adams, Broken Arrow, psychology; Megan Elise Admire, Rosharon, Texas, chemistry; Joan Elaine Adsit, Sheridan, Wyo., psychology and sociology; Samantha Denice Akers, Oklahoma City, elementary and early childhood education; Amy Lynn Andrews, Lakewood, Colo., elementary and early childhood education; Brent Anthony Ansel, Cushing, health, physical education and recreation; Leah Gail Armstrong, Tulsa, elementary education; Amanda Dawn Bailey, Duncan, elementary and early childhood education; Kathryn LeAnn Bailey, Natural Dam, Ark., pre-physical therapy; Melody Grace Barnum, San Antonio, Texas, family psychology; Keri Snider Bilke, Seneca, Mo., anthropology and museum management; Laura Allison Bower, Tulsa, English and journalism; Amanda Jo Caldwell, Shawnee, early childhood education; Lisa Michelle Caldwell, Altus, chemistry; Ashley Corbett Campbell, Broken Arrow, public relations; Amanda Larae Cave, Mustang, pre-physical therapy; Ashlee Jill Clifton, Edmond, psychology; Kara Lee Cloud, Okemah, interdisciplinary; Aaron Bradley Collins, Oklahoma City, biology; Jason Edward Compton, Choctaw, mathematics; Courtney Ragon Fields Connelly, Russellville, Ark., Spanish education; Michael Blake Connelly, Tulsa, English and biblical languages; Darin Matthew Copeland, Altus, mathematics; Terry Glenn Coursey II, Shawnee, biology; Tara Elizabeth Craft, Oklahoma City, family psychology; Jeani May Cupp, Seminole, family psychology; Julie Beth Day, Edmond, elementary education; Heather Kristy Denton, Borger, Texas, family psychology; Denise Rae Depuy, Hooker, public relations; Sarah Beth Driskill, Broken Arrow, French; Justin Tyler Elliott, Rio Rancho, N.M., sports medicine; Sarah Leeann Elliott, Glencoe, public relations; Shawn Michael Ellis, Bedford, Texas, biology; Lori Elizabeth Gibson Eropkin, Shawnee, political science; Loni Dee Fancher, Arlington, Texas, English; Marlin Wesley Faulkner, Naples, Fla., sports medicine; Susan Augusta Fletcher, Colorado Springs, Colo., history; Kimberly Faith Gray, Bethany, family psychology; Paula Rebecca Green, Fayetteville, Ark., psychology; Stephanie Anne Greenland, Shawnee, English education; Hettie Grubbs, El Paso, Texas, sociology; Jessica Robin Hanchey, Shawnee, mathematics; Virginia Anne Harty, Richland, Wash., pre-physical therapy; Neil Edward Hasty, Tulsa, biology; Holly Melissa Hill, Broken Arrow, sports medicine; Katie Lynn Hill, St. Louis, Mo., mathematics; Meredith Russell Hines, Shawnee, sports medicine; Robert Ryan Honey, Midwest City, biology; Randie Lea Howard, El Reno, family psychology; Kristina Lee Hutton, Shawnee, sports medicine; Kerry Michelle Herring Ingersoll, Bartlesville, elementary education; Kristina Gail Inman, San Antonio, Texas, family psychology; Jamaal James Jackson, Norman, physics; Katie Elizabeth Jeffers, Tulsa, family psychology; Elizabeth Keturah Jones, Asuncion, Paraguay, English; John Christopher Jordan, Tecumseh, pre-physical therapy; Matthew Patrick Jordan, Wichita, Kan., chemistry and biology; Cory Brit Kebert, Vernal, Utah, biology; Autumn Lynn King, Hurst, Texas, family development; Stacey Nicole Kirkland, Carrollton, Texas, psychology; Brenda Jean Kitchen, Tulsa, English education; Cena Darlene Kraft, Woodward, biology; Allison Suzanne Lackey, Arlington, Texas, sociology; Mandy Rae Laird, Buffalo, Wyo., elementary education; Tara Lynn Lancaster, Ada, multilingual communication; Jesse Thomas Landes, Mulvane, Kan., journalism; Randy Dwain Lauderdale, Shawnee, special education; Heather Lea Lewis, Boyd, Texas, family psychology; Kyle Wayne Lillie, Nash, mathematics and physics; Eric A Litherland, Shawnee, mathematics; Craig Richard Long, Eugene, Ore., sociology; Jeffrey J. Luckett, Eatonville, Wash., chemistry; Jamie Korinne McAdoo, Elko, Nev., special education; Timothy J. McDonald, Hollis, physics and mathematics; Jeannie Dian McMains, Seminole, elementary education; Amber Lea McNeely, Shawnee, special education; Joelle Suzanne Miller, Memphis, Tenn., English; Sarah Jane Miller, Tulsa, sports medicine; David Lee Mitchell IV, Houston, Texas, English; Melody Grace Montague, Tulsa, history; Jeffrey Allen Moody, Mooreland, family psychology; Callie Marie Moore, Bethany, mathematics education; Daniel James Morgan, Norman, history; Cassandra Rae Morse, Gainesville, Ga., health, physical education and recreation; Anissa Louise Moten, Nicoma Park, psychology; Rebekah Lynn Napier, Shawnee, Spanish; Michelle Leigh Newton, Oklahoma City, elementary and early childhood education; Stephanie Lee Osowski, Flower Mound, Texas, social sciences education; Sara Beth Owens, Edmond, early childhood and elementary education; Amanda Jo Pait, Bedford, Texas, health, physical education and recreation; Chad Alan Payn, Midwest City, recreation administration; Ryan Phillips Payne, Broken Arrow, interdisciplinary; Esther Rochelle Penner, Ingalls, Kan., natural science; Adrienne Marie Ponder, Shawnee, elementary education; Tracy Lynn Poplin, Spokane, Wash., special education; Amy Lynn Redelsperger, Duncan, family psychology; Joanna Kay Rempel, Enid, English; Tara Lynn Rimrodt, Edmond, pre-physical therapy; Elizabeth Mary Ann Robison, Sweetwater, early childhood education; Jessica Renee Rose, Edmond, interdisciplinary; Melody Elisabeth Ruddell, Denison, Texas, English education; Rachel Elaine Ruthstrom, Alvin, Texas, English; Patrick Jeffries Sallee, Liberty, Mo., interdisciplinary; Rachael Allison Salyer, St. Albans, Vt., English and German; Dean Morris Scott, Rosamond, Calif., history; April Marie Schneider, Blanchard, family psychology; Sara Alyssa Schumacher, Dublin, Calif., elementary and early childhood education; Blake Edward Shockley, Norman, biology; Beverly Rachel Powell Smith, Borger, Texas, biology education; Amber Nicole Staats, Marlow, elementary and early childhood education; Jennifer Olivia Stepp, Melbourne, Fla., early childhood and elementary education; Courtney Layne Stone, Elmore City, humanities; Joy Anna Stowe, Claremore, mathematics education; Emily Ann Streetman, Van Alstyne, Texas, history; Christopher Michael Thomas, Edmond, sports medicine; Shauna Lynn Thomas, Shawnee, pre-physical therapy and mathematics; Christina Grace Thompson, Shawnee, biology; Abigail Rose Torbert, Bethany, sports medicine; Erica Lynn Van Syoc, Cibolo, Texas, public relations; Sarah Marie Van Syoc, Cibolo, Texas, athletic training; Loni Marie Vaughan, Yukon, pre-physical therapy; Corrie Ann Villalobos, Enid, family psychology; Kyle B. Vincent, Ponca City, biology; Stephanie Lynn Ward, Annapolis, Md., social work; Samuel North West, Warner, history; Jill Lawana Westberry, Moore, recreation administration; Tiffany Nicole White, Russellville, Ark., social work; Dixy Elizabeth Williams, Tulsa, biology; Holly Louise Wilson, Oklahoma City, political science; Elizabeth Lynn Wong, Richmond, Va., elementary education; and Elizabeth Ann Yarbrough, Dallas, Texas, sociology.
Five graduate students will receive master of science degrees in marriage and family therapy through OBU's marriage and family therapy graduate program. The graduate students include: Adrienne L. Gregory, Shawnee; Andrea Jill McAbee, Shawnee; Randee Roxann Pittman, Henryetta; Karla Ann Tolson, Tulsa; and Michael Don Wright, Oklahoma City.
Five students from OBU's Ministry Training Institute will be awarded associate of arts degrees in Christian studies. They are: John C. Burns, Shawnee; Jacob Earl Carey, St. Louis, Mo.; Rodger Lynn Hall, Tulsa; Brook Dawn Madison, Billings Mont., and Bobby K. Rieke, Lebanon, Ore.
Three MTI students will be awarded diploma in Christian studies. They are: Donald Troy Holley, Laurel, Mont.; Shirley Johnson, Oklahoma City; and Michael L. O'Dell, Shultee.