May 15, 2018 - Panola College conducted its 81st commencement in the Arthur Johnson Gymnasium on Thursday, May 10, 2018. The first ceremony took place at 5pm followed by a second ceremony at 7:30pm. Panola College had the largest graduating class in their history with 363 degree and certificate candidates and 242 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 2018 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.
The Panola College Chorale, directed by Mrs. Sandra Bauer, then sang the Alma Mater which was followed by the invocation given by Mr. Don Cocklin, professor of psychology at the 5pm ceremony and Mr. Earnest Spencer, professor of the School of Energy, at the 7:30pm ceremony.
Dr. Powell then welcomed the assembled and gave opening remarks to the graduates. At the 5pm ceremony, he took a moment to introduce the Panola College Alumni Association Chair, Dr. Berri O’Neal.
Dr. O’Neal recognized Mrs. Natalie Woods Stanyer, as the 2018 Panola College Alumna of the Year. Currently, Stanyer is the host for the number one new home television show, Hot On! Homes in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Colorado Springs. She is also a producer for the hit show on CMT, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Making the Team and worked for the NFL as a producer during the 2018 NFL Draft this year.
Before the awards ceremony, Dr. Billy Adams, Vice President of Instruction, certified to Dr. 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, the Panola College Choir sang the benediction, followed by Dr. Powell leading the recessional to the closing instrumentals.
Panola College is proud to announce the following Spring 2018 Honor Graduates:
Summa Cum Laude 3.90 – 4.00
Michael Oluwasegun Awotula - Carthage, TX
Melissa Burt - Lufkin, TX
Cooper Lane Clinton - Carthage, TX
Hayley Cooke - Emory, TX
Raymond Cowart - Carthage, TX
Ryan Stone Florence - Center, TX
Phyllis LaCarol Jordan - Jefferson, TX
Michael David Lawson - Spring, TX
Tucker Ray Merritt - Carthage, TX
Gregory Waylon Murdock - Carthage, TX
Mallory A Nichols - Carthage, TX
Elizabeth Nicole Offer - Bethany, LA
Tina Palmer Sandidge - Carthage, TX
Magna Cum Laude 3.75 – 3.89
Makenzie Marie Benoit - Kilgore, TX
Kassidee L. Cox - Hallsville, TX
Leticia De La Torre - Carthage, TX
Cole Bridges Donald - Carthage, TX
Daria Eremeeva - Russia
Shandon M Goldman - Evansville, AR
Whiteny Nyangate Kenani - Pittsburg, TX
Jacob Clay McClain - Logansport, LA
Kimberly Kruse Morris - Longview, TX
Casey Levasseur - Natchitoches, LA
MaryAnn Kimball Phillips - Big Sandy, TX
Matthew Nichols Sells - Fate, TX
Shana Smith - Logansport, LA
Wendy Spence - Gary, TX
Mallory Jo Spencer - Henderson, TX
Nancy Vang - Beckville, TX
Easton Wilson - Carthage, TX
Cum Laude 3.50 – 3.74
Esmeralda Acosta - Center, TX
Joseph Beard - Garrison, TX
Arturo Benitez - Marshall, TX
Lilia M. Benitez - Longview, TX
Hugo Carrasco Bohorquez - Timpson, TX
Shelby Brown - Carthage, TX
Jayme D’shonta Cole - Marshall, TX
Jeremy Culver - Nacogdoches, TX
Shayla Jo Eugene - Fort Worth, TX
Diane Hawkins - Longview, TX
Laine Holeman - Garrison, TX
Michael O. Iwalesin - Nigeria
Elijah Brian Jackson - Carthage, TX
Ekaterina Karchevskaya - Belarus
John C. Langford - Carthage, TX
Stefany Lourenco - Brazil
Lori Elaine Manchack - Nacogdoches, TX
Justin A. Mott - Center, TX
Courtney Marie Pipkin - Marshall, TX
Kaycee Lynn Richard - Lake Charles, LA
Spencer James Rolland - Keithville, LA
Casi Shadowens - Carthage, TX
Taylor LeAnn Sledge - Henderson, TX
Kenya Charmette Smith - Jefferson, TX
Rebecca Leigh Smith - Carthage, TX
Emmalee Rea Tomaszewski - Tenaha, TX
Blair Ellen Viehe - Paris, TX
Raven E. Wallace - Gary, TX
Christopher Welch - Joaquin, TX
Krissi Wells - Waskom, TX
Jarred Allen Zumwalt - Luling, TX
