ARCHES_winter_spring_F.pdf

101 Students Graduate at
Third Winter Commencement
The latest class of Tennessee Wesleyan College graduates
crossed the stage of Townsend Auditorium on Friday,
Dec. 12, 2014.
TWC’s third Winter Commencement saw 101 graduates receive
their Baccalaureate, Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science
in nursing degrees.
The honorable Sharon Lee, Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme
Court, was Winter Commencement speaker and shared
with the graduates the importance of the “Three G’s” of Gratitude,
Generosity and Go.
“I urge you to show gratitude every single day,” Justice Lee said,
encouraging the graduates to be especially grateful for their rights.
For generosity, Justice Lee said, “To whom much is given much
is expected.” She encouraged the graduates to become leaders and
volunteer their time in their community.
When it comes to “go,” Justice Lee told the graduates, “If you
don’t fail, you’re probably not trying.”
“When you hit an obstacle … you have to help yourself,” Justice
Lee said. “Don’t be stranded by your fear of failure or your own
insecurities.
“You are capable of much more than you think you are,” she
added.
In addition to the conferring of degrees, the Athens Area
Chamber of Commerce Awards were presented to Ricardo Zapata
and Kimberly Layman. These awards are given to the male
and female graduates who have achieved the highest academic
average, whether or not all of their course work was completed
at TWC.
Zapata, of Maryville, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the
Management Excellence program, while Layman, of Madisonville,
graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Criminal
Justice with a Forensic Science Emphasis.
TWC President Dr. Harley Knowles presented the Winter
Commencement Class of 2014. He said the graduates will realize
they were taught by outstanding faculty, and he asked them to
recognize those faculty members.
Also, he asked them to consider the sacrifices made on their
behalfs, and asked the audience to recognize those in the Armed
Forces, both active service and veterans.
The ceremony concluded with the Lighting of Candles ceremony,
which symbolizes the connectedness of the faculty and the
passing of knowledge (the “light”) to the graduates. After all candles
are ablaze, faculty members extinguish their candles and the
graduates lift their flames symbolizing the charge from the faculty
to “take their candles and go light their world.” Graduates’ candles
are then extinguished.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Dr. Suzanne Hine, vice
president for academic affairs, offered final advice to the graduates:
“It is our sincere hope you continue to learn, serve, lead and
believe.”
“Don’t be
stranded
by your fear
of failure
or your own
insecurities”
—Chief Justice Sharon Lee
Tennessee Supreme Court
Five Management Excellence Awards were presented to:
• Tabitha Cowan of Cleveland; Summa Cum Laude.
• Corey Burdette of Knoxville; Magna Cum Laude.
• Ricardo Zapata of Maryville; Summa Cum Laude.
• Kimberly Wilson of Benton; Summa Cum Laude.
• Dana Jaquish of Athens; Magna Cum Laude.
These awards are presented to the students with
the most outstanding performance in the area
of Management Excellence.
Pi Lambda Theta Awards were presented to:
James Bivens of Madisonville
History/Grades 7-12
Summa Cum Laude
Sabrina Hardy of Athens
Interdisciplinary Studies/Grades K-6
Magna Cum Laude, Sigma Tau Delta
Brittany Wooten of Benton
Early Human Development and Learning/Grades PreK-3
Summa Cum Laude
Pi Lambda Theta is an International Honor Society and
Professional Association in Education. The society supports
excellence in education and highly effective teaching.
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