May 18, 2017 - On Thursday, May 11, 2017 Panola College conducted its 79th commencement in the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium. The first ceremony took place at 5:00 p.m. followed by a second ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Panola College had the largest graduating class in its history with 315 degree and certificate candidates and 226 of those students participated in the commencement ceremonies.
At the start of both ceremonies, Mr. Don Clinton, Vice President of Student Services, presented each graduating class of spring 2017 as Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College led the processional of board members, faculty, staff, and students in to be seated while “Pomp and Circumstance” was played in the background.
Following the alma mater, sang by Panola College Chorale, and directed by Mrs. Sandra Bauer, Powell welcomed the assembled and gave opening remarks to the graduates. He then introduced the Panola College Alumni Association Chair and Executive Director of Extended University for Texas A&M University-Commerce, Dr. Berri O’Neal.
O’Neal recognized Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, as the 2017 Panola College Alumna of the Year. Emberton is a 1978 graduate of Panola College and is currently the President of Huntington University.
Before the awards ceremony, Clinton certified to Powell and members of the Panola College Board of Trustees that the graduating students had completed all work necessary to graduate from Panola College.
Dr. Kathy Watlington, Professor of Foreign Languages, then began the reading of graduates and Powell awarded diplomas to all graduating students.
For the closing of both ceremonies, Mr. Freddy Mason, Dean of Liberal Arts & Sciences, gave the benediction, followed by Clinton leading the recessional to the closing instrumentals.
Panola College is proud to announce the following Spring 2017 Honor Graduates:
Summa Cum Laude (3.90 – 4.00)
Anna Hope Crumbie
Nancy Dominguez-Aldaba
Morgan N Hamilton
Stephen Clayton Heath
Isaiah David Key
Ashley Nicole Layton
Martha Diana Moreno Jessica Russell
Victoria Baptista Santos
Ashlee Paige Sloan
Courtney Lynn Townsend
Sara LeAnn Trahan
Magna Cum Laude (3.75 – 3.89)
Christopher Alexander Caudle
Summer Michelle Croley
Tezarea Secanze Derry
Shelby Leigh Dorchester
Sadie Elizabeth Edmiston
Brittany Blair Grissom
Jeanese Murdock
Ana Carolina Oliveira
Thomas Powell
Bryan Taylor Sanchez
Sara Jessica Sellers
Amber Weatherford
Caleb John Wilson
Cum Laude (3.50 – 3.74)
Jennifer Aguirre Garcia
Reagan Delane Anders
Daniel Benitez
Ursula Candy Betancourt
Kimberly Kay Bishop
Anne M. Buongiorne
Rebekah Anne Corley
MaKayla Ann Cummings
Morgan Ashlye Currie
Koy Cutrer
Jane Louise Drahem
Lorena Gonsalez
Laurann Ashlea Graham
Oscar Alejandro Guerrero Rodriguez
Billye Joan Harrison
Joshua Tyler Heard
Chelsea Kay Henderson
Victoria Syyan Hicks
Megan Paige Hogg
Juan Luis Jimenez
Nikki Lawhorn
Melissa Inez Mangan
Meagan Layne McCullough
Kimberly Chyenne McGuire
Jessica R. Millican
Sherrie Ann Mims
Diana Perez
Joel David Rathbun
Madilyn Gay Sanford
Kaylynn Elizabeth Trevillion
Taunya Vance
Magdalene B Yoerger
