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Commencement Exercises

May 5, 2024, 9 a.m., Smith Hall Auditorium

• Ann Fabirkiewicz, College Marshal & Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry & Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division Head
• Christopher Lemasters, Dean of Students & Graduate Marshal

Processional*

Blue Ridge Brass

• Rigaudon – Andre Campra
• Grand March from “Aida” – G. Verdi
• Prayer and March from “Renzi” – Richard Wagner

Welcome

Sue Ott Rowlands, President of the College

Land Acknowledgement

Jadin Wilkening ’24

Commencement Address

Nikki Giovanni, Poet and University Distinguished Professor, Virginia Tech

Conferring of Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees

Sue Ott Rowlands, President of the College

Kathleen Seifert Graves ’80, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Meghan Halbrook, Director of Graduate Studies

Kaija Mortensen, Associate Professor of Philosophy

Stephanie Earl, Associate Professor of Theatre

Christopher Lemasters, Dean of Students

Presentation of the Maude Huff Fife Award

Tim Smith, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Message from the Class of 2024

Isaac Carney ’24, Student Government President

Message to the Graduates

Sue Ott Rowlands, President of the College

The College Song*

Text: Carol Johnson Hallstrom ’43
Music: Henry Hallstrom, Professor Emeritus
Chorale Led by Randall Speer, Professor of Music

Where the river winds through blue mountains,
Where purple vines entwine stately halls,
And roses tumble along sunny walls,
Where voices serenading in the night,
Sing of loyalty and love.
There let wisdom rise!
O, there let wisdom rise!

Randolph College in fair Virginia,
Home of true learning, beauty, and art,
We sing thy praises, O Alma Mater,
Our voices serenading in the night
Pledge thee loyalty and love.
Here let wisdom rise!
O, here let wisdom rise!

Recessional*

Blue Ridge Brass

• Triumphal March – Hector Berlioz

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2023-2024 Student Government Officers

• Isaac Carney ’24, President
• Izzy Collins ’26, Vice President & Secretary
• Marcela Izquierdo Poza ’24, Judicial Chair
• Noura Elkhansa ’26, Treasurer & Judicial Vice Chair
• Stephanie Swithers ’25, Publicity Officer

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Candidates for the Master’s Degree

• Daniel J. Allee, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Sheridan, WV
• Dejsani Amari Kedar Beamon, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Rowlett, TX
• Daniel D. Bickey, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Goode, VA
• Catherine Nicole Brown, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Franklin, VA
• Yanessa Marie Cabrera*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Manassas, VA
• Natalie Lanya Clark, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Chesapeake, VA
• Ty Murphy Clingerman, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Front Royal, VA
• Brenden D. Hill*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Glen Allen, VA
• Destiny S. Johnson**, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Baltimore, MD
• Krystal Kemp, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Buena Vista, VA
• Shaela M. Krayer*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Fairfax, VA
• Ryan Hamilton Marable*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Chesterfield, VA
• Cameron Nicole O’Neil, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Gloucester, VA
• Cole Bradford Perry, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Salisbury, NC
• Faith M. Ringressy**, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Roanoke, VA
• Andile-Amajaha Tshuma**, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Alexandria, VA
• Amanda Jane Weishaar*, Coaching and Sport Leadership, MA — Chatham, VA
• Abigail Baucom**, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Lynchburg, VA
• Kelli Ann Gajewski, Special Education, MAT — Forest, VA
• Michelline Natasha Hall**, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Lynchburg, VA
• Caleb Aaron Hendrix, Curriculum & Instruction, MAT — Gladys, VA
• Allison Jarrett, Curriculum & Instruction, MEd — Virginia Beach, VA

Honored in a separate ceremony in January

• Anna Badkhen*, Creative Writing, MFA — St. Petersburg, Russia & Philadelphia, PA
• Isha Camara*, Creative Writing, MFA — Minneapolis, MN
• Hannah Grieco*, Creative Writing, MFA. — Arlington, VA
• Brandon Alexander Howard*, Creative Writing, MFA — Plantation, FL
• Meridith De Avila Khan*, Creative Writing, MFA — Lynchburg, VA
• Margaret Elizabeth Malone*, Creative Writing, MFA — Portland, OR
• Rodrick T. Minor*, Creative Writing, MFA — Woodville, MS
• Maria Provenzano*, Creative Writing, MFA — Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• Laura Chow Reeve*, Creative Writing, MFA — Richmond, VA
• Severin Wiggenhorn*, Creative Writing, MFA — Seattle, WA

To be honored in a separate ceremony in June

• Dominic Blanco**, Creative Writing, MFA — Chicago, IL
• Melissa Ferrer Civil**, Creative Writing, MFA — Kansas City, MO
• Cameron Edward Cueva Clarke**, Creative Writing, MFA — Round Hill, VA
• Meghan Elizabeth Kelley**, Creative Writing, MFA — Jenkintown, PA
• Onyew Kim**, Creative Writing, MFA — Atlanta, GA
• Nicholas Leonetti**, Creative Writing, MFA — Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• heather liz**, Creative Writing, MFA — Greensboro, NC
• Vanessa Micale**, Creative Writing, MFA — Portland, OR
• Jeni Nicole Prater**, Creative Writing, MFA — Northampton, MA
• Kacie Jill Roesler**, Creative Writing, MFA — McKinney, TX
• Shana Scudder**, Creative Writing, MFA — Durham, NC
• Tovah Marin Strong**, Creative Writing, MFA — Lamy, NM

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Candidates for the Baccalaureate Degree

• Layla June Abbassi, Psychology, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Beverly Graham Alcock, , Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen,, BA — Philomont, VA
• Nicolás René Alvarado Núñez*, Business, BA — Santiago, Chile
• Jake H. Arnold, History, BA — Collinsville, VA
• Jessica Kylee Bennett**, Engineering Physics, BS — Fayetteville, GA
• Zachary Thomas Bishop, Comparative Philosophy & English (Creative Writing), BA — Roanoke, VA.
• Alexis Nicole Bossi**, Biology, BS — Falls Church, VA
• Lamontria Aubreyiah Louise Brown, Integrative Studies, BA — Richmond, VA
• Izaiah Manuel Burgos, Biology, BS — Orlando, FL
• Isaac Taylor Carney, , Physics,, BS — Charleston, WV
• Shannon Michelle Castillo, Biology, BS — Havre de Grace, MD
• Ramiro Chavez-Montoya, Business, BA — Roseland, VA
• Hannah Taylor Cloven, Environmental Science, BS — Fredericksburg, VA
• Tanner Cole Cochran, Theatre, BFA — Cumberland, VA
• Heidi Corbett**, Studio Art, BA — Chesapeake, VA
• Madison Paige Daniels, English (Creative Writing) & Psychology, BA — Warrenton, VA
• Kathryn Davis, Environmental Studies, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Christopher E. Dempsey, English (Creative Writing), BA — Lynchburg, VA,
• Carrington E. Diehl*, History, BA — Portsmouth, VA
• Alexis S. Dove, Biology, BA — Stone Mountain, GA
• Brylee Greer Elliott, Psychology, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Isabelle Fenton, English (Literature), BA — Green River, WY
• Sofi L. Forshey, English (Literature), BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Beverly Elizabeth Foster, English (Creative Writing), BA — Mathews County, VA
• Sara Alyssa Fuentes, Biology, BA — Arlington, VA
• River M. Gay, English (Literature), BA — Chesapeake, VA
• Alula Yohannes Gidey*, Biology, BS — Chantilly, VA
• Clair Luna Golden, Integrative Studies, BA — Madison Heights, VA
• Lynley T. Golden*, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Madison Heights, VA
• Sarah Elizabeth Greene*, Political Science, BA — Amherst County, VA
• Alexis Cara Hawkins, Elementary Education, BS — Lynchburg, VA
• Samuel Evans Hey, Biology, BS — Lynchburg, VA
• Daniel Robert Hilty, Physics, BS — Amherst, VA
• Elizabeth Quinn Hooper, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Smithfield, VA
• John David Hull, Studio Art, BFA — Lynchburg, VA
• Dominique Irving, History & Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Amherst, VA
• Marcela Izquierdo Poza, Mathematics & Physics, BS — Leganés, Spain
• Amanda Renuka Jagdeo, Biology, BS — Queens, NY
• Jessica L. Jennings, History, BA — Chesapeake, VA
• Tierra Abrianna Johnson, Biology, BA — Chesapeake, VA
• Paola Y. Joseph*, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Miami, FL
• Riley C. Keating, Business, BA — Bristow, VA
• Hannah Elaine Lambach*, English (Literature), BA — Belém, Pará, Brazil
• Sean Michael Landis*, Business, BA — Williamsburg, VA
• Gavin Henry Leverette**, Business, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Tucker Gates Leverone, Business, BA — Suffolk, VA
• Keadre’ Lewis, Psychology, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Carlos E. Lopez Rosa, Business, BA — Alexandria, VA
• Andrea Loredo-Moreno, Political Science, BA — Atlanta, GA
• Molly McNair, Studio Art, BA — Cordeaux Heights, New South Wales, Australia
• Kumayle Merchant*, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Kai G. Miller, Comparative Philosophy, BA — Richmond, VA
• Jessica Monasir, Biology, BS — Fredericksburg, VA
• Anna Grace Mooney, Elementary Education, BS — Lynchburg, VA
• Emily Elizabeth Morris, Psychology, BA — Charlottesville, VA
• Jonelle Alissa Morris, Biology, BS — Upper Marlboro, MD
• Nathaniel Leroy Morrison, Business, BA — Portsmouth, VA
• Hordy Ndambo Ngwahele*, Psychology, BA — Kissimmee, FL
• Zachary Stone Nipper, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Chesapeake, VA
• William Kestrel Olichney, Economics & History, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Jenifer V. Orozco Cardona, Computer Science and Math, BS — Annandale, VA
• Tristian J. Palmer, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Waldorf, MD
• Cat Pressley, Psychology, BA — Roanoke, VA
• Alison Reyes Merced*, Biology, BS — Gurabo, Puerto Rico
• Garrett C. Reynolds, History, BA — Rustburg, VA
• Aleighson Taylor Robertson, Environmental Science, BS — Hurt, VA
• Thomas Daniel Rosenberger**, Integrative Studies, BA — Stephens City, VA
• Laura Rowland*, Biology, BS — Bedford, VA
• Jenna Nicole Rozenboom, Psychology, BA — Vinton, VA
• Maria Valentina Santos Agreda, Engineering Physics, BS — Richmond, VA
• Cooper A. Sayles, Business, BA — Hamilton, VA
• Aaron T. Scott, English (Creative Writing), BFA — Woodbridge, VA
• Ainsley M. Simmons**, Environmental Studies, BA — Fincastle, VA
• Ava Marie Skinner, Elementary Education, BS — Lynchburg, VA
• Jenna Nicole St. John*, Biology, BA — Concord, VA
• Tom M. Stahler, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Cape May Court House, NJ
• Kylie Rae Stark, Psychology & Sociology, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Cody Thompson, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Dunnellon, FL
• Zoe N. Tierney, History, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Cole Rudolph Torres, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Thurmont, MD
• Joanne Elizabeth Torres, Biology, BA — Richmond, VA
• Olivia Renee Traphagen, Psychology, BA — Lynchburg, VA
• Diego Alejandro Uceda, English (Literature), BA — Washington DC
• Landon S. Wagoner, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Martinsville, VA
• Logan Marie Warren, Sport and Ex Sport Perform Concen, BA — Chesterfield, VA
• Andrew Devon Washburn, Computer Science and Math, BS — Forest, VA
• Melody M. Washington, Computer Science and Math, BS — Fredericksburg, VA
• Andre Ke’ Von Weatherspoon, Integrative Studies, BA — Newport News, VA
• Elana LeChay West-Smith, Media and Culture, BA — Charlottesville,VA
• Jadin Marie Wilkening, Computer Science and Math, BS — Colorado Springs, CO
• Jasmin Monique Williams, Elementary Education, BS — Fredericksburg, VA
• Madison Isabella Witt, Elementary Education, BS — Bedford, VA
• Kameryn O. Woolridge, Business, BA — Madison Heights, VA
• Brittney Samoya Wright, Global Studies, BA — Clarendon, Jamaica
• Carlynne M Wright*, Sport and Exer Health and Fitness Concen, BA — Lynchburg, VA

*August 2023 or January 2024
** Degree to be awarded upon completion of requirements.

This document is not an official record of degrees awarded. The student’s transcript is the official record of the College.
To ensure the highest quality and accuracy, official diplomas will be mailed at a later date.

The digital Commencement Program, which is part of the College’s sustainability efforts, is available for download at w8hd.nihonnkazamidori.com/commencement

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Academic Awards

Awards were presented during a special ceremony on April 24, 2024

Marilyn Sue Murray Award in Asian Studies

William Kestrel Olichney

Grace Taylor Wiltshire HA Award

Samuel Evans Hey

Carl Stern Award for Excellence in Economics

William Kestrel Olichney

Halley Brooke Smith Excellence in Student Teaching Elementary Education Award

Madison Isabella Witt

Kathleen Bowman Education Research Award

Jasmin Monique Williams

Margaret I. Raynal Prize for Creative Prose

Zachary Thomas Bishop

Aaron T. Scott

Sarah I. Davis Award in American Literature & American Studies

Diego Alejandro Uceda

Sofi L. Forshey

Senior Award in Environmental Studies

Aleighson Taylor Robertson

Lura Lee Cannon Stephens ’11 Prize in History

William Kestrel Olichney

Outstanding Student Award in Music

Samuel Evans Hey

Outstanding Senior Physics Major

Marcela Izquierdo Poza

Outstanding Senior in Global Studies

Brittney Samoya Wright

Outstanding Senior in Political Science (Graduated in December 2023)

Sarah Elizabeth Greene

Frank Murray Award

Cat Pressley

Layla June Abbassi

Jenna Nicole Rozenboom

Edwin A. Penick Award for Excellence in Religion

Kai G. Miller

Zachary Thomas Bishop

Outstanding Senior in Sociology

Kylie Rae Stark

Outstanding Sport and Exercise Achievement

Elizabeth Quinn Hooper

Distinguished MACSL Student Award

Daniel D. Bickey

ASC Tutor of the Year

Marcela Izquierdo Poza

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The Phi Beta Kappa Society

Class of 2024
The nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society

• Sarah Elizabeth Greene*
• Samuel Evans Hey
• Marcela Izquierdo Poza
• William Kestrel Olichney
• Alison Reyes Merced*
• Diego Alejandro Uceda
• Brittney Samoya Wright

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Dual Degree Program Participants

• Jessica Kylee Bennett**, Engineering Physics, BS — Washington University
• Maria Valentina Santos Agreda, Engineering Physics, BS — — Virginia Commonwealth University

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Honors in the Major

• Isabelle Fenton, English
• Sofi L. Forshey, English
• Sarah Elizabeth Greene*, Political Science
• Marcela Izquierdo Poza, Physics
• Alison Reyes Merced*, Biology
• Diego Alejandro Uceda, English

*Graduates since May 2023

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Academic Honors

• Layla June Abbassi, Magna cum laude
• Jake H. Arnold, Magna cum laude
• Zachary Thomas Bishop, Summa cum laude
• Isaac Taylor Carney, Magna cum laude
• Shannon Michelle Castillo, Magna cum laude
• Tanner Cole Cochran, Magna cum laude
• Madison Paige Daniels, Summa cum laude
• Brylee Greer Elliott, Magna cum laude
• Isabelle Fenton, Summa cum laude
• Sofi L. Forshey, Magna cum laude
• Alula Yohannes Gidey*, Magna cum laude
• Sarah Elizabeth Greene*, Summa cum laude
• Alexis Cara Hawkins, Magna cum laude
• Samuel Evans Hey, Summa cum laude
• Elizabeth Quinn Hooper, Magna cum laude
• John David Hull, Summa cum laude
• Dominique Irving, Magna cum laude
• Marcela Izquierdo Poza, Summa cum laude
• Amanda Renuka Jagdeo, Magna cum laude
• Hannah Elaine Lambach*, Summa cum laude
• Kumayle Merchant*, Magna cum laude
• Kai G. Miller, Cum laude
• Jessica Monasir, Cum laude
• William Kestrel Olichney, Magna cum laude
• Jenifer V. Orozco Cardona, Cum laude
• Cat Pressley, Magna cum laude
• Alison Reyes Merced*, Summa cum laude
• Aleighson Taylor Robertson, Magna cum laude
• Cooper A. Sayles, Cum laude
• Aaron T. Scott, Summa cum laude
• Ava Marie Skinner, Cum laude
• Kylie Rae Stark, Cum laude
• Cole Rudolph Torres, Cum laude
• Joanne Elizabeth Torres, Cum laude
• Diego Alejandro Uceda, Summa cum laude
• Andrew Devon Washburn, Summa cum laude
• Melody M. Washington, Summa cum laude
• Jasmin Monique Williams, Cum laude
• Madison Isabella Witt, Summa cum laude
• Brittney Samoya Wright, Magna cum laude
• Carlynne M Wright*, Cum laude

*Graduates since May 2023

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Description of the College Mace

Symbolic of authority, the College mace is carried by a senior faculty member serving as the College marshal on ceremonial occasions during the academic procession. The mace bears the College seal on top of a flame. The flame sits upon a three-sided pedestal upon which the Three Keys of Knowledge, representing the humanities, the arts, and the sciences, are carved. Its design is derived from a well-known speech, “My Grandmother’s Basket of Keys,” given by Theodore H. Jack, the fourth president of then Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. The design is based upon the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College mace, only modified to reflect the College’s new seal after its name change in 2007. When not in use, the mace resides in the Lipscomb Library, along with the mace developed for Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1955.

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The Wearing of Academic Apparel

The wearing of academic apparel has been the traditional way of symbolizing the value of learning. Probably the monasteries and cathedral schools in the seventh century were the precursors of our modern institutions of higher education. The robed and cowled monks were the first students. The wearing of gowns can be traced back to the great universities of Oxford and Cambridge where the wearing of the gown and cowl of the earlier cathedral school clerics was preserved as academic dress.

Though caps and gowns have been worn for commencement ceremonies in this country since colonial times, in 1895, a commission of American educators met to formulate a uniform intercollegiate code for American institutions of higher learning. The code, as finally established, follows in general the English system and provides for three types of gowns: those worn by bachelors or undergraduates are made of black material and have long pointed sleeves; masters wear either black silk or black wool made with a long, closed sleeve with an arc of a circle cut out near the bottom and slit for the arm; and the doctor’s gown is black silk with a full, round open sleeve. The gown is faced with velvet and has three bars of velvet on each sleeve. The black oxford or mortarboard cap is worn for all degrees.

The hood, which signifies the degree conferred, has also been made uniform. The bachelor’s hood is three feet long; the master’s is three and one-half feet long; and the doctor’s is four feet long with a wider panel. The code prescribes a lining of different color silk in the official academic color or colors of the institution conferring the degree. The binding or trim of the hoods is velvet, two inches wide for bachelors, three inches wide for masters, and five inches wide for doctors. The color here indicates the department or faculty in which the degree is granted.

Following is a list of the colors established by the intercollegiate code to represent the different departments of learning:

• Arts and Letters White
• Business Administration Gold
• Economics Copper
• Education Light Blue
• Fine Arts Brown
• Law Purple
• Library Science Lemon
• Music Pink
• Philosophy Blue
• Physical Education Sage Green
• Science Yellow
• Social Science Citron
• Theology/Divinity Scarlet

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While some students choose not to do so, our seniors have the privilege of asking someone, for whom it would be an honor, to hood them.