Commencement Spring

COMMENCEMENT SPRING '22

Despite the rain that drove most of the festivities indoors, Commencement activities were truly a celebration of the graduating class of 2022.

A picnic on the back lawn of the President’s House included a welcome from Alumni Director Olivia Coleman-Dunn, ’15, and a charge to the class from professor Dr. Richard Kopp. Senior superlatives, a GC tradition, were handed out amid applause and laughter.A Senior Celebration allowed seniors to introduce their parents and friends to professors and staff members. Before the Baccalaureate sermon by the Rev. Richard Gaines, a former member of the College’s Board of Trustees, Christian service awards were announced. Dr. Susan Bell, psychology professor, won the George W. Redding Award for faculty; Dr. Ticha Chikuni, executive director of admissions, won the Gardner-Marshall Staff Award; and senior Avery Renner of Louisville was given the Norman and Martha Yocum Lytle Award for graduating seniors. Crowds packed the Davis-Reid Alumni Gymnasium to witness the conferring of degrees to 171 undergraduates and 50 graduates on Saturday morning, May 7th. “Golden Agers,” members of the graduating classes of 1970-1972, were recognized in celebration of the 50thanniversaries of their own Commencements, since the 2020 and 2021 celebrations were cancelled due to the pandemic. The President’s Award went to senior Carrie Jo Cecil from Louisa, Ky. and the Don and Chris Kerr Cawthorne Award was given to Dr. Bill Stevens, biology professor.The Rev. Mary Alice Birdwhistell, ’09, delivered the address. An honorary doctoral degree was bestowed upon Margaret (Thornton) Greynolds, ’59. A professor from 1969-2000, she chaired the communication arts department for more than 20 years and was the speech and debate coach. Margaret earned Hall of Fame honors in the Kentucky High School Speech League, the Kentucky Forensic Association, the National Forensic Association, and Pi Kappa Delta, the American forensic honor society, after receiving numerous awards in those and other organizations.After Commencement a reception was held in her honor for invited guests. Once the undergraduate degrees were presented, Dean of Education Dr. Kim WaltersParker, ’83, gave the Graduate Dean’s Honor Award to Tyler Harris, a teacher at Trinity High School. Master of Education degree candidates then underwent the hooding ceremony by professors Dr. Jane Arrington, Dr. Todd Hamilton, and Dr. Harold Peach.

Joabe Barbosa playfully took a selfie during his Senior Address. Dr. Bill Stevens accepted the Cawthorne Award from Provost Jonathan Sands Wise. President Allen presented an honorary doctorate to Dr. Margaret Greynolds, ’59. Carrie Jo Cecil was greeted onstage by President Allen for her award.