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December Graduation
Senior sociology major Michele Riley told her fellow graduates Friday evening that they share a bond in the common memories they hold of their four years at Mars Hill College.
“This college nestled in the small town of Mars Hill is going to become a great memory we hold throughout the steps of our lives; it will be stories one day told to our kids, niece and nephews, and even one day our grandchildren,” she said. “We together now leave this behind, a memory of professors, friendships, relationships, and everything that was a part of our lives throughout the time spent here.”
Riley was one of 56 December graduates who received diplomas at graduation ceremonies, Friday, December 17, in Moore Auditorium. In addition, six August graduates were eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies.
The most common majors for all graduates were business and education.
Although business major Caitlyn Murnahan said she originally wanted to attend a bigger school, she told her fellow graduates that she now believes Mars Hill was the perfect size to offer a supportive, but challenging atmosphere.
“The academics here are not only challenging but also inspiring,” she said. “The professors that teach the classes here help make them exciting. One of the best things about Mars Hill College is the relationship that students can develop with the professors.”
The close relationships Murnahan developed with teammates and athletics staff also left their mark on her college experience. “It truly is like a family, and that family helped me,” she said. “I have made friends here and met people at Mars Hill that will be in my life forever now.”
Andre’ Wilson, who completed a business management major through the adult ACCESS program at Mars Hill, compared the program to a vehicle which older students may use to reach their educational goals in life.
“Thank you for having a program with the flexibility, dedication and commitment that allows non-traditional students to be challenged and to pursue intellectual concerns, while maintaining life, as we know it,” he said.
“Life altering,” was how elementary education major Kourtni Roberts described her time at Mars Hill. She said she appreciated professors who encouraged her to “speak up,” to share opinions, and to confront new ideas. Roberts said that through these experiences, she had “gained the ability to view the world and the people around [her] with more acceptance.”
The invocation at Friday’s ceremony was given by Paola Aybar Timenez, a business administration major from the Dominican Republic. Rachel Shipley, a musical theatre major from Charlotte, NC, performed the number “Astonishing” from the musical Little Women.
The following December graduates received their bachelor’s degrees from Mars Hill on Friday evening:
December Graduates:
Michael Reed Hyatt , Alexander, NC
Amber Elizabeth Craig , Asheville, NC
Sharon Rickman Fauerbach , Asheville, NC
Jacqueline Nicole Lovik , Asheville, NC
Katherine Anne Molin , Asheville, NC
Keyontae DeShun Nesbitt , Asheville, NC
Paulette Sokolow , Asheville, NC
Jennifer Leigh Banks Young , Asheville, NC
Joan Childress Wilkerson , Belmont, NC
Andre’ Lamonte Wilson , Black Mountain, NC
Michael Devin Presnell , Boone, NC
Laura Ashley Bradford , Burnsville, NC
Brandon Wesleer Burford , Burnsville, NC
Thomas George Hauser, Jr. , Burnsville, NC
Barbara Deanne O’Dell-Tester , Burnsville, NC
Pamela Hardin Strickland , Burnsville, NC
Deborah Elaine Davidson Sexton , Candler, NC
Stephanie Lynn Hilbert , Canton, NC
Amanda Brown Lanning , Canton, NC
David Lynn Bradley , Clyde, NC
Cori Jill McClure , Fletcher, NC
Amanda Rae Armstrong , Gastonia, NC
Melissa R. Robertson , Gastonia, NC
Cathryn Jean-Clair Hughes , Green Mountain, NC
Melinda Elizabeth Hodge Julian , Hendersonville, NC
Linda LaCasta Melgar , Hendersonville, NC
Heidi L. Cusick Noa , Hendersonville, NC
Antonio Lee Lyerly , Hickory, NC
Shamira Denise Alford , Laurinburg, NC
Jamie Price Roberson , Leicester, NC
Stephanie Paige Crisp Gillam , Marion, NC
Kori Danielle Elliott , Marion, NC
Samantha Kristin Allen , Mars Hill, NC
April Brooks Mace , Mars Hill, NC
Brittany Michaela Massey , Mars Hill, NC
Ashley Dawn Robinson , Mars Hill, NC
Karyn Devinney , Pittsboro, NC
Jade Elliott Day-Burdett , Saluda, NC
Sergio Montrell Wray , Shelby, NC
Kenneth Nathan Allen , Swannanoa, NC
Rachael Kourtni Roberts , Weaverville, NC
Jessica Lauren Stafford , Weaverville, NC
Jaden Elizabeth Gray , Laurens, NY
Evan Douglas Jones , Charleston, SC
Justin McKinley Hall , Christiansburg, VA
Shelby Cobb Wilson , Arlington, VT
Michele Renée Riley , Placentia, CA
Aaron Makin Thomas , Seminole, FL
Samuel Christian Mashburn , Cumming, GA
Kristina L. Donahue , Buckfield, ME
Caitlin D. Murnahan , Bloomfield, MI
Stacy Bass , Marion, NC
Daniel Douglas Farmer , Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Ayaka Kuroiwa , Nagano, Japan
Koeche Pedro Smith , Nassau, Bahamas
Paola Elena Aybar Timénez , Santo Domingo, Dominican, Republic
The following August Graduates received their degrees in the summer, but were eligible to participate in Friday’s graduation ceremonies:
Autumn Dawn Putnam, Asheville, NC
Robert Matthew Hensley, Burnsville, NC
Rachel Elizabeth Shipley, Charlotte, NC
Diane McGrath Chambers, Weaverville, NC
Rebecca Layne Parrish, Weaverville, NC
Jeffry Michael Pell, West Jefferson NC