“Keep Alive Your Love for Learning”

Mars Hill University Confers Degrees on 159 Spring Graduates

“Today is not the end; just the end of classes for a while.” With those words, keynote speaker Doug Buchanan encouraged the Mars Hill University class of 2023 to keep alive their love of learning in order to better prepare them for a productive future of work and service. In total, the university conferred degrees on 159 graduates during its spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Seventeen graduates received master’s degrees, in criminal justice or management. Undergraduate degrees were spread across many of the university’s 35 majors and included the first graduate to earn one of the newest majors: interdisciplinary studies.

President Tony Floyd made a special presentation to the family of J’son Pitts, who died in a car crash in 2021 during his sophomore year and who would have been part of the class of 2023.

Piper Elizabeth Alexander, a social work major from Andrews, N.C., gave the invocation to begin the ceremony. Margaret Marie Crisp, a psychology major from Weaverville, N.C., was the student speaker representing the Adult and Graduate Studies students. Nursing major Allie Grace Jones, from

Leicester, N.C., was the student speaker representing the traditional undergraduate students.

Special music was performed by a sextet of graduates receiving their Bachelor of Music degrees: Christian Andrew Kraemer of Hendersonville, N.C.; Julia V. Pearson of Hollister, Calif.; Tyler Raymond Reese of Cornelius, N.C.; Hannah Rose Shoaf of Salisbury, N.C.; Abigail Elizabeth Wilson of Candler, N.C.; and Isaac Heath Woodlee of Fairview, N.C.

Keynote speaker Doug Buchanan is chair of the university’s board of trustees. He is a graduate of the Mars Hill class of 1988 and the first graduate of the university’s Continuing Education Program (a forerunner of the current Adult and Graduate Studies)—as well as first enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—to serve as trustee chair. He is a retired vice president of Schneider Electric.

He told the graduates: “Today is actually the next step in a lifetime of learning. If you’re receiving your bachelor’s [degree] today, go for your master’s. If you’re receiving your master’s today, go for your doctorate. You will not regret it.”

1. Student speakers Margaret Crisp and Allie Jones, and Piper Alexander, who gave the invocation at the graduation.

2. Jaylan Gaines gets some help with his tie from Head Lacrosse Coach Joe Turner.

3. Brenda Mendoza crosses the stage to receive her diploma.

4. President Floyd presents the diploma of J’son Pitts, who passed away during his sophomore year, to his parents, Jason Pitts and Shuneka Elliott.

5. Trevon Barton receives his diploma from President Floyd.

6. Tyler Reese receives his diploma from President Floyd.

7. Cassidy Belcher receives her diploma from President Floyd.

8. Trustee Chair Doug Buchanan addresses the graduates.

9. Dr. Grainger Caudle, professor of economics, congratulates master’s graduate Jimmy Urzua.

10. Master’s graduate Sarah Goddard poses for a photo with Dr. Roger Slagle, vice president of finance and administration, and Dr. Donna Parsons, dean of professional programs and social sciences. Both Slagle and Parsons teach in the business program.

11. Hannah Barr poses after graduation.

12. Jaylin Parker gets a hug from Associate Professor of Chemistry Amanda Knapp.